New Year's Eve Sledding

The Smith family came to Sundance a few hours before our New Year's Eve party for some quality sledding on the hill in front of the cabin. There was a lot of snow and we had so much fun! I am bias, but I think these are some of the cutest kids in existence. I just want to eat them. We sledded until it started getting dark, then headed in to warm up before the big New Year's bash.

(fyi: these pictures enlarge when clicked)


Nathan with Luke and Tessa hanging on


(They sort of sunk.)


Lukey bombing straight for Ethan. Look at that malicious smile.


Crash!


...and they both came up smiling.


The creator of said adorable children, budding photographer Lynsie.


Tessa in her pink glory. Boots, hat, snowpants, jacket, socks, coat. All PINK.
She kept rolling around in the snow with a huge smile on her face.


Ethan post-crash. Still happy!


Cute brother Brandon hiking up...


...and coming back down!

After hours of fun, including a three foot drop off the retaining wall and a face plant in powder by Ethan, we found shelter in the garage where we left all our frozen, wet clothes to dry.


cold hands


+ frozen faces


+ pink cheeks


= very happy kids!

Skiing at Sundance

After a night at the cabin, Brandon, Michael, Klane and I went for a morning of skiing at Sundance. It was cold but a lot of fun. I love skiing so much and wish we could do it more than just once a year.


It was five degrees when we got in the car. But lower temperatures means lighter snow!

When we got back to the cabin my mom had hot cocoa and lunch for us! Talk about service! It was a great morning.

I'm starting to feel a little panicked when I think about leaving on Sunday. We're having so much fun spending time with family, and enjoying the snowy weather and the mountains. This is where I belong. We'll try to soak it up while we can!

Sunday Brunch at the Foundry

My family's best friends (who aren't relatives) are the Markhams. (I've mentioned them here and here and here.) One of the big events I was looking forward to over the break was going to Foundry Grill at Sundance with the Markhams for the famous brunch. They've been telling us for years how amazing it is and we finally scheduled a time to experience it together!

It was, in fact, incredible. But even better than the food was the great company. It was so fun catching up with Lindsay, Kevin and Lisa. These people just make you feel love. And they are dang funny and fun to be around too. I just wish their other kids could've made it up.

Sundance is absolutely beautiful. I really love that resort. I have lots of good memories there and I just like how it's smaller yet so beautiful. It was breathtaking with all the snow.

The little "general store" at Sundance is so quaint and rustic. I love it.






Hi Lindsay!


Kevin and Dad


















Even the walk to the car was beautiful!

and i felt like i could fly

a last minute snowstorm rolled in this week. probably the last of the season.
we couldn't pass up the opportunity.

i am so glad we didn't.
i haven't had many powder days in my years of skiing, and this was the best i've ever had.

i've only had fresh tracks once before, but this morning we did. oh my. we did.
that has to be the closest you can get to what it feels like to fly.

today i was grateful to heavenly father for creating snow. what a great idea!

it's always fun to ski with cute husband and mike. they are good at jumping off of stuff, and i am good at watching.
and then we all fly down the mountain together. good times!

winter wonderland

we were crazy enough to drive up to the cabin at 10:30 Christmas night in a total blizzard, but we felt adventurous.

this is how deep the snow was up there

my dad was kind enough to dig us a path to get into the cabin. That is his head poking up through the snow

and in the morning the storm had passed and all was calm

Justin is crouching in the path my dad dug through the snow so we could get inside. The walls are like 4 feet tall!

the pond in front of the cabin

and the boys snowboarded down the roads. yes, the same ones the cars were supposed to be able to drive on. Hooray for winter!