Wee Ski!

So Kate had her first snow skiing weekend!  We had a great time but I had forgotten how exhausting the whole ski thing can be.  The lugging of equipment - 2 pairs of skis, 2 helmets, 2 poles and all the stuff to keep us warm!  Just the shopping before the trip was enough to make me hope Kate hated the cold!  Ski bibs, ski socks, goggles, mittens, and more.  Its a good thing I had most of my gear from my ski days - I may have been out of style but I was warm!

The whole weekend was an adventure!  After getting lots of snow in Greenville and throughout the Carolinas we weren't even sure were were going to make it to the mountains.  But thanks to some sheer determination on the mommies parts (and NONE on the all-too-worried-daddies parts!) and a little Ford Escape with a BIG ability to drive down snowy mountain roads we made it!  After all who cancels a ski trip because there's too much snow?!?

So after a day of sunshine we got to Boone to find they actually know how to handle snow in those NC mountains!  Of course they do - its their business!  The roads were clear - even the steep, windy road up to our condo community!  Though when we got into Echota we quickly realized that the snow plows clear the snow but not the parking lot.  Or the walkways to the condos!  After some walking around in the snow for a while we ventured into the condo.  I was thankful to find a snow shovel after trudging through the 8 or so inches of snow to get into the condo!  I am not afraid to admit that it was this southern girl's first experience with a snow shovel.  But the walkway magically became clear!

And after going to bed Friday night to clear roads here is what we woke to Saturday morning!  And this is after the snow plows had been by a time or two.  Unfortunately the city is responsible for the steep and windy road coming up to Echota so it was quite snowy on our way down early that morning.  We would have been up a creek (or a mountain) without a paddle had it not been for the mighty little Escape!  (Did i mention the entire weekend was an adventure?)

Finally after several hours of driving, lugging gear and dressing we were ready to ski!  The kids had a great time in Ski School - at least in the morning.  Shortly after returning to school after lunch Pam and I began hearing parents of Ski Wee students being called to pick up their kids.  They were dropping like flies!  Soon enough we too picked up our exhausted little skiers and returned to Echota to soak in the hot tub.  That and lots of wine made for a good end to ski weekend day 1!

While Kate enjoyed skiing, she said it was boring.  I think she needed a bigger challenger!  Next time, my dear, we tackle a lift and your first real slope!  Tubing was much more exciting for Kate!  We went fast and she didn't have to lug anything!  Mommy, however, got to lug a tube with a 35 pound kid in it - who needs a gym?!?

All in all it was a super fun weekend!  And the weather couldn't have been better.  Skiing in the North Carolina mountains is notorious for slopes icy slopes covered in man-made snow.  Not this weekend though!  Thanks to Mother Nature we had lots of soft snow, no ice and we never heard the roar of snow machines!  Cheers to a fun weekend, new adventures and time spent with great friends!

Snow Day (part 2!)

When the weather guy warned us that a "Historical Storm" was coming we didn't really believe him.  We were wrong.  The snow started Tuesday morning and finally (FINALLY) quit Thursday morning!  Which meant lots of wet snow clothes, dirty floors and cabin fever!  But we had a great time playing in the snow and will be happy to see it again.  In about 3 years.  :-)

When we woke up to very little snow Wednesday morning (and none on the roads) we wondered if the forecasters were wrong, however the BIG snow started around 8 am.  Within an hour the roads, and everything else, were completely white!  The below pictures were taken shortly after the snow began on Wednesday, when there wasn't too much snow piled up yet.

Later in the day Kate and Mommy went sledding!  The roads had lots of snow and almost no cars - perfect for playing!  We found a big hill just down the street where many neighbors were sliding down the road on anything from real sleds to something that looked like a large sheet of plastic.  It was big fun!

 

 

 

And here is what we had by Thursday morning.  Finally the snow stopped and all was quiet first thing in the morning when Max and Mommy went for a birthday morning stroll.  It was so beautiful out!

 

 

 

 

The sun eventually came out mid day on Thursday and is quickly melting away our snow. 

 

So now seems like a PERFECT time to go skiing in the North Carolina mountains!  Boone, HERE WE COME!!  Swish Swish - Snow Bunny pictures coming soon!

 

Snow Day (part 1)

So this week we are experiencing a "historical storm" or so the media is telling us.  Yesterday we had a couple of inches fall and naturally everything grinded to a screeching halt in South Carolina well before the snow came.  (gotta love the south!)  We loved it - especially Kate, who spent the bulk of her day outside playing.  Lucky for me we have a big, flat back yard that I can see from the kitchen!  And a large dog to protect Kate when she's outside without Mommy (who likes to watch the snow from inside!). 

 

 

When Kate wasn't outside playing in the snow she was inside enjoying hot chocolate! 

 

 

 

All in all it was a good day!  Wednesday should prove to be even more fun because Daddy will be home too!  He's closed his call center because the storm is supposed to get much, much worse.  More soon!

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Where to begin?

So I'm more than slightly ashamed of myself!  I've not updated my blog in almost 3 months.  Wow.  Yes, lots has happened since my last post but that's absolutely no excuse!

1) We house hunted in Greenville - 20+ houses in one weekend.  After Brett spent lots of time with our realtor before I ever flew in to help.  After thinking we'd be living on the street, or perhaps in a condo in the mountains, we finally decided on a house!  We put our house (the most fantastic house EVER!) in Texas on the market.  Sniff sniff.  And though it took longer than we expected it sold.  :-(

2) We moved.  I'd like to say it was an easy move but not so much.  3 days of men packing the house and us skipping town JUST before Dallas got iced in for 5 days, several days in a not-so-fabulous hotel and a long, slow move into a house that we don't love like we loved our Frisco house.  Yet, after our brief 3 year stint in Texas we are back in our beloved Carolinas!  Not quite my Charlotte home of 16 years but pretty dang close!  And while I'm THRILLED to be here I've discovered that I actually miss Texas!  (whoda thunk?!?)  At least some things about Texas, well about Frisco.  We don't have parks on every corner here, everything isn't brand new, and we've actually walked into a restaurant (well Brett did) where people were smoking!!  (hello 1995, nice to see you again!)

3) Kate is in yet another new preschool.  After being in her Charlotte daycare from 4 months until the day before we moved to Texas this is her 5th new preschool in 3 years.  Sigh, I guess I couldn't get my act together in Texas - though in my defense we did move twice causing two of the changes.  Regardless, she seems to be taking it all in stride.  Though I feel bad for her because, at this point, she has 1 friend in Greenville.  Thank God for the gobs of family and friends we have nearby!  :-)

4) We've been busy!  We have had visitors - LOTS of visitors!  We've traveled to see friends in Charlotte and Atlanta.  And we've left our children with family to enjoy a much needed childfree weekend on Marco Island!  Man its nice being back in the Carolinas!!

And here are some picture highlights! 

The move!  Anna Clare thought the big truck was cool.  The mustang was taken away on a carrier.  Max and Brett cuddled on the first night of our trip back east.

 

 

Christmas was a blur!  Thankfully Santa found us in our new home and even brought Kate a new bike!

 

 

 

 

Anna Clare finally started walking (at 17 months)!  Now she's ready to play!  Kate got a big girl haircut and Max has a girlfriend!



 

 

 

We had lots of adventures!  In Greenville and in Georgia with our friends!

 

 

And we even got a little snow.  Kate and Max loved it.  Brett was enjoying the sun in Florida and Anna and I were wishing we were with him!

But of everything that we've done since November I think our weekend away was my favorite!  Nothing like south Florida in January!