Jon and I looked all over ski country for a place to gather our families for Thanksgiving.  From Vail, Breckenridge, and Beaver Creek all the way to Cordillera.  We fell in love with one that ended up falling through, which also ended up being the best possible thing to happen to us.  It lead us to the perfect house.  Comfortable, incredibly spacious, sweeping views of our favorite ski resort, unbeatable location, and with a great kitchen for my Dad.

The setting couldn’t have been more beautiful.  Nestled right into the mountain, directly on runs leading into the Bachelor Gulch base, and with an outdoor hot tub for prime viewing of skiers, the horizon, and wildlife.

I have to admit that the night we arrived I loved seeing everybody ooh and ahh over the house.  I myself did the same thing the first time I walked in and so so hoped everyone else would have the same reaction and that we had met their expectations.

We spent the first evening mostly in the living room, around the fireplace with drinks in hand, reveling in each others company.

Mom had the great idea (since Livi was to be the only kid) to give her the doll she’d been begging for Christmas.  Something to help ‘entertain’ her while all the adults did boring adult stuff.  I grew up playing with American Girl dolls and could hardly WAIT for the day that Livi was interested.  I was probably more excited than she was.

Grandpa Pete was the first person to get tears out of us (not even an hour into the vacation) by laughing so hard at something that he started (then we all started…and by all I mean the girls) to cry.

It didn’t take long for everyone to strap on some robes and head for the hot tub for some oohing and ahhing at the stars and view.

It was a great night.  A great start.  


Exhausted, everyone headed to their beds to prepare for the first morning of vacation in Beaver Creek.

~ Hostess with the most-ess up early making breakfast burritos! ~

~ Bed Heads ~

First item of business?  SKIING!  I was so pumped that people (especially livi) wanted to get out there.  My uncle Chad skied every single day he was there like a champ!   

~ Livi’s little baby ski’s. ~

~ Everybody getting geared up! ~

~ Even Makenna (or Buffy…she couldn’t decide) had her ski sweater ready. ~

We headed over to the Beaver Creek base for a day full of fun.

We spent a good portion of the day on the bunny hill teacher the beginners how to ski.

Livi picked it up right away…

…Ryan not so much.   :  )

It was amazing for me to watch Jon with Livi, teaching a pretty nervous and scared little girl, how to be brave and go for it.  Great day.

Everyone had a great time, even if they weren’t skiing.  It was so warm that it bordered on hot so we all soaked up as much famous Colorado sunshine as we could take.  Once Livi tuckered out, she declared that she needed to teach Sawyer how to ski, and just like that she was a pro.  Another night of game playing, hot tubbing and reflecting on the great day followed.

I’ve got one final installment coming later this week of the rest of our trip.  Stay tuned!