Mountain Getaway Mini-Vacay

Or rather, we were there. We're home now. We left Friday hence the no blogging since then.

So...you know when someone warns you "Picture Overload" and you're like, "Yeah, that was a lot but it's just like any other day over at Kristin's Blog..." Well, this is serious picture overload on steroids. There's gonna be a ton. A ton, I tell you. Okay. Now that you've been warned...

Friday around naptime we left our house for our drive up to Steamboat, CO. My mom informs me that Steamboat has turned out more Olympic skiiers than any other city...in Colorado? The U.S.? I don't know...but either way: It's a ski town. I've heard that the high school up there doesn't even have classes on Friday so that everyone can ski. So, being that it's August and all...you'd call that "off season" and you can find some great deals. My very generous mama sprang for the rooms (they came too) and off we went. We had some kick-ass rooms, too. The two rooms were connected and one was a condo with a full kitchen, separate bedroom, pull out couch, fireplace and all that. Very nice. The second room (which ended up being ours) had a king bed, fireplace and one of those gigantic jacuzzi tubs. Oh, and a balcony--known as a "lanai" to our family because we like to pretend we're Hawaiian giving our son a middle name like Kai and all... Anyway, during the "peak" times of year these two rooms together would go for around $900 a night...let's just say, it wasn't even close to what Moosie paid. But it was still a $900 set-up. We're still very greatful for living large for a weekend.

Oh yeah...so, we left around naptime but Easton never slept. The drive wasn't too bad and took us maybe 3 hours. Jason took the day off work so we could make the most of it. We got there a couple hours before my mom and Lauren and hung out in the suites. And on the lanai:

That picture was taken about 10 minutes after receiving some very good news (which I'm not going to share just yet, sorry. Oh, and no we're not pregnant.)

Easton doesn't share my fear of heights:

Not that I have a true fear, but anytime he'd hang on the railing and dangle his feet through the openings it would make my heart totally flutter. Stomach too.

The view from our little patio:

At the highest point in the picture is a little white speck. That is a restaurant where we have brunch later in the trip...just tuck that away for later.

You think I was nervous when Easton hung on the railing then just imagine how scared I was when we put the camera up there on timer to capture this family shot:

You know how much I love the camera. I'm kidding about it being more important than Easton, of course. You guys got that, right?

Once my mom and Lauren arrived we did dinner at an Italian restaurant and dined al fresco. Very lovely.




Easton showed off his new piggy skills to Gramoo and Low-rin (that's what E calls her now). He ate a ton of Lauren's alfredo. He had some of our stuff too but their marinara was a little spicy so he preferred the white sauce. Check out the 3 plates in front of him!


And his messy face:


He got so messy that we stripped him for the ride back to the hotel:

Oh, and he "want Low-rin to sit next to E-tin". So she did. Nice auntie. Poor Gramoo had to drive by herself.

Dancing on the window seats back in the suite with Lauren:

There were two of those window seats so they'd dance on one, jump down, then dance on the other, and jump down to go back and forth. Very fun, apparently. We ended up pulling one of those "mattresses" out of the window seat for Easton's bed at the foot of ours.

The gigantic tub:



Dalton got in too and we have video (that I can't share) but apparently no pictures. Oh well. He loved it too and kicked his little feet all around but it was quite hard to hold onto him over such a deep tub. I got in with them both the next night but you won't see any pictures of that. Don't worry.

Easton never napped Friday and we didn't get them to bed till after 9 that night. They both went down just fine:



But Easton ended up having a rough night. He kept not knowing where to put his head and would curl up at the foot or fall off or whatever. Sometimes he'd just cry out for no reason. It was a long night. Dalton did pretty well, though. He was in the Pack and Play for most of the night but did come in with us for a bit too.

Saturday morning we went to a New Orleansy type place for breakfast. Dalton continued to be the happiest baby while we were there:

Easton was not quite as happy...a little sleep deprived, I think.

He cheered up when he got to help push Dalton in the umbrella stroller's maiden voyage:

We've got D ready for a morning in the sun--we found shade, though. He was too little to enjoy the alpine slide action.

Easton's first time in a chair lift up to the top of the mountain with Daddy:

Lauren and I were in front of them.

Then, riding back down the mountain on the alpine slide:

That's me "winning". Naturally. :)

Easton and Daddy:


Gramoo waited at the bottom with Dalton and took the pictures. There was a second round. Gramoo took Easton:

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Jason and I waited with D and he enjoyed some milk and photo ops:




By the third round, when I got to go with Easton, he was an old pro:




Back at the room we eventually got him to take a nap. He really needed it but it was rough. Then we had to wake him which didn't help his mood. But he's still a goofyball at heart. Even though there was plenty of standard seating he chose to get comfy under the coffee table:


Daddy and Dizzle stuck with the couch:


After the naps it was time to go swimming! Diddlebug is ready:




Of course, Easton froze again:

Jason even took him in the hot tub. Lauren did her auntly duties and kept Dalton in the shade of her head as best she could:

D and I headed back a little before everyone else.

That night we had Mexican for dinner. Jason's margarita was excellent. I was sad I ordered just a house margarita once I had a sip of his. Oh well. There will be other margaritas in my future, I'm sure. We left to get the boys ready for bed and Gramoo and Lauren did a bit of shopping. They had a moose store! Anyway, me and my little men before baths:


And E in the bath again. "Are you looking at my bum? Cheekymonkeys!"


It was a rough night for E again that night. You wouldn't know it from this happy pic the next morning:


We got ready to check out after that. We had to be on the top of the mountain for brunch at 10. Dizzle had to squeeze in naps whenever and wherever he could:

Put him in the carseat for his nap so we could just get him and go when we were ready. Easton and Lauren posed for a few final photos in the room:




Easton really liked "moose":


In the hotel lobby:


The gondola ride to the top of the mountain:



I saw this and went, "Why did I do my hair like that?" and Jason went, "That's not my favorite shirt of yours."



Dalton enjoyed it but didn't appreciate it like the rest of us:


Easton looking down:

It really was quite lovely.

The view from the brunch building:


A post-brunch shot of the family:


And my awesome mom and sister:

Easton is clinging to Lauren's leg in this picture.

One proud Daddy:


Somehow we still weren't at the tippy top of the mountain. Trying to get another family shot with the slopes behind us:

We like how J is pulling E's finger out of his nose. Classic.

What we could manage:


What we were going for:

What a great picture!

Dizzle and Gramoo:


We did some browsing around the town again once we rode the gondola back down. No slide this time, darn it. The boys don't ever get to go to toy stores, but we went to a couple and Easton had fun. So did D:



We bought Easton a little something for the drive home (he didn't know it, though) and Gramoo bought him a big something for the drive home (he wanted what she had in her bag, but still didn't know it).

How much of the weekend was spent:


What we'd look like coming at you on the street:


A final photo op before we left, the giant horse near the moose store:



He's doing a "yee haw!" there. And check out his foot positioning for his potential future as a jockey.

"Whoa there, ol' boy!"


Dalton patting the nose:


It started raining then and we began our drive home. Check out the name of this hotel we passed:


And playing with the car toy from Gramoo.

He liked it a lot till he decided to make the last hour a rough one. He slept for the first hour and a half or so. Till we stopped for gas.

He continued with the huge fits once we got home too. I went upstairs with Dalton and pumped out 13 ounces of milk! Then, nursed Dalton too. I could've kept going. Things were quite full and I was so relieved to be by my pump again.

Eventually we got Easton to come around. We went outside to buzz Jason's head and Easton played in the ice from the cooler. They say preemies have higher thresholds for pain:



Wacko. He does feel the cold, he just likes to shock us, I guess.

Dalton slept and we had a simple fend-for-yourself dinner. Easton and I did macaroni, two utensils for him:


Both kids slept quite well last night. Easton woke moaning once before I went to bed but was good after that. He slept till after 7 again. We got our doughnuts this morning but had a very rough time once we got home. His mood seems likely related to his 100.3 fever (without adding a degree because I took it in his pit). Not entirely sure what's going on yet. He went down quickly for his nap without any fuss. I should probably wake him so he'll go to sleep around his normal bedtime tonight but if he's gonna stay in that mood and if he needs it then I kinda want to let him sleep too...

Dalton's down at the moment too. Maybe I'll wake E when D gets up. Maybe. We'll see.

Anyway, if you made it this far I applaud you. That was a long one. Tomorrow is Dalton's 6 month well-baby. I know you all like to hear how fat he's getting. Stay tuned!