Amarillo by Morning..

Ahh, Spring Break! Ugh, Spring Break! Which means, Ahh: loved the break, but Ugh: the PEOPLE! :) Thursday the 16th, Matt and I, along with Andy & Casey & the kids, Cody & Melanie & the kids, and Mel’s dad’s girlfriend’s daughter, Sunny, all headed out for a little snow skiing, courtesy of Red River, NM!! As I kid, my entire dad’s side of the family, always went snow skiing, so I’ve had a love/hate relationship with the lifts ever since. It’s been several years, since we’ve all gone, and since the kiddos are getting older, Cody & Andy, thought it’d be a great time to start up an ole’ tradition, and Matt and I decided to tag along. Matt’s never been skiing before, or even seen “real snow” for that matter, so he was actually excited about this trip.

We loaded up and headed out right after work that Thursday evening in hopes of making it to, Amarillo by Morning!! :)

Sunny & Addi

Mattie & Brennan

Cody & Mel (you can see Mel’s already looking forward to the 13+ hour roadtrip!)

A quick bite to eat in Denton, and a couple of pit stops later, and we arrived at our destination, got checked into our room for the night, and grabbed what few zzzzz’s we could get, to set out for the next day. Friday morning, was much of the same, but a more scenic drive. A couple of hours into it, we were already seeing the mountains in the distance and some snow on the ground, and that made everyone excited!

 

We arrived in Red River a little early, so that gave us all plenty of time to check-in to our condo, (the SAME condo we spent much of our childhood in)..{awww, memories}, enjoy some lunch, and get our first day of vaca started!!

            

                         

First on the agenda, snowmobiling!! Always a favorite!

                                                                                                                                                                                         

getting ready!!

 

On our snowmobiling excursion, they offered “free time”, which included sledding..       EVERYONE, except me and this one..

participated in the fun! I so wish I would have, what a wuss I am!! looked like a blast!

There were a couple of spills, and after about an hour, everyone was pretty worn out!

We had a fantastic time on the snowmobiles, got a little wind-burned, but were pumped to head to the ski shop and get fitted for our boots & skis!! That night we stayed in and ordered pizza, and were in bed by 9!! :)

The next morning, bright and early, we all headed out to the slopes for a FULL day of..ski school! :( Cody convinced me I needed it, seeing as I was at least 15 years and a good 100 pounds, since my last run down the mountain. I obliged, and attended with Matt & Mel.

Princess ready for Day One!

Mel & Cody

Sunny, boarding for the first time..

Ski. School. SUCKS. I knew how to wedge, I knew how to turn, I was getting better at stopping with skill, but if I had to side step ONE more time up that darn mountain, I was going to scream!! E.V.E.R.Y. bone in my body hurt by day’s end, what a work-out!! :)

 

That night no one could move, so we stayed in and had burgers, enjoyed alot of adult company after the kiddos went to bed, laughed for hours, and hit the sack around 11. The next morning, Matt and I dreaded getting out of bed. I remember thinking to myself numerous times that morning, “I know people do not really enjoy skiing. How is this fun?!” We decided to get going, and went out around 11, just in time to catch the gang getting the kids out of ski school for their lunch break. 

the kiddos waiting to get back in to ski school..

         Mattie and his favorite girl, Demi!

           

princess is soooo excited!! ;)

Matt and I bought a 1/2 day pass that afternoon, and set out on our own, to see if we could enjoy Day 2 a little better..

Mattie being the good Samaritan..ha!

Soon after lunch, came a BLIZARD, but we were all having WAY too much fun, to call it a day!!

  

     

Day 2 was a success! I know we ALL really enjoyed it, and looked forward to Day 3!

That evening, if we had to eat “in” one more time on vacation, I think my husband was going to lose it, so we all decided to hit up the local Mexican joint, Sundance, and it did NOT disappoint!!

kids..check!

Mattie & I..check!

 

The next day was all about skiing. Everyone was pumped, our mission.. to the top!         A little different skiing experience this time around for Cody with kids!! :)

Cody had boarded the first two days, but traded in his board for ski’s the third day, and was ready to go..with a 5 & 3 year old!! :)

                                                After a few practice rounds, we were on our way UP!!

  yes, that’s a THREE year old, going to the TOP! :)

Everyone did SO good, I fell once the entire time, and I was standing still..go figure!! :) It was unbelievable watching Cody just pick up Addi and fly down a BLACK with her.. I can’t imagine what other skiers were thinking! Brennan rocked it out himself!! No help, by himself, all the way down. Demi & Talan stayed in ski school, but I have no doubt, they’ll be right there beside us next year.

After a long three days, we decided to call it a trip, and handed in our boots and skis!

That night, we visited Texas Red’s steakhouse, it’s a BIG deal in Red River, and my $30 filet, was   H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E! A burnt peice of dry charcoal!! :( After dinner, we packed up, and set in for our wee early morning drive the next day.

 

Tuesday began at 7am, and ended around 10pm, when we safely arrived back in The View!! It was a loooonnnnggg day of driving, and despite one incident of Cody BACKING INTO A BOAT at a gas station, the day was pretty uneventful. {did you hear me people, BACKED into a BOAT! Shattered the back window, put a hole in the back door of the expedition..sadly I didn’t get a picture, for fear of my LIFE..exciting times, exciting times}

What a fantastic, fun-filled, family bonding, memory lasting, spectacular good ole’ time. Matt LOVED snow skiing, and vows he’s trading in his golf clubs for a set of skis!! {yeah right!}

Our hopes are that this group..

can once again be reunited year after year with THIS group…

 

and the traditions we had way back when can live again!!

Until Next Time!! :)