Saturday, February 5, 2011

a First

We have been so excited this winter to take Zach skiing for the first time. Even though cold weather is not my favorite thing, when it comes to skiing it's a whole other story. ; )

We just returned from Snowmass, Colorado. Some days we skied in the sunshine, others we skied in negative temperatures! Crazy. We were bundled up from head to toe and drank lots of hot chocolate along the way. My mom stayed with Mandy since Hunter is brand new. We missed ya'll so so much!

First day of ski school


A few hours after we dropped Z off we got "the call." Z was a bit overwhelmed in his class, so we changed him to a different one. He did well the rest of the week. Yea! I was very nervous. We knew we were pushing it taking him skiing at three years old, but we couldn't wait any longer. ; )

Jason & Z on the magic carpet

Skiing for the first time!

Z loved the "skittles" gondola. It's especially for kids in the colors of skittles.
Mary & Allie
Z & me
(we had to label everything for ski school)

Monday we skied in this! It really wasn't as cold as it looks, I promise. Just lots of snow. ; )
My dad, Jason, & Faber
Us
Meredith, Faber & Allie

Lots of sweet cousin time

Love this!


Every time my family goes skiing we do devotions together. This is one of my favorite memories of the entire trip. I can't help but think about previous trips and what the LORD has done. Just four years ago I was struggling to get pregnant and now Z is here with us. The last ski trip two years ago I was pregnant with Reese and now we have Colson in our lives as well.

This year the "theme" was family. What a wonderful, difficult topic! I love talking about family, but it's also a tender subject because of Reese. We talked about our family on earth, our family in Heaven, and families in the Bible. GOD does restore and has purpose for each of us in our families!

Mere & Z

Last day of ski school

We're so proud of him and can't wait to take Colson!

This is the life...Z's instructors pulled him and his friends in wagons from the door of the ski school building to the bottom of the bunny slope. Nice!
It was wonderful to focus on Z for a week, but we missed Colson so much! I am so ready to get him back in my arms. Jason's parents and grands got lots of sugar and kept him well entertained. Thank you, Gran & G-Dad!
Shannon also took some precious pics of Westin and Colson from their week together. This picture just melts my heart. They look like good buddies. ; )


For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 117:2

30 comments:

Rebekah said...

Love love love the pic of the three of you! Looks like fun trip! I LOVE a little one on skis! So cute!

newmanfamily said...

Just took our son skiing for the second time at age 5, he loved it but is ready to switch to snowboarding. I love that it is something that we can continue as a family as the kids get older. What a fun family trip!

Brandi said...

Love the pictures!! Looks like so much fun! And the last pic of you 3 is adorable!!!!!!! I can't wait to take my kids skiing!!!

Mandy said...

GREAT pictures!! We missed you guys too. LOVE the pic of Pappy and Z. So, so precious.

Elaina Weaver said...

LOVE the pic of the 3 of you laying in the snow. Looks like a beautiful and fun trip. Makes me ready for my first ski trip. I should start planning that.

Brad & Rachel said...

You guys are troopers if you actually got out on the clearer days this week! I live in Winter Park and it was -50 Wednesday morning with a high of -6!

~Mrs. Guru~ said...

Love all the photos! Looks like you guys had a great time!

Lauren said...

How fun and what precious pictures and sweet memories!!!!! :)

Maryellen said...

Great photos. I think it is great to learn young. Zach is blessed. I learned as a young girl and love to ski. You don't have the same fears as when you are older. I can't imagine learning at this age. hah
But we did take my Aunt Helen skiing and she was in her 70's. Bless her heart for even trying. She stood up on the ski's tipped over and broke the bone in her butt. She never lived that story down. Looks like a wonderful trip.

Anonymous said...

What a fun family time! My parents took me skiing when I was little! Love that picture in the snow of you and your husband and Z! Adorable.

Kaitlin said...

Hi Katie! I LOVED all your ski pictures! I need some suggestions-I'm going skiing in Keystone, CO next month and I'm from Florida and also have never been skiing before. What should I bring and what should I rent when I'm there? Any suggestions would be appreciated! I love the pic of the three of you in the snow!

Tricia said...

Your trip looks amazing! I absolutely adore the last photo of you, Z and your husband lying in the snow. So cute. Hope you had a safe return and all your readers are definitely jealous. :)

Courtney said...

Love it! We can't wait to get T on the slopes too. My family went to Breckenridge at the beginning of Jan. We had a blast! Can't wait until we can put a little one in ski school. Z looks like he had a blast.

Katie said...

That picture of the three of you is awesome! What a wonderful memory!

Mary Madeline said...

Love the pictures!! And I love your hat!! :)

Linds said...

that pic of yall 3 is so sweet! I loved skiing, but my body just can't take the cold. My hands were literally frozen solid, regardless of gloves/mittens/warmers that I would try.

Kaitlin said...

Katie,

Thanks for getting back to me! The tips are really helpful as I've never skiied before! You've been to Keystone? Any suggestions on the resort/what we should do while we're there? We're thinking about snow-tubing and maybe snow-mobiling. We want to make the most out of our trip! :) I think it's precious that Zach went to his own ski school-he looks adorable in his skis!

Is your Master's in general counseling or is it school counseling in particular? I'm not sure which track I want to take. I definitely think counseling is the road God is leading me toward. Being a teacher, I know a small glimpse of what these sweet children have to go through in their young lives-and I just want to reach out to them!

It was cool to hear from you-I've been reading your blog since right around the time of Reese's passing. You have an amazing story! I'm a follower-and have enjoyed watching your family grow. Your boys are sweet and your family is beautiful!

Ashley said...

I loved the pics! My nephew loves Lightning Mcqueen, so I was curious as to where you had got Zach's suitcase?

hi-d said...

Looks like a wonderful time...Love the picture of the 3 of you lying down in the snow!

Unknown said...

Looks & sounds like a wonderfully amazing trip & he looks like a natural on the slopes!

Sara said...

Love the pic of you three! Looks like you had a great time!

Happiness Is... said...

I don't know what's cuter - the picture of the 3 of y'all in the snow or the one of Westin & Colson! Adorable!

Also, I think skiiing is like a foreign language - better to start them young!

Melanie Mueller said...

What an awesome trip! Zach looked adorable all bundled up and skiing. Looks like he did great! I love the beautiful picture of you three---definitely a framer!

brie. said...

I'm a total lurker who had to come out of the woodwork for this! I Love Love Love skiing!!! Off for a weekend on Friday - I was also very little (2 or 3) when I started skiing and it's still one of my passions. Luckily, I'm marrying a man who also loves skiing!

Such a great idea to do family devotions while on the trip - perhaps we can start this on our first ski trip as an 'engaged couple'!

Z looks like he's a natural :)

Amy said...

we love to ski! jeffrey and i got engaged in breckenridge and we have been to vail almost every year since! jeffrey was one of those start ski school at 3 kids and he is a GREAT skier! i didn't start until we met, but i LOVE it! our friends just got back from skiing in CO yesterday and i was so sad i couldn't go this year since i am pregnant! looks like y'all had fun!! and what a wonderful idea to do family devotions - how neat!

Miranda said...

I loved reading about your ski trip and looking at all the beautiful pictures! You truly do have a beautiful family and I love how you share God's love with one another. I really enjoy reading your blog and I get a lot of encouragement from it. I hope that someday I can be a strong Christian like you, with a strong Christian family like yours. You're an inspiration to me and I'm so glad you allow me to share in your life through your blog! :-)

The Tiptons said...

OH Snowmass is our favorite!! We leave in like 30 days!! Can't wait! We always try to go the first part of March so it's usually not snowing much, but there is still snow. And we miss the spring breakers!! And the little ones there are my favorite! Little Zach looked just precious!! Love keeping up with your sweet family:)

Mary said...

How fun!!:) We just went on a ski trip to NY a couple weeks ago! It was kind of hard to see everyone on the slopes and I couldn't join them but growing a baby inside me is far more important!;) Our 3 yr old was dying to ski too but we decided to wait until next year. Can't wait! Zach looks like he's having a blast!!:)

brookiecookiedesigns said...

I started reading your blog because of a friend or one of your friends at Baylor. You your family have a special place in my heart.
We have been skiing Snowmass for 9 years and LOVE it - being on top of a mountain and looking at God's amazing handy work takes my breath away. Our youngest Meghan is 3 and had a great time in snowcubs as well. They have an amazing ski school for the kiddos. What a fun family trip. Hope you were able to eat a Sneaky's tavern and make a stop at the sweet life. God bless.

April said...

My mom sent me the link to your blog... I work at Snow Cubs! Unfortunately I didn't get to teach your son, but from the pictures, but I do recognize the instructor in that picture! So glad you all had such a wonderful time! It's my fourth season in Aspen... most instructors go on to teach older kids and just use SC as an entry level thing. I wouldn't want to teach in any other department! Love those little guys on the magic carpet! Hope you return again!

 
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