More snow in Steamboat

Next on the itinerary was heading up to Steamboat for some more fun in the snow with the family.



The boys loved seeing all the snow, there were piles of it everywhere and it even covered the roads to their amazement.



In steamboat we had a very large crowd joining us so we rented a 7 bedroom ski in/out house on the slopes. It was a beautiful house which was specifically designed for accommodating large skiing groups. The kitchen was huge, the downstairs ski closet had boot dryers installed, the bunk bed room alone could sleep 9 people, not to mention all the master suite room with jacuzzi bathtubs.



The drive way heated which was perfect for the kids.



We spent the first day just playing in the snow bank.



Showing the boys how to make snow angels (though it was almost too deep for that).



Collecting icicles from the rafters which were ready made weapons of all sorts.



I was very happy how fragile they were and the new game became smashing them rather than stabbing each other.



The heated driveway was very steep which meant we had a ready made sledding hill that was protected from the actual road. It took some effort to get a trail broken to get a sled down but once we did Jaydon got to give it a try.



He's not a big risk taker so after 2 fairly unsuccessful attempts he had had enough.



Tylor wanted to join the fun but the snow was to deep for us to carry him in so he was left on the driveway which he was not happy about.

Grandma was able to get a few good runs in though.

But Tylor did have all the snow he could ever want to eat right at his glove tips.



It snowed 6+ inches every day that we were there so it was difficult to see much of the view. One morning we decided to take the boys on the gondola anyway, just for the fun of ridding it high up in the sky.



Well our luck panned out and the skies cleared just as we were coming down from lunch time and heading back home for nap time. The boys loved the gondola. The next day we planned to take them again but Jaydon got sick so I stayed home with him but Steve and Tylor rode it up and down for about 2 hours. Tylor loved it and called it the bus. Jaydon and I did discover a chairlift swing the house hd in the backyard.



Jaydon loves swinging so this was a good consultation prize for him.

Tylors first snow

Two days after we arrived we had a big snows storm that covered everything in a mystical white.


Now this was what the boys were expecting when we said we were going to Colorado and were going to see snow.

 It was the nice light fluffy kind perfect for making snow balls.

Which the boys caught onto very quickly.

Tylor was finally getting a little more comfortable with all of his snow gear and was willing to venture out in it with his big snow boots on. And even when he did fall it was no big deal because the landing was soft (though he needed help up every time which he didn't like).

He thought it was really neat that the snow would stick to his gloves, he also loves to eat ice so eating snow was a natural for him.

Dad gave them a schooling in how to make, and then throw snow balls.

After the camera mom and grandma got tired of being the target for all their carefully made snow balls, and Jaydon figured out that dad was a pretty good aim,

we diverted there attention by suggesting they make a snow man.

It took steve about 3 attempts before he could roll a big ball that would not be immediately destroyed by the boys.

Once they got the destruction out of their system then they were all about making their new snowy friend.

Jaydon carefully found rocks to make the face with.

Tylor decided he was more interested in eating the carrot rather then letting the snow man use it.

He later learned that dipping the carrot in snow was an extra yummy snack. With cold fingers and wet clothes we got one last picture with the snow man and headed in to warm up.

Trip to the US for Christmas

This year we spent Christmas in Colorado. I found a great fare on tickets which took us from Doha to Spain to Dallas to Grand Junction with 28 hours of travel time. We left at 2 AM and most of the flight was on American Airlines so I expected the worst. But all in all it didn't go to bad. Especially considering that Jaydon got a stomach bug 18 hours before we got on the flight. We arrived exhausted which meant a pretty good nights sleep the first night. We always find the second day is the worst after travel so the first day we try to pack in and as much as we can.


We headed out to cut down our own Christmas tree.


It was much colder than anything we were used to so we bundled up the boys in jackets, hats, boots, and mittens and headed out to the cut-down-your-own-tree farm. Tylor is not accustomed to wearing winter boots and a big jacket that restricts his movements. He took three steps out of the car tripped on a rock and landed face first into the dirt. He scratched up his nose and I had to pull rocks and dirt out of his mouth. It was not the best way to start out the adventure especially with jet lagged kids.


He decided he wanted to be carried from then on.


We found the perfect tree and Jaydon helped grandpa cut it down.



That evening the local palisade library had a special Christmas event for kids. We listened to stories and watched a mini play about the Night Before Christmas. Then got a special visit from Santa Claus.


This is the first year Jaydon had any interest in talking to or sitting with him. Tylor on the other hand had absolutely no interest. He didn't want to be anywhere close to him. After Jaydons chat with Santa we headed out to dinner.


By then Tylor had reached his limit, he slept most of the dinner and Jaydon spent most of it laying on my lap. The next few days we took it easy letting the boys adjust the new time zone. They did their best to help out, like when grandma made apple pies.


They thought eating the apple peal strings was the best.


And who doesn't have fun with that silly apple peeler machine.


The local model train club was also having an event to show off their years worth of hard work.


The boys thought the model trains were the neatest.


We spent a lot of time just watching the little trains go round and round the tracks, in and out of the tunnels, and listened to them make their choo-choo train noises.


On our way out we toured some of the life-size trains they had on display. Again those winter boots tripped up Tylor, literally, and he landed headfirst into a pile of iron rail tools. He got a bump the size of a golf ball on his forehead and a scar that still exists today. With a scratched nose and bruised forehead he was ready for Christmas, or at least the photos anyways.

Christmas party

The compound had a Christmas party for the kiddos. There was lots of holiday treats and fun games, Jaydon got to 'go fish' for candy canes and Tylor learned all about un-decorating Christmas trees. They also had face paints available for the parents to use.


Jaydon was very still and let me paint holly, candy-cane and a snowflake on his nose.


Tylor tried to be like his big brother but just couldn't sit still (not even for the picture).


I forgot my camera so the only pictures are from when we got home.

Trip to the beach

With the weather being so nice someone decided to plan a weekend at the beach.

Most of the group went camping overnight but we opted out since we were getting on a plane to the US in a couple days and wanted the boys as rested as possible. We just spent the afternoon at the beach which was plenty of time for Jaydon and Tylor the play in the water and the sand.

But for some reason when I was packing our stuff I completely forgot the swimsuits. Maybe it's my subconscious refusing to accept that you can swim in December at the beach.

So Jaydon spent the day in his tighty whiteys and Tylor spent the day in a diaper full of sea water.


They didn't mind and loved having the hotdogs and marshmallows and all the other good stuff to eat.

We'll just have to leave the camping to another day.

Purple dancing boys

These videos don't need much explanation. Just a couple of silly boys dancing to Barbie Girl.

 Jaydon heard this song playing at Chili's one day at lunch and just had to hear it again. Now it's one of his favorites.

 I can't help but wonder when this video might resurface to completely embarrass Jaydon...



We also had some Christmas carolers come by the house to get us in the holiday cheer. The boys thought it was pretty neat.

Dinner at the souks

One of the places we always like to bring company when they come to town is the souks. There's lots of neat little shops with rugs, spices, and other local souvenirs.


When we've got the kids along one of the must sees as the animal souk.


They have all kinds of animals and let the kids play and touch them to their hearts content.


This is certainly not somewhere you want to bring someone from the Humane Society. The conditions for the animals is quite deplorable, but the kids don't know any different and had a great time holding the birds and petting the rabbits.


The baby iguanas were so tame they just sat on Jaydons hand.


He was convinced he had found his new best friend. Its a good thing I've actually had one of these before or I may have been tempted to actually buy one for him.


I know their cuteness and niceness wears off very quickly.


After stocking up on saffron and dates we headed out to another dinner outside to enjoy our nice weather.

Thanksgiving

This is the first Thanksgiving in a couple years where we've actually been at home. Steve found all of the parts to his rotisserie grill and smoked up a turkey.


We went over to our friends Natalie and Patrick's house. Jaydon and Jacob got their own kids tables to eat at.


The weather was perfect for a nice meal outside.


Tylor quickly decided his favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner is the cranberry sauce.


He ate it by the spoonful. The food was great and we had plenty of leftovers to last for a couple days.