Our Steamboat Visit

Swimming at the hot springs in Steamboat.






Cousins showing off tongues after eating fun dips.

Last week we went to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to visit Katie’s family. We left directly have school Wednesday afternoon, which was surprising since I started packing about 2 hours prior to departing. It was a long drive with lost of bathroom stops but we finally arrived about 10:45pm and of course sat up late visiting.

The house was pretty full with our family of 5 and dog and their family of 3 plus to dogs. I think the 3 dogs took up more room than the families. It seemed like there were dogs and our stuff everywhere. The kids had so much fun and they didn’t care about our crowded quarters.

Thursday morning we had a late start (although not as late as I would have liked). I forgot to pack our swimsuits so we visited Wal-Mart while Katie delivered Girl Scout Cookies and I bought the family suits so we could go to the hot springs. I stayed in the car with Audrey while she slept so just Randy and the 3 kids swam. When Audrey woke up I joined Katie in the lobby and started snapping pictures. Sarah put her head under water, which she was very proud of and Zach, Mariah and Randy took turns going down the water slide (I think Zach had the most turns). It was funny to see the steam rising from the pool and know they were swimming in warmer water and it was 20 degrees outside. The lifeguards were all bundled in coats so I’m not sue what they do if they have to “save” someone. After swimming we hooked Mariah up with skis for the next day and then took the kids bowling. The kids all loved bowling and had begged to go all day.

Friday morning we were up early to get Sarah and Mariah to their ski lessons. Of course there was drama as we got them bundled, skis on, and gloves on (which Mariah didn’t want to wear). After Randy deposited them at the class Zachary and Randy enjoyed the slopes. When Katie and I came to pick up the girls at 3:00pm they had had so much fun. Mariah went with Randy and Zachary up the lift for her first time and down a slope. Sarah continued going up the magic carpet and down her little hill, she was sooooo tired and cried at the drop of a hat but kept going down the hill until they closed up at 4:00pm.

Mariah had a previous commitment to go on a snowmobile ride with a mentor/friend. Randy took Sarah to another ski lesson while Zachary and him went skiing. Mariah joined them mid day. Randy let Zachary go on a blue hill all by himself because Mariah still needed to stay on green. At some point Randy got separated from Mariah and Katie and I were called because Mariah was lost and then after Zachary finished his blue hill all by himself he couldn’t find Randy. Zachary went into a store to ask to borrow their phone so he could call his dad, they asked him if he was lost and he said no he just couldn’t find his dad. The store called Ski Patrol and that’s where Randy picked him up. Zachary got a candy bar and a cute Steamboat pin and was never even upset. Mariah was bummed that she didn’t go to ski patrol so she could have a free candy bar. As part of Sarah’s lesson she went up the lift twice and then a third time with Randy after her lesson. Yay Sarah!!

Sunday we went to church with Katie and Mariah. Katie has never been to her ward in the many years that they have lived there so they all thought she was visiting with us. I made sure to stress that we were the visitors and she was a member of their ward. Church was very touching for me and I enjoyed all the talks and lessons, all from converts. After church we prepared to go home so it was sad day for the kids. The drive home was long and I am still unpacking. We had so much fun visiting Katie that Randy and the kids want to go back in a week or two.