Steamboat Family Vacation

A few weeks ago we headed to Steamboat Springs, CO for a spring break ski vacation. The whole fam went (minus the two youngest, Ford and Holden).  I love to plan a vacation, if you have read the blog for a while you probably know that by now. Let me say, I really love to plan a vacation when it is a present (from Pal and Pie for Christmas!)...very generous. The main thing we were looking for was ease to fly into and family friendly since we had three kiddos under ten. Steamboat Springs is an excellent choice for families. They were so nice and there was family and kids everywhere! If anyone has any questions or needs tips on a family ski vacation, please don't hesitate to ask! 

Here is a picture overload of the trip (sorry all Iphone pics):

as I said on Instagram, "the next generation of travelers"

first plane ride, He did great on the way out there. On the way back, I think the newness had worn off and he was pretty antsy. I am so glad I threw in a bag of M&M's just in case. They are the only thing that kept us from driving everyone crazy. oh and Mickey and George on repeat.

nothing like a grandmother in charge

picture is blurry, but a good idea of how nice everyone was...they saw the kids getting restless waiting on the bags and took them on cart rides

trying on skis: I should have known he might be a little young when the smallest size was a little big

first night, mexican, he likes cheese dip just like his momma!

Lane loved loved loved playing in the snow! He would have just done this the whole time if we had not forced encouraged him to try skiing. 

So we signed him up for ski school the first day. The lady was like, "you want him to try to ski?" I thought well, yea that is why we are here, ski school?! She said ok, well we will call you when it is his turn to go out on the magic carpet so you can watch from the viewing area up on the side. Ok, great...we were up the mountain skiing and got the call so we came rushing down to watch him. James said "oh look they put a new scarf on him." I said, "Oh No that is his blankey!!" I knew then it must not being going great. 

see the tiny one in the front, that is him :)

It was so sad. He was crying on and off, and the instructor was amazing. He was so patient and really just like a granddad. 

He made it three times up and down before the instructor decided it was enough. 

I knew ski school was a bust and it was time for plan B, skiing with us...

view from our condo at One Steamboat Place, It was gorgeous and I wish I had taken more pictures

The husband and I on a ski date. We really have fun skiing together. He is better than I am, but doesn't mind coasting down with me and spending time together. He also lets me plan the runs which I enjoy :) One of my favorite runs here was called Cowboy Coffee, an easy blue that you can ski through trees.  I also loved Rainbow as it was at the top and had the best powder every morning. 

behind us is our condo, perfect location

this is the second day when we bit the bullet so to speak and took Lane up the gondola to ski with us

he spend most of his time skiing in between James's legs 

He loved riding the lifts which I was a bit nervous about the height thing, but didn't phase him a bit

a good daddy, feeding him gummy snacks during a break

a well deserved cheeseburger after his morning skiing (and a ginormous rice krispie to share!)

Here is a video of he and James on day 2:

The last day was the perfect day of spring skiing, the sun was shining and it felt great!

The Russells (and baby Rader!) sunbathed on our lunch break

I love this picture as it depicts my BIL, Paul entertaining some random people during wine and cheese hour at our condo. He never meets a stranger!

group shot the last day

Lane's favorite thing of the whole trip was probably playing with Sam and Fair and the hot tub.

Thanks again Pie and Pal for an awesome trip, just let me know where you want to go next year :)