Breckenridge: First Ski Trip Since Delaney was Born

February 22, 2016

Carter: 9

Addison: 7.5

Delaney: Almost 3

This was very first ski trip we had gone on as a family of FIVE! The last time we had gone was just over 3 years ago when I was 7 pregnant with Delaney.

This Breckenridge trip was last minute trip that happened to be over Blake's 38th birthday weekend. It ended up being a really a great long weekend, relatively simple and easy. It was made extra special when Meme Diane was able to join us. 

We flew out on a 6AM flight Friday morning and landed 7:45AM Denver time giving us a FIRST full day 1! The kids were absolutely great on the direct flight. We got the rental car and Meme and headed in the 1 hour and 40 min drive to Breckenridge. We got into the condo around noon, relaxed, grocery shopped, walked into town and got fitted for our ski's. We played in the snow and around the condo and got ready for the next two BIG days of skiing!

Day 2: Lots of amazing skiing! We dropped he kids off at 8:30 and opted for the upgraded kids ski school with a maximum of 4 kids. Since we ski so infrequently, it's important they have at least one day of really high quality ski instruction every time we go. That is a standard that my parents set early on and I will pass on to my kiddos. One of the best parts of the kids being in ski school is that Blake and I got a FULL 6 hours straight to ski together. I don't think we even took a bathroom and snack break until 2 that day. The ski conditions on this February 19-22 long weekend were the most ideal imaginable. February skiing in Colorado might be my new favorite None of the crowds of Christmas and New Years and none of miserable frigid 0 degree temperatures that frequent January skiing and none of the slushy skiing conditions that are always around in March. Blake and I just ski'd great blue runs and some double blues at most. The days of even wanting to attempt a black seem to be naturally fading, for us!

We picked the kids up at 3:00 and the four of us made an hour's worth of runs down the greens to see everything they learned.

Diane and Delaney stayed together and explores on this day. They got a plastic sled, shopped downtown and made a homemade birthday cake for Daddy.

Day 3: 2nd day of skiing, the four of us got out there early. Soon, Carter and I went off together in the pursuit of the easy terrain parks. He was consistently skiing mostly Blues by noon. We went in to the condo for a quick lunch and I traded Meme and she to spend the 2nd part of the day skiing with Blake, Carter and Addison. They had so much fun!

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Lunch break and "Happy Birthday to Blake!"

Delaney and Mommy had fun hanging out Sunday afternoon!

Diane, Addison and Carter

Day 4: We went on the tubing hill in Frisco and had fun sledding near the condo before we packed up and headed to Denver to catch our 8:05PM direct flight home that Monday night.

* Addie developed an extremely bad stomach bug on the 3rd day right as she was finishing up her 2nd day of skiing. She was in constant and terrible pain from Sunday afternoon until Tuesday mid-day. She was such an amazing trooper on the flight and trip back home even though her stomach was contracting every 15-20 minutes. I'll never forget how strong she was going through the airport and security so late that Monday night. 

** I would take that crack of dawn 6AM direct flight to Denver and 8PM direct home, in a heart beat, again. It was worth it, especially as the kids get older and older. I will say it was nice to be able to check into the condo at noon but if we were staying at a hotel in the future, I don't know if that would be the case. This was a true full 4 day Colorado trip and without having to spend the 5 nights to get the full four days of fun days. Carter was a little tired that next morning for school but not too bad. Addison, obviously ended up staying home, due to her continued stomach issues.

*** Surprising to be, this was Addison's first true ski trip and instruction. The last time we went to Breckenridge in January 2013 when she was 4.5 years old, we just got her ski's and took her on the tiny bunny hill a couple of times. 9 months before that, in Park City, at 3.5 year old, she had not Skied either. So although this was her 3rd "family ski trip," it was her first time really skiing. She learned the wedge and pizza and how to stop and was working on crossing the mountain in steeper greens and turning. Her confidence between the end of day 1 and end of day 2 was night and day different. She started ski school level 1 and graduated that same day level to 3.

**** Carter could not wait to ski! He started ski school at Level 3 and moved to level 4 if he were to continue the following day. (I have a video talking about, in detail what he learned.)

***** in hindsight, with the weather conditions so Spring like and picturesque, I wish I had gotten Delaney some ski's and introduced her to the tiny bunny slope. I am certain that would have helped next time!