Breckenridge, Colorado 2011

Sydney was entirely too excited by all the snow. When we arrived in Denver, there was nothing on the ground. But the higher we got in elevation, you saw all the white stuff. You could barely see out our windows at the condo.

She braved the elements in jammies. Lasted about 2 minuted though.

Lily wanted to go too!

We suited up for our day in town. Syd met a nice dog at the office. There are dogs everywhere, apparently everyone in breckenridge brings their dogs into town or in offices, restaurants or shops with them.

After breakfast, Sydney decided to be a statue.

Then we hit the toy store... which has a little play area in the back. Worked off some energy since she missed her ski lessons that morning.

A few Ansel Adams shots on the way home.

Look how happy she is that I just bought her some toys at the toy store.
Not for long. Little sucker lost those toys for the remainder of the trip due to "attitude problem"

Look who else has an attitude problem
clearly.

It began snowing and Sydney wanted to get a taste!

I gave Lily her first piggies. She looked way too cute for me not to take about 20 pictures. And I'm not even her mom.

I'm a wuss in the cold so I wasn't playing with Sydney out there, but felt a little bad she was all along (Daddy was skiing)... but upon inspection she seemed to be having a lot of fun on her own!

But came in a few times for one of these^

Coincidentally, one of Andy's mentor's from a company he worked at in Boston was in Vail just up the road and so they came in to meet us for dinner with their two boys. Sydney bounced right in with them and had a good time!

After dinner she and I walked around town while Andy got his boots fixed. She saw this outside of Rasta Pasta and had to get her photo taken in it (so she could fool everyone into thinking she was a boy!)
Fooled you right??
RIGHT!

Skiing the next day.
CUTENESS!!

CUTE!!!

After a day of skiing (no pictures on my camera of Kristina and I), Andy and I went out for dinner with Sydney for our 7th anniversary. We ate at Hearthstone restaurant downtown.

The little one had a shirley temple and kept toasting to us all night.

Sydney showing her daddy how to work some new apps on the iphone.

Then she made us a love note out of her bread.

downtown "traffic"

After dinner treat at Rocky Mountain Cupcakes. Sydney immediately noticed how sad the rainbow must be because it doesnt have orange in it.

Then a butt-cold carriage ride. Brrrrr!
During which we learned that the Hearthstone used to be a brothel until 1973.

Sydney had the carrot but was too scared to put it in the horse's mouth, yet it was dangling there so the horse began coming at her. I had to quickly take it from her and shove it in his chomper. Close call!

Whew!

It began to snow HARD on Sunday. Can't tell in this photo, but at one point you couldn't really see much outside. It was the kind of snow that twirled like a tornado in the wind. Which is awesome to me, but I certainly wouldn't ski in it. Sydney had no problem with that. I had plans to go snow shoe and cross country skiing. Was hoping for it to die down a little.

Family photo.

Aak! Look how cute!!! (I am)

If I miss anything at all about living in Maryland, this is one of them.

Hello!!!! Look at my midget of adorable!

Just Daddy & Syd on the mountain this day. No more lessons! Just a girl, her skis, a mountain and her Daddy!

Guess who tripped getting off the buss downtown? Me... right ankle busted. Actually not sure what happened to it. I was limping for 3 days afterwards but missed my snow shoe adventure and NOT happy about it. I was REALLY looking forward to that.

Instead I hobbled around with the Eckerling family and we wasted time at the toy store with little Lily. Though I'm sure it was more for Aaron. (boys). Then landed at D'vine Wine for some tastings. No complaints here! And as you can see, Lily isn't missing the toy store either!

Told you I'm a wine enthusiast. See? I even dress the part.

Lily... wasn't happy about that as much. Her face went from curious, to unsure, to concerned to VERY upset during the process of me putting this costume on.
Then Mommy wanted a photo of her in it and she told us how she really felt.

Straight from wine tasting to the airport.
From the mountain to the security line.
Everyone was sure to get the most of their vacation.
But whew! We were all tired!

The end!

Napa Valley Day 2

This is called a yodel. The only gluten free dessert available in the cafe, happened to be the most calorie-filled contraption of a ding-dong thing. Nothing but marshmallow product and flourless cake. I couldn't finish it but still took me about 20 miles to work off.

Leaving our hotel, I took a snapshot to remember it. And off we went on our wine tasting adventure!

First... lunch. This isn't where we ate but I noted to Jeannine that it seemed like a place that would smell real bad and be very dirty, but probably have really good food.

Also noted, this is Aaron's car we're driving. Not Jeannine's. This is after he cleaned it.

We got to a neat chop house place and they even serve water in wine bottles.
They don't joke around up there.

Still raining after lunch.
poo.

First stop.
Artesa.

Second stop.
The Domaine.
Walking up all those steps... didn't matter. Not even 1/4 of the yodel was diminished from fat cell memory.

Apparently Domaine was more popular than Artesa.

Rain.
poo.

Wine!
Yay!

Road trippin'!

Love Jeannine's face. "mmm... where to next... wonder if there's a Costco around here...."

Doh!
Closed!
fail.

Back in town, crossing the bridge. This reminded me of England.

Dinner at Sabor.
We got this sake.

Not because Jeannine likes sake. In fact she hates sake.
But the bottle was cute.
And she wanted it to put her flowers from the garden in.
(duh. that's why you get sake)

Dinner was SO good!!
Full gluten free menu too!

Besties!

broccoli and cauliflower had a baby.
and lived happily ever after.