Condos and Backpacking

Cord and Dax were itching to try a winter backpacking trip.  Monica and I decided that if the boys were going to be sleeping over in the cold mountains somewhere that we wanted to have an adventure as well!  So, we planned a weekend up at East Canyon Resort.  It was a perfect location because the boys could leave from the condo and snowshoe up into the wilderness area of the resort and Monica, me and the kids had a fun place to "camp" as well!  Lorna came through and booked us a great condo and invited the rest of the Belnap crew to join us.  The kids were thrilled to have most of their cousins around to play with.  And boy did they play!

The first night was the backpacking adventure.  Cord and Dax had a great time.  They said that it was so quiet and beautiful in the back-country.  They built a fire, dug in the snow to make a spot for their tent, stayed warm in their sleeping bags, went for a snow shoe hike in the clear morning hours, and then made it back to the condo just in time for a hot yummy lunch! They didn't get attacked by any bears or wild animals, although Cord thought perhaps they were being ambushed.  Luckily, it was only an airplane!

Monica and I watched a cute movie all cozied up in our blankets on the soft couch in the condo.  I'd say it was a good night for everyone!

 Saturday, Gage woke up an immediatly put on his swimming suit.  He was so excited to take a dip.  I made him wait for daddy to get back before he could go over to the little pool.  The kids were all troopers to swim in the tiny warm pool.  They had to keep moving or else their jaws would start to chatter.  They didn't complain.  Afterwards, they warmed up in nice hot showers!

After lunch, Grandpa gave all the kids $5 to spend at the store.  My kids were thrilled!  They each picked out a treasure.  Yay for Grandpa!  Then we all headed over to the big game room in the lodge.  The kids ran around like wild Indians.  They played tag, catch a tiger by the tail, did an obstacle course, and rode on each others backs like horses.  Cord and Dax played Pop a Shot Pig for a long time.  I chased the kids around until I felt sufficiently exercised and then sat and played with Ollie.  We had the whole place to ourselves!  

That evening we had a nice dinner at the other condo and the kids played fun games with Granny B.  Once they were all settled down we watched another show and had some tasty snacks.  :)

Sunday morning we ate a big breakfast and then bundled the kids up to go play in the snow.  The sun was shinning and the snow was sparkling like crazy.  It felt so good to be out in the winter wonderland.  Cord was the champion snow helper man.  He pushed the kids down the hill and helped them back up again.  Brighton even got to get in on the sledding fun!  I took a few pictures and pushed Oliver around the grounds in his stroller.  He is still too little to keep up with the big kids.  Luckily, he got sleepy, so I took him back to the condo and laid him down for a nap.  Cute Aleigha agreed to keep an eye on him and I sneaked over for a soak in the hot tub.  It was the perfect way to warm up my cold toes.  Ahhhh.....

After lunch, it was back to the lodge for more ping pong, basketball, tag, and train building.

That night we had a mini Super Bowl party.  We ate yummy food and sort of watched a pretty lame football game.  Then it was time to pack up and head back home!  It was a great little weekend getaway and I think the start of a very good tradition!