Sun Valley 2012: Emmett's 1st Real Winter

After spending a few days in Texas, we headed to cooler climates.  Let me just take a minute to say how difficult it was to pack for this trip.  Not only did we have to pack for both warm (TX) and cold (UT) climates, but our Sun Valley excursion also requires all of our snow gear.  In addition, traveling with an infant nearly doubles the amount of stuff you need in the first place!  Anyway, our very large and heavy suitcases made it successfully and kept us nice and warm as we played in the cold.  We had a fun 5-hour drive up to Sun Valley where we stayed and played over the Presidents Day weekend.  Beth rode with us and helped entertain Emmett.  Numerous rounds of  Twenty Questions (which would be more accurately described as "As many questions that it takes to guess the answer")  kept us entertained for much of the way. 

We always look forward to being able to spend lots of fun, quality time with my family.  Everyone was able to come except for Nate who was in the MTC.  It was Emmett's first real exposure to cold weather.  I've had his snowsuit for months and was so excited to use it.  He looks pretty dang adorable and seemed plenty cozy amid the snow.
I skied the first day with my dad and brothers.  It felt so great to be on the mountain this year, and I had a great time with my fam.  It was also super fun to see Boyd on skis.  He had his first lesson and did a pretty fantastic job for a 3 year old! 

That evening we headed to the bowling alley.  It was surprisingly uncrowded and since we are such loyal customers each year, the worker gave us special treatment.  He put 15 tokens in the jukebox for us and he gave us a bowling pin and sticker for a souvenir.  That act immediately converted our bowling game into the Sun Valley Cup.  We all signed the bowling pin and determined that the winner would receive the pin until the following year.  

Jerai was a trooper--just weeks away from having her baby!

Our Sun Valley Cup

The whole crew.  My mom was the overall winner, but Clark and I were proudly on the winning team.

My sweet little boy, bundled up and headed to the pool.

Everyone was looking pretty hot in their bathrobes to and from the pool.  This was our first time taking Emmett in a pool.  He was initially a little surprised by the warmness of the water, but within seconds he was kicking and splashing and having a grand time. 

Pop-pop and Grandma bought Emmett a cute Sun Valley shirt.  He loved spending time with so many loving grandparents, aunts and uncles!

The next day Clark and I relaxed at home, both feeling a little under the weather, but in the evening we all headed out to cheer on the Sun Valley Suns on the ice rink. 

A close-up view.  I think Boyd was quite intrigued.

Playing with Uncle Quin.

 After church on Sunday we all went to the sled hill.  We had two new tubes to try out and lots of eager sledders.  Steve took a sled nearly to the top of the big hill.  Unfortunately, he only managed to stay on the sled for about 2 seconds.  Mom, Dad and Beth also hiked up to the top of the hill, but they did so without any sleds and had to scoot and roll themselves down. 

Well, maybe Emmett wasn't too eager, but that was mostly because he was so tired.

Love this bundle.  But don't let his kissable face fool you.  This boy was an absolute disaster at night during this vacation.  He developed a shrill, ANGRY scream that he liked to use between the hours of 1 and 4 a.m.  The only way to console him was to let him nurse and sleep in bed with us.  It made for some looooong nights. 

In our down time at the condo, there is always a puzzle on the table.  I didn't help one bit with the first puzzle, but these lovely ladies finished it so fast that Mom and Dad went out and bought a new one.  It turned out that they bought the worst puzzle ever.  It was SO hard.  On Sunday afternoon I was pretty sure it wasn't going to get finished; however, everyone took a shift and we managed to get it done sometime after midnight.  In the end there was one piece missing that would not be found despite our searching.  Mom left a note for the housekeepers and low and behold, just last week the piece showed up in the mail!

Our tired selves expressing exhaustion and disgust for the butterfly puzzle.

Monday morning we all went to the ice rink before heading back home.  Jerai (doesn't she look like a model?) played with Emmett while we all took turns helping Boyd skate.  Such good times.  

So blessed to have such wonderful family!