medina, madonna, same thing

 Every year for the past 5 years, our kids have participated in the amazing 3rd-5th grade music concert. It is hard to believe that this was our last year having a child in this performance. Mrs. Ordway always outdoes herself and this year the theme was the "decades". Translation: it dated many of us parents! 

3rd grade took on the 60s

4th grade had the 70s

and 5th grade? the 80s!

Mrs. Ordway encourages the kids to dress in theme and with it being Alyssa's last year, I did it up and ordered this ridiculously cute kit in shocking yellow/green. I picked up a $5 sweatshirt and cut the neckline out and even found some brightly colored jelly bracelets! 

A day before the concert, Ashlee came over and was worried she had nothing to wear. Her mom was out of town and she was quite upset. Alyssa and Ashlee googled 80s attire and found some awesome ways to use what Ashlee had at home and I went and bought another sweatshirt for her. Her outfit was so cute on her too! 

I filmed the concert but since videos never seem to work properly here, these are a few still photos. We were up on the balcony so it was hard to see. Alyssa is on the far upper right hand side of the stage. I should have brought my better lens and am kind of bummed about that but I was focused on the filming part and that would have never worked on the other lens.

 And there it was our last music concert, although I decided to befriend younger kids so I could keep going - my kids think I am nuts, always good to keep them guessing!

until next year...

It's a wonder I ever finish anything! I posted that monkey bread photo and remembered I had not finished our last day at Crested Butte.

It's funny what the kids decide needs to be a tradition and somehow it involves a sweet treat at the same time! We went back to the Waffle Cabin after we loaded the cars and were ready to drive home. The Waffle Cabin sits at the base and the smell is really something else. I am not a fan of waffles and still won't buy one, but I do love smelling them.

This photo series made me laugh...

 I have no idea what Alyssa is doing but she sure is cute...

 ... and this trip will go down with the dabs! Silly 12 year old boys!

This is the ice sculpture setting that started the whole calendar theme for this year so we took another photo just for fun... it wasn't the same sculpture and the kids weren't interested in crazy poses but this is where your January 2017 photo is from!

 Instead of individual chairs, this year was an entire bench...

 ... and then it was back to car...

... with these two boys in shorts and ridiculously long socks!

Until next year...

experts only... dab!

Day 3 at the Butte... and just as phenomenal! The clouds actually lifted so we had some beautiful, endless snowy mountain views that were simply breathtaking - these photos don't capture the true beauty but they certainly make me remember it as if I was standing right there on the mountain.

Today was my turn to ski with the boys. Ken started the first part of the morning with the girls while Dennis and I explored with the boys another side of the mountain that none of us had skied yet.

Jaiden loved this sign...

 ... mostly because it had an explanation of the types of explosives they shoot to start avalanches... which I actually forgot to mention about yesterday when I was skiing with the girls. Luckily, I knew the sound because both Alyssa and Katie were very scared and uncertain what to do. They still questioned me whether we were safe to continue skiing despite me explaining that ski patrol and resort staff wouldn't start an avalanche where skiers were. They were both so concerned and sweet, but I realized that while we have skied some remarkable snow, we have never skied anything like this weekend when the snow falls so hard and fast that the threat of avalanches are a very real concern especially in the higher bowls. I also think ski patrol was trying to open more of the North Face side because the snow was so phenomenal! 

But back to today, it was amazing! 

 We got a little lost on this particular run. We only lost Dennis, but found him quickly at the bottom. The snow was sensational such fun, easy powder that we had to bring Ken up after lunch.

Ken took this photo of me and when I look at it, I realize just how steep that run was...

 but it was an amazing run with spectacular views!

Meanwhile, Dennis and the girls found an icicle tree...

 ... and stopped for hot cocoa!

 The girls love Paradise Bowl but I think this photo of them dabbing was near International which is on the other side and Black Diamond runs too...

 The boys did a dab...

 so Ken and I did a selfie at the top of Headwall...

and then we headed down into Headwall's bowl... the bright yellow coats are Jordan and Jaiden

 it's awesome they are in those bright colors - so easy to spot!

I didn't realize Ken took this photo of me and again, when I look at how steep it was, I am a little shocked I can ski this and still have so much fun!! 

Dennis treated the girls to a sweet treat as a way to bribe them into another run or two...

they were clearly happy!

... and sadly our final ski day ended. 

Another year of memories with our good friends at Crested Butte... until next year!

#burythebutte #epic

I had a hard time deciding do I finish this story before starting another one or start another one and maybe never get back to this story? 

I chose to continue. I have so many fun photos and awesome memories to share. This stage with kids is a little more busy than I would like but it is also so much fun with them... especially skiing.

Day 2 of Crested Butte was awesome! We woke up to more snow and snow still falling - what a perfect way to start our trek to the base when we can barely see!!

 This is the pathway to the base - the path way should be about 4 feet wider but it's a mere foot width with mounds of snow on either side. Part of Crested Butte is behind Dennis and the kids but to the right a little more.

Then onto the chairlift...

 I skied with the girls...

 ... and had a blast trying to find them! Both girls have increased speed remarkably this year. You can really see their confidence soar despite the deep powder and low visibility!

 Dennis caught up with us after lunch and the clouds started to lift...

 Before our final run, we stopped at the lodge for a bathroom break except the girls waited outside. I came out to this...

eating snow while sitting on a mound of snow! These two are so cute... it didn't end well though after I took the photo we were in major snowball fight!

Meanwhile the boys were with Ken skiing Headwall... one of our favorite runs!

Talk about two really good skiers - these boys have it down and ski the entire mountain without fear!

 When I look at the photos Ken takes either looking up or down at the kids or me, I am seriously surprised at what we are skiing. When you are on the mountain, you don't think about it. You go for it but later when I look back at some of these photos like this one above, I am mesmerized at what we ski! This run is one of my favorites and it's just cool to see our kids skiing it with us!

We didn't bury the Butte today but we certainly had an epic ski day!

wait, do you have netflix?

Every time we start to drive on this road, 

I remember the time the kids made me laugh asking if we had netflix in the middle of this (see this post for memory jog)! I remember their silly laughs and outrageous conversations. 

This year was different. This year we caravanned with our "flood" family (the family we lived with for several weeks after they were evacuated from their town until they could return - the 100 year flood of 2013). The family that was a perfect match for ours in so many ways, the coincidence is truly uncanny. 

Instead, I enjoyed the beautiful mountain scenery while Dennis drove and the girls listened to music in the back seat.

As we approached Monarch pass (we have to cross 3 different passes to get to Crested Butte, the 2 photos from above are from the prior 2 passes), I was driving and it was snowing hard. We gawked at how much snow there really was and signs buried beneath the snow! My excitement was mounting. We had read that CB had closed because of too much snow and wind making skiing conditions dangerous for staff and skiers but now seeing it with my own two eyes was more than I could take in.

We arrived with no problems and barely found a parking spot.

There are actually cars buried under snow just to the left of Alyssa!

Ken and I explored how to get to the base because it was clear the ski shuttle would not be making its rounds. We gawked at the how much snow there was... 

and he had me pose for this one...

Then we took the town shuttle and it was dinner to the Secret Stash for epic pizza...

 and a dab from all 4 kids...

 I have no idea what the kids were doing as we walked back to the condo from the town shuttle stop but I thought they looked hilarious with all their hands shoved into the snowbank. 

And that was the first day of our 2nd annual ski trip to Crested Butte with the Brownsbergers!