After a busy Christmas where the festivities had just wrapped up on Wednesday, we were supposed to fly out to Montana on Friday. Montana got SO much snow that we had to delay leaving until Sunday, which was kind of nice because it gave us some much needed down time (and time to put away Christmas decorations.... I love the season, but when Christmas is over, it's time for it to COME DOWN and get your house back in order!)
We ended up landing in Montana on New Year's Eve. What a beautiful, snowy sight to see upon descent!
Seth and I made NYE dinner reservations at the Isaac Walton. We had to wait over an hour to get seated.
After waiting so long, they ended up seating us with a random couple just to get us in faster. At this point we didn't care that we weren't getting our "date night". Sally and Woody are from Eastern Montana. We enjoyed chatting with them, and it was fun to try their Huckleberrry Liqueur that they brought from home.
This is the driveway coming home. Snow is piled up so high on the sides! In a suburban, it comes just below the window!
The next day was a SKI DAY! James had a 2 hour private lesson with good ole Mr. Jesse (this is our 6th year with him!). After the lesson, Jesse said James was SO much stronger than in years past and by far did the best he's ever done! Go, Jamesey-James!
Adelyn did ski school for 2 hours. Seth and I skied just the two of us while the kids were in their lessons. We had a blast! It was perfect ski conditions.
We met back up for a yummy lunch!
Hello, hot ham and brie! I have missed you since last time we skied. Y'all, this is the world's best sandwich- maple syrup, jalapeños, ham, and brie on ciabatta
That afternoon, the four of us skied. We went down a blue that was too hard for James. Other than that, it was a super fun family afternoon! We ended it with hot chocolate at the lodge :)
When we got home, Brenda had a traditional New Years dinner prepared. We had pork, collards, and black eyed peas. Here's to health and wealth in 2018!
Two tired boys! SO sweet
The next day we went into town and hit up Norm's News for bison burgers and huckleberry milkshakes.
There's an antique shop in the basement. I was *this close* to buying this gladiator helmet! James loved it!
On Wednesday, we just stayed at the house. Check out the icicles!
The kids all made a cool fort. Thomas was the main one that dug this tunnel. By the end, they could all fit in it. I'm not kidding, there was a crazy amount of snow there!
His whole 10 year old body is inside!
We all went snow shoeing that afternoon. We normally snow shoe down to the river but the snow was too deep (no one had made a path). We could walk to the neighbors' house, as they had been out early and had done the hard work of making a path!
Cousins in the snow
Turning cartwheels as usual
Seth tossed everyone into the snow
These kids don't care about snow all over them!
Even I got a turn!
Snow ball fight
Cutie
The trees are so pretty!
After dinner, they wanted to go BACK out.
On Thursday, we went skiing again. On this day, Seth and I skied with Melissa, Emily, Thomas, and Adelyn. James did ski school (you technically have to be 7, but he did awesome!) until noon.
Just look at that sky!
I had so much fun skiing with my girl!
She has become a great little skier! She loves going to the very top of the mountain and doing the blues.
After lunch, we took them all down a blue. Again, it was too hard for James. The remainder of the afternoon was spent with Melissa, Emily, James and I on greens and Seth took Thomas and Adelyn down blues (and even an easier black!).
On Friday, it was clean house/pack/play outside day. We brought James's BB gun and had some fun shooting that.
Adelyn's first time with a gun. She was NOT excited.
This is me watching the kids sled from inside the house :)
We did all sled for a little while. Love the knee sleds!
James eats snow all the time!
Later on that day, the power went out! It was out for almost 5 hours! We all snuggled up, read books, played games, and just chilled. Once the power went back on it was a mad dash to get laundry and cleaning done! We left the next day and returned to EVEN colder temperature in Georgia! What a great trip and a wonderful way to start off 2018!
