We just got back from our annual ski weekend at my Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Ronnie’s condo in Killington, VT. I’ve been coming here for probably the last 20 years (taking some years off because of college and pregnancies). As always, we had a total blast. The schedule is as follows:
- Friday – everyone arrives. Though, now the parents are retiring, they arrive a day early to get an extra day of skiing in.
- Saturday – ski/ride, apres ski, shower, nap, dinner, dessert. Sometimes not always in this order.
- Sunday – say good bye.
All of the food we eat is homemade so everyone pitches in to make the food. My sister is pregnant so she and her husband went snow shoeing instead and then came home early to wrap dumplings for apres ski.
Some of our spread for apres ski. Aunt Cheryl makes an amazing brie wrapped in crescent roll. This year she debuted two knew spreads, artichoke and crab. Yum-mm. I have the left over brie and crab in the refrigerator now. At the other table, we had dumplings and chili. After a long day of riding, I feel like I inhale the food. Then my stomach finally catches up to all I’ve eaten and I feel totally full, then have to take a nap. Now that I have two little ones, this is harder to do, but I at least try to close my eyes for 5 minutes.
We don’t usually watch TV but we made an exception for the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
My mom and Aunt Alice in the kitchen (where they spend most of the weekend).
Some pre-dinner toasting. My Baby was soo so excited to get a big-person glass.
And was totally over the moon to clink glasses with everyone.
3 of the 4 birthday boys.
My Baby showing my sister how to dance like a rock star. She just loves to dance and sing to Roar by Katy Perry.
My sister showing my Baby how to sing like a rock star.
My Baby putting me into a choke hold.
My Baby and her captive audience watching the Russian cartoon, Masha and the Bear.
Dinner is served!
My plate. The rib and salmon were amazing. I can’t believe I could still eat after apres ski.
I made everyone take a picture at dinner. As our family has grown, the table extension has gotten longer and longer. Now it is a totally separate table.
The dads on dish duty.
My Baby helping Aunt Cheryl plate the cupcakes.
Enjoying all their hard work.
Then my Baby helped Sami put the candles on my brother’s birthday cake. Sami taught her how to lick the frosting off the candles after they were blown out.
We come together every year around this time to celebrate my dad’s, Uncle Billy’s, Uncle Ronnie’s, and my brother’s birthdays with multiple birthday cakes.
Here we are! (minus my sister and her husband, they had to leave early to go to an open house because they need a bigger home with a baby on the way).
My Princess was so excited to go skiing and she did amazing in ski school and on the mountain with us. She is getting so good and feeling so proud of herself. These are the mama moments you can’t even talk about without crying because they are so wonderful.
I am so thankful to have Uncle Ronnie (my Dad’s best friend from elementary school), Aunt Cheryl, Sami (their daughter), and Michael (their son), in our lives. I love that our families are growing together and we will be taking our first family vacation in Chamonix France in seven weeks!
A mama overwhelmed with memories from Vermont, thankfulness, and blessings,
Chrissy xo