Fun at the Rodeo

Last week Max, Courtney, Grandad, Finley and I headed to the rodeo. We took the lightrail over to Reliant and got to the rodeo early before the crowds started to get crazy. It was spring break, so it was going to be a huge day. Finley and Max had a blast playing at Fun at the Farm, riding carnival rides and watching the pig races. We grabbed lunch then visited some livestock. After that it was getting quite busy, so it was back on the light rail to get home.

Skiing at Sunlight and Vail

Besides Beaver Creek, Finley skiied at both Sunlight and Vail mountains.  She loves the snow! We also made a Mike snowman from Monsters Inc...with an olive for his one eye.

Random Snaps From Hawaii

I took our camera that can go underwater to Vail because I knew it would be okay to get wet in the snow, what I didn't realize was that a lot of our Hawaii pictures had never been downloaded from the camera and we haven't used it since our trip last September. So here is a random assortment of pictures from the camera from our trip to the Big Island.

Playtime and Beaver Creek

We arrived in Eagle on Thursday, Heather had to finish up a couple things at work, so Finley and I played on the playground and in the limited snow around.  There is sure a lot less here this year than last, shows what January vs March means.  We also grabbed a hot chocolate on our walk.  Finley had trouble holding the cup with the paper that keeps you from burning your hands.

On Friday, Heather's friend's daughter Kennadie came to play.  We took the girls to an indoor play gym and gymnastics center and they had a blast.  We went out for lunch and milkshakes at the "Tic Toc Clock" and then the girls got a great nap in.  We made cookies that night and got everything together for our early Saturday morning.

Heather was teaching her Form Your Own Team group at Beaver Creek, so we woke up early and left the house before 8 am.  Heather went into work while Finley and I made a snow cat and a snow man.  It was really snowing hard and the fresh snow didn't work so well for snowman making.  Heather had given us olives to use for eyes and it worked great, just like Finley had been planning. We headed back to Beaver Creek to grab something to drink and it was chocolate cookie time.  Finley and I each had a cookie and after we got drinks, Finley had another.  Such a healthy breakfast...I told her to pretend we were in France.

We then went to rent her some skis and get her an annual pass for Vail-Beaver Creek (free!)  I wasn't going to ski since I am not comfortable enough on skis with Finley alone, so I was free to use the gondola.  Finley got fitted for her skis and helmet, we took the cable car (gondola) to the beginner slopes and after the second run, Finley was a mess.  She was crying, I was frustrated and it was time for a break.  We went in to the ranch for some water and Heather was there with her girls.  Everyone had a snack and Heather gave me an edgie-wedgie for Finley.  That solved all the tears and she made about 5 more runs on the different slopes at the top.  The edgie-wedgie gave her the confidence to ski, though she kept complaining about one boot.  And I was having trouble locking the boots in the skis, so I decided to break for lunch and see what was up with the boots at the ski shop.  Turns out, she had two different sized boots on...whoops!

We had pizza for lunch and went back up to ski a few more times on the beginner slopes. We took the gondola back down to build a snowman and play in the snow.  Finley made snow angels and had a blast.  We headed back up the gondola to go tubing, which was Finley's favorite part of the day.  All the staff were cracking up at her directions.  She would want to go first, then second, lane one, then lane three, then a race...it was hysterical.  One of the guys at the bottom couldn't believe how many times she tubed.  Though at the end she was making me pull her in her tube instead of pulling it herself.  On the first run of the magic carpet she got tripped up with her tube and they had to stop it.  After that I took her tube up for her and she promised to remain still as a statue.  That didn't stop her from singing, which entertained everyone on the magic carpet. 

After tubing was done, we met back up with Heather and headed back to her house.  Uncle Steve (Heather's dad) came over to watch Finley while Heather and I went to dinner at The 10th on the top of Vail.  The gondola ride was long and cold, but the dinner was amazing and we got to ride a snow cat.  Finley was jealous that I got to ride another cable car and the snow cat.

Having Fun!

Rodeo Festival

It's Rodeo time in Houston, which means Rodeo Festival at Finley's school. We pulled up this morning and I said, "look Finley, a pony!" She wasn't excited at all...her response was, "look Mommy, it's Micah!" Micah is her best buddy at school and he was walking into school. That pony has nothing on Micah. Finley loved petting all the animals, except she was a bit wary of the duck and the chicken. All the baby goats were so cute! After the pony rides and petting zoo, Finley played in the hay and listened to some music while enjoying a snack. The final station was a craft decorating a cowboy hat. Finley spelled Finley and Mom on the hat...aww...