Kid-free weekend in the Old Pueblo

We arranged a sleepover for the kids with Grandpa Larry and Grandma Judy and planned a kid-free weekend in Tucson.  There were no sporting events, no concerts and no events to attend - just a chance to get out of town and do whatever we wanted.

After watching the weather forecast, we decided to check another item off our Arizona list: ski Mt. Lemmon.

The ski area is called Ski Valley and according to their website, "During World War II, a group of skiers made up of Lowell Thomas , a noted journalist and adventurer, a local forest ranger, and many Davis Monthan serviceman which included Thomas’ son, later a Governor of Alaska, and Art Devlin, a future Olympic ski jumper and Television commentator, formed the Saguaro Ski Club. The well known cartoonist, Paul Webb, created a patch and membership certificates for the club showing a skier wrapped around a saguaro cactus. Thomas sent honorary memberships to dozens of friends, famous personalities around the world, making membership a tongue in cheek must. A ski gala was held that first year at the Arizona Inn with many of Thomas’ friends in attendance. A Forest Service lease was obtained, an old model “A” with it’s tires removed propelled a rope tow and Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley had it’s beginning."

Mt. Lemmon is the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains, located in the Coronado National Forest approximately 45 minutes north of Tucson. The elevation at the top is 9,157 feet above sea-level - compared to the average elevation of Tucson which is 2,600 feet.  The mountain receives approximately 180 inches of snow annually!

Facing North looking towards Oracle

The sun came out for a bit in between snow showers.  Photo is facing southeast.

Great weather watching on top.  Photo facing southwest.

Boarding in the Old Pueblo, done.  Photo facing south.  Tucson in background.

Whit lasted for about 6 runs and then her wet rental boots had sufficiently frozen her feet as the temperature at top was approx 12 degrees.  Scott did about 6 more runs while Whit sat inside the barely heated lodge (therm read 40 degrees). 

At the end of the day they headed back to the car and went to check out a new pizza joint known for their large selection of craft brews.  The evening rounded out by watching the Wildcats beat Oregon State at one of Scott's former hangout spots.

We packed up the car the following morning and headed out to Oracle so Scott could give the 17 mile course for his upcoming 24-hour mountain bike race a test run.  Yes, he signed up to ride his single-speed bike (with no suspension) for 24-hours straight.  Rider who completes the most laps in 24-hours wins.

Sledding with Auntie!

A few more pics of our trip:

Love the sky.

"More"  "More"  "More"

New Years trip

Our 5th Annual New Years ski trip to Colorado was a big hit again this year.  We spent the week hanging out and hitting the slopes with Auntie Adrienne, our friends Alex, Jaci and their daughter Keeli from Denver and our friend Jason from Phoenix. 

Family-style dinner at the awkwardly unstable table each night.

The snow on the mountain was plentiful (12-14" on our first day, 12+" on New Years Eve and a few inches on various days in between) and the each day the group had fun venturing out in various combinations.

A glorious powder-day New Years Eve on the Alberta Lift.  The weather forecast was calling for approx 6" of fresh pow but I'm certain that more than 12" fell during the day.

The house we stayed in was not much to write home about, but it was close to town, warm and had a great sledding hill (not to mention a sled chair and a modified sledding inner-tube) for the kids.

Team Hayes all set for a big sledding day at the house!!

Katie did 2 full days in ski school and 2 half days and has become quite the skier.  She loves to weave through the trees and never appears to be out of control.  She conquered a few new black diamond runs this year and did a fantastic job in all the fresh powder (videos from camera man Jason to come later).

Katie was ninja tough this year.

Natalie got to play in the snow for the first time (last year there wasn't much snow at the house and we didn't have snow-gear for her so she didn't get much snow exposure).  She loved to listen to her feet crunch the snow as she walked, asked for "more" each time Daddy took her down the hill in the sled, giggled when she learned she could eat it and loved to scoop it up in her mittens and throw it in the air.

Thanks to Auntie, Nat had a blast eating snow!

Will post more of the photos and probably a few videos later.

Boys will be boys, even after they are dads

Jason is the first to brave the chair sled.

Scott heads down the driveway next while Alex watches...

Random pump plugged into Adrienne's spare outlet inflated the random inner tube we also found in the garage.

First to brave the inner tube, Alex.

Jason successfully attempts the sled chair on the big hill.

Christmas 2012

Katie spent Christmas with her mom this year so the biggest hit on Christmas Day was Natalie's new bike...

Later in the day...

Riding her bike with her bunny shoes!

Christmas elves

This year Scott and I were lucky and didn't have to wrap any presents except the ones for Katie

Katie was patient enough to let Natalie help her with some of the wrapping.
This eventually evolved into Katie wrapping presents, handing to Natalie and then Natalie running out of the guest room to place them carefully under the tree and then clap for herself.

Playing with "melmets" before the ski trip

Katie helped Natalie put up the ornament each day on our nostalgic Advent Calendar

Decorating our new hand-me-down tree

Faceless Christmas letter author

After sending out our Christmas card and letter from Gus, I received a few complaints (mainly from Grandpa Husker) that was unfair that "poor Gus" had to write the Christmas letter but didn't get make an appearance in the picture.

So here you go...

Grandpa, will you come visit and take me for walks and throw the ball??

Really wish he liked wearing these antlers...

79 lbs of sweet fur-covered love

Laundry helper...

Laundry is definitely a chore for me.  It never ends around here.  One day it's stinky workout clothes.  The next day it is stained kid clothes from school.  The next day it's fluorescent sparkly clothes for Katie.  Then it's sheets, towels, dog blankets, etc.  It never ends.

So it's always nice to have a little extra help...

http://youtu.be/xlSST2H3Qvo

I think I finally figured it out...

Natalie at 19-months

It doesn't matter where we go, everyone always looks at Natalie and then looks at Scott and then looks at me.  Then they ask us where Natalie got her dark eyes from...

Whit at 18-months

2012 winter holiday cello concert

Katie is wearing a black sparkly shirt and playing on the edge of the stage to the right of the conductor...

Be careful what you ask for on your Christmas list

Scott still has this alarm clock in use on his nightstand.

I'm not sure what you paid for it back in the day Larry, but I can say for sure that it was money well spent.

6th grade

Ahhhhh, time flies when you're having fun.  Or when you have kids.  Or both.

Dear Santa....

Please bring cardboard boxes for our kids.

Reading in the sun

We had a lazy Thursday at home with mommy and while I was doing the dishes, it got very quiet in the computer room.  I came around the corner and this is what I found...

And yes, those are coffee stains on her shirt.  Turns out she likes Pumpkin Spice coffee.

Flashback to a year ago...

I just finished wrestling Natalie into taking a nap.  Whew.  When she needs a nap....she needs it an hour ago.  After I got her into bed I sat down at the computer and was doing a little file organization of old pictures and videos from my cell phone.  I found this video which was taken exactly one year ago...

http://youtu.be/7lP9us8o2vk

Halloween 2012

Halloween was a bit chaotic this year, but it was successful.  The purple witch, the bumble bee and the hot dog all had their age-appropriate fun and Scott and I were able to relax a little after Natalie was in bed and get rid of all of our candy while Katie was out trick-or-treating with the 2 girls across the street.

Playing Legos on the floor while mommy makes her annual "Mummy-dogs" for Halloween dinner.

All dressed up and ready to go!

"Hey ---- what about me guys?  What am I supposed to do tonight?!?"

Natalie really wanted to go trick or treating with the big girls.  Maybe next time...

Natalie just scored her first piece of candy from the neighbors!

Our fantastic neighbors, Carter and Bonnie

Paul Ryan cardboard cutout and our neighbor Carter.
He gave out jello shots and margaritas to the adults and candy to the kids.

4 houses was enough for Natalie.  She was in bed sound asleep a few minutes after this photo was taken.