Snowy Mountain Adventure 2010

So Brent and I had time off b/t Christmas and New Years so we decided to take a trip to the mountains and also help care for our niece and nephew while their parents had to work. Of course Nonni and Opa jumped at the chance too and were instrumental in the niece and nephew (Avery and Michael) getting here as they left NC on Christmas Day, drove to OH to pick the kids up and came to the mountains in a crazy-weather-car trip on the 26th. When we planned the trip we didn't think about snow being a problem b/c this is NC right ?!?!?! boy were we wrong. There was a storm predicted to give our area its first white Christmas since 1947!! and we had our eyes on it. We almost packed up late Sat afternoon to attempt the drive to the mountains - we spoke to a resident in the neighborhood in the mountains and he suggested we needed to get here b/t 8-9amon Sunday b/f more snow was to fall. So we packed Sat night, got up at 3:45am to find the power out (our alarms were set for 4am) and we left about 4:45. Brent drove the whole way! The roads were not great until we got on 85/40W and actually markedly improved the farther west we got even though there was more snow. I was worried about a 7 mile uphill stretch about 40min from the house but that was a piece of cake. We got into the town closest to the house and had 13 miles of uphill that was not in great shape but we were blessed to be following a mile or so behind the snow plow who was making its first pass (we know b/c the other side wasn't plowed and we passed the plow on its way back to town). We got to the neighborhood and Brent attempted to get into the entrance but failed - there was way too much snow!! Thank God we had the Toyota Sienna (Brent's parents car since our car was in the shop) with stability control and traction - it kicked in a couple of times (our Odyssey has the same features which is nice - we would not have come in the Vibe). So we pulled off the road just beyond the neighborhood where there was a pull off and loaded Sam on my back in the Ergo and we used a sled a friend let us borrow to pull Hannah and our hiking pack on Brent's back that had clothes in it and trekked up the 1mile road to get to the house. The kids did great!! Much better than I anticipated - in fact Sam fell asleep on my back and had a good nap :) (This is actually a picture of our nephew Michael but it gives you a taste of the conditions) It is a very well built house - didn't take long to warm things up and get the water turned on. After scrounging for some food (which they keep quite a bit of here) Brent trekked back down and filled the backpack and sled he then used to haul essentials (diapers/food and sleeping gear) and came back up in time to feed the kids lunch and put them down for naps. Nonni and Opa and Avery and Michael got here about that time (they left at 5:30am from OH and had a wild ride in their Subaru - up a mountain road that hadn't been plowed! and their Subaru couldn't make it up the drive on its first attempt so they hiked in too). As we were getting things warmed up and settled Brent and his Dad shoveled the drive and made it back down the mountain to see what they could do about the stuff b/c boy do we have a lot of it! :) Well to our immense surprise and delight - they had loaded everything out of the van into the Subaru, put the chains on and made it not only up the mountain but into the drive! YEA! Apparently they had made the decision that since they loaded everything there was no turning back. So we unloaded and have settled in. (This is a picture taken later of Hannah and Avery and myself) Love the Christmas lights in the snow!
We have about 21inches of pure powder. Hannah and Sam love it as do we - they don't want to come in but we make them b/c it is so cold - has been b/t 8 and 20 something. The kids would have stayed out for much longer than we let them - they loved it so much :)
Avery and Michael were great with the little ones - here Avery is sharing her icicle with Sam.

They both have great senses of humor and seemed to have a blast playing in the snow as well.
The roads were plowed on Tuesday and b/c it was sunny it was great made for a gorgeous scene don't you think?
Brent's dad has some cool sleds (Zipfys - a mini luge) we are using at the house - it is built on a slope.
But of course once you ride down that means you climb back up - so you didn't feel the cold after a while :)
In the evenings we had great fun playing games in front of the fire.
One day we snowshoed to a Christmas tree farm - it was quite a trek! not one to take Hannah and Sam on yet but the sledding down the tree farm was fun and Avery and Michael were troopers.
Don't they look like they are cool and chillin'
Such a beautiful setting - this is at the top of the tree farm.
What a ride . . . . . and what a climb back up . . . .
Sam loved it too - yep that is Sam - his lovely winter blue hat was stuck in our car that was in the shop but fortunately Hannah had a spare to share.
Hannah had a sweet gig - ride with Daddy down the hill then ride with Daddy pulling her back up the hill.
We borrowed an infant/toddler sled from our friend Amy and Sam adored it! walked right to it and sat down and loved being pulled in it.

The first 2 nights were were there we put Sam in a walkin closet in our room and Hannah in a room down the hall - well we discovered how light a sleeper Sam is so after he was up most of the night the 2nd night we swapped his and Hannah's sleeping situation. Well she thought it was amazing - her own Hannah sized room. She promptly laid down and started reading books as she loves to do.
And Sam has started to LOVE to copy his sister - soon after the first picture was taken we found Sam enjoying the space. :)
On Wednesday Brent and I took Avery and Michael tubing as our Christmas present to them. It was crowded (of course during the holiday week) but it was lots of fun.
While we were away playing, Nonni and Opa were caring for the kids back at the house.
They had great time - so good in fact that Sam fell asleep in the sled during the morning - how precious. . . . and yes that is a big snow ball he is sleeping on :) Hannah wanted her brother to have what she had - a snowball so they piled him up.

Hannah was full of energy and given extra energy for a couple of days when we made snow cream. Fresh deep powdery snow makes really good snow cream - especially with real maple syrup and milk instead of white sugar and milk :) decadent!

After the sun had been out for a couple of days the snow lost its powdery consistency which then made it fun for building snowmen or rather snow bunnies as Hannah requested.Did we say Hannah loved the snow - she ate it and ate it - actually so much in fact that she has a small case of frostbite.

Daddy took them the kids on a walk and made a beautiful snow angel on a slope.

Hannah loved pulling Sam around until she would stop and say she didn't want to anymore b/c her "arm hurt"This was Hannah's attempt at a snow angel - but instead it worked like a stool so she could rest and eat her snow ball :)

Another day Brent and his Dad took a hike on a section of the AT trail that was nearby (I opted to stay home with the kids to play games with Nonni, Avery and Michael - they play a fierce dice game). What a lovely view.
God is so good - the beauty of His creation is unsurpassed!