When we first found out about Baby T, my parents sat all of us kids down with our significant others to talk about plans for Christmas. A few years ago (actually, it's been SEVEN, which is really hard to believe!) we had one of our most favorite Christmases when we went snow skiing with our best friends the Joneses...and my parents suggested that we do it again - skip out on the presents and spend time with family and friends making priceless memories in beautiful Colorado. Naturally, we were all 100% on board! Even though I sadly (but happily, because it meant I was pregnant!) knew I wouldn't be able to snow ski, I couldn't imagine a more picture perfect Christmas than sipping on hot chocolate while surrounded by beautiful snowy mountains and an amazing family. But I truly could never have imagined THIS! We spent a full week in a gorgeous ski-in/ski-out Copper Mountain home with our other best friends, the Christansens. There were 19 of us total - which included 6 kids between the ages of 10 months old and 8. And we had an absolutely perfect Christmas vacation. We ate GREAT food, played games, skied our hearts out, danced to the Wii, sledded in the snow, and some of us laughed so hard we literally threw up. No present could possibly compare to spending such special time with the people you love most. (There's no way we could ever say THANK YOU enough to my parents for such a magical, unforgettable Christmas!) And even though I didn't ski, I got to spend LOTS of quality time with my precious nephew and niece, Trent and Tess...I made sugar cookies with all of the kids...I sat on the balcony, drank hot chocolate, and watched as all of the skiers came down the mountain right in front of me...and of course, I loved on Baby T.
After we got back, I spent a day at home doing laundry and re-packing while Tyson went to work, and then we hopped in the car and drove up to Fort Worth for our Christmas with his family. His parents just moved into the most beautiful home I've probably ever seen - which made it feel just like we were on another vacation at a gorgeous resort! We saw all of his aunts and uncles and grandparents and had so much fun visiting with them. His parents took us out for an incredible New Year's Eve meal at Eddie V's and then we watched as Tyson and his brothers set off a ton of fireworks on the bluff at their house...it was quite a display! How blessed we are to be surrounded by such loving families!
Kelly and Trent on the bus with ALL of our luggage on the way to the airport...
T & T...Tyson and Trent
Too cute!
Tess & my mom (Nona) getting on the airplane.
Tess was SO excited! She hadn't been on an airplane since they came to visit us in Australia 2 years ago...
Keith & Katie...little did she know that she was about to get ENGAGED in a couple of days!
The entire Sadler Family...the kids did great on the flight!
Tess riding the Uncle TyTy pony...
After a 2 hour drive from the airport, we made it to Copper Mountain! A view from the balcony...
The main living room...
It was truly a ski-in/ski-out place...the slopes were right there!
The huge game room...
And checkout the theatre room!
On the second day, everyone was ready to hit the slopes...especially Kelly in her retro 1980's ski bibs!
Katie, Robert, Tyson, Kelly and Keith all ready for a day of skiing!
Mike opted to keep watch of the slopes for the day...
Nathan had fun playing with the sleds.
We entertained the kiddos with lots of painting and crafts while their parents skied.
We also played a bit of dress-up and put some Uggs on Russ!
That afternoon we got Tess all bundled up in her new snowsuit to play in the snow!
Tess and my dad. (Papa)
Isn't she the cutest thing you've ever seen?!
Tess & Papa getting ready to sled!
She wasn't sure about it at first, but she LOVED it!
Keith and Katie watched from the balcony while we sledded on the slope...he proposed to her the very next day right there! That's right, Keith is getting married!
My best friend, Tess Marie!
The Sadler Family
I love this guy. Best dad ever!
I love this guy too! Best husband ever!
Delanie gathered up a ton of snow for an afternoon snack.
Jason and Russ ready to go sledding!
Tess and Russ liked it so much they wanted to go together...
I'm so lucky to have such an amazing sister. And can't she totally sport those bibs?!
Kelly and Kristie
The 3 Casswell Kids...
The original Casswell Family....
The expanded, newer improved, Casswell Family!
Tess got a bit tired and decided it was time for a snow nap.
Tell me he's not the most adorable little man you've ever seen?!
I see where he gets it from!
Tess and Uncle TyTy in the middle of a snowball fight!
Here is Tess and mommy on her first day trying to ski!
Kelly helped her get the skis on before they went on the lift...
It was a bit of a rough day and Tess had had enough after about one run...
She decided she'd rather sit with Kristie and Russ than try skiing anymore!
Back on the slopes after the lifts closed down for more sledding fun! Isn't he going to be such a great dad?!?! I can't wait!
Tess looking up to her new-found friend, Delanie!
Another day, another try and she did it! Here's Tess skiing from Mommy to Daddy.
I got to play with this handsome guy while they skied!
He was loving that apple!
Tess wanted to make a snowman one day....
So her and Nona tried their best, but the snow just didn't want to stick...
And this was the finished product that she named Kokomo.
'Tis the season to be pregnant because 'tis the season to eat! :)
On Christmas Eve we got all bundled up and went to the town center to watch santa ski down in a nighttime torch parade!
We stopped in at a chocolate factory for some treats!
I just wanted to eat him up!
Tess wanted to sneak into this car for a pic with Uncle Tyson!
Kelly and Trent waiting for santa....
He came down in this lighted torch parade, which was pretty neat and made all of the kids extremely happy!
So on Christmas Eve night we had an ugly sweater contest! I picked out our matching ones...can't you see how much he loved it?!
Man, we look good!
Kristie, Jason and Russ. They were lookin' good too! I didn't get pictures of everyone else, but it was a house FULL of awful looking hotties!
The kids all got matching Christmas jammies!
Papa read them "The Night Before Christmas"...we didn't have the book, but the iphone saves the day again!
Tess turned 3 the day after Christmas and I made her a cake...her favorite part is the batter though!
She loves to call herself a "batter licker"!
I couldn't get her to give me a real smile at all!
She was just way too excited!
I can't believe that Tess Marie is THREE years old!
She had a GREAT birthday!
Finally time to come back to Texas...of course she had to ride the pony through the airport!
Too cute!
Ending a great year with an awesome New Year's Eve dinner with Tyson's family! Ty and I are looking forward to the New Year and our brand new adventure coming in April!! :)
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