New Years Light Show

The Taos Ski Valley had an event to finish off the year with the a Torch Parade down the mountain followed by Fireworks! 

Here is a video I saw posted online from a different year, but this shows what we watched.

New Years Eve

As a family we spent some time with Lucien on the Zipper area.

Steven taking Lucien up the lift and down the green.

Ski School

We woke up early for Ski School for Lucien and Jill.

Lucien was dropped off at the Children's Ski Center and Jill headed back to pick up her gear to go to her group lesson.



Jill learned basics of stopping and turning and using the magic carpet in the Zipper area using both sides of the tube. After lunch the group lesson for Jill took the chair lift for a green. It was quite difficult and Jill spent the rest of the afternoon working on skills on the Zipper area. Lucien was picked up and quite excited about his day which included spaghetti.

We had dinner with the Zuniga's at Rhoda's.

Playing in the Snow

Day 2 of TSV was a day spent relaxing and playing in the snow while Daddy worked.

Taos New Mexico

After breakfast we made a quick stop to pick up some additional cold weather items and gas up. The kids had walkie talkies in hand to communicate. Before going to Taos Ski Valley we drove to see a bridge. We followed our friends, but after an icy experience by their vehicle we both turned around and decided today was not the day.

We checked into our room and went to get fitted for our ski gear that we would use the next day.

The area is beautiful with the way the sun dances on the mountains.

We enjoyed dinner together at Hondo Restaurant.

Road Trip

The day after Christmas we packed up and began driving west to New Mexico. Lucien was able to play with new toys in the backseat.

We stopped and stayed the night in Santa Fe where we met up with our friends the Zuniga's in the morning over breakfast.

We then took back to the road to get to our Taos Ski Valley our final destination to finish off the year. Our drive from Santa Fe to TSV was beautiful. The boys in both cars enjoyed chatting back using walkie talkies. As did the Moms and Dads using Beamer and Durango as call names. 

 That evening once we arrived and settled in we rented our ski equipment and enjoyed dinner with The Zuniga's. 

Mother and Son Amazing Race

We got to experience a fun filled Friday Night at Lucien's school during a PTA sponsored event for Mothers and Sons. Upon our arrival we decided on a team name put on colored arm bands then took an adventure sheet. We played Ga-Ga Pit, Tossed Penguins, Slung a Turkey and shot some Nerf Guns. We ate hot dogs and chips. 

Our last event was Lucien's favorite. We worked as a team to create a scarecrow in less than 5 minutes.

Pumpkins

The is weekend had a pumpkin theme. We decorated a pumpkin for a school family project. We did it for the book Fly Guy and the Frankenfly. We also went to a pumpkin party to carve pumpkins and eat fun fall foods.

Photo Book of our Trip

Summer 2014 Photo Book

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Monticello

Our last guided tour was to visit Thomas Jefferson's home. The grounds are beautiful. We took a garden tour before the home tour. He was very knowledgeable in many things and plants was one of his specialties. The garderns who take care of his plants today have labeled most the heirloom plants for visitors. They even have TJ or LC on the stakes if they know that Thomas Jefferson in fact planted such plants and LC if they know that Lewis and Clark returned from the west with such seeds.

kitchen

garden

The president would sit in here. 

garden, 3 football fields long

Mount Vernon

We woke up early on Saturday and headed to Mount Vernon to see the home of our first president a place he really liked to be. With the audio tour in hand and a guidebook we were ready to take in stories about his home. The grounds were welcoming as I'm sure is how they felt 200 years ago as well. Lucien enjoyed seeing the blacksmith work on a metal strap for a wooden box.

Red Roof is the Kitchen

Circle Drive

Potomac River

Side of House

Back Porch