Our cousins came up to Flagstaff on Friday night and all of the kids really got into the snow after dinner.  And I’m not talking about a 6:30 sled ride…they made a hill in the front yard and were sledding around 8:30 pm!  It was SO much fun.  Our kids definitely have a need for speed.  Fortunately for them, we kept the thrill coming the next day when we visited Elk Ridge, a tiny little ski lodge up in Williams.  It was perfect for us.  Perfect. We rented tubes (you can’t bring your own sleds, FYI) and they had a little track complete with a ramp.  It was too fun.  Both kids went down alone.  Here are some pictures from the rest of the weekend!

My boy doesn't leave home without this!

I wish I had the camera handy when I failed miserably at attempted snowboarding.  I couldn’t even get up the hill, let alone down.  They had a rope-pulley system that you hold on to and it brings you up.  Or, rather, it’s supposed to.  After 3 failed attempts, the instructor recommended I take off the snowboard and walk up the hill.  Once I did get up there, I couldn’t stand up.  It was physically impossible.  I spent the next 15 minutes on my butt.  And about 27.8 seconds on the board actually going somewhere.  And of course, for the finale, a face plow into the snow with a couple of 360′s thrown in for dramatic flair.  I kid you not.  I will try this again.  However, it will be after a private lesson!

Do you live in the snow?  Are you a fan of cold-weather sports?

On Friday we took the kids to Sunset Crater, a volcano that erupted a long time ago.  I remember coming here as a kid a lot.  It was the place to bring all the visitors, next to the Grand Canyon.  Anyway, the kids really liked it!  They wanted to climb to the top, but we told them that wasn’t an option!  They got to feel all the rough volcanic rocks, and of course play in the snow a bit.  There were so many great photo ops here!

By the way, I think I’m going to have to make tomorrow’s post about this trip too.  It was so much fun!

I just thought this was a cool picture…it makes me want a really good camera!!

What did you do this weekend?

We were supposed to go to Flagstaff a few weeks ago…remember this post?  That storm was labeled “The Storm Of The Century” in Flagstaff (capital letters added for effect).  I mean, they did shut down I-17 for like 3 days.  The kids were so bummed out.  We had a good weekend anyway.

Fast forward to this weekend.  We’re trying again!  And we should have no difficulties this time.  Roads are clear, and in fact, I’m wondering if there will be enough snow so we can sled?  I will keep you posted…and post pictures, of course.  We’ll be bunking with my cousins this weekend, too, which should be a lot of fun.

I am nervous, though.  I will admit it.  My parents got rid of their satellite TV to help trim down costs.  The sad part is that they have this beautiful new (47 inch?) flat screen that they can only use for movies.  I think under normal circumstances I’d be okay.  I don’t want you thinking we sit in front of the TV all day every day, but we do enjoy TV.  Like I was saying, normally it wouldn’t be too bad except I’m missing some good Olympic TV.  Women’s figure skating is tonight.  Apollo Anton Ohno is on Saturday.  Hockey is on Sunday (I think).  I don’t want to miss all that stuff…we are loving the Olympics right now.

And I gently reminded Brett that he wasn’t going to be able to head to a sports bar with Cousin to partake in the Olympic festivities without me.

How long could you go without TV?

We’re heading up North for the weekend to play in the snow!  We’re keeping our fingers crossed that we don’t get snowed in.  Or maybe we want to get snowed it?  Either way, I should remember now to pack extra medicine for Miss Em…that’s the worst is when plans change and you don’t have enough medicine to tide you over.  And then plans don’t change so much!  Anyhoo, have a great weekend and I’ll be back on Monday with some snow pix!

Post edit: No trip for us.  The roads are closed further up north and “they” strongly advise no one to come up unless you have to, and then to use chains.  Unfortunately that cuts us out of the equation.  The kids are bummed, mostly because they have to go to school today.  And I now have to figure out the next steps to fix the leak in our wall.  That will be my weekend!