Estes Park - #1

 It's time for the "family Christmas" get together at Estes Park -we sure missed having Brad (who had to stay home to take care of the dogs because they couldn't find someone to help out) and Matias (who had to work that weekend)!

Luckily the roads were great getting up there but of course Colorado has hardly had ANY snow and the same for Estes Park - no snow at all!  When we pulled in, all the ice skaters were disappointed to see that the pond was NOT frozen over as usual - so no ice skating this year!

We all met around 3:00 with the hopes of getting in our cabins!  No such luck!  Jill had booked the cabins and we always tell them we need them right beside each other - but you don't get to choose!  They just assign them!  Jill had also told them to NOT book us into a particular cabin as it did not work out sleeping wise so what do they do?  Booked us into that cabin - we were NOT happy so Jill and the reservation person worked and worked trying to find 2 cabins together but it was not to be!

Luckily, the 4 bedroom cabin was ready to get into and it was extremely nice - a completely different set-up than we've usually had!!  The 3 bedroom cabin was NOT up to par - Jill's and Glenn and I were in that cabin along with Aleah and Kenzie - no dishwasher which wasn't a big deal as we did the big meals at the large cabin, but there was no master bathroom and the 2 bathrooms they had were right next to each other - and only one had a shower!  Unfortunately it wasn't ready till 7:00 that night which was a bummer!

But it was taco night to eat and we all pitched in at the big cabin to get it ready - and before I forget, we were NOT right beside each other so had to drive a car each time we went UP!  We're sure hoping next year will be beside each other!

A picture of Jessi and I at the lodge before we went to the cabin!

Dinner - tacos!!

When we finally got word that our cabin was ready, Jill and I raced down in the cars along with the guys and got everything unloaded and stuff put in the frig - then back up the hill as it was game night!

 I had 3 Christmas games prepared so had divided the crew into 3 groups - I think their favorite was Jeopardy!!  Oh my did it get loud!!!  They were all Christmas categories and the 3 girls who were the captains of the teams had to say the answer!!  I can't believe how competitive this group is!!!  We all had a blast and Gwyn helped me by pulling the category and dollar values off the chart!

We had a cocoa bar that night - yummy!!!!  All kinds of toppings to put on and whipped cream and peppermint and chocolate spoons - so fun!

I think the kids went skating that night - they had a great time!!

And this was poker night for the teen boys and the guys!  Robby is so good to help teach the younger ones how to play and bid!  It was a LATE night for some of them!

And early Saturday morning, Glenn was up early to have his coffee beside the fire!

Christmas presents up next!