Breckenridge in the Winter - part 2!

Oh Breckenridge, I can not wait to go back because Texas just does not do it for me!

We flew in on Saturday and spent most the day looking at snow, EVERYWHERE! I just can’t put it into words how much prettier Colorado is than Texas.

We woke up and the view of the mountain was beautiful!!

It was day one of skiing! Let me start by saying this was my 4^th day of skiing ever! The first 3 days consisted of me crying every time I fell because I just did not understand why I couldn't ski and then I would cry just thinking about skiing. But day 4 was GREAT! I was not sure what was in store. Michael said he was going to ski with me, but I knew that did not mean greens so I had to step it up. Luckily this time I could. We went half way down a green and off to the blues we went. It was actually a little warm, sunny and just around 32*(warm haha). As the day went on Michael was a little bored and wanted to do a more skiing so he went off with his sister while I stayed with Michael’s dad! It had been a long time since the last time he had skied, but he was GREAT at it! Just like riding a bike he said. Michael's dad is really patient, so he spent some time helping me become more confident! Thank you so much!

Monday it snowed all day! When we woke up we could not even see the mountain.

Michael and I went to a yummy breakfast in town and then spent the whole day on the slopes! It was such a fun day! Very cold and windy but couldn’t complain one bit! We tried some new runs, I got a little more confident, and Michael was not as bored as the day before. (Michael  is more advanced than I am - I am not as confident going super fast down blues as he is, but I am getting there) 

Michael’s parents spent the early afternoon with a realtor looking at homes!! Maybe one day they will own a home in Breck! That evening we went to dinner in town and spent the evening hanging out and playing games!

Valentine’s day was beautiful! When we woke up and could see the mountain, but could see more snow on its way! 

We had yummy crepes for breakfast and then went off for the last day of skiing. We all went to peak 7 and loved the new terrain. It started snowing on our way to the mountain and continued for the next few hours. The slopes were pretty much empty which was perfect! Afterwards we went back to the condo, got cleaned up and left. We were able to go by and look at a house Michael's parents really like before leaving for Denver which was lots of fun!

Michael and I lucked out and got to ski for free for 2 of the 3 days! Because Michael’s parents are looking for a home, their realtor had free passes and we were able to use them! YAY!! That was a nice surprise when we got to town!

We had such a wonderful trip! Michael said it was the perfect amount of time. We only missed a few days of work, but were able to spend lots of time doing what we wanted. We are so happy we were invited to go back a 2nd time with his parents! Thank you so much for taking us with you guys! 

Here are some random pictures from the weekend:

Day 1

All of us

CRAZY SNOW on Monday!

Too cold to show our faces

3 of us :]

Michael loved the natural icicles

Ahhh! So beautiful!

Snowing on the mountain

Just perfect!

Colorado, we will be back soon!

Breckenridge in the Winter!

January finally came! If you can remember from an earlier post I could not wait for it to get here! And now I can say February please get here! Details to come later!

View out our bedroom window

Breckenridge in the winter is beautiful! I thought it was perfect in the summer, but in the winter it is just as perfect! Snow covered mountains, the whole town is lit up, snow sculptures outside little shops, and everyone bundled up in warm clothes. I love wearing lots of warm clothes so this is where I belong!

Let me start by saying I have not been to snow in the winter since I was a little girl, and when we visited a place with snow we just made snow angels and snowmen. This trip was going to be the first time I ever skied! And let me tell you, I thought it was going to be way easier than it actually was.

Michael skied a good amount when he was younger so when he put his skis on, it was like riding a bike. He offered to take the beginner lesson with me the first day. As he was pulling out his eye lashes, I was snow plowing my way down the mountain as slow as possible. A few crashes, a few melt downs, a few words about how much I hate skiing and I was slowly getting better.

Us getting bundled up to start our day

The second day, I woke up and was super sore, but we went back out! We did a few greens (the easier routes) but Michael really wanted to do more difficult (fun in his words) ones. So we got on a lift I was told was going to greens but to my luck it wasn't. I had a complete melt down and once I finally got down the mountain (hours later) I had to take a break. Michael took me back out to greens later that afternoon to build up my confidence, which worked. The lesson helped with the basics but with Michael teaching the next day was really helpful. The one piece of advice that Michael kept telling me that I did not want to listen to was the faster you are going the easier it is to turn. Craziness is what that advice is haha

It was so bright out and the sun reflecting off the snow made the picture turn out like this

A different day - all of us!

 

That evening Breckenridge was celebrating Ullr, a god of snow. It was complete craziness. They had a parade full of “floats”. People were handing out beer, some were throwing candy, lots of the girls were barley wearing clothes, and tons of cheering. I have never seen so many people obsessed with someone as much as people from Colorado and Tim Tebow. I do not watch pro football so I do not care one bit but people talk about it all the time, his jersey is everywhere, and lots of people are “Teebowing” at any given time.

Sleigh dogs in the parade

"Teebowing"

Yes they were skiing in the streets

They sure love the Broncos

That lady was so red! It was about 2* during the parade

It was 50th anniversary of Uller Fest

 

 

The third day I could barely walk with being out of shape, snow plowing to stop myself all the way down, and falling all the time so we decided to take the day off. We wandered around town, went into Frisco (nearby town), just had a great day!

A pretty sunset

Lake Dhillion completely frozen over (in Frisco)

The next day we went back to skiing and I ventured onto a few blues with Michael. I was a little more confident so it was better. Still wasn't what I had hoped I would be feeling but I am glad Michael was able to get me out there. We went in to warm up at the base of the mountain  and about 10 minutes later we came out and Michael’s skis were GONE! We waited and they did not come back :[ the shop we rented from let us wait 3 weeks to see if they would get returned and today we got the call, Michael’s skis were returned, but not the poles. Sadly we owe just a little for those but it is way less than what we could have been paying. The shop brought Michael new skis to the mountain and him and his sister went and did some much more difficult slopes while I just enjoyed the cold weather and the beautiful scenery. That evening Michael and Julie and one of Julie’s friends went night skiing. I did not go so Michael would not have to babysit me yet again. He had a great time so I am glad I didn't go. I knew he needed some good ski time and if I would have gone I do not think that would have happened.

Night skiing

Before night skiing we did a chili cook off, part of Uller Fest. Chili in Colorado is not the same thing as chili in Texas. It was definitely fun and very filling. We tried some crazy things that I would probably never would have chosen to try. I ran into some old friends I have not seen since I was in high school swimming, so that was nice to see them even if it was for about 30 seconds.

One row of about six at the chili cook off

The last day we did not ski, which was okay with me. We got all packed up, had lunch at a great Italian restaurant, and enjoyed Breckenridge just a little more. 

Half a calzone from lunch - so yummy!!

One of the things that just amazed me was the little kids skiing or snowboarding on the mountain. No fear I tell you! An adult tells them to go, and they just go, no questions. They believe what you tell them so when they say you will be fine if you go down this huge mountain they do no question you and off they go. We saw so many cute little ones. We decided we will let our kids learn at an early age with a ski school. I just loved seeing them all over the mountain. It was like watching little ducks following their mom. ADORABLE!

Julie has been going  to Colorado most weekends for the past few years and she was telling us that this year at this time they are really behind on how much snow they should have. We got a good amount of snow when we were there so we had some great ski days luckily but she was right. There were mountains with almost no snow on them! Crazy!!

snow!

no snow :[

Even the side of the road is beautiful

I just love it!

  

And now what you have all been waiting for, WE ARE GOING BACK IN FEBRUARY!!! Yay! Colorado is our future home (someday no matter what) so we will go whenever we can!

January PLEASE!!

This winter I will be learning how to ski and maybe snowboard and I can not wait! I just wish we were leaving tomorrow and not in a little less than 3 months. I find myself day dreaming about being in Colorado, sitting in the hot tub with snow falling around us after a great day skiing/snowboarding! I can not think of a better place to be than in Colorado!

I absolutely love the cold, but I have never experienced a Colorado winter and I am very excited! When I was younger my family used to go to Lake Tahoe during the winter and that was the only snow I grew up around (and it has been a long time). We had a little teaser this summer when we were in Breckenridge and were 14,000 feet up on a mountain when a storm blew in and we were snowed on in AUGUST, I know what!!!! Click here to read about our summer vacation to Breckenridge.

We have only been to Colorado during the summer and let me tell you, the entire summer there is like the one week of spring we get in Texas. It is absolutely beautiful, breathtaking, and MUCH MUCH cooler.

Here are a few beautiful pictures:

It is no secret that one day Michael and I hope to live in Colorado, we just do now know how soon we will get there. If we had our way, immediately, but we know when the right time comes we will be there. Until then we will have to visit as much as possible!

We will be in Colorado for 5 days with Michael's sister and brother. It will be a smaller Neisch family vacation that we are super excited about! Believe me, I will have many pictures to share of a white January in Colorado :]