So before heading out for 12 days, we spent 2 days snowed in, losing power a few times, listening to trees snap in our neighborhood, and trying not to get cabin fever. Chris and I decided to play all the games in our house (by candlelight) and keep one big scoreboard. It was a close one, but Chris ended up with the win. Turns out we got 16 inches of snow that weekend.

View from the front window...

Chris trying to dig out our car so we can go to the airport in SC the next day...

Once we're out of Asheville, the weather is fine. We fly to Grand Junction and stay 2 nights before heading down to Santa Fe, NM for Christmas with my side of the family. On the way though, we are caught in Utah by a snow storm and have to stay the night in Blanding (oh what, you've never heard of Blanding, UT?!). In our hotel, the heat does not work and Chris proceeds to kill a black widow spider. Apparently, this is one of his worst fears unbeknownst to me...so we get a new room so that he can actually sleep that night. Oh, I forgot to mention that he has bronchitus and is on some pretty heavy medication at this point so I was the driver and the functioning parental unit!

Looks like we've been in this room for days, but no, I'm pretty sure it had been half an hour.

Terrible shot through the hotel window of mostly the screen, but you get the idea...

So when we got there, this is what Chris did for the next 3 days...

Except when we went to look at the lights. On Canyon Rd. in Santa Fe they have one night where the art galleries stay open and people walk from gallery to gallery enjoying cider, lights, and the season. We went on chilly Christmas Eve. Here's a picture of my uncle Pat, sister Luci, brother Sam, and Chris.

Pretty Santa Fe scene...
Big light display...

Christmas day I dressed Charlotte up and we headed over to my aunt's for food and presents. Charlotte and Grandma...

Great Grandma...

The day after Christmas we went to this amazing restaurant in Chimayo.

El Santuario de Chimayo, a church established for its curative powers. During holy week, thousands make a pilmgrimage here.

After several days with my family, everyone departs for either California or Texas or Colorado. We head back to Grand Junction. This time, Chris is feeling better, the roads are clear, and we're feeling good.

We spent a few days continuing to recover. We even saw a movie...in the theater! Then on our last day we went to Powderhorn for skiing and snowboarding. It was gorgeous!!

I can't speak for Chris, but I was really feeling my age. It was all I had to make it down the mountain! We had even tried to "get in shape" beforehand knowing that we'd be using muscles that don't normally get worked.

Making sure I don't have frostbite and adjusting my boot...

View from the lift...look at that powder! Conditions were perfect because of all the snow.

Spectacular!

All in all, a great trip. Glad we won't be traveling with Charlotte anytime soon. At this point, I wouldn't drive more than 3 hours or one plane ride at a time. We're back in town and of course there is snow, snow, and more snow. I'm SO over it!! Hope you're staying warm and dry and enjoying this new year! It's good to be home, although we left definitely longing to be nearer to our families.