Deer Valley with the Hughes

We went to Deer Valley, Utah with The Hughes last January.  A last hurrah before we each expanded our families through adoption (which we are 8 days away from finalizing!).

Since google reader jumped around, I will too.  Here are some good looking, I mean cold, people during lunch. 

Videos of the J-man, on Ontario.  Side story, we all thought it was a great idea to ski down the hardest green, Success, with the kids to ski school on the first day of skiing.  Neither child had warmed up at all.  Derek and Scott decide to go backwards with two crying hysterically children as they literally couldn't remember anything.  I hightail it down the mountain to get the ski patrol to go pick all of them up.  It took Justin a day or two to get over it as he did not want to ski down Success anymore.  But Ontario was another story, as he could do it all day.  Just need some confidence!  And no more skiing down to ski school on the first day.  We will be driving, thank you very much.

Where we stayed.  We absolutely loved the view, the convenience of ski in and ski out, and the company!

The steps out the master bedroom to shuffle about 200 yards to the ski run. 

Momma got cranky in the 20s weather and ice cold chill.  I needed some glove warmth during one of our breaks.

The lift we took to ski down to the cabin

And walking down these steps with boots, frozen feet, and children is also quite comical. 

Two only children that act like siblings.  Best friends in Deer Valley and fantastic for all the parentals to relax since they each had a buddy.

We got to play around in the snow after Derek and Scott took off for an afternoon of skiing.

Snow ball fight ensued

I play to win, if you didn't know.  Justin comes by it naturally.

Snow angels

Ahhh, the hot tub

We went to Silver one night on the town.  Scott picked us a winner and we loved every bite.

Ski school and a promotion to be a reindeer this year.

The dads would ski with the kids after picking them up for the day.  We had to stay close at first for all Justin who had a brief fright on Success.

Scottie and Audrey

Perfunctory pose

Not much longer for this family of three as they await their babies from China!  So thankful we got to relish in this time with them.

A puppet show put on by the kids. 

I. love. this. picture.

Daddies and kiddos

Audrey, Scott, and Mariana. 

Michaelis threesome.  Come January there will be 5 Michaelis skiers!  Or at least we hope so.

Photo of the six of us, taken while someone stood in the middle of a run with my camera.  A little crazy but we made it.

Notice Mariana and I hovered from behind at times.  Such a great mix - Mariana wanted to ski for a bit, was cautious with the kids, and got cold quickly.  Scott and Derek would push themselves all day, loving the freeze and the challenge.

View from the lift of our place.

We had to make this crazy 45 degree angle turn to get to the section of our cabin.  Let's just say the first time Justin and I attempted it I thought we would both just have to roll down.  But we made it.  Helping up kids that have their skis stuck and twisted while maintaining your own balance is still something I am perfecting.

Here it is.

Justin encouraging Audrey and Mariana down.

The sauna in the masters' bedroom.  Let's just say we all took advantage after tight knots in the body after skiing.

We loved the trip, and the Hughes are great to vacay with!  A nice blend of organized and laidback when you put us all together. 

When are we doing this again??