pre-holiday fun.

christmas in the high country.

Every year I am tricked into thinking that this holiday season will be easier than then last holiday season.

That full hotels, new staff training, holiday parties, snowy winter weather and endless supplies of sugar cookies and snickerdoodles won’t get in my way.

Wrong.

This holiday season is just as wacky as last year’s holiday season AND the season before that; plus we are well on our way to being completely sold-out from tomorrow through January 3.

Phew!

Anyway, in the midst of spreading holiday cheer (everyone knows the best way to spread holiday cheer…is singing loud for all to hear...) and keeping staff morale up in the midst of long work weeks and 12/13 hour work days, I doing my darndest to soak in the beauty and light of the season.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I have got to be the luckiest girl in the world; and with Christmas upon us, I am so grateful to be surrounded by so many wonderful people who are so full of love and good cheer.

Merry Christmas to one and all!

the most wonderful time of the year.

Ok.

I’ve been slacking a bit.

The last few weeks, work and Ripper Roo dance team and more work and leadership committees and new hires and chopping down Christmas trees and, ok skiing, have taken priority over my little blog.

Welp, here is my attempt at asking for your forgiveness.

You see, just last week Mr. A, Abbey Road and I went on the hunt for the very best little Christmas tree in Summit County. We searched high and low before we came across the most perfect little Lodgepole grove just off Montezuma Road, about a mile northwest of Peru Creek.

We trekked into the grove, embracing the bright sunshine as it sparkled off of the crusty, week old snow. Mr. A, being the Lumberjack that he is, carried his avalanche hand saw in his back pocket and loops of p-cord over his shoulders, as we trudged through the gully in our quest.

Like a child in search of his prized Christmas toy, Mr. A honed in on the fullest, greenest tree in all the land.

“Done! I found the tree!”, said he as he whipped out the hand saw and began sawing through her soft, sappy trunk, working hard at each stroke until the tree hit the ground with a “THUMP!”.

And while I had my doubts (we all know how much of a perfectionist I can be…), she really, truly is the most perfect tree in Summit County.

Happy Christmas everyone!

solidarity.

I admit it. I let myself get caught up in the craziness of the holidays. 

Now don’t get me wrong. I love the holidays. I love that during the weeks between Thanksgiving Day and the New Year, that extra special feeling of closeness becomes ingrained in your everyday life. That to some extent the twinkling of Christmas lights act as a trigger for that feeling of intimacy that can only be felt for the ones you love most. I especially love that the holidays are the perfect excuse to eat as much dessert as your heart desires, because c’mon, what’s Christmas without a little Mary Murphy Dessert?

 

This year was a little bit different. Managing a hotel at Christmastime was far more stressful than I ever could’ve imagined. Truly. I went home every night for about three weeks and collapsed in bed or on the couch, completely wiped out from the day’s events. Not only that, but about 25% of Lodge employees (including myself!) down with an EPIC flu; that said, over the last few weeks I have received more late night calls and text messages about vomit than I care to admit.

 

Anyway, the holidays ended for us, officially, on Sunday; just two short days ago. And to celebrate we hiked up Mayflower Gulch this morning to spend a little time getting reacquainted with the great outdoors. I signed up for the Leadville Trail Marathon on January 1, so I figured Mayflower’s quick hike up would be good way to kick off the training season. But as we wandered up the gently sloping gulch road, I realized that while, yes, I needed to get my butt back in gear, it was my mind that needed this escape into the “wild”. At one point I stopped to take a breather and realized that all I could hear were the birds chirping in the early morning light, the sound of Abbey and Andrew, ok and myself, panting, and the squeaky crunch of the packed snow underfoot. It was glorious.

 

o tannenBUG…er baum

Came down with the Christmas flu about three days ago and have spent the last three days tracking back and forth between the bed and the couch. Missed some serious quality time with the folks (hooray for holidays in Keystone!), but you can bet I will be there tomorrow for Christmas dinner…mucus and manly voice in tow!

Merry Christmas everyone, may the light of the season carry you through!

comin’ up on christmas

New hire training is finished, spent the morning snowshoeing through the Keystone Ranch, family starts to arrive in Summit County tomorrow, and Christmas is a ‘mere week away. Feeling pretty merry these days!

run, run reindeer.

A few days ago, Santa lost his reindeer.

I mean that in all seriousness. At a Santa meet ‘n greet, Prancer got spooked and hopped his fence. Dillon and Silverthorne police spent a full 12 hours running around Summit County in an attempt to catch the rogue reindeer; unfortunately, Prancer was enjoying his new found freedom a little too much to allow the officers off that hook that easily. Luckily, yesterday morning the Dillon Police Department received a call from a civilian who was walking his dog on the Dillon Peninsula, swearing that he saw a reindeer bounding through the trees. Officers arrived and found that Prancer had escaped their pursuit by swimming across Lake Dillon. Good news is they caught the runaway reindeer and Prancer will be back in Santa’s Christmas line-up. 

In other news, the girls and I dressed in our Christmas best and “ran” six blocks around Breckenridge for the Race of the Santas. The dogs came with us too, of course outdoing us with their spirited Christmas-wear. Abbey sported a darling holly inspired cocktail dress with a Christmas Tree crown, while Mav was dashing in his Christmas napkin, turned bandana. It was a hoot and let me tell you, we were the talk of the town. 

’tis the season

Welp, we’re back and we survived 3000 miles in the car, a picturesque introduction to nine states across the good ‘ole USofA, and a week with each other’s families, and frankly I think I still kinda dig him. But we’ll get to that later.

First things first, the holidays have arrived and Summit County is chock full of exciting events and activities for the entire family. From skiing, to tubing, to sleigh rides, to tree lightings and carolers, a trip out to the mountains is the perfect way to get in touch with your inner-elf.

1) Skiing (duh): All the hills (Beaver Creek, Vail, Breck, Keystone, A-Basin, Copper Mountain, Loveland…am I miss any?) in the area are officially open and ready for skiers and riders of all skill levels to dive in and fly down. Keystone even offers a “kids ski free” package for families staying two or more nights with children 12-and under. Can’t beat that!

2) Tubing: think of it as sledding on steroids. Check out the Frisco Adventure Park or Keystone Adventure Point. Note, Keystone requires reservations–to book dial 800-354-4386 or stop by the Keystone Lodge and Spa concierge desk. 

3) Lighting of Breckenridge/Run of Santas, December 7 

4) Frisco Wassail Days, December 7-15: carolers, shopping, holiday charm galore!

5) Dew Tour: Can you dew it? These guys sure can. Watch pro snowboarders and skiers fly through the air as they launch themselves off some of Breck’s biggest jumps and rails. 

6) Brunch with Santa, Keystone, CO, Warren Station, December 15

7) 12 days of Christmas at Copper Mountain, December 20-31: 12 days of holiday surprises and events

8) USSA Grand Prix, Copper Mountain, December 16-22: top freeskiers and snowboards compete to qualify for the 2014 winter olympics

By the way, Summit County is expecting 8-16″ of snow tonight…the weather may be frightful, but all the snow sure makes the holidays delightful!