Here are some pictures of the group on snowboards, and skis at Monarch ski resort

We are home after a long drive. We decided to drive the whole way home in one day. It’s 11 hours driving time, about 12.5 with stops for two meals and DQ (Dairy Queen). Wednesday, the kids did a half day at Monarch ski resort, about 1.5 hours from the house. They all took a group lesson on snowboarding. Jewls had to stop because snowboarding placed too much stress on her right ankle. Good news, was that they refunded the class fee because she had not been up the lift yet. Jewls and Kara decided to take a ski class on Thursday and the boys worked on their snowboarding skills. J & K decided skiing was much easier than snowboarding and everyone had a great day. We forgot the sun screen on Wednesday, and everyone was sunkissed when they were done, even though they liberally used sunscreen on Thursday. While the kids were on the slopes, Jay and I explored rural Colorado. Monarch is very family friendly, very reasonable for a ski resort and not at all pretentious. Come try it out next year.

Friday was a take it easy day. Jay and I went to town and met the postmistress, got a PO box, checked out the local banks, visited the library and washed the Tahoe. In the afternoon, we went to visit Bishop’s Castle (google it). It is a local tourist legend and free (always a good thing). Jay and I found a UHaul station in Westcliffe and rented a smaller trailer for our return trip. Our luggage couldn’t all fit in and on top of the Tahoe, so we needed the extra space. The drive home was uneventful, if long. Attached are some pictures. I’ll try to post the rest on our smugmug site by the weekend.

We are in Westcliffe! The house is great, there is still snow around the yard and on the mountains, the sun is shining and everyone is getting along. We are here with Julia and her friend, Kara, Ted and his friend, Garrett. We left Friday afternoon, the 9th, and spent the night in Raton, NM, and arrived in Westcliffe on Saturday morning. By Saturday evening, we had our Dish network set up and all the beds made. By Sunday evening we had our phone and internet working, thanks to our neighbor, Aubrey, and our son, Wallace. The kids played in the snow on Saturday and got worn out. Sunday we made a trip to Walmart in Canon City, and toured the Prison museum and took a look at the Royal Gorge bridge. We had hoped to drive over it, but they no longer allow that, the bridge is part of a park system with rides and activities, etc. and a high fee per person. Monday, we went to Pueblo to return the trailer and look at the colleges there for Jewls and Ted. We also went to Manitou Springs, a quaint “hippie” and eclectic town for dinner with our realtor, Stephanie and her husband, Joe. Today, we are going to Colorado Springs to look at the colleges there and hope to make it to Cripple Creek, CO, an old mining town that is now known for its gambling casinos. A little CO Las Vegas, but it is also quaint. Skiing and snowboarding is on tap for tomorrow – hopefully everyone has made at least some acclimation to the altitude by now. I will post pictures later, after Jewls has a chance to get them ready for me.

Our realtor sent us pictures of the house and the area when she was there on Feb. 10th. I will attach a few to this entry. We are getting ready to go to Colorado for spring break. My list of things to take is growing, but it will just be stuff we won’t have to ship in May. I still have a lot of closets / storage to go through and empty, but what else is new.

We have found our new neighbors, Aubrey and Leah Moretz, to be as helpful and friendly as Doris and Ed Kopecky at the Pond House. We look forward to meeting them in person, Aubrey has already been very helpful to us. We have only spoken to them on the phone.

Ted is still looking for a job. He is hoping to hear from Cheddars, a restaurant, about a waitstaff job. But since we leave for Colorado on Friday,I guess the job will have to wait until our return.