Friday playtime Rachel was ready Frosty the Snowman and playing with a new Mr. Potato Head toy from Grandma. Mr Potato Head has a green pipe. Rachel calls both Mr Potato Head's pipe and Frosty the Snowman's pipe "corndogs". Some confusion between corn cob pipe and a corn dog!
Friday night we headed up to our hotel in Silverthorne, stopping at Evergreen for dinner. (note - I think this might have been the first and last time I ever eat at Burger King). We got a sweet early season deal on our Quality Inn ($74/night including all), which had a pool/hot tub/internet/laundry/hot breakfast/nice rooms. Friday night we arrived, unpacked, and eventually convinced Rachel to go to sleep in her travel crib. (yes, her awesome red Phil N Teds travel crib still fits and we still love it).
Saturday morning began at 4am, when Rachel woke up and would not go back to sleep. We took turns trying to quietly snuggle and read with her until we went to breakfast at 5:59am. We decided to take everything at head to Keystone for the day, and were excited to be there among the first in the morning to get the nice groomed snow. Rachel still did not want to wear her gloves, and getting her from the car to the gondola was another big challenge. She also did not want to wear her ski boots, but did seem interested in trying to ski, but after one run was really mad at her boots and gloves.
The tunnel with the magic carpet lift inside
We took turns skiing and playing in the lodge, until about lunch time, when we were done skiing the same 3 runs and Rachel seemed pretty tired and crabby. So we did what we thought was the responsible choice, and headed home away from the crowded slopes that were turning icy, and headed back to the hotel. Rachel slept for 10 minutes in the car, but would not nap again. Jason took her for a drive to try and convince her to go back to sleep while I napped, but she would not. Jason sternly told her she had to nap, and she said "Daddy... you are freaking out!"
Jason and Rachel came back to the hotel room, Jason napped and I took Rachel out for a walk. She wouldn't sleep but enjoyed taking clothes off hangers at any of the outlet stores. We had a quick swim at the pool and decided to go to the Breckenridge Santa Run and parade, where we met our friends Julie and Patch.
Rachel was very excited to see Santa and possibly sit on his lap. But, as we were walking from the car, she fell asleep in the carrier. So we watched the Santa run, had hot chocolate and cookies, and walked around before she woke up. She woke up to see fire engines at the fire hall and see Santa, but didn't want to sit on his lap.
We decided to head to dinner with Julie and Patch, but in the car Rachel started crying and crying: "I want to sit on Santa's lap! I want to sit on Santa's lap!" And no logic would console her. As miracles would have it, we walked into dinner and guess who had a nearby table? Santa! Still in his costume, and willing to say hello to Rachel. Rachel chatted with Santa but was too shy to sit on his lap after all.
After dinner, Julie and Patch were kind enough to watch Rachel while Jason and I headed back to the slopes for some night skiing. A bit icy... but fun to ski together.
Sunday morning started at 4:30am, and we could not convince Rachel to go back to sleep. After playing, reading, packing up, and breakfast, we headed back to the hill for some more skiing. We were much smarter about getting Rachel to the gondola this time. We used skier drop-off parking, which was much closer, and allowed us to drop off our gear. Jason was able to drop off Rachel and I and go back to park. Rachel wore her gloves and rode in the red wagon to the gondola.
We took turns in the lodge and skiing, but three things worked out really well. First, it was a beautiful warm sunny day. Second, our cousin Kelsey and her friend Eli joined us and helped watch Rachel some. Third, Rachel was interested in skiing and had much more success wearing all her gear and sticking it out a little longer. She did about 6 runs between our legs throughout the day. On the way down each time she giggled and said 'wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!'. On the way back up the magic carpet, through the tunnel, she sometimes complained about her gloves or her boots but sometimes just played happily.
Rachel falls asleep for nap before making it out of the gondola
Sunday afternoon we drove home, pretty exhausted. Rachel had trouble getting to sleep for the next few nights, and woke up early each morning.
Tues morning - woke at 3:30am. We'd put her back into her bed, she'd get up crying and come back into our room. Repeat for 1 hour. From 4:30 until 5:30am, I 'locked' her in her room by sitting on the other side of her door and held the door handle so she couldn't open the door. She screamed for an hour on the other side until I declared it morning and went in with her at 5:30am.
Tues night - similar door holding strategy for about 30 min or so allowed her to get to bed.
Wed morning - wake at 4:30am, door holding strategy for 45 min before declaring it morning.
Wed night - reading Christmas stories and singing Christmas carols. Rachel's favorite is Frosty the Snowman and the cute book 'Llama llama holiday drama'. But 'Santa Claus is coming to Town' was sang many times. And Santa 'knows when you are sleeping and he knows when you're awake." So before bed, Rachel asked if her stocking would still get filled by Santa if she was awake. And we happily pulled a great parenting trick and told her Santa would only fill her stocking on Christmas morning if she slept well and waited until the lights were on before getting out of bed.
Thurs and Friday morning Rachel woke up at 5:30am again. We're much happier parents for it and very thankful for Santa and his magical powers.
Rachel's favorite things these days include Spot from Eric Hill stories, 'We're going on a bear hunt' book from the library, singing Christmas songs, beating the drum at school, pretending to 'cut food' on her cutting board (see picture below), finding the 'R' for Rachel in any word or sign that she sees, doing puzzles, and dressing and undressing her dolls.
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