Bowers Blog: Bowers take on Colorado!

This past week was winter break for the kids. We decided this year that they all 3 were old enough and ready for a ski trip. We packed our bags and headed to Keystone Ski Resort in Colorado. It was SO much fun! It was Mack's first time flying, and the kids and my first experience skiing. The kids (and I) learned how to ski, and now Ellie is better than her dad.

We had a few sicknesses while out there. The first night we were there, Worth, Ellie, and I came down with a mysterious headache and extreme nausea that we chalked up to food poisoning. In the middle of the night, Worth realized that it was actually altitude sickness. Mine went away by the next morning, but Worth and Ellie still had some mild symptoms for the next couple of days. Our hotel room sat at 8000 feet above sea level, and where we were skiing was 11,000 feet. Coming from Valdosta, it is no wonder we all had altitude sickness. On day 2 of the trip, Emma decided to come down with the flu. I stayed in with her Sunday and got us a bus ride to the resort's medical clinic to have her checked for strep, since that is usually her MO. I thought it may have been flu since Ellie had the same symptoms the week prior to us leaving. She was negative for strep (thank goodness!) After a day or so of rest, despite still running a fever, Emma was determined to get back out there and enjoy the freezing cold mountain. It probably prolonged her symptoms, but since she seemed to be doing ok for the most part, we let her ski.

I have experienced some pretty cold temperatures in my life, but never done an outdoor activity in it for over 5 hours. It was freezing!! One day we went out there, the temp was 0 degrees, but the "feels like" temp was -16degrees. Any body part exposed immediately would freeze. The pictures are sporadic and there aren't as many as I would have liked, but pulling off my glove and getting my phone and hand to cooperate in -16 degrees was a challenge. (Not to mention my complete inability to concentrate on anything other than my skis when I was skiing.)

I have now only been to one ski resort, but I would highly recommend Keystone to anyone. It was amazing! Everything is kid friendly, there is plenty of on site transportation, the medical clinic was on point, and everyone there is BEYOND friendly and kind. You can tell they all love working out there and love life.

We made it through security at the Atlanta airport without a hitch.

We represented the Dawg nation well.

Mack's first flight. He was excited and a little nervous.

While Mack sat with Worth on the plane, the girls sat with me. I think they were more excited about having movies to watch for 3 hours than flying on the plane.

After landing in Denver, we took a 15 passenger van for a 3 hour (turned 4 hour) drive into the mountains to our resort. This was the view from the van as the sun set on the mountain range we were driving into. About 2 and 1/2 hours into the van ride, Emma looked at me with tears in her eyes saying she needed to go potty "real bad." I knew it was an emergency, but looked up to see mountains on either side of the road, no exit signs and us sitting in stand still Denver 5:00pm Friday traffic. I attempted to get her to go in a water bottle I had, but she flat refused. After contemplating, I yelled to the driver from the very back of the van LOADED with people to drop off at various resorts, that we were going to have to stop somewhere because we had an emergency bathroom situation. Once I said something another family with kids in the van quickly agreed with me as one of their children was silently suffering as well. There were no stops for at least another 30 minutes, but we finally made it to a very small gas station with 1 toilet and Emma sprinted inside passing gas the whole way in. (Now I knew why she wouldn't pee in the water bottle.) We all came out ok though and all children on board had relieved bladders and bowels. I just felt sorry for the other 20 somethings on our adventure that were just trying to make it to Breckinridge.

A long day and Mountain time zone made the Bowers kids very tired on the first night at dinner.

I had to document Mack asleep at the dinner table, as he has NEVER in his 5 years of life done this. Asleep at a dinner table? With people talking all around and food in front of him? I am still in disbelief that this occurred, but here is the picture to prove it.

Good morning Keystone mountain. Our lodge was directly beside the Gondola. Very convenient.

Day 1 on the slopes ready. This was before Emma fell ill.

Mack was doing a great job on skis. It amazed me how easy they caught on with no poles.

I was a nervous wreck the first day, but got it down after my second lesson a few days later.

Every now and then one of the kids would just drop into a snow angel. They were mesmerized at the snow. We don't see that here in south GA.

Instead of skiing, this is what Emma and I did on the morning of day 2. Fever, chills, unable to eat. It was the flu, but thankfully not strep, so I didn't have to deal with getting an Uber into the local town to find a pharmacy.

While Emma and I were taking it easy, Mack, Ellie and Worth were on the slopes.

That night,Emma felt up to it, so we went back up on the mountain for some night snow tubing. It was SO fun, very cold, but fun!

Day 3 we all took it easy and heading to the lake for some ice skating. This was a first for the entire family, and once again, I was terrified, until I realized how similar it was to roller skating.This is Ellie on a walker to help her balance. The kids looked hilarious with these walkers.

Mack looked like a little old man.

We decided to hit up the hot tub for the afternoon. The kids were being silly on the elevator down to the pool/hot tub (which was outside BTW.)

Frigid outside, but nice and toasty in the hot tub.

The kids and Worth also played some foosball and pool for the afternoon in the game area of the hotel.

A little fun in a big chair.

goof balls.

Day 4 was a much better ski day for all of us! Ellie and Worth hit the greens and a blue, while Mack, Emma, and I returned to our lessons with a new coach.