Matt, Rachel, and Cadence: February 2012

This past week we travelled to Sunriver, Oregon for some winter activities. Although our recent adventures have gone from exotic to family friendly, they're still a blast and definitely full of memories. This trip was no exception. Sunriver, Oregon is a resort town near Bend where we visited during the summer and enjoyed bike riding and swimming. Winter brought a far different atmosphere and a far different toddler than the baby we brought in the summer. We braved the roads for a very long 7 hour car ride with only 2 stops on the way to Oregon. With an opinioned and vocal toddler, we knew it'd be an interesting ride and I caved and let Cadence watch Baby Einstein on my car's DVD system. We have wireless headsets for DVD audio but Cade wasn't interested in them so she just watched her movies in between snacks and very very short naps. She did remarkably well for the most part.

We were lucky enough to have our friends, Nathan and Laura, join us for our week of skiing and such. Not only did they provide great company for Matt and I, but Cadence absolutely adores Nathan ("Na-nuh") and they were kind enough to put up with the toddler in the house and even offer to babysit on multiple occasions. Score!

Our week started off a bit bumpy and had some ups and downs, quite literally! On our first attempt taking Cade inner-tubing, we had some issues. Cade has never been a fan of the snow or being cold. She tolerates her snow suit but refuses to wear mittens or have her hands covered. To top it off, she is adamant about not wearing a hat. We didn't really have a recipe for success when we put the unhappy toddler in her snow suit, with hands covered, and tears streaming down her face. I truly thought she'd enjoy innertubing with us since it provides a slide like sensation and she loves the slide. Little did I know our snow fun would come crashing to the ground....or I would. We had rented snow tubes from a local sport's shop in the Sunriver Village and had been having a good time taking turns going down the sledding hill. Matt decided to take a turn and as I held Cade and was snapping pictures, we had a little accident. I knew Matt was flying down the hill but as I continued playing photographer, I was sure that Matt would go to my side and instead he literally crashed into me and knocked me on my face, dropping both the camera and Cade. It took me a moment to get off the ground and try to tend to my screaming infant while I myself was still seeing stars. We eventually calmed Cade down, who sustained a goose egg from the fall (I can see the parent of the year award now) and inner tubing as we knew it was over.

"If you're happy and you know it clap your hands..."

Seconds before the crash

Cade's bruise

My eye day 2

We had enjoyed some mellow and lay low days after the horrific fall. Matt and I skied and had an awesome time. While my parents both exposed me to skiing, I didn't really go up on my own much nor own my own equipment so definitely needed a refresher course on skiing, particularly because the last time I was on a mountain, I attempted to snowboard, failed miserably, and concussed myself.

Matt was a very patient instructor and we had a blast skiing not once but twice. I do have some bad habits to kick, such has holding my poles too far back but in the twice we hit the slopes, I did improve drastically, and only yard saled once. :)

Matt got lucky and skied the back country with Laura and Nathan on a particularly sunny and clear day while Cade and I hit the outlet stores.

With some very willing friends, we decided to innertube again and the second attempt was far better than the first. While Cade still wasn't a huge fan of the cold, she let Nathan take her down the hill more times than she let us. (What is it about kids being better for people other than their parents?!)

Happily letting Nate put her in her snowsuit, which she hates....

Nathan and Cade innertubing.

Nathan, Cade, and Matt tubing.

We of course hit the hot tub to warm up!

Day 4. I married a cougar but here my eye resembles the Huskies. Purple and Gold, anyone?

As one of our last activities, we thought we'd go ice skating. Having rollerbladed as a kid, I assumed that I could at least not fall down, which is easier said than done. I may have stayed close to the wall and not skated fast but I didn't fall. I've had a fear of falling and getting hurt for a long time and this trip simply proved that my fear is quite legitimate. Cade's feet were too small for the smallest kid's ice skates but we let her try them on. Even being held while skating or watching skating proved to be too much for Cade since she doesn't like the cold (she must be a beach baby!!!) . The poor thing wouldn't keep her hat and gloves on and got very cold and repeatedly said AND signed "all done! all done!" even throwing in "please". (Cade says "Baaaaaaa" for please).