The Burnett Bunch: Christmas at the Slopes

***WARNING: This post is SUPER long!***

This year we were going to head out on Christmas Day to Sugar Mountain, North Carolina to meet up with Mark's family and go skiing. But on Christmas Eve as the weather predictions were starting to look a bit nasty, we decided to leave town early and get ahead of the ice storm. So, we rushed around in about 3-4 hours had everything packed for the next 8 days. We left town around 3:30pm and drove to East Memphis, TN. I was so glad to finally crawl in bed that night. We got up Christmas morning and had breakfast in the hotel lobby, by ourselves.

Cal Christmas morning

Then we jumped in the car and began the second half of our journey. I just couldn't wait to set my eyes on those snow capped mountains. Unfortunately we were about 15 minutes from our destination before they appeared in sight.

Boy am I thankful for things like portable DVD players and an iPad to keep the little one preoccupied on 16.5 hour drive.

This year we decided to meet Mark's mom, step-dad, twin brother Adam and his wife Sarah at Sugar Mountain, NC. We rented a house on the ski slopes. It was a wonderful little house. We rented through Vacation Rentals By Owner. Have you ever heard of it or used them? I think this is the 3rd time we've rented through them with Mark's family. We've been very pleased each time with our houses.

You could just walk down these back steps and you were on the ski slope. The picture below is really hazy because they had the snow machines going most days while we were there and I took this picture about 6 in the evening.

It was so windy and the snow machines blew so much that even our cars were covered!

Shortly after we arrived we had dinner and then it was time to begin the REAL festivities.....CHRISTMAS!

Cal was sitting and patiently waiting for the gifts to be passed out.

Here she is with Grandmother Roselyn after giving her a Ski Nutcracker to commemorate our trip this year. Grandmother collects nutcrackers and every year we try to find a really special one for her.

Cal and Grandpa Richard even got a present to share!

Here's Uncle Adam (Mark's twin brother) and Aunt Sarah opening a Christmas present for Baby Burnett from us! We are so excited that there's finally going to be another rugrat running around!

I LOVE getting Vera Bradley for Christmas and my Mother-In-Law is the best when it comes to Vera bags!

She speaks my love language!!

Mark was really excited about his gifts, more new puzzles.....

Calloway opened a huge stuffed giraffe from Uncle Mitch and Aunt Cynthia and she tackled/wrestled it for like the next 5 minutes......it was a huge success!

Thanks Mitch, Cynthia, Jonathan, and Katie if you are reading this!

After presents it was time to play.....

I mean help Uncle Adam put together his Polar Express Train and play with it!

We woke up Wednesday morning to find Cal and Grandmother already snuggled together under a blanket, in the recliner, and watching cartoons.

Mark and Adam gave Mark's new mind game a try.....

Later in the afternoon we headed out to go ice skating and tubing.

Daddy taking Cal around the ice rink.

Me coming up the Magic Carpet after tubing down the hill.

Then Mark and Cal joined us.

She finally got comfortable enough that she gave going on her tummy a try!

It was a blast!

She was too small to tube by herself so she had to take turns going down with the adults.

I have tons more tubing pics but I didn't want to bore you....if you'd like more, just ask!

Cal discovered that she liked the taste of snow.

On Thursday, us girls just hung out at the house while Mark, Adam, Roselyn, and Richard went skiing.

But by the afternoon we were beginning to get cabin fever so we decided to hike down the mountain to the lodge.

She decided to wear her little puppy dog hat today.

Right after we went inside the lodge we ran into Grandpa and Grandmother.....what impeccable timing!

On the way back up the hill, we took in the sights, and Cal took in the tastes of icicles....

and we made a few snow angels on the way.

Right outside the back porch was a steep hill down to the ski slope and Cal quickly discovered that it made a great slide!

The slopes were clear from 4-6pm daily so we went out one day and let Cal sled along the very edge of ski slope. We may or may not have been told we couldn't do that......

but it was fun while it lasted!

Most evenings around the cabin were spent like this......

On Friday, the boys went skiing, Roselyn and Cal had a Grandmother/Granddaughter day, and Sarah and I went for a day excursion. We drove 1.5 hours to Asheville, NC and went to see the Biltmore Estate.

We had a great time!

When we returned that evening we celebrated Cal's 5th birthday.

No birthday is complete in the Hutto-Burnett household unless you have cookie cake!

What more could a girl want that a My Little Pony cookie cake?!?!?

She got a cool twirly tutu skirt from Uncle Adam and Aunt Sarah!

There were lots of ponies and lots more gifts but since this post is getting long,

you're getting the abbreviated version.

After the party, the ski troop went to return their skis.

Here's a shot Sarah and I took of the ski slopes on Sugar Mountain as we were returning home, we had a great view of the mountain. Oh and that tall gray thing sticking up on top of the mountain on the far left of the photo was a huge skyscraper/condominium that's at the summit!

Saturday was the special day for this big birthday girl in her cupcake/birthday pajamas!

On Saturday, Uncle Adam and Aunt Sarah had to return home, but we welcomed the arrival of Brandt (Mark's older brother) and his wife Rebecca. We usually only get to see them once a year so it was nice to chat and catch up on things. Unfortunately we only had a day with them since we all left on Sunday.