This year we decided to take a family trip up to Whistler, British Columbia for the long Thanksgiving weekend and were excited that both sides of our family were going to join us. Todd and I had gone a few times before and I went there several times growing up but Todd and I hadn't been since having our boys. We left for Whistler early Wednesday morning for the 5+ hour drive. Before leaving Todd and I decided to give Jaden an early birthday present of the Leapster 2 (hand-held video game) which came with a Star Wars game, to say he was excited is definitely an understatement! It entertained him for the entire drive and Bryson enjoyed watching Tractor Adventures and The Wiggles on dvd during the trek. We stopped at a Costco in Vancouver to pick up some grub for the holiday weekend, since we weren't sure what types of food we could take across the border.
We were definitely happy to arrive in Whistler, and were thrilled to see our rental house! The pictures that we saw before arriving did not do this place justice, it was super nice! The house was originally 2 townhouses that were connected and the owner bought both, tore down the middle walls, remodeled it and made 1 BIG house. We were told that it had 5 bedrooms, but when we arrived we saw that there were actually 6! There were 2 master bedrooms upstairs and 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms downstairs.
Here is the main living space, with dining room table and 1 of the livingrooms (to the right of the table is the kitchen).
Here is a picture of the other living/family room, both came equipped with a large flat-screen tv and entertainment center. This area also had a large built-in sitting area that the boys loved hanging out in (the dining room and kitchen are to the right of this area).
Our master bedroom just off of the kitchen, the bed was super comfortable and Jaden actually slept (1 night) in that window seat!
The kitchen came equipped with absolutely everything, and really high-end appliances too (confection oven, regular oven, built-in steamer, trash compacter, 2 dishwashers, etc.) There was even a highchair and pack 'n play there. The only thing that was missing was a blender, no blended margaritas!!! That was okay since I found a new winter drink: 100 proof Rumple Minze mixed with hot cocoa, yum!
Bryson loved this table with carved wooden salmon "swimming" under the glass.
He also loved this carving of a black bear just his size, he kept putting his Bob the Builder toys in its paws.
After unpacking we all hung out in the house, eating, drinking, chatting and playing. Here is Gramps and my brother Aaron trying to figure out the convection oven.
Part of the fam around the table.
The boys were super excited to put on their new jammies and cuddle up and watch Wall-E
Nana, Jaden, Bryson and I watching Wall-E.
On Thanksgiving morning my mom (Nana), Todd and I took the free shuttle bus into the village so that we could look around and sign Jaden up for ski lessons for the following day. Whistler mountain had opened for the season the day before, but Thanksgiving was opening day for Blackcomb.
Here is my boy who can sleep practically anywhere! I guess he stayed up too late watching Wall-E!
Bryson loved "driving" this atv, he did not want to get off!
J woke up in time to drive it too:)
While waiting for our shuttle bus back to the house the kids enjoyed watching the Blackcomb gondola overhead.
The cooks in the kitchen: Todd's mom Annette, Grandpa Wayne, Todd and my dad.
Todd and J playing around.
Bryson was so cute, he really wanted to help my dad make mashed potatoes so he pushed a dining room chair into the kitchen so he could stand on it and "help". So cute (and resourceful too)!
Thanksgiving dinner all 12 of us: my mom, my brother Aaron, Grandma Jane, Grandpa Wayne, me, Bryson, my dad, Todd's mom, Todd's sister Rachelle, her friend Madeline, my brother's firlfriend Nicole, and Jaden(the 13th one was Todd and he was taking the picture:).
On Friday morning we woke up to snow falling and Todd, Jaden and I (B stayed with the many grandparents) got an early start as we had to get Jaden to the ski school by 8:45. It definitely felt weird dropping him off with strangers for the entire day (pick-up time was 3:30) but everyone was so friendly and good with the kids that I felt confident that he would have a great time. Todd and I decided to ski Blackcomb first, so we took the gondola up and figured out which runs to take. Since it was the beginning of the season there were limited runs, which was fine by us since the ski ticket prices were reduced and the limited runs were still 10x better than Snoqulamie! It continued to snow throughout Friday and it was beautiful on the mountain.
Todd and I warming up inside one of the restaurants on Blackcomb.
Here is Jaden right when we picked him up. He was exhausted, but said that he had fun. We never saw him ski though b/c the ski school goes to a special area on Whistler reserved for children enrolled in the ski school. His teacher said that he picked it up quickly again but was a little wobbly in the legs (she said that is typical if they just had a pretty big growth spurt), and that he did get frustrated if he didn't "get it" right away. That's my boy!
We headed straight back to the house and Bryson and Jaden enjoyed some brother time watching Wall-E once again!
Bryson amused everyone by running around wearing J's ski helmet and goggles!
Jammie time. . . did I mention that all of the tile throughout the house (mostly the kitchen and bathrooms) had heated floors--so nice!
Bryson and Grandpa Wayne.
Jaden and Nana playing Go Fish.
On Saturday morning Todd and I took the boys and grandparents into the village to look around. Todd and I were so incredibly sore from skiing the day before that we decided to buy 1/2 day tickets at 12:30 and Aaron and Nicole said that they would join us as well.
Such a great picture of Grandma Jane and Grandpa Wayne.
The boys loved playing on this snowmobile.
Todd, Grandma Jane, Grandpa Wayne, Annette and Jaden in the village.
Bryson enjoying chocolate covered marshmallows.
The village was under quite a bit of construction to get it all ready for the 2010 winter Olympics. Bryson, of course, enjoyed seeing all of the tractors:) This was just one of the hotels and shops.
J and I
The boys loved playing atop this dirty snowpile in the middle of the village.
After heading back to the house, eating lunch and putting Bryson down for a nap, we headed back out for some skiing/snowboarding. Todd decided to snowboard along with Nicole and Aaron this time, but I stuck with skiing.
Aaron and Nicole on Whistler.
This is a picture of one of the new Peak to Peak gondolas. Which will take people from Whistler to Blackcomb mountain in about 11 minutes. Unfortunately for us it doesn't open until December 12th (Jaden's 5th birthday!) so we will just have to come back to Whistler soon to try it out!
This is a pic of my brother Aaron (on the left in brown jacket) and the Whistler side of the Peak to Peak gondola building as well as a restaurant in the background.
Aaron, Nicole, Todd and I.
J underwater
Brycie in the hot tub that he refused to get out of. . . his little legs were bright red when I finally made him get out. . . I'm sure that's not good for a 2 yr. old?!?
Jaden practicing his rop-swingin' skillz
The biggest kid of all. . . my husband!
Jaden and Bryson on Sunday right before we left the house.
Todd, Bryson and I went into the village one last time on Sunday morning so that I could do some quick shopping before we left. Here's B in front of the Blackcomb gondola.
One last time on the atv!
Heading home. . .
We can't wait to go back!
