The Second Annual Utah Bachelor Ski Trip

Due to the success of last year's ski trip, Kim sent me out to Utah by myself again this year. My parents and siblings took good care of me, making sure that I overate and underslept. We went to movies, did flowrider, had a Mexican fiesta, played games (without any fistfights) and were as crass as any Frost outing can be.  It was glorious.

Here is what skiing in Utah looks like when the mountains have less than half the average annual snowfall:

Over the course of the trip I went from looking like Ernest Hemingway

To looking like Wyatt Earp

To looking like Officer Friendly

Of course, stepping off the plane with a police stache did not bring me the warm welcome and passionate kisses I was looking for, so I'm back to looking like I'm "15 years old." I've had a number of people at work not know who I was, Eli wouldn't let me hold him all week, and my neighbor just introduced himself to me.

I guess I'll have to grow the beard back soon.

A Blur of Excitment

With five kids running around that were much too busy to hold still for a picture from the phone, the results of our Nashville trip are a blur of fun and excitement.  We loved it.  It was just what we needed.

We decided visit the Duclos's a week before Christmas.  We went a week before so that we could celebrate Ms. Ellie's 4th birthday, have a two week Christmas break instead of just one, relax, let the kids go wild together, and just enjoy Christmas before it was over.

Ellie blowing out her candles, on her monkey bar cake (like banana bread, but with frosting.)

  Ellie is very sweet and quite the peacemaker.  We gave her a dora flashlight for her birthday, and in her sweet little voice  she said "Thank you, I have always wanted one of these."

Ellie had a fun cooking party, where the kids made yummy pizza, fruit salad, and cupcakes.  It was very fun.

Grandma McFadden sent the grandkids Christmas presents to Alisha's, so that the kids could open them together.  And they loved it.  New pajamas and money.  YES!

While we were there we went swimming, to the art museum, to the movies, ate at great restaurants, and went bowling.  

Little Eli loves to play ball, so he was in heaven with the game of bowling.

All the kids loved it.  No one even cried, except maybe Uncle Cory.

One morning we went to the famous Waffle House, the place were the traditional McFadden hash breakfast originated.  I must say I think Dad has really improved on the covered and smothered hash browns.  I think Uncle Mike was the one crying on this outing, after a rough night sharing a room with Eli and waking up at the crack of dawn for breakfast out.  Mike only needs a few things in life, and Ambien might be one of them.

We drove home on the 23rd with the twinkling Christmas lights behind us, and more fun to come.

Cory and Alisha you are the hosts with the mosts.   Thanks for a wonderful pre Christmas trip.  I would do this every year.