Katrina and I flew into Denver and stopped at Ari’s house to pick up presents and gear that we had shipped. After grocery shopping we headed up to our townhouse in Winter Park, CO. We were there a few days before Matt, Ari and Rylan joined us which gave us time to paint the entry from sage green to creamy white.
We also set up some Christmas lights along the balcony and over the front stoop. After getting some of the work completed, we headed over to Deno’s Mountain Bistro for dinner.
The next day we completed our work before trying out a new place in Fraser called Retrocade for drinks and pinball.
They had a food truck that looked liked they had great burgers. The owner had to run out for more buns and after waiting for way too long we decided to eat at Terrain Taco. They were pretty good!
Matt, Ari and Rylan arrived and we went up Vazquez Road into the National Forest and cut down a Christmas tree. Only cost us 29 bucks! We all had to change our idea of the perfect Christmas tree as the one we picked out was from nature and not from a tree farm. Check it out:
I know, it looks a little like a “Charlie Brown” tree, but after we decorated it it looked a whole lot more like a typical Busse Christmas Tree:
Afterwards, Matt and I assembled the new beds for the “bunkhouse” bedroom intended for kiddos. It now can sleep up to four! As Matt and I toiled away, Sassy and Ari took Rylan to see the live reindeer in Cooper Creek.
We enjoyed a typical Busse Christmas Eve dinner of fondue.
A tradition that came from Katrina’s family and we love sitting around the fondue pot and talking as a family. After that we watched a Hallmark Christmas movie and played a bingo game that evolves scenes from the movie.
A big shout out to Wendy Hockstra for the idea for the game!
Our Christmas Day started with opening gifts between us, but mostly Rylan. He is such the character and loved every minute of it! Matt made homemade cheese jalapeño bread that really hit the spot!
Check out the furry Disney Crocs we got:
Went into Winter Park Resort where they had one of the activities during the month long celebration “Deck the Slopes”. This event was a band and drinks complete with Santa in a sleigh.
Afterwards there was a drone show.
We watched from Derailer Bar where we enjoyed appetizers and a drink.
A high school and college friend of mine, Janet Zonsius, her husband Bryan, their son Steven and his wife Britt along with their two children, Tatum and Callie rented a nearby condo and spent a couple of days in Winter Park. Steven and Brit recently moved to the Denver area and they all were celebrating Christmas. We went sledding at a nearby hill and Rylan loved it!
Rylan kept saying that he wanted to go again with Papo! It was a decent workout carrying him back up the hill after each run.
The eleven of us went for a sleigh ride at Dashing Through the Snow.
The snow was a little sparse and they had to take us with wagons, but it was still fun. After the ride we had hot cocoa around the fire. From there all headed back up to our place for drinks, appetizers and pizzas.
They enjoyed our townhome and the kids played while Matt & Ari and Steve & Britt got to know each other better. Perhaps they will see each other again whilst down in Denver.
Matt and Ari headed to the Winter Park slopes for a day of skiing while Katrina and I played grandparents. Watching Rylan is so much fun! We meet up with Matt and Ari at the base of the mountain where Rylan could watch them ski / board down.
I think he will be ready for ski school next season. We had a nice lunch with them at the Winter Park Resort. When Matt and Ari came home we had dinner at a new restaurant called Mexicali Taco and after putting Rylan to bed they headed to the hot tub to relax. The mexican food was really good! It was their opening day.
The next day we stopped at the Rollin’ Street Bakery before heading to Georgetown. It was another new restaurant for us and it was good – definitely will go again. We headed to Georgetown to ride the Loop Railroad for Santa’s Rocky Mountain Adventure. Apparently, during the silver / gold rush era the burg of Georgetown was a booming place, but the mountains were too steep to continue the railroad line farther west. One of their people engineered a “loop” where the train tracks doubled back in a big circle so that the incline was palatable so that the trains could make it over the pass – thus created a loop.
We had reserved two tables and the trip came with snacks and drinks, a photographer, and who else, Santa. What a great one!
After the train ride we stopped to see Mrs. Claus for cookies and hot cocoa.
Of course we ended up at the gift shop where Rylan made out like a bandit!
We headed into downtown Georgetown to do a little shopping. We had heard that it was a “Hallmark Christmas movie” town. It was quaint, but we were there on a Monday and not much was open. There were some cool doors however!
That left us with one choice, the Cabin Creek Brewing house.
Good beer and food!
Back home for puzzling and Hallmark Christmas movie complete with the bingo game!
Next day Matt made some yummy breakfast sandwiches. Chilled the rest of the day before heading out to dinner at the Ranch House at the Devil’s Thumb Resort and Spa.
What a fantastic dinner! It was snowing and the wind was blowing when we left – really felt like Christmas!
Finished up the third and final jigsaw puzzle when we got home.
The following day Katrina and I packed up and headed back down the hill to Denver and the airport. Our flight was delayed and we didn’t get back to the Myakka River Motorcoach Resort until 2am! Although we were tired it was so worth it to spend so much family time together!
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