Running-Y - Our Annual Winter Trip

We're all recouperating from our annual Running-Y Family Winter Trip. We have made going out to the Running-Y Ranch Resort an annual tradition, continuing this year for 3-years in a row. Last year there was no snow for sledding. The year before there was plenty of snow and we also got some x-country skiing in the mix (on the golf course of course). This year it snowed quite a bit, but it had a week of sun before we showed up so it was deep-crunchy-snow. Everyone still got plenty of [very bumpy] sledding in on a nice driving hill and some of us girls went trekking on another area of the golf course. Pat took all these great photos of the boys sledding on this tube from her position in the middle of the hill... turns out at the end of the day, she didn't even have a card in the camera. Ohwell, good practice right? ;)









Normally, we rent out the ice-rink for a crazy family hockey bash, but not enough of the people who really make the game came this year (they all got married and now work and/or are in school or have jobs... uhh... lame. haha). Sometimes it's not so great realizing we're all grown up and have to cater to the real world and schedules and being responsible. :( I miss the days when we were all irresponsible kids spending 3-months of summer doing whatever we wanted and every school break playing to our hearts content.









Anyway, this years turnout was pretty great. We rented three, three bedroom condos and one, one bedroom (for John and I). The roster included: Bermeas - John, myself, Inchworm and our friend Emily. The Fords - Dan, Rochelle, Ben, Daniel. Sutherlands - Robyn, Paul and their Limabean, Jentzsch's - Randy, Pat and Chris. Friends - Yumi, Christian and little Naomi. The entire Swartz clan! Mike, Heather, Morgan, Miranda, Sage, Justin and Sabrina. Thanks Everyone for another great year we really look forward to next year. Anyone is invited, just let us know and we'll add you to the roster.
The morning of the big day for our room started with delicious waffles (made by me from scratch of course. lol) and eggs. Then on to getting dressed for the snow. I had assumed my snowboarding pants would definitely fit because they had a bit of an extender and were originally a bit larger on me. WRONG. I couldn't even get the zipper up. Of course I hadn't tried them out BEFORE the trip. Luckily, John fits into some of my clothes and his pants were more bib-like (best for pregnant people!), so we traded. He was sport'n high fashion in his ultra-cute baby blue pants. haha. I was pretty bummed because I bought these last year for the trip and there was no snow. I was quite excited to be able to use them. So maybe next year then. Although he threw a tantrum at first [j/k] he looks good in them and knows it! hah!



Following all the breakfast goodies and bumpy sledding, everyone went back for some refueling. After lunch my mom, myself, Robyn and my friend Emily decided to go trekking in this (pic above) vast area of the golf course behind all of the condos. There is this cool little creek with cattails that leads down to a man-made lake/pond. The photo above is after we'd walked-crawled-rolled all the way across ALL that snow (you can see the condos on the far side). The snow was at least knee deep if not deeper. It was quite a lot of work, so we laid out to rest...

















The Swartz girls showed up after we'd reached one destination, the little bridge. So instead of going back, we continued on our journey to explore the "great lake" and some "crater". Neither of which are a great lake or a crater, but those were our title for the destinations at the time. ;)












....lastly, yes, I got a photo of Robyn and I totally pregnant in the snow. :) We were attempting to enhance our pregnant state with the poise. heheh. Enjoy!