19 Years

We took the bus to downtown Denver to meet our “engagement couple” friends. It was a gorgeous night and a really fun evening catching up with friends we have known for 19 years. We talked about the crazy couples that “counseled” us, wedding gifts we are still using, and advice we remember from our classes. We talked about families, life, vacations, etc. We were even plotting a empty nester trip in 7 years time. 

We talked about how all of us had told friends about what we were doing this weekend and how many were surprised that all the couples were still together and that we all still lived in Denver.  Meeting all of them was definitely the best part of the marriage prep classes!

16th street mall 

Union Station before heading home 

Drunkle

Matthew arrived to Denver via Greyhound bus on Tuesday. He was able to go to a meetup and trivia with Marshall on Wednesday, take D-man skiing at Copper on Thursday, and go to Tilt with T-man ok Thursday night. He also was able to see D-man play lacrosse, see T-man play soccer and get in a few games of pool before leaving on Saturday.  Oh, and he got a bit of work done too. Always good to have Drunkle Matt here (the t-shirt we have him for Christmas). 

D-man’s fall - the only pic he sent of the day.....

Lax game (Matthew’s first) 

Beautiful Saturday morning for soccer - team came back from 3-0 to tie it up a minute before the game was over! 

With Uncle Matt 

Popular place 

Working T-man’s puzzle box 

So lucky to have Matt visit us a few times a year 

Trifecta Challenge

A full day of travel to get back home, but we squeezed in a bit of fun - pool time for me and D-man and a game of 9-ball for me and T-man before we left the Castle. We headed to town and the boys got BeaverTails for breakfast (Marshall and I had beer) and then we cashed in on our free drink for completing the Trifecta Challenge (skiing all three of the ski3 properties). We grabbed Subway for lunch and headed to Calgary. A great way to wrap up the trip. 

On the lift at Lake Louise (couldn’t get the amazing view on the continental divide in the shot) 

Worth another spring break skiing 

Banff Springs Hotel

We splurged our last two nights and stayed at the Castle of the Canadian Rockies - and it was definitely worth it!!  It worked out exactly as I had hoped and for that I am thankful. 

We had a nice last day skiing at Lake Louise and drove back to Banff for our magical stay. Both the boys were not comfortable when we first arrived as this was the nicest hotel we have stayed in as a family. After getting situated in the room, we headed downtown for dinner. When we came back, Marshall and I grabbed a nightcap at the lounge and the boys hit the pool. 

We spent all of Saturday on property. I explored the property, grabbed a coffee and read my book while everyone else slept. T-man joined me for breakfast and then we played some pool. When the other men joined, we went exploring and walked down to the pub and Bow Falls. We then played 5-pin bowling, ate lunch, and watched a bit of curling. Five-pin bowling was super fun and not easy! 

We then all hit the pool - amazing to be sitting by the pool reading a book in March in the Canadian Rockies.  On the way back to the room, the boys roasted marshmallows, and then we enjoyed happy hour in the room as we had some beverages in the fridge. For dinner, we convinced the boys to do room service and we went to the charcuterie and cheese place. Fun! After dinner, the boys hit the pool again and we enjoyed another drink in the lounge. At midnight, the boys decided that a trip back to the pool table was in order (Marshall and I stayed in bed). 

Sometimes when you look forward to something special, it doesn’t live up to the hype. I’m glad to say that this stay did. When we were checking out, D-man said he was going to miss this place. Me too, son. Me too. 

(Warning - lots of photos) 

View from our room 

A nice big room - I had read that many rooms were small so this was a nice surprise

Off exploring the first night - what a view 


The boys starting to feel comfortable and headed to the pool in the robes 

Hallway in the castle 

Morning coffee view 




So much fun exploring 

Breakfast fun with T-man

Playing pool 

Confluence of the Spray and Bow rivers 

Bow Falls (not a lot of falls this time of year) 

The castle from down below 

Such a gorgeous day 

5-pin Bowling - we had the alley to ourselves 

At the pool 

Roasting marshmallows 

Such a gorgeous view 

Dinner 

The lounge 

Room service - the boys enjoyed this treat

The lobby 

Late night swimming antics - they were having so much fun 

Find Your Beach

This our 3rd spring break in a row that we have been skiing. Last year was Copper and the year prior was Crested Butte. I said I didn’t want to ski over spring break and yet here we are skiing again. Skiing certainly is a great family activity and T-man has really embraced it this year. Like they say in the Corona commercials, you have to find your beach and we have - just not the sandy kind. 

Find your coast..... (sunshine coast was laughable the day we were there) 

Or your shore......

Or your beach....

Just find it 

With the one you love. 

The 3rd of the Big3

We checked out of our condo on Tunnel Mountain and headed to ski the final resort of the Big 3 ski resorts, Lake Louise. It’s about a 45 drive from Banff so we stayed at Lake Louise Inn tonight. We got a decent rate and it was half-priced burgers at the hotel bar so it worked our great. The boys also enjoyed the pool after dinner. 

It was a bluebird day today - quite different from our last day at Banff Sunshine. The views of the peaks and glaciers were amazing and the skiing was great too. It was not our best day skiing ever, but as Marshall said, you would be hard pressed to have better views. What a great trip it has been. 

Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier 

Amazing views 

 View from hotel 

Gorgeous sunset on the peaks 

Pool time!