In a Euphoric Sunriver State of Mind...

Despite the storm warning, our family and the Schilling family (driving in caravan) made record time over the pass to make it to Sunriver by about 8pm.  We knew a lot of snow had come down in the mountains, but it really was a shock to see the snow level as tall as the vehicles that drove by it.  Fortunately, Michael's truck has four-wheel-drive, and we converted our tires to studs earlier in the week, so both Michael and John felt very confident and comfortable driving over.  It was a gorgeous sight to see all the snow - and at one point, about 45 minutes away from our destination, we saw fireworks being set off from a home - lighting up the sky and snowy landscape, celebrating the birth of our Savior....  Needless to say, we were all in a very happy state of mind.

The house we rented this year is a new one for us.  Although we'd seen several pics from the rental company, there was still a lot of mystery about what it was really like - especially the layout.  When we arrived, we were shocked at just how understated the pictures and description was.  This place is gigantic, gorgeous, and almost without fault.  I already asked for it to be on my Christmas wish list for next year (as in being given the deed to the home), though I don't think even Santa can come through with a gift of this proportion!!!  

This is the sign that welcomes you into the grand entrance and covered porch of the sprawling house.

This year, we worked it out with the realty company to have a tree waiting for us.  We had to laugh at the "Charlie Brown" aspect of it, but appreciated the convenience.  John and Michael went to work decorating - this was one of the only pics taken Christmas night as we were all rushing around so fast to get everything unloaded and put away.  We couldn't wait to feel like we'd gotten all the work completed to be able to fully absorb being on vacation.

Following the "chores", Michele and I didn't waste any time hitting the hot tub both Christmas night and early morning on the 26th.  I can't even tell you just how much of a feeling of euphoria had set in - all of the efforts of the last 3 months of preparation for the holidays had hit their culminating point.  With Russian Tea next to us, Christmas cookies to munch on, and still playing the Christmas station on Pandora, it really was (and continues to be) that moment you wait all year to experience.

Here's a look of the roads surrounding our home.  Breathtakingly beautiful, huh?   

John, Michele, and I set off to Bend (about 30 minutes away) for our "once-we-arrive" grocery trip.  It was nice to go at a little more leisurely pace and have more room to store our "goods" vs. the usual en route to the house stop that we've made in the past.

Before Bend, though, we had to stop at the lodge to pick up our certificates for Sage Springs Spa - and pause for the "Happy Place" pic of us.

Check out that slide of rooftop snow and all of the icicles...

Here's a daytime view of the front of our house.  Again, this hardly does any justice as to what it is like.

This is the view from the kitchen window - a ski lift swing on the back patio...

And the finished effect of the Christmas tree as well as all of the stockings lined in a row...

Soon after we returned from Fred Meyer, the Whites arrived.  They felt it wise to wait until the morning to drive over.  All of us were more than happy to chip in and keep Whitley occupied while they unloaded their vehicle and moved into their rooms.  (And, for the record, that shirt she is wearing is the same one that we gave to Travis and Stephanie exactly one year ago when they had just found out they were expecting....)

Then, it was time for the final gift opening - a much more abbreviated version with gifts suited for the vacation - such as OSU lounge pants...

...and head lamps to play "Hide and Seek"...

...and more video games...

 ...and toys to keep Whitley happy (and in love with Sunriver as the rest of us are)

Then, as if on cue, it started snowing...

On Thursday, the first shots of the day were of sweet Whitley - happily playing - and talking.  Oh my, that girl loves to express herself with all sorts of sounds, especially in the morning.  It's SO ENCHANTING!

Michele and I weren't in synch with our wake up times to be in the hot tub together on Thursday morning, but at least it gave me the opportunity to use the camera to get a shot of what our experience is like.  (And, to give you the full perspective, the temperature at this point in the morning is about 10 degrees...)

View from the tub...

Random pics of the house - this is the tub in our master suite.  (Though it probably won't get used due to the availability of the hot tub).

The air hockey table in the upstairs portion of the house.  The boys sleep in the bunk beds beyond the table, and the girls all sleep in the room adjacent to this loft.

View from the loft looking down to the main living room...

By 10:30, us ladies were leaving our cozy home to one of the only places we'd be happy to depart to - "Sage Springs Spa". 

The annual pic of the hot tub in the resort where the spa is located.  I know I duplicate this every year, but it's just so much of the experience, I can't help myself.

We usually spend about 90 minutes hanging out in here - reading our books (Kindles) and chatting.

And, then, we spend at least an hour in here - the "Serenity Room" - where we've gotten super savvy and learned to pack ourselves the ideal picnic lunch to eat in our robes in the comfy chairs.  (This pic is a view of the Kindle on my lap, Michele's feet on the chair next to mine - and Stephie reading in the other chair).

The "treatments" are the final act of the experience (Steph and I opt for massages while Michele prefers more of the foot massage/pedicure).  No pics of that portion.... =)

MEANWHILE....
This year, John and Michael were "Super Dads" and took the kids to the new indoor water park that is part of the HUGE indoor/outdoor water park and sledding hill that Sunriver completed last year.   The indoor portion of the pool was nice, but not nearly as impressive as the outdoor facility which is obviously not in use at this time of year.

On our drive home...

More pics to come of today's experiences - but definitely a long enough post for now.  (Plus, I'm ready to get back to my book!).  You know it's one heck of a vacation when the only two concerns that keep crossing my mind are 1.) How am I going to get an appetite to keep feeding myself more of the amazing food within this house?  (as well as how much weight am I really gaining?!) and 2.) How can I make the time before we have to leave on Monday last and last and last?

Christmas Afternoon with Mom and Dad

For the first time ever, our departure for Sunriver was actually set to occur on Christmas night.  (We are departing on New Year's Eve this year to accommodate family plans for the Schillings).  This meant that our car had to be completely packed for Sunriver before leaving for Mom and Dad's.  This took a feat of massive organization and teamwork to accomplish, not to mention supernatural packing skills to fit everything into our rig.  Fortunately, we were able to make it all happen in time to get to Mom and Dad's by around 11:30 - just about a half hour before the Schillings arrived.

Michele and I pitched in to help Mom get the meal prepared for the table, and by 12:30, we were seated to smile for the timed pic, say a blessing, and dig in.  As usual, if you were to take an "after picture" of the food on the table, it would hardly look like we made a dent. :)  Though, that's certainly not because it wasn't delicious!!! 

Nati and I had to pose for a picture together because we both showed up wearing very similar outfits.  No, we didn't text ahead and plan it - in fact, this outfit was a last minute "costume change" given the sweater was a gift from John earlier in the morning.  

On to present opening - an act that calls for the utmost patience from the kids given we open in "sets" - Mom and Dad, John and Michael, Michele and I, - and then all the kids....and we go round and round until we are done.  These Nikes (common theme, right?!) were a hit with Traig.

How many Football PS3 game pics have we taken over the years?

These three guys had to take a break when it wasn't their turn to open.

We are trying to encourage the crafty talents of Mikayla.  Recently, Heather introduced the art of crocheting to Mikayla - particularly in making Infinity Scarves.  Heather's made two of them for me which are my absolute favorite look, color, and fit of scarves - and it would be so fun for Mikayla to get to that point.

Michele is stomping down the wrapping paper pile in the bin...

One of Dad's presents from me was about 18 pint size jars of four different flavors of homemade jam.  He is a very difficult guy to shop for, so, knowing the jam I've passed on has made him happy, I thought I'd see if I could stock his shelves for a greater length of time.  

Likewise, shopping for John isn't always easy, so Michele made him his Sunriver snack of choice from last year, Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites.  =)

Nope, the girls aren't too old to still love Webkinz...

The "special present" for Mom was taking pictures I'd tried to secretly take of the horses (though she knew I was up to something at the time) and convert them into tote bags.  Walgreens did a fantastic job with this - I tried to assure Mom that they could easily be re-created, so use them as much and as often as possible.  From left to right, the horses are Celila, Holly, and River.

It's always interesting just how often Michele and I's gifts to one another overlap.  In this case, we both bought Roxy sweatshirts for one another...

As if there's any question as to why there's usually a ten pound weight gain from Christmas to New Year's for me?

 Finally, the last-minute gift I threw together for Michele, Nati, Mikayla, and Ellie...

At the time of the USC/UO game (early November), when it was looking like not only would Brayden and John be attending the National Championship Bowl Game as well as perhaps the Heisman Ceremony in NYC (in support of the likelihood at the time of Kenjon's invite) - I started thinking that it would be fun to do something (within budgetary reason) for us girls.  One thing I've wanted to do with Michele for a very long time is to see "Wicked" with her.  I thought maybe it would be showing in Seattle, but instead, I had to look south to find an option.  San Francisco, in fact.  Given our positive experience driving last summer with the girls to northern California (and their thrill over that road trip) - we thought adding a couple more hours to the trip could be plausible, especially if we turned a the three-day Presidents' Day weekend into a four day mini-vacation.

I didn't hint any of this to Michele, instead I hastily threw four envelopes addressed to each of the girls into a gift bag on Christmas Eve night.  Mikayla's envelope had a calendar of February 2013 in it, with the weekend we'd be going highlighted.  Ellie's envelope had a Mapquest route of Eugene to San Francisco in it.  Nati's envelope had the details of a Marriott Fairfield Inn (the cheapest of the chain that we can hopefully use our points to stay in) located about 20 miles north of San Francisco. And finally, Michele's envelope contained the "Wicked" program I'd saved since attending the musical with Mikayla nearly two years ago when it came to Eugene.  They were told to combine the clues to figure out the gift.  It didn't take long.

Michele was visibly touched, and immediately figured it out.  It's always a "SCORE" when teary eyes are visible when you give a present.  The girls were thrilled too, but I think they are more excited at simply the prospect of driving to California again - as well as the fact that our hotel is not too far away from the "Jelly Belly Factory" - than the actual "Wicked" performance.  =) 

Needless to say, this is a gift that blesses me just as much (if not more) than them....and blessedly, something to look forward to as we all too soon bid adieu my favorite time of year and embark on the darker days of the long Oregon winter.

Once again, the Christmas Day with Mom and Dad was wonderful.  Though, admittedly, I felt guilty over the fact that we had to cut it short by a couple hours than years' past due to the drive to Sunriver.  There was a winter storm watch for the Cascades (which we'd be driving over) in effect, so Mom and Dad were very understanding.  But, still, that's hardly the day you ever want to steal time away from as it really is a priceless gift in and of itself.