Snowshoe - Episode 1

Dear Abigail,

Some people call them snow bunnies, but that just didn't seem to work for you. Then it came to me as I was riding up a lift in Snowshoe, you are my little powder monkey! That's what you were. You love love love playing in that white powder we call snow, or you call NnnnnnO! But let me start from the beginning...

A couple weeks ago, you and Daddy and Mommy went with Uncle Jaybee, Aunt Steph and Ellie on our first snow skiing vacation! After what felt like 6 months of preparing, we headed out on a Friday afternoon. Ellie and her folks were leading, with us closely behind them. Things were going smoothly for the first hour or so of the drive, and we had already decided we wanted to get to Bristol, TN/VA (yes, it's in both states - it's weird...) and spend the night. But then hunger struck - and, personally, I think it struck your Daddy more than you! Anyway, we weren't 100% sure how far away we were from the exit of our hotel, so Daddy suggested we get off this one exit that showed food signs - and we did... Next thing we know, we're eating at a Perkins. Now, this may not seem like much to you, but Mommy and Daddy and Uncle Jaybee and Aunt Steph thought this was kind of funny, and a wee bit uncomfortable. Let's just say that we didn't quit fit in at the restaurant, but everyone just loved you and Ellie. AND...drumroll please... Ellie took her first steps!! Uncle Jaybe was a little upset because he was walking out of the bathroom as we were watching the first steps take place, but he got to see. And we were all so excited. She's going to be chasing you in no time at all - or wait, she already chases you, just crawls after you! Anyway, you know what I mean! So we ate our Perkins, and you of course had to run around and burn some energy, but then we got back in the car and within 10 minutes we were at our exit with all kinds of restaurants, more your parents style! Oh well - we'll know for next year, and the next year, and the next, huh! So, it was getting chilly to say the least, so the Daddy's dropped us off at the door and, while it took us awhile to check in due to certain employees of a certain hotel, we FINALLY made it up to the rooms. Aunt Steph was smart enough to ask for joining rooms. The idea was to put you girls down for bed in separate rooms, then, push one of you (in the crib) into the others room, while the adults hung out in the other room. See, right now, you go to bed several hours before Mommy and Daddy. Okay, not several, or at least not several for Mommy, but nonetheless, you go to bed earlier and Mommy and Daddy didn't want to have to hang out in the dark! Aunt Steph is so smart!! So the mommies got things going with the girlies and getting them to bed while the daddies went and filled the cars up with gas and what not. Well, all was going well, you girls were in separate rooms, we had our monitors, and Aunt Steph and I were standing in the hallway. All of a sudden - WWWWEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWEEEEEEAAAAAAAHAAAAAA. That's the sound a fire alarm makes if you could spell it. Yes, you are reading this correctly, the fire alarm was going off in our hotel!!! Of course, my first reaction was FIRE!!!, but then, I quickly remembered there was a "American Girl Doll Beauty Pageant" at our hotel that next morning, and quickly assumed some goofy kid pulled the alarm. (btw, bad bad things happen to you if you do that, just FYI). But, we all know what happens if you assume... Well, for some reason, who knows why, but you girls were sleeping straight through the alarm. And each room had it's own alarm that was going off, so it wasn't like you couldn't hear it! So, since neither of you were budging, I decided to go figure out what was wrong while Aunt Steph stayed with you in the hallway. Well, after running down 5 flights of stair, stepping out into the cold, night air with no jacket, then realizing I was somehow all the way at the back of the building, I walked in the lobby just to see your Daddy heading in. Of course he had no clue, but what was so weird, neither did the hotel lobby?!! What's that, you don't understand - me neither. Everything was going on as normal with in the lobby - no alarm, nothing. So I only assumed that the alarm had quit, especially since I saw the elevators working. Anyway, we went on back upstairs and the second we got off on our floor

WWWWEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWEEEEEEAAAAAAAHAAAAAA. That's right -the alarm was still going off. And guess what - you didn't wake up - neither of you did! The four parents just sat in the hallway until the alarms finally quit. It was pretty funny.

What was even funnier was when Aunt Steph was trying to move Ellie's crib into your room. It's one of those times you had to be there, and well, you were there, but you were sleeping - but to some it up, I scared the bejeezas out of Aunt Steph!!! It was pretty darn funny, and made for quite the funny story for later. Once we got you girls situated in the same room, the big kids relaxed to get ready for the great adventures that were to come!!

More to come later sweet powder monkey!!

love you...