Please Come!

Please come to a get-together at our house (Steve and Lorraine Morrison & sons) over Presidents Day weekend!  Invited are our young friends (high-school age) and their families (Mom, Dad, siblings.)  The invitation is open, please invite your friends!  Accommodations for adults are first-come, first-served according to RSVP.  If the bedrooms fill up, adults can sleep on the floor with the kids or get a motel.  We have lots of space; we have rented a guest house in our subdivision and our own house has 5 bedrooms.

Since our regular Sunday meeting is an hour away, we have permission to have an additional meeting at our house to make it easier for visitors.

Location:  Our house in Steamboat Springs, CO (address and directions will be sent as a reply to your RSVP)

Dates:
Arrive Friday night, February 16, and stay through Monday, February 19 (I'm assuming that most people will leave Monday night to be back to work/school; however, if there are a few who need to spend the night Monday and head out Tuesday, that's fine.  Steve and I both have to be to work bright and early Tuesday, so you are on your own Tuesday.)

Plans:  
Skiing, sledding, playing games, cooking yummy food, making music

NOTE:  YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A SKIER TO COME, and the skiing is CHEAP!  Firstly, if you want to learn, this is your opportunity.  Steve & I and our boys will teach you, and by afternoon you will be having fun coasting down the hills.  We will ski at Howelsen Hill, lift tickets are $15 for kids, rentals are $15 for skis and $5 for a helmet.  Including rentals, the day of skiing will cost each kid $35.  Howelsen Hill is not our main resort, but is super, super fun and an incredible deal.  It is bankrolled by taxpayers here because it just happens to be THE TRAINING HILL FOR THE US OLYMPIC NORDIC TEAM!  How cool is that?

Please RSVP as soon as possible.
RSVP to lorraine.morrison@coldwellbanker.com
In your RSVP, let us know the following:
How many are coming in your party, and who they are (just in case we get multiple replies for the same group)
When you plan to arrive
How long you can stay--when you plan to leave
Confirm that you have read all of the blog posts so you know what's going on
Send email addresses for people responsible for update info
Send phone #'s for anyone coming
If any kids are coming without parents, send contact info for the parents (email & phone)

Note:  The grocery list may change according to RSVP's.  Please check back as I will update it sometime during the 2nd week of February.

Also Note:  I have disabled comments on this blog post as it is not a good way for me to communicate.  Please communicate via contact info below.

Contact Info
email:  lorraine.morrison@coldwellbanker.com
Lorraine's Cell:  970-819-3115 My phone is not working, new phone supposed to be here sometime Friday.  Please use my email address for communications.
Steve's Cell:  970-819-2809
Aubrey's Cell:  970-819-1917

What Will We Do for Three Days?

You are coming to "Ski Town USA."  Home of the USA Nordic Ski team.  Our home is 12 miles from town in a land preserve subdivision, which means we have access to over 2,000 acres for playing.  We are surrounded by great sledding hills.

We'll spend a lot of time out doors playing in the snow, and when you get cold, come in and play games.

On Sunday night, we're going to have a "Sing for Your Supper" evening.  What is this?  This means we're all going to contribute to the entertainment!  Don't panic--if you don't like to sing in front of a group, you can play a musical instrument, perform a magic trick, recite a poem, tell a story...be creative!  Do something alone, or put together a group piece.  We have a piano in the living room.

Tentative Schedule:
Saturday:  Skiing at Howelsen Hill
Sunday:  Meeting, playing outside in the snow or games inside
Monday:  Skiing for kids who hold passes that cover Steamboat (so far it seems no one does) and other activities for the rest of us at the house.

Skiing Steamboat

Steamboat has two ski areas.  Mt Werner is the main ski resort,  Howelsen is the hill owned by the city.  The difference in terrain and cost is substantial, and while you get what you pay for, the main resort isn't worth the price for a never-ever or one-time skier.

UPDATE The tentative plan is to ski Howelsen on Saturday, and Monday is TBD.  If a large number of people come who hold passes to Winter Park, you may have free days at Steamboat that you want to use.  If we ski on Monday depends on you.  Howelsen Hill is not open on Monday, so unless there are a large number of people who want to ski the regular resort on Monday, we will do other activities at the house on Monday. 

IF YOU ARE A NEVER-EVER SKIER
This is your chance to learn!  We will make sure that beginners are accompanied by accomplished skiers.  By Saturday afternoon, you'll be moving along just fine. 

Rentals:  If you don't have rentals, you can get them Friday night.  Our preferred rental venue is Ski Haus, located on HWY 40 in Steamboat.  Rental prices are reasonable, $15/day, helmets are additional $5/day.  They also rent ski gear like snow pants, etc. if you get here missing something.  Check out  www.skihaussteamboat.com for pricing.



Howelsen Hill
(This is where everyone will go on Saturday)
www.steamboatsprings.net/ski
This ski area is owned by the city.  Howelsen Hill is the oldest ski area in the United States.  It is the home of the US Nordic Team.  Sadly, you won't see any of them practicing, as they will be competing February 9-25.  Fifteen of our locals are headed to the Olympics in Pyeonchang this year.  Super fun little ski spot, and extremely affordable.
Lifts:  one 2-seater chair and one poma.  (Poma is not for beginners.) 
Hours:  closed Monday
Tickets:  $15 kids up to 18, $25 adults


Steamboat Ski Resort
www.steamboat.com
Some Mountain Stats:
3,668 ft of vertical rise
165 Named Trails
2,965 Permitted Acres
3 Terrain Parks
18 Lifts can transport 41,026 people uphill per hour.
Tickets:  $85 kids up to 12, $135 kids up to 17, $145 adults.  Must be purchased 7 days in advance or you pay walk-up window pricing.

Food Needed

Groceries:

I have created a sign up list at signupgenius.com, this is the easiest way to sign up for and bring groceries.  As soon as someone signs up, the list is updated so people don't accidentally double up.  Grocery needs are based on 50 people eating at each meal, and meals are planned for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  Please check the list regularly as we will update according to RSVP's; i.e., if not as many people can come as we expect, we will change the list.

To sign up, go to:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a4babaa23a02-steamboat


In addition to the items on the list, please bring the following:

Snacks:  fresh fruit, veggies, crackers, pretzels, whatever you fancy.
Water:  There are 100 bottled waters on the list, but this is mainly for sack lunch days.  Our water is safe and good, but if you are sensitive to foreign waters, you should bring your own bottled water.
Drinks:  We will brew coffee each morning, and hot chocolate for ski days is on the list.  However, you may want to bring some teas, flavored coffee creamer, flavored coffees, other drinks, etc., to share.
Sweet Treats:  I didn't include sweets as a regular sign up item, but nice to have cookies, brownies, etc., set out for nibbling and desserts.  Dessert is not planned as part of meals.
Thermoses:  Please bring thermoses!  We need them to carry hot chocolate to the slopes.  Label with your name.
Coolers:  Great way to transport your food offerings, and great way to store once you're here.  Depending on weather, we store food in the coolers on the deck.

We will need people (including kids) taking turns in the kitchen for each meal, and people to help prep for breakfast in the evenings.  Everyone will fix their own sandwich for ski days.


MENU

Meals will be adjusted as needed according to how many are arriving and when.  Currently supper for Friday night is not on the menu but we will be fixing something quick and easy food Friday night, waiting to see how many will be here then.

Friday Supper:  TBD

Saturday Breakfast:  Breakfast Casserole

Saturday Lunch:  Sack Lunch--sandwiches, chips, fruit, snacks, hot chocolate

Saturday Dinner:  Potato Bar

Sunday Breakfast:  Baked French Toast, Sausages

Sunday Lunch: Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Salad

Sunday Dinner:  Chili

Monday Breakfast:  Scrambled Eggs, Sausages, Bagels

Monday Lunch:  Taco Salad

Monday Dinner:  not planned yet, waiting to see if anyone will still be here.

Accommodations & House Rules

Please Note:
So long as everyone who has RSVP'd is able to make it, we're out of bedrooms for adults.  Not sure how many more kids are coming, but should be able to sleep quite a few on the floor.  One more adult can crash in the library/den, but it's open the living room so no privacy.  KIDS, BRING SLEEPING MATS AND SLEEPING BAGS!  FLOORS ARE HARD!

If you need to rent a room, I recommend doing it sooner than later.  Presidents Day will be busy in Steamboat.  Consider renting together with another family; kids can sleep at our house so you will have more space.

Options:

•  Rent a condo in Steamboat (northeast of us, 25 min. drive)
• Motel in Steamboat (northeast of us, 25 min. drive)
• Motel in Oak Creek (south of us, 12 minute drive) Steamboat):  http://www.oakcreekmotel.com/
• Oak Tree Inn in Yampa (south of us approx 25 min, 30 min to Steamboat)  https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/travelodge/yampa-colorado/travelodge-yampa/overview?brand_id=TL&hotel_id=52181&radius=25&rooms=1&adults=1&children=0&checkin_date=12/18/2017&checkout_date=12/19/2017&useWRPoints=false&brand_code=BH,DI,RA,BU,HJ,KG,MT,SE,TL,WG,WY,WT,WP,VO,DX,TM,CE&PriceFilter=0-2147483647&referring_brand=TL
• If anyone has an RV, the Oak Creek Motel has RV spots but not sure of availability or bathroom access.

Our house has five bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths, and we have rented a two-bedroom 2 1/2 bath guesthouse located a mile away.  Adults get bedrooms, kids get the floor.  Plenty of space and bathing facilities.  For adults:  if you get a bedroom with a bed, it will be made, but bring towels and pillows.  Kids need to bring all bedding including a sleeping pad and also towels.

No Privacy!  Although we have space, there will be no privacy.  At our house, there is only one powder bath; every other bath is accessed via a bedroom.  Therefore, kids will need to use bathrooms via bedrooms.  If you need your private space, you will need to reserve a motel room.

Bedrooms Available for Adults:  Bedrooms are now full
Our House:
2 bedrooms each with a single twin that share a bath:  we will likely move the twin from one room to the other, creating one bedroom that has two twins and another bedroom that has no bed at all.  Does anyone have an air mattress they could bring?  Full at this time

1 bedroom with a full-size bed  Full at this time

1 bedroom with a queen-size bed  Full at this time

Guest House:
2 bedrooms with queen-size beds  Full at this time

Note:  We are renting the lower level of the guest house only, which includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a family room.  To rent the entire house is substantially more expensive.  The main level of the house--kitchen, living, dining, etc., needs to be left clean with no personal belongings in it between the hours of 10AM and 6PM. 

For anyone staying at the guest house, check in is 6:00PM on Friday night and check-out is 10:00 AM on Monday.

Helping Out:  We need everyone to help out with cooking and cleanup, but not all at the same time.  We'll have a list of helping times you can sign up for.
Shoes off in the House:  Bring slippers to wear.  It's been warmer than usual this year, and even just a couple of people can completely track up the house with mud and water.  Shoes off at the door so everyone can be comfortable.
Internet:  There will be no internet access at the house.  If you need internet for work while you are here, our amazing library is a 20 minute drive from the house and has incredible work spaces that are open to visitors and great wifi access.  Great opportunity for everyone to interact with your friends in person rather than via the wifi!
Bedtime:  Bedtime is 10:00, please make sure you're ready to hop in bed by then and be quiet. 
The Resident Cat:  will be locked in the master suite.  Unless you want the cat sharing your bowl at the dinner table, help us keep this door shut!

What to Bring

Gear

• Skis & Snowboards:  if you don't have your own, a couple of cars can head into town on Friday night to rent.  If you have never snowboarded before, this is not the weekend to do it.  You can put skis on Saturday morning for the first time and be coasting down the hill after a couple of runs!  Learn to ski first.
• Helmet:  This is required.  No Helmet=No Ski.  You can rent one for approx. $5 for the day.
• Toys & Games:  games, sleds, snow shoes, cards, and think of any fun group games that don't require something out of a box!
• Bedding:  sleeping bag, sleeping pad/mat/cot/air mattress, pillow
• Flashlight (or phone light):  It's dark here at night.
• Ear Plugs:  for optimal sleep.
• Thermoses:  PLEASE bring all the thermoses you have!  We need them for transporting hot drinks for skiing and sledding.  Put your name on them with a permanent marker.
• Extra Sleeping Mats:  Bring if you can to share.
• Towels:  BYOT.  We want everyone to be able to shower as much as they need to; please limit showers to super, super short, and turn off water while you lather or shave.
• Hymnbooks

Food

• See post titled "Food Needed"

Clothing 

• Modest pajamas.  There will be little to no privacy!  Someone may need to come through your room to use a toilet.  If you absolutely must have guaranteed privacy, rent a motel or bring a tent.  We have 8 acres you can pitch on.  I guarantee, NO ONE will want to share it with you.  
• Wool Socks
• Slippers or Socks for inside the house--NO SHOES! in the house please. 
• Coats 
• Snow Pants 
• Gloves or Mittens—bring extras if you have them 
• Long Underwear/warm underlayers/underarmor 
• Snow Boots 
• Hats 
• Scarves and Facewarmers
• Sweaters for inside wear
• Tights and Leggings

Ladies—bring a pair of jeans or sweats.  We live in one of the coldest parts of the country.  We occasionally see as much as 40 below, and we can't keep the house at 70F when it gets that cold!  This year is much warmer, but better to be prepared.

Your Family

Your family is invited.  In fact, we are hoping that several families can come, it's so much more fun.  Plus, we need the help feeding kids, transporting broken legs, etc.  But if your folks can't make it, feel free to hop in with someone else.

How to Get Here

Driving:  We are about 3 hours from Denver, 2 hours from Laramie, or 5 hours from Salt Lake.  Because it is a ski resort, the roads are well maintained and well traveled.  However, if you don't have good winter or all season tires, make sure you have a set of chains.
Flying:  Several major airlines service Hayden, Colorado, which is a 30 minute drive from our house.  We're happy to arrange pick up and drop off.  Direct flights from several major US cities, or layover in Denver or Salt Lake.
Alpine Taxi:  Alpine Taxi is $100 from Denver, one way.

Directions to our house will be sent in a reply to your RSVP.

Contact

Email:  lorraine.morrison@coldwellbanker.com
Lorraine's Cell:  970-819-3115
Steve's Cell:  970-819-2809
Aubrey's Cell:  970-819-1917