Our Recent Travels to Upstate NY

In December, we took the kids to the Adirondacks in upstate New York.  We surprised them with three days of skiing as their big Christmas gift.  We rented the cutest cottage in Paul Smiths, NY, and skied at Titus Mountain.  We were less than an hour from Quebec, but none of have passports, so maybe that will be our goal for the next time.  I'd love to investigate some French inspired cuisine, and possible a maple sugar shack (featured on Bizarre Foods). 

I thought I'd show you a few pictures.  We didn't take many, but here are a few snapshots (some of them iphone photos).

This is just some of the stuff we needed to take.  And then the day before we left, our truck wouldn't start.  And there were no parts closer than Texas.  Thankfully, we were able to have our truck towed to the mechanic and we borrowed a much smaller vehicle from my father-in-law.  It saved a bunch on gas! 

we bought used skis and boots for the kids' at a local swap

I hope you don't mind all of the pictures of the cottage where we stayed!  It was just so quaint.  And clean.  It was perfect - three bedrooms, the perfect amount of space, no internet or phone signal.  Pure bliss.   We stayed for four nights and the price was $165 a night.  It was originally a cottage that was built for a community of loggers, in the late 1800's.  The new owners have completely renovated it.  It was immaculate.  I didn't think anyone could be more cleanly or organized than my mom, but Anne just may be!

mudroom with washing machine and drying racks for ski stuff

woodstove in the living room

the bedroom where Josh stayed

the girls' room

living room - they had a great library and lots of games!

I made all of our food ahead of time - $215 total for five days


(Well, now, that is not exactly true - we made a pit stop at a grocery store halfway through our trip and inhaled a rotisserie chicken in the car like we were a pack of hyenas.)
 

it was quite a process getting packed up each day

this was the girls' first time skiing - they did great!

Emma

having a blast!

love that guy!

And this......was the last guy.  Holy cold.  The wind chills were -15 degrees Fahrenheit.  It was icy and not fun.  Don't we look great?  Josh actually had a patch of frostbite on his face (that was completely covered). We took lots of breaks!

No, I hadn't been drinking. 

yes, -4 degrees.  That was the actual temperature, and our cue to head home.

We hope to return to the Adirondack region in the summer, not this year, but maybe next.  The outside activities sound amazing, the black flies do not. But, there is bug spray and we will use it.