Hawaii - first impressions

We arrived in Hawaii on Monday after about 8 hours flying....Denver to Phoenix to Honolulu. Surprisingly all NINE of our checked bags made it as well. The good news - it is warm. After 10 days skiing its great to have 28 degree heat. The hotel/resort is also excellent - just West of Peal Harbour we are at the Ko Olina Marriott Beach Club - part of a complex of four resorts that have man made lagoons and stunning views through the palm trees to the ocean. The bad news - well there is none really. We've had 24 hours of relaxing and adjusting to a new time zone (4 hours different from Denver). Today we may visit a pineapple plantation or head down to Waikiki Beach. Life is tough. Another 7 days of this to come. Ken

From powder to the pool

We left Breckenridge this afternoon after a final day of fantastic powder snow. On the last day of the ski season the snow gods blessed us with 8-12 inches of powder snow. It was very cold but we all got out at 8:30 and enjoyed a final morning skiing with our ski's buried in snow. Olivia was cold, James fell a lot - but we all had a great time. After 10 days of skiing the kids think ski holidays are "the best". We are now in Denver and tomorrow morning head to Hawaii. Eight days of lying by the pool is ahead of us - much as I loved skiing...I am also looking forward to some warmth. In case we had not had enough skiing, on the way in to Denver we stopped at the "outlet mall". We now have new ski jackets for Emma, James and Olivia. Olivia's is an age 14-16 jacket so she will be wearing it for a long time!! All amazing bargains - Emma got a Columbia Ski Jacket for $70 that would have cost $250 in Australia. more next week from Hawaii. Ken

Spring skiing in USA

We are skiing at our favorite time - the end of the season. We chose breckinridge in colarado because it's high and if you are skiing in Spring you need height to ensure good snow. After 3 days we are happy with the snow (gets a little sticky in the afternoon) and we love Breckinridge. The kids are having a great time. Today we skied as a family (except for Jack) and kept going for 7 hours - covering three mountains and numerous black runs - Olivia was amazingly brave, James is fearless. We all have very red faces, despite being in the snow it's been up to 12 degrees during the day and at 10,000 feet+ the sun is strong. No photos as I am writing this on the iPad. Another week to go here in Breck then off to Hawaii. Ken

USA Trip...again...

The Reid's cannot get enough of the USA.

After spending some 10 weeks there in 2011, in two days time we head off again - this time for a mere three weeks - starting with skiing in Breckenridge then a bit of R&R in Hawaii.

Before that...an update.

Following a lousy summer of rain, rain and more rain....we are having a pleasant Autumn - lots of sun and blue sky!

 Jack is growing fast and loves being outside and running around.

 The end of term disco took place at Balgowlah Heights Primary School last week and the kids got dressed up.  They had a great time.

 James has started playing rugby - it's his first season and he has started well.

 In his first game they got beat about 10 tries to nil.  But in the second game they finally scored a try - and it was James that scored it.  He followed it up with another try in Game 3.  So after three games his team have scored two tries - both for James.  He is kinda enjoying rugby!

 As well as rugby he continues to do well in soccer - his team had a 1-1 draw in their first game of the season.

Olivia has started netball training again.  In her trial game the team had their first ever win and Olivia did some great passing and support play - Emma is the coach which she claims made all the difference....

 Jack...no sport yet, but he does like the fountains in Manly....

And despite his grumpy face he loves his brother and sister.

Next update will be from the snow in Breckenridge, Colorado, USA.....if it's not melted.

Ken