Another Snow Day

My plan was to ski with Jane one morning a week this winter - like I did the past two years with Jake. We have been super looking forward to it and planned to go on Friday mornings (she can really only last a couple of hours before she's tired.)

One Friday we had a snow day, another a 2 hr delay due to bad weather, one it was just way too freezing to take a 4yr old out .... it's ironic that we've had all this snow, but the weather has prevented us from making it up to ski.

This week I looked at the weather forecast & decided Thursday morning was it - we were due for more snow Wednesday afternoon / night, but it would be clear & a toasty 32 degrees on Thursday morning.

So, I recruited Bek to watch the other 2 in the event of a snow day or school opening delay and geared up for some time with Jane.

The morning was perfect - clear and not too cold with LOTS of fresh snow. It was a little more crowded that it usually would be on a weekday morning - thanks to all the school closings, but we had a great time.

 

It was only Jane's 4th day ever of skiing and she makes the most beautiful turns & is doing really well at stopping & slowing herself. I took out the video to get some of her doing such a great job, when she had this spectacular tumble! I instinctively turned off the camera when she fell to go get her, but I wish I'd kept it going because she went one more time head-over-heals & then stopped on her back laughing & saying "I hurt my leg." I hauled her up & off we went again. It's why I love skiing with kids - they take falling so well!

I pulled out the camera again to get some more (when she had a slow start) and then the battery died! Oh well, we'll have lots more opportunities to get more footage. Here's the little bit I got.

I love skiing, but I really love skiing with my kids. Sharing something with them that I love is so much fun and spending some one on one time is priceless.

First Ski Day

I had hoped for snow over the break so we could get out to ski - and my wish came true! In the car yesterday on our way bowling, I said "Tomorrow we'll go skiing, if I can get a sitter." In the backseat Jane started to cry & said "I wanted to come skiing too." Confused I replied "You are babe - you're a big girl now." Jane said "But, you said sitter." I had meant for the dog but she is so used to being left behind she assumed it was for her! She was pretty happy to hear that it was Millie who was staying home this time.

I did get a dog sitter for the day, so we all headed out this morning excited for our first day on the slopes of the 2010 - 2011 season.

Man I love to see this. My family probably don't understand how happy it makes me that we are all skiing together. Deliriously happy!

{iPhone photo}

Since there are 6 of us (a lovely even number & a reason I wanted 4 kids) we split up into the "buddy system." Rebekah and Emily went off to ski together, which was a little unnerving for me. Em has only ever skied with one of us or an instructor before - but she's pretty good now & we gave Bek the whole "protect your sister with your life" speech and sent them on their way. We just told them to meet us at the bottom of Nutmeg run at 4:30pm. They had a great day & Emily had a wonderful time skiing with Bek, she said it was more fun than skiing with me! Rude!

Rick & Jacob were buddies and set out to ski all the blue runs on the mountain together - which they accomplished. Rick reported that Jacob skied in his usual manner - the faster the better!

Guess who I got as my buddy? Little, cute Jane!

She was SOOOO excited to be my buddy. She skied 2 days on our trip to Utah last February, so I wasn't sure how she'd do on only her 3rd day skiing and after a 10 month break. I gave her a quick reminder pep-talk about "pizza" and slowing, stopping, turning & then let her go. I am a big believer in letting them go by themselves & don't think they gain anything by being held up & guided. Better to fall but learn and get your balance than go down a million times being 1/2 carried. Anyway, she did great! She has such a fierce independent spirit & always wants to keep up with the big kids, that she went right at it. She only fell a few times. She remembered how to stop and turn and was even lifting up the safety bar and getting her tips up to get off the lift by herself by the end of the day.

 {iPhone photo}

This winter Jane & I will ski together one morning a week (which I previously did with Jacob) - to get her a lot of exposure & practice. Then, hopefully by next year we can all go together a little more.

Until then, I'm pretty content to be spending time on green runs with this little happy face!

{iPhone photo}

Things are looking good for this season. Hooray!

Double Brrrr.

Rebekah is in the ski club at school this year. She wanted to join last year, but when she brought the information home, all the trips (but one) were on Sundays, so she couldn't do it.

Did that stop Bek? No, she lobbied the teachers in charge & had all the trips for this year changed to Saturday. I'm really very proud of her.

I'm happy for her to get extra skiing time in so she can improve, and that it will be fun for her to ski with her friends. They go to different ski areas in NY and surrounding states, so I'm also glad she'll get to see which places she likes & make recommendations for days we go as a family.

Only one drawback - it's VERY cold in NY in the winter.

Today they are skiing at Belleayre and this is the e-mail we got from the teacher in charge yesterday -

Please dress in layers and wear face protection.  Frost Bite conditions possible for Saturday's Trip.

Forecast:
 Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 15. Wind chill values as low as -9.

Northwest wind between 9 and 11 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 0. Wind chill values as low as -9.

Northwest wind between 5 and 7 mph.

See you all tomorrow.

MrG

Yes - the HIGH is 15 degrees. (Remember, my Australian readers - 32 is freezing.)

I dropped her off at the school at 5am this morning and just helping her to the bus & walking back to the car made my nose sting with the cold.

Have  a fun day Rebekah. Stay warm!