Learning to Ski, etc.

We did it! We managed to get all seven of us loaded up and spent an entire day at the mountain. Everyone carried almost all of their own gear. We even packed a lunch and snacks and water bottles and new Play-Doh and cards (which we didn't need to use) and kids' books (which we didn't get to read). #1 had a competition (which he won!), and the rest of us played on the J-bar-serviced bunny slope. Zippy could have been riding up top and did head up there with a family friend for a bit, but his afternoon was spent with The Spark, who also could have been skiing up top but chose to stay near the rest of us, cruising the J-bar. The Spark and Zippy have not hung out together much since last summer when Zippy and #1 started growing very close- over the summer with mutual friends and then at school together every day. The Spark and Zippy used to be inseparable, so seeing them choose to spend hours together having such a blast together was awesome.

Then there was the big feat of the day: getting Princess Eee and Cupcake on skis. Especially daunting since I only have a snowboard and therefore can only provide back-up support for J who shoulders the brunt of teaching the never-evers. A little unsure at first, they both stepped it up, and while I waited at the bottom with one and J took the other up the J-bar, whomever I was waiting with repeated, "My turn?" over and over for the entire wait. And although Cupcake did start out with a quick mini-run and then lots of "No more, Mommy" she changed her mind when she saw her sister and biggest rival doing it. Same goes for Princess Eee. Neither one was willing to be the first to quit. And once they started to get the hang of it (both can make a decent snowplow and balance well enough to get a good, little ride in), they loved it. Princess Eee was ear to ear grin in action and didn't even cry all the times she fell. Cupcake was, true to form, loudly squealing with glee whenever she was sliding downhill. And whenever she fell she'd just yell, "OH NO!" She does however have a new fear: snowmobiles. Stay away from the ski patrol snowmobiles!

And thanks to all five of them being physically worn out, but not mentally cranky, we had a fairly well behaved, early dinner out on the way home. It's always nice when other diners compliment us on our family and our children. Makes up for the other times when they ask to be moved.