4/7/11: L's first time skiing

Just a quick post on L's first time skiing. I had been planning on taking her skiing this season but, between all the colds and surgeries it just didn't happen until now. I was able to get free Eldora passes from work and L was super excited to go. When we got there (we got there later than I had hoped) it was almost noon. We rented equipment, her little ski's were so cute, and then I went to the retail store to get a toe clip (I was told that might help) and a harness since I forgot to get those things before we left. Once we got everything on I kind of pushed her down this little hill that was on the way to the ski lift. She moved forward and then fell over. She didn't cry or anything just got back up and moved some more... before she fell. I am not much of an instructor so I didn't know what to tell a toddler. We kind of moved with her between my legs for a little bit but after about 10 minutes or so L was ready to go home. Great, I said, we had only been "skiing" for 10 minutes and she already wanted to go home. I decided that it was ski school time. I signed her up for the afternoon class which was 2.5 hours long. She was really shy with the teacher for a couple of minutes but he got her interested in putting on one of her skis and she started "skating" around. He then took her to their training slope and I went off to do some runs. I didn't do many before I wanted to check on her... I did this often because I wanted to see how she was doing and she looked so cute out there with her little bitty skis on. At the end of the school time her teacher said she did a good job and learned a lot. One of the other instructors there said that she got a little tired about 1.5 hours in and started saying "no" a lot more when asked to do things. She said she had a great time and wanted to do this again so hopefully, next season, we can go a little more often.

Thursday, 12/10/09...CB day 5...

Today was our last chance to ski b/c Katie & Derek wanted to leave a day early so they could get back on Saturday night instead of Sunday night. Conditions weren't going to be fabulous since there was no overnight snow and it was 15F. But we braved the conditions and went skiing anyhow (it actually wasn't as bad as we thought it would be b/c the sun was out) or at least I tried. My shins were so sore from Tuesday that I did one run in one set of boots and then another run in a different set but couldn't bear the pain so I bailed. The boys continued to ski and had fun. Too bad Dave only took one lousy picture. Anyhow, I went home with my tail between my legs and hung out with Katie & Sara (Katie had already put L down for a nap).

Getting flower clip pics






checking herself out in the mirror...it was a common theme during the week.






playing their pianos together.

Videos of piano playing:

view from the lift.




Derek & Dave on the lift.


Dave & me on the lift.


view at the top of the lift.




view towards more lifts (back).


Dave fixing his helmet.


Dave, Derek, & me at the top of the lift.




me & Sara












giggling girls

Tuesday, 12/8/09...CB day 3

Today Mario, Derek, Dave & I went skiing. We're staying so close that we just walked down the hill a little and across the bridge, and we were right there. Mario was there when the lifts opened but the rest of us took our time getting ready in the morning and deciding whether we really wanted to ski while it was cold and snowing. Plus, it gave us time to dig Derek's car out from under all the snow before we left.

Mario had brought walky-talkies so we were able to meet up with him when we were done getting our rentals. Visibility was really poor but skiing in powder was awesome. Mario took us over to the other side of the mountain but we only did a run and a half over there before heading back to the main side because it was super steep and really hard to see so you had to skiing really loose in order to anticipate things you couldn't see. Then we took a break for lunch and had some super yummy pulled pork nachos. After thawing out, we did another couple runs before calling it a day.

We'd never skied Crested Butte before, but our assessment was that it's really geared more for the experience and expert skier. They hardly have any easy terrain and even their "greens" weren't very "green" and neither were there "blues" very "blue."

Derek & Katie's car, pre-dig-out after 2 days of snow.


the boys digging it out


L all bundled up


didn't like the snow blowing in her face






Sara playing in the snow












L dumping snow on Sara


Riding up the lift with Mario


Dave & Derek behind us


Mario & me...he was mad at me b/c I wouldn't take off my mask but it was COLD and i had finally gotten it on right.


the big D


Dave & me riding up the lift


Derek


Derek


Dave




Mario & his licorice straw


Derek & Dave thawing out during lunch. Dave's feet were SO super cold.


the happy couple


Mario, Dave & I on the mountain

Mario, Dave, me, & Derek

It was so cold on my hands to get out the camera that this is the only video of the day...Derek & Dave coming down an easy slope.

Mario will be, well, Mario.














the boys on the bus ride back




walking up the driveway


view of the ski area from the condo


L & Mario


reading to the girls

Derek getting the girls to laugh with his "Scottish" accent