First time family skiing

At small group the Tuesday after the Box Maze and our hike, we somehow got to talking about skiing; all about how we used to go all the time and still I wasn't any good but Terry was amazing. We went at least four or five times with our Gburg students, but hadn't been since we'd moved back in 2012. When Faith's homeschool group had some openings that week she invited to accompany them Thursday, March 1. 

Terry took the day off from work so we could take all the kids but Ezra and teach them how to ski (my parents graciously took Ezra the night before on last minute notice because he couldn't come). Both of our expectations of their abilities were pretty low. So first off, Terry and I accompanied the kids to ski school, which was pretty difficult for them. And boy was it hot out! The high that day was nearly 50. All my layers were making me sweat like crazy. I went in to take a layer off and when I returned all the kids were at the magic carpet. Off they went! That's Samuel doing the pizza.

Terry and I spent the whole morning on the bunny slope with the kids. Samuel was so cute how he squatted down initially.

Noah had a difficulty going down the first time since he didn't have an instructor right next to him. But the second time went better until it was quickly no problem for him.

More of Samuel doing pizza. All the kids just went over and over up that carpet and down the teeny little slope.  

Here Samuel had it pretty figured out.

Thankfully Noah's angst turned to smiles. 

After about a couple hours we went inside for lunch and when we came back out I thought it was time to try the smallest ski lift and green slope. So there goes me and Evie. Our first run did not go well. Thankfully Zoe was along with us so she could help me encourage and pick up Evie. She was rather heartbroken and only wanted to stay on the bunny slope after that.

Terry stayed on the bunny hill a while longer but soon we all were up on the ski lift.

Noah was just zipping around that little hill so I encouraged Terry to take him up the ski lift. He is a much better teacher than me, plain and simple. He's better with instructions. I always trip up over my words so if ever we play a game, it's Terry who explains it. 

Noah did amazingly well on his first run! I was seriously so impressed. We both were and told him how proud we were.




Meanwhile Evie was just plodding along on, all bummed out. I again encouraged Terry to take her up by himself and it worked like a charm. It was a night and day run from her first time with me. She hardly fell at all!

I mean, look at that! She's better than me!



After that Terry and I had a lot more freedom to ride up the ski lift with the two olders.

It was great fun.

Finally we thought even Samuel could handle a trip up the big hill.

Here they are from behind. Such cute little legs and skis.

And he did great! Well, mostly. He went down two times and fell more than the olders but overall, I was so impressed.

He would get fearful and forget how to pizza or he wouldn't obey our instructions about how to turn down the hill. Turning scared him like it has scared me for years. I felt like I made some progress this time out, but at the end of the day Samuel just preferred to ride the magic carpet over and over.

Going down the big hill like a big boy.

I especially love this video of him cruising along through the trees.

The last hour before 3pm was spent in an almost frantic race up and down the mountain to go as much as we could. Evie ditched me to go up with Henry this time. :D

Henry has skied every year for some time and already once this winter for a couple days in Colorado so he's an old pro. Evie really wanted to keep up with him and the other boys.

One of the last runs up Evie accompanied Faith and Norah. Such cuties.

Terry in front of me just chillin out.

Henry and Denise's boys kept flying through these little side passages and once at the end Noah thought he'd try it. Too bad he got stuck. He was so embarrassed, the poor guy. But hey, I wouldn't have been able to do it!

The one time all four of us went up together Samuel fell down at the entrance to the magic carpet and couldn't get up. We had friends standing right there but no one noticed him. Poor guy. No one helped him up for several minutes but once he was on his skis he just kept going.



One of our last trips down. Look at Noah and Evie zoom around.




Faith offered to take our family photo once they closed the lifts.

We had an amazing day and were so thankful we got to go! But we were incredibly tired that night, like ridiculously tired. We all went to bed at 7:30pm!