Winter Playmates

She had no trouble snuggling down in the blanket I made her

Let's face it, this past winter was brutally difficult for all of us.  Alaska had warmer weather than we did!  The kids spent more time out of school for snow and cold to the point my daughter related to the scene in Tangled:  "We are never going back!"

No one can stay cooped up inside forever so out we go to play in the snow....er...ice.



I find it ironic that I have photos of all but my mini me, who's birthday it was this day.  The irony lay in the fact she's the drama queen with the most extroverted personality.  How in the world did she miss photo ops?

I was out with a friend during this day.  It was a rare day, I had no responsibilities.  Shock!  We're driving around and when spotted are all these people out in the middle of the frozen lake!  Wow......here?  In MI, yeah...sure...but here?  Awesome!

Of course I have to go wandering out on it.  Tip toeing, rubbing the snow away.  Am I really walking on water??  Is it cracking?  What are the chances I'll slip and bust my personality??

This was just so much fun.....

The absolutely most fun of all?  Skiing.  Wow.  This has been something on my bucket list for a while.  It's just 45 min from my house.  How is it I've lived here all this time and not??

Granted, we live in the 'hills', not the Mt's so this is perfect for the beginner skier.  What do I do?  Well of course I grab a friend who has done this and whichever child wants to learn and off we go!

Let me break it down for you.  Dawn - never skied.  Daughter - never skied.  Daughter takes tips from friend and down the hill she goes.  Dawn, puts on the second ski and promptly falls over.   (not even joking)

I take the ski lesson and then proceed to fall down all over the hill all day long.  It's a learn process right?  I'm not one to give up easily so I keep at it.

Next, I find other family members, friends and so forth and drag them out.  That was season 1.  Season 2, my daughter and I cover this hill.  She speeds, I yard sale.  In fact, I yard sale so much, people on the lift above actually came down to help gather.  Pride in pocket, I keep at it.

That same year, I brought my son out. I put him in the lessons.  What's he do?  Only go through 2 of the 6 portions and down the biggest hill he went.  O M W!!!  Not that I knew, I went over to check on him and he's gone!

Gone, how can he be gone?  I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to tell his father I lost him on the ski slopes when he goes whizzing right past yelling out, "This is awesome!"  Worried Mom instantly turns into bear.  Why you.......

Fast forward to Season 3.  This year.  Put that boy BACK into the ski lessons and this time he did all 6 portions.  I come over to check, the kid is skiing backwards down the bunny hill.  Are you kidding me?

Mom actually got to bump her beginner skis to Intermediate and what a blast we had.

Oldest and youngest daughter