Halversens Hit the Slopes

Well, we made it through a full day of skiing. I'm here to tell you that taking five kids skiing is a true test of your parenting grit, but it was worth it.

We were up at 5:45 and in the car at 6:30. We were to the resort at 8:30. The small kids were scheduled for lessons at 10:00, and yes, it took us the full hour and a half to get everyone into skis. When you first get out of the car, everyone is freezing. So begins the hunt for gloves, hats, coats, etc. Then we trek over to the lodge, and after half an hour waiting in line in the rental shop everyone is dying of the heat and off come those same gloves, hats, coats, etc. while I'm frantically trying to keep track of all 14 gloves knowing full well people will be wanting them again in another half hour. Then someone's boots don't fit and have to go back, some kid's socks are too lumpy, poles are being poked toward people's eyes, Lauren's bindings get installed on Ethan's skiis and vice-versa which doesn't really work out too well, and by the time everyone is in skiis and standing on the snow, I'm pretty much ready to go home.

Thanks heavens it was 10:00 by then and time for lessons. So for and hour and half the small kids have their first ski lesson and Gar and I take off with the big kids. This method of not teaching our own kids to ski comes from advice from my parents coupled with some experience trying to teach my own kids piano lessons. It's just better when someone else handles the first crash, the first ski coming off and all the rest.

So after their lesson, they show off their skills a bit and then we head to lunch. Finding a table and procuring all necssary food items could be another whole paragraph, but it would be much like the paragraph about renting skiis, so just feel free to use your imagination. After lunch the little kids have a second lesson. Turns out that a second lesson in the same day is wicked cheap, and we are not so dumb as to say 'no' to another hour and a half of getting to ski with the big kids on something besides the bunny hill.

By the time that is over, the kids are doing very well. Everyone can stand up on their skiis and can stop, usually. Lauren and Ethan can both turn well, but Ethan chooses not to. Annie is not great at turning, but for five years old is rockin' it nonetheless. The rest of the day and into the evening was spent skiing with the kids. All three braved the actual chair lift. Ethan loved it and was soon sent off skiing with Audrey and Tanner. His only problem seems to be a complete lack of fear. Also, as previously stated, he sees no need to turn, as that would just slow him down. So he gets in his little snowplow, points 'em where he wants to go, and goes. He has proclaimed skiing his new favorite sport, but he says that about whatever he's doing at the time. Lauren only went a couple of times on the lift and did well, but in the end she was a little more comfortable on the bunny hill for today. Give her time. Annie did go on the chairlift, and skiied the whole way down between my legs. She loved it because she got to go fast, but in the end, she wanted to stay on the bunny hill too. I must have gone up that rope tow with Annie 50 times. My snowplow is lookin' good.

We all took one more short break for some hot chocolate, and ended up skiing from 10am until 8pm with a total of only an hour break. That's nine hours of ski time. We were amazed that Annie lasted that long. Once we were finally back in the car there was a flurry of eating, but when that was over and lights were turned out, the kids totally crashed for the car trip home. We arrived home just after 11pm. It's Monday now and I'm still recovering. The day was not without some tears and some frustration, but in the end everyone felt good about their mad skiing skills, and Gar and I made it through in one piece.

Here are some photos. Sorry there aren't more. Gary's camera was flipping out because of the cold. He could only take one or two pics at a time and then it would shut off. He did manage to get a video of Lauren. Love you all! Jenn



Ready for lessons...





Hitting the slopes...















Yes, the big kids were there too. I swear Audrey was very happy all day, and yet, this is the one and only picture we have of her.



Tanner's big moment of the day involved hitting a tree, and he's got the scrapes to prove it!