Our trip out west over Christmas holidays was planned to end with a day skiing and snowboarding with Gordon (Paul's brother) at Powder Mountain. This year Claire was old enough and she was set. She had been talking about it, she looked the part - ski pants, goggles, hat, gloves- she was ready. That is until it was time to put on the skis. We paid for a lesson for her for 1/2 day until noon and since no other kids were there, her group lesson was going to be a private one with a really nice man named Greg. We left her in Greg's capable hands and hit the slopes. After a couple times down the mountain - in "epic snow", as Paul put it - I still didn't see Claire out in the lesson area. I went to see what was going on and she was in the trailer with Greg watching Shrek. She apparently was fine until Greg got her on the skis and then she lost it. Three weeks away from home, days spent in the car, rowdy days with cousins and excitement of holidays had finally caught up with her and she melted. There was no getting her back on those skis with Greg. So he very patiently played games, colored, did puzzles, and watched movies with her while we caught a few more runs in the best snow I have ever been in. I then went to pick her up so as not to waste anymore of Greg's time. It was the most expensive babysitting I've ever experienced - even beat out NYC rates. Then while Paul and Gordon went off to hit the slopes again, Claire and I went to check out the lodge.
At the lodge, we had lunch, chatted with people, and played with the camera.
After chillin' for an hour or so, we decided to try outside again. Gordon came and we thought Claire might be more willing if she saw someone else she knew on skis. (Paul and I snowboard) It worked. She put the skis on and on a very gradual slope, with Gordon right beside her and mommy at the end to catch her, she skiied!! And, she liked it!!! So we did quite a few real short runs and then Gordon was off to the mountain again.
Claire was then ready to play in the snow. We made snowmen, had snowball fights, dug tunnels, of course posed for the camera....
(check out this shot)
....and made snow angels.
Gordon came and hung out with Claire for awhile and played in the snow while I got a few more runs in the beautiful snow. We are definitely going to try it again next year. Claire is already talking about it. Maybe we will try it at the beginning of our trip.
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