This was the year for skiing.
The kids watched some downhill skiers last year and asked to try. Normally, rentals and lessons are so expensive we wouldn't be able to do much. Thanks to Chester Bowl, though, we just had to wait until this past fall, sign up for the lottery, and go for ski fittings!
V was especially happy with her pink helmet.
The day after Christmas, Chester Bowl started its Winter Break camp!
This place is just magical. Beautiful small ski hill in the middle of the city, with the friendliest people.
They started off a little unsure how to move on their skis.
The class started on the bunny hill, on the lower part of the hill. Mom and Dad had to help haul them up the hill which is harder than it seems when they are wearing skis on the snow! (Several days into our lessons I tried to carry Alex up and near the top my foot hit the top of his ski, slipped, and we both went down, resulting in a bloody nose for my boy.)
They learned how to make a "pizza" to go down the hill with skis in the shape of a V, to learn enough control to be safe on the slopes. As soon as they could weave through cones and come to a complete stop, they were allowed to go on the chair lift with an instructor.
V passed the cone test on day 3 of winter break. Her first trip up a chair lift!
Here is video of her first ride on the chair lift!
Alex took a few more days of classes on the bunny hill before he passed the cone test.
He was nervous (as was his sister the first time) and tried to get out of going up the hill. We did a little bit of tough loving and got him to agree to go with the same instructor his sister had previously.
Here's a video of his first ride on the chair lift!
In this video you can see Alex coming down the hill with the instructor, and with Victoria and Dad nearby!
She was so happy to have her brother on the hill with her!
Of course, there were days Alex just got plum tuckered out before his sister did. Victoria was like the Energizer Bunny on the hill!
As winter went on, there was other snowy fun. We got snowstorm after snowstorm of white fluffy amazingness. We loved all the recreation it provided! The kids spent a day at daycare and went showshoeing in the woods.
In January-February they also did cross-country skiing classes, and Mom and Dad donned our skis as well. One Sunday morning we woke up to the most amazing hoarfrost I've ever seen.
Then, there was lots of sledding, at home and in Cloquet, and other snow fun!
We had so much snow on the back deck the kids could get to the deck railing, and accidentally learned that they could jump off the railing and land in the snow in the yard!
...ummm... kids on the TABLE?!?
When the snow got too cold, there were warm blankets to cozy up with, and puppies to snuggle with. 💓
And still the snow piled up, until it reached even the top of my Little Free Library.
At that point, I suggested it was tall enough for snow forts! It started with this tunnel.
... which was about to expand ...
One day Ashley came sledding with us. We started in Cloquet where we met Adam, Megan, Mason, and Addie!
The three older kids started to make snow angels and then Mason tried to join in!
We met Grandma and Grandpa at the Warming House afterwards for lunch, and Grandpa treated everyone to ice cream.
We got home and still had some time with Ashley, so the kids worked on tunnels!
The network grew and grew.
Speaking of Grandma and Grandpa, they came to watch the kids downhill ski one day as well!
The kids grew more and more comfortable on the hill, and started doing some "tricks" -- going over hills and doing stunts.
Here's a few videos:
It was an amazing experience to see how quickly they could go down the hill by themselves, how confident they were, and to see the smiles and pride on their faces.
They even got comfortable enough to ride the chair lift without Dad, and to go on it together!
Dad enjoyed his time on the hills watching the kiddos:
Winter 2019, one for the books!
