we're done for...

... the kids (and Jeff too) have been bitten by the skiing bug (and bitten HARD!). They are totally obsessed now and are already talking about making plans to go multiple times next year! :-)

**** warning... huge amount of photos ****

Friday after Jeff's flight got in, we loaded up and headed to Crystal Mountain Resort in Michigan. We absolutely love going there... but up until now, we had only been there during the summer. This was our first winter trip, and our first time skiing (I'm using the term "we" loosely as I still haven't skied). :-) That night we had a nice dinner and the wandered around a bit, picking up some items we needed for the next day (goggles, gloves and some thick socks for the kids). It was overwhelming.... so much going on even at night! Alex was so excited... he insisted on going to be right away so morning would get there faster!!

Here are the kids in front of our cottage.. dressed and ready to pick up their equipment and head to ski school...

Side note on the cottage... it was fabulous! I wish I had taken some photos of the inside... but quite honestly we were never really there long enough to take photos! The kids' favorite feature? The bunkbeds in the upstairs bedroom. Mine? The gas log fireplace... ahhh... that felt so nice at the end of the day. :-)

Here are the kids and their instructor at ski school Saturday morning....

Their instructor was fabulous and had them on one of the green slopes before their lesson was over!

Here's Jeff with his instructor...
Alex...
My family with their instructors...
Clara and her instructor...
Documentation of the only time Clara actually carried her own skis...
(shortly after this photo, she conned her instructor into carrying them for her.... sigh)

This weekend was Crystal Mountain's Familypalooza... so there were games with the mascots.

Here's Clara trying to toss a ring around Powder Pig....
The kids and Powder Pig...
The kids and Snowball...
The skiing Radtkes....
My boy....
Clara doing a little night skiing at Totem Park....
Can you believe that they skied EIGHT hours on Saturday???? Three hours before lunch, three hours after lunch and another two after dinner! I couldn't believe it!

This morning we had them signed up for another class of ski school. Here's Alex coming down one of the green runs...
and Clara...
The kids with their instructor...
My girl...
Listening to instructions...
A run through the obstacle course to practice turns....
Clara however, doesn't turn... she has a need for speed and turning slows her down... sigh. Her instructor told us that he believe that she can turn, just chooses not to.

Jeff took them down the green runs for another 45 minutes before we loaded up and drove home (in scary bands of pouring rain). The kids really truly had a fabulous time and are begging to go back!

Okay... I'm sleepy so I'm heading to bed!

'nite!