My two snow bunnies

The boys and I had the opportunity to go skiing this week with their school. I decided that I would be able to teach them how to ski, after all my dad had taught me (when I was 3), so it couldn't be that hard. Right??

We got up early Tuesday morning and headed up the mountain. They were both very excited, but had a lot of questions and didn't know what to expect. It's been 10 years since I've been skiing and as we approached the mountain I was getting less and less confident about my ability to teach them anything and pretty sure I would need a lesson to remember how to ski myself.(Geared up and ready to go -- Bunny Hill behind us)

Many things have changed over the last 10 years, but luckily many things have also remained the same. It was nostalgic to be teaching my sons how to ski on the exact same slope I learned on as a child. One change, when renting skis (and now helmets) it's all digital. This was not the case the last time I rented. They scanned the boot and the ski and adjusted the binding based on the computer in front of them. I was shocked to not have to take off my boot to have it fitted for the ski. I'm sure it's better and easier and more efficient this way, but it was new to me.(Excited to be headed up the mountain for our first run)

After renting we went to get on our gear and it took me half an hour to get snow pants, gloves, hats, coats and boots on the three of us, but then we were off. We decided that I would ride up the lift with one while the other waited at the bottom and then ski down to the other one and ride up with him then we would all ski down together. This plan went off without a hitch and I was pleasantly surprised to find out on my first solo run down that I did to remember how to ski!

(Josiah on the lift with Mom)

I did not, however, have any idea how to teach two young boys to ski. Our first run down was a bit of a disaster with me often yelling towards them, "Fall Down, Fall Down!!" Not knowing how else to get them to not run into the trees. By the end of the run they had each probably fallen over 25 times, although never hard, and each of them got a lot of practice on how to position your skis with the slope before standing up. It was tiring to say the least.

(Josh on the lift with Mom)

I had no idea what I was doing, so I started spying on the paid instructors trying to overhear what they were saying to their students. As a kid I remember something about one leg being peanut butter and the other being jelly, but I think that was because I was learning to ski before I knew my left from right. I tried skiing with Josh between by legs, but he was leaning on me and not balancing himself on his skis and I knew that was going to get us no where.

I saw an instructor with two kids about my kids' ages saying to hold their arms out in front of them to help balance, so that became one thing I would say. "Arms out in front" I knew from feeling how I was skiing that you had to shift pressure from one leg to another in order to turn and that you needed to ride the inner edge of your ski and that a wide "pie" helped you to slow down and stop, but I think I was trying to teach them too many things at once.

Our next run down the mountain was just a touch better and by the third time up the mountain they were wanting to ride the lift without me (even though they hadn't be able to successfully exit the lift without falling over). After our third run we were all a little tired and frazzled, so we went in and had lunch. (Riding up together in front of me)

After some nourishment we were ready to hit the slopes again, although Joshua said, "Just once more and then I'm done for the day." Wonders of wonders, miracles of miracles our first run after lunch was actually a vast improvement. By no means were they perfect, but they were actually turning a little and not falling quite as often. One more run down the bunny hill and they were asking to go up the "big" lift.

I thought, "Well, what could it hurt? They seem to be getting the hang of it. Okay let's try it."

BIGGEST MISTAKE OF THE ENTIRE DAY!!!

We only rode half way up the big lift (very glad for this in hind sight) because it was a lift where you could get off half way or ride it all the way up. The "Zig Zag" trail that was a green was not as wide open as the bunny hill and was also a little more steep. Not a good combination. Josh kept saying, "Mom, we're just beginners." I was just about ready to take off all our skis and walk down as others kept zooming past us, but we did manage to make it to the bottom eventually. We were all pretty emotionally drained at this point.

After a breather at the bottom of the hill and a pep talk from dad we decided to try one more time on the bunny hill and then we would head home. They did AWESOME! It was so good for all of our spirits to end on a high note and not with the defeated feeling Zig Zag had left us with.

They enjoyed it so much they wanted to do one more "last run" and I willingly obliged. Here is a video of the very end of the last run. As you can see they are not perfect, but made great strides in one day considering at the beginning of the day they didn't even know how to put skis on. Josiah is first in the red and white coat, then Josh in the blue and orange.

Overall I am so pleased and happy with the experience. I never really lost my cool although I wanted to several times. The weather cooperated and though it was lightly snowing at times we were warm enough to be sweating and not freezing (which can be just miserable). There were no injuries. AND they want to go again someday! Josh said, "This was waaaaaay more fun than tubing, all the kids should come do this"

(best part of the day, hot chocolate!)

Mommy is not ready for all the kids to be skiing just yet, but it was fun and I'm sure we'll get to do it again someday.

Skiing did make me realize I'm not as young or agile as I once was. All day today my knees have been a little sore and my shoulders as well. After we got home Naomi was talking with me and said, "Mom, how old are you?" I replied, "31" Naomi, "Did you say 71?" Me, "No I said '31', why do I look 71?" Her, "YES!" I'm not sure how that's supposed to make me feel :) Out of the mouth of babes . . . .