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Skiing lessons

Eleanor had a great time skiing. In the 4 days of ski school she had, she went from barely skiing the beginner slopes to doing the same things I am trying to do. Her instructor said that she falls down a lot, because "She skis near the edge." Hmm, wonder where she gets that from (hint: not her mother). This is the reason I am in favor of teaching kids to ski when they are young, instead of waiting until they are taller and creakier and less bouncy.

We decided not to give Amanda skiing lessons this year. She really didn't like the cold (she doesn't have an ounce of fat on her to keep her warm) and she doesn't quite understand that to stay warm she has to keep her mittens on and not touch the snow with her skin. There is a playground not far from where we were staying, so we went over to play the first day. Amanda insisted on sticking her mittened hands into the deep puffy snow, even when that caused her mittens to come off. Then she lost one of her boots in the snow and got her foot covered with snow. At this point she started crying and walking back to the condo by herself, counting on the fact that we would follow her. She's my southern girl.

Amanda did have one small ski adventure when Michael skied down the easy slope with her in his arms. When he got to the bottom, the people working said that technically, he wasn't supposed to do that but that Michael was the father... Amanda enjoyed skiing, so we'll probably try ski school when we go on our next ski vacation, whenever that is.

I had my own ski adventure when I went skiing with Michael. My goal in skiing is to ski beautifully and slowly, using proper technique. I want to look like a professional skier, but in slow motion. To do this I stay mostly on double green (advanced beginner) and single blue (intermediate) rated slopes. Michael and I had decided to ski down Magnolia, which looked like it had good scenery and wasn't too hard. When we got off the lift, I led the way, following the signs. Unfortunately, I forgot that to get to Magnolia the safe way, we had to ski down a section of Galloping Goose (a double green) in order to avoid the top of Magnolia (a double blue, advanced intermediate). Suffice it to say that I went down the slope sitting down, falling down, sliding down sideways... Finally (after a 7 year old went down in front of me) I remembered how to make "snowplow turns" and got down the hill. Something happens to me as I stand looking down a steep slope and I forget how to turn entirely due to the feeling of panic welling up inside of me. This hill was under a section of the lift, and every time we went over it I still couldn't believe that I had gotten down it---remembering, I am even now amazed that anyone skis down that type of hill without falling.

Luke didn't go skiing this time. I'm sure that he will have a good time keeping up with his sisters.

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