So, for New Year's Eve we decided that the kids needed to go skiing. Michael's cousin had some discount tickets to Welch's Village in MN, so we decided to head on over there. They had fireworks at 7, and our relatives had season passes so would come down just for a few hours. We would ski in the afternoon, eat dinner, watch the fireworks, and leave.
But with one thing and another, we didn't manage to leave the house until 12:50. We got to the ski place after 2, and our cousin didn't get there until almost 3. We tried to get skis and by the time we had everything all ready it was almost 4. Oh well. I left Michael to be in charge of feeding the kids (we had brought a dinner for Amanda) and went off with the "girls."
My mother-in-law and sister-in-law and I went to a nearby county park with three pairs of snowshoes in our trunk, but we decided not to use them. We went for a lovely 1 mile hike by the Cannon river, then went for dinner in a Chinese restaurant in Red Wing. When we got there we were the only non-Asians in the place. It was delicious.
We got back to the ski hill at almost 7, only to find that the kids hadn't had more than snacks to eat (the cousins had brought a bag of candy from England that was mostly consumed) and had had a wonderful time. They went to the top of the hill to watch the fireworks and we stayed inside: I think we had a better view. There were many "new" kinds (I'm not sure if they really are new or if I just have missed them) and much was discussed about a trip to South Carolina before July. We'll see. Most of the fireworks I liked would be inappropriate for NC in the summer: too great a risk of stray sparks.
The kids then proceeded to ski a few more runs---by the time they were done, it was nearly 8:30. They certainly got their money's worth! The cafe had closed, of course, so the kids ate the carrots I had packed and breakfast bars from the machines for dinner. Poor Luke finally took his boots off and started screaming with pain as the blood came back into them. His toes were all pink, however, so no frostbite. Thank goodness.
We finally got back home after 10, and we were able to climb into bed by 11 (Happy New Year in North Carolina!).
I would just like to give a public service announcement here to tell you all that it really is much colder skiing in MN than in VA. There was one day a few years ago we were at Wintergreen and we decided it was too cold to ski: it was probably colder yesterday in MN than it was that day. The kids were undeterred, and even Michael seemed to not be too miserable. It hurt to take your gloves off, so you didn't take your gloves off. Everyone's cheeks were very red when they came back inside.
Once again we confirmed that there really is not time this side of paradise to get to know each other. And even if there were time, the superficial conversations are so much easier to have. I asked the cousin's daughter a few questions, but I am so bad at it! and I'm not sure much was accomplished. I hope to be able to talk more with Michael's cousins and their kids someday.
But with one thing and another, we didn't manage to leave the house until 12:50. We got to the ski place after 2, and our cousin didn't get there until almost 3. We tried to get skis and by the time we had everything all ready it was almost 4. Oh well. I left Michael to be in charge of feeding the kids (we had brought a dinner for Amanda) and went off with the "girls."
My mother-in-law and sister-in-law and I went to a nearby county park with three pairs of snowshoes in our trunk, but we decided not to use them. We went for a lovely 1 mile hike by the Cannon river, then went for dinner in a Chinese restaurant in Red Wing. When we got there we were the only non-Asians in the place. It was delicious.
We got back to the ski hill at almost 7, only to find that the kids hadn't had more than snacks to eat (the cousins had brought a bag of candy from England that was mostly consumed) and had had a wonderful time. They went to the top of the hill to watch the fireworks and we stayed inside: I think we had a better view. There were many "new" kinds (I'm not sure if they really are new or if I just have missed them) and much was discussed about a trip to South Carolina before July. We'll see. Most of the fireworks I liked would be inappropriate for NC in the summer: too great a risk of stray sparks.
The kids then proceeded to ski a few more runs---by the time they were done, it was nearly 8:30. They certainly got their money's worth! The cafe had closed, of course, so the kids ate the carrots I had packed and breakfast bars from the machines for dinner. Poor Luke finally took his boots off and started screaming with pain as the blood came back into them. His toes were all pink, however, so no frostbite. Thank goodness.
We finally got back home after 10, and we were able to climb into bed by 11 (Happy New Year in North Carolina!).
I would just like to give a public service announcement here to tell you all that it really is much colder skiing in MN than in VA. There was one day a few years ago we were at Wintergreen and we decided it was too cold to ski: it was probably colder yesterday in MN than it was that day. The kids were undeterred, and even Michael seemed to not be too miserable. It hurt to take your gloves off, so you didn't take your gloves off. Everyone's cheeks were very red when they came back inside.
Once again we confirmed that there really is not time this side of paradise to get to know each other. And even if there were time, the superficial conversations are so much easier to have. I asked the cousin's daughter a few questions, but I am so bad at it! and I'm not sure much was accomplished. I hope to be able to talk more with Michael's cousins and their kids someday.
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