Snow House

We returned to the original Snow House this year for another lovely visit. Dave, Dad, and I skiied together for the first time in 2 decades. That was a great thing.

Mark, Janett, and Isabella took ski lessons for the first time. Mark summed up the experience in an apres ski art therapy session. The flipping elephant is Mark getting off the chair lift. The turtle is the wise ski expert (Dad) explaining his various techniques for making it down the mountain. Dora is Isabella (no poles and arms outstretched). The two yellow critters are me and Dave, brother and sister team, skiing and catching up. Dr. Seuss is Janett, in an impressive ski display, making her way down the mountain to the ski lodge. The palm tree represents the desert, because without the man-made snow, it would have been like being in the desert--a mountainous, barren desert.

Wise Ski Expert

No poles, arms outstretched

Impressive skiing by first-timer, Janett.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then there was this gem. That would be my backside. 

I had the wonderfully frustrating experience of guiding Isabella down runs after her ski lesson. It started out great--so fun to see my little girl on pair of skis! Then came the reality of navigating fatigue and ski gear and exiting chair lifts with someone much shorter than you and figuring how to dislodge skis (both mine and hers) from icy patches without bending my knees and back in ways that they are not supposed to bend.  I confess to threatening to leave her on the mountain. I didn't mean for it to sound so harsh, but the reality is you are up there FOREVER with a temper tantrum, or you get yourself. Down. The. Mountain. (I think she forgave me.)

We took turns making dinner and each meal was delicious! Example: Dad's polenta served with his chicken cacciatore.

Isabella entertained us with her enthusiasm for all things snow: "Look at the snow! Do you see ALL THE SNOW?!" she excitedly pointed out on our drive up the mountain. In reality there was hardly any snow at all on account of the drought we are having, but who are we to burst her bubble?

She also showed an impressive ability to slip out of her snow gear without leaving much of a trail behind her.

Our family made a day trip to Reno to see friends who moved there from Napa. There were bouncy houses and fast cars.

 and cute kids.

All in all it was a great time. Mom got sick. I got sick. But that was just all par for the course, because if there is one thing that has defined our winter break from before Christmas to even now (two weeks back at school) it is illness. Mark got sick once we were home, as did Matthew (for the third time) and Dad. Hopefully we are done now and on to new adventures in 2014.