Potential Disaster aka Spring Break 2014

We've never gone on a trip for Spring Break and I can't say that I was "excited" about this trip my husband put together.  Anxious would be a more appropriate word.  Why? For starters, I've never skiid.  My girls have never skiid.  My just turned 4 year old has never skiid.  Add to it that we have had a frigid winter, the thought of driving 10 hours only to unload into more snow and cold, strap long flat things onto our feet and slide down a snowy mountain over and over again, hauling endless gear for myself and the kids, listening to "I"m cold!" or "I can't do this!" or "I don't like this"....it just didn't sound like the Spring Break of my dreams.  This is exactly how I imagined it...sort of (add to it a few major wipe outs by me, possible sprains, breaks, etc.)  Man, I'm an optimist!  But this is how I imagined it.  For weeks.

I tried not to share my vision with anyone else, pretending to be SO excited.  We got all packed up, borrowed all kinds of cool ski stuff from our friends, the Ebys (who make skiing sound and look so cool!) and got ready for what I knew was going to be a slight disaster.  But, here we go...let's give this a try and then we'll know we aren't a ski family.

Wrong.  Proving once again that I can dream up quite a "worst case scenario".  Must I do this all the time?

I learned several things.  

1)  Kids can learn to ski, quickly, and without much fear.  Not just my kids - all kids.  I was amazed at my little rock stars, feeling so proud....then I looked around the bunny slope and could see that most kids were skiing quite well.  It was the tall people, like me, on the bunny slope that looked tense, awkward and nervous.

2)  I did not wipe out (not in a major way, anyway!)  And it's great.  Really fun.

3)  Ski instructors are patient, at least ours were anyway.  The kids are easy - it's the adults!  Wow, are they patient!

4)  I must be careful not to transfer my fears to my oldest daughter.  The other two are fearless by nature and pay me absolutely no attention.  Kate watches me - closely.

Anyway, we had a great time!  Loved Red River - great place for beginners - so friendly, easy access to everything, not crowded.  We will be back...and maybe we are a ski family!  Learned that too.

Little mommy

Ready!

Ashton and Will

Day one - ski school

I got it!  I got it!

I got it!

Happy kids!

Taking a break

Never doubted she'd be ready for this

Will and Dad

Waiting for snow tubing

So fun!

Claire Bear

Snow tubing

Love this pic

Taos

Kate - making her way down

Chris - best ski instructor ever!

PROOF!  I skiid! 

Phillips 66 Meet

Yesterday, we drove to Bartlesville to watch Kate compete in her first gymnastics meet ever.  She's taken gymnastics since she was two, but only recently joined an official gymnastics team and begun taking it kind of seriously and to the next level.  Had no idea the time commitment required for gymnasts!  This summer, she spent nine hours a week in the gym conditioning and practicing.  This fall, her level is required to do 6 hours a week.  Those girls do conditioning exercises that would make me cry...or at least cry for mercy!  I began watching her closely to make sure she was actually enjoying it as she always had, now that the demands on her time and body were so much more. She had always just taken a one hour class each week for fun.  This was totally different!   I just knew I would pull in the parking lot one afternoon after practice to pick her up and hear her say....this is not fun anymore.  This is work and I'm exhausted.  Don't like it.   

Not so.  Not even close.  She gets in the car happy, high energy, and loving all of it.  I don't know why I'm still surprised.  But, okay - gymnastics it is!  So we are moving forward.   This weekend was really big for her.  She's been working toward this since last May.  She was nervous but excited.  I told her, "Just get through this one.  Don't focus on your scores, what you walk away with in the way of ribbons....I know you want to do well and see those results, but just do the very best you can and HAVE FUN!"  "This one is about learning what a real meet feels like".

Well, she did it and she enjoyed it so much.   All that hard work paid off!  She had fun and even placed third in her age group.  Thank you for rolling out to see her, Grandpa!  And I know her Mississippi grandparents would have loved to have been there - so here are a few pictures!  But I have a feeling you will have many years ahead to see her compete.  She's got the bug now for sure!  They wouldn't allow flash photography - so these aren't great - but you'll get a peek! 

Heading back to warm up with Abby

 

 

Floor routine





Floor routine

Floor routine



beam

 

 



Has it been FOUR MONTHS? Then it's high time you met Wilson!

I cannot tell you where the last four months have gone.  I could feel them slipping by - or rushing past.  The pace of summer picked up around July and and then fall came in like a lion this year.  More activities, more homework, MIDDLE SCHOOL, more strong-willed Will, plus a puppy who is also strong willed and a new kitten.  It all makes for a pace I could have kept up with much easier back in my twenties or thirties.  I am not sure how I used to fit in time to blog, but I did and I will again. 

I have missed several important blog-worthy events.  I'm going to play catch up - bear with me. 

In the meantime, here's one more cutie we added to the family.  Meet Wilson!  Claire wanted a cat for her 9th birthday this year.  No.  Absolutely not!  We cannot take care of one more animal.  No.  Silly to even ask.  Pap is allergic.  I'll never hear the end of it and he may not be able to BREATHE at our house again.  No.  No cat.  And what about Blue?  He will eat the cat, won't he?  No.  No cat. 

Weeks go by.  "Kitten" is still on her birthday list, right at the top.  No is still our answer.  I mean, really NO! 

Then, for whatever reason, about three days before her birthday, I am lying in bed watching TV, zoning completely out as I often do after about 9:30 p.m. every night, when I say to Bill (who is locked in on fantasy baseball)...."I think we should get Claire that kitten".  He says, "Me too".  And that was that.  Was it the smartest idea?  Probably not.  But, my husband managed to find the sweetest cat who ever lived I do believe.  Claire named him Wilson.  I am quite smitten with this cat. 

And - Pap just came for a four day visit and I do believe he did not wheeze once.  Wilson did pack his bags and head for the vet for his stay, but still - I was happy that we hadn't totally ruined all chances to have Pap ever come back.  Pap does rank over Wilson....but look at those big blue eyes!

 

So, maybe not this dirty

Previously, I posted that I was so happy to see Kate digging in the dirt.  So happy that she is outside, breathing the air, spending time with her little brother instead of watching TV, texting her friends without coming up for air (on her Ipod, not a phone...I haven't totally bought into all this!), or shut behind her bedroom door.  I just don't know if I was ready for this.  But it happened so fast, I had no choice but to get the camera.  Enjoy.  This will be about the last time you ever see my children covered THIS deep in mud...if I can possibly help it.  I will say that I do believe they are still shocked that I let this go on.  I think that's what made it even more fun!