Fisher and I enjoyed quality time on the slopes this winter. Ok we went skiing 4 times, but those four times were really fun. For both of us . . . I think. Fisher approaches life with an admirable enthusiasm, he is brave and generally very "happy go lucky". This makes teaching him something new relatively stress free. He doesn't take things too seriously, care if he falls or shed many tears. Mostly he wants to go fast and go on the chair lift. Thus far I have regulated him to magic carpet and tow rope only. Here he is coming in hot. Stopping and turning coming next season.
To continue our ski adventures we took a trip up north to visit Boyne with the Thorntons and Schaals. This group of kids has a lot of fun together. Resident camp counsellors Levi and Isaac help entertain the little ones so the adults can sometimes hold an uninterrupted conversation. We have a lot of fun together too. Levi also helps with hats. And I wondered why Gracie talks about him so much. He is always helping her.
The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed apres ski at the base of the mountain. These ski bums worked hard and earned their chocolate milk and the adults earned their free shots of beer from the dos Equis girls. Taking 6 kids and an infant to the slopes is a lot of work.
My friend Laura was nice enough to help Nick with Gracie and Graham while I took a few runs and Fisher was at ski camp. He was happy with his new friend.
Ski camp started at 9:45, at 9:30 I told Nick I had to leave or my dream of taking a few runs was never going to happen. I set off to make all my northern Michigan powder fantasies come true. An hour later he called- I could hear Graham hysterically crying in the background. He needed to be fed. I dutifully made my way over to where Nick was watching ski school. He asked how my skiing was going. I hadn't even been up the mountain. The process of buying a lift ticket, and renting a helmet had eaten up most my free ski time. Taking a nursing infant on a ski trip may have been a bit aggressive, but worth it. Even if I only skied for about a half hour.
We stayed on property at Boyne (in one room- never again), where there is also a waterpark. Sunday we skied in the morning, swam in the afternoon then visited Bob and Lee at Walloon for dinner. The kids were exhausted from the big day and a tad grumpy. However with 6 children I figured Bob and Lee understood. After eating all of Lee's delicious chicken they pepped up enough for some after dinner conversation and a photo.
Not great photos but you get the idea. In a funny moment I have been waiting patiently for Graham to flip from back to stomach. He has been 95% there for weeks. I discussed this with Bob and Lee and got up to refill my drink. 10 seconds after I turned my back Graham completed his flip for the first time with Bob as witness. A parent can spend 98% of her time with a kid and still miss the milestone moments. Fisher took his first steps on the same rug(again without his mom to witness). I'm beginning to think their living room is the true northern Michigan magic carpet. They should start charging babies Boyne lift ticket prices to play on it- kids will be flipping, crawling, walking and going on chair lifts in no time. No parental supervision necessary.
