Ski vacation

Just got back from Disney World (future blog! Promise!) but the kids had a break from school, so we finally got in the trip to Vermont we've been trying to take since about Christmas. Cruised up Tuesday morning, stopped for a quick Burger King lunch, and came out to a snowstorm that doubled our remaining drive time. But we made it ok, the kids inhaled Nana's spaghetti and meatballs and bread, and we were able to relax for a few days.

Relaxing initially consisted of drawing, reading, and playing lots and lots of Yahtzee. Jack can't get enough, which was pretty much the case with our family for a while growing up, if memory serves. I remember burning through entire pads of scorecards, finally photocopying blank ones to avoid continually trying to find places selling them. Think we might be still using those in Vermont, although the supply is running thin. Anyway. Where was I.

First morning in Vermont we got up and went skiing. Jack loves it, recently ranking skiing way above both baseball and swimming in his levels of enjoyment. Kate, I think, has fun, and is in good spirits before and after, but I am not sure she cares much one way or another. Maybe her age, maybe she just would rather stay in than be cold or bundled up in four layers, I don't know. Anyway, we dropped her at her 5-hour lesson, Jack and I did a quick run, and then delivered Jack to his 2-hour lesson. I briefly considered hitting the lodge, but it was 10 a.m., so instead I stumbled around on the bunny slopes until Jack was done.

By the end of his lesson, he was going on the lift for the first time, so when he asked me to go with him, I said, OK! Even though I was a little nervous. But if my 9 year old can do it, so can I. We got on the lift and rode up it like we were the only two peopl in the world. That high, it kind of felt like it to me. Then we made our way down, with minimal falling on my part. In three runs together I think he fell once.

Checked in on Kate and she was doing fine, but not long after that I got a call that she had had it. She made it 4 of the 5 hours (the only lesson choice for her) which I thought as pretty good. She happily showed me a picture she colored while waiting for me; in good spirits. By this time Jack, too, was weary, and we all slugged down some water bottles and headed back. Kate was acting goofy, putting on Jack's goggles and messing around, I think Jack and I were just drained.

But when we got home and parked in the driveway, there was a huge pile of snow that had built up from falling off the roof -- the pile was all the way up to the roof. And both of them got out of the car and immediately climbed up to the very top, clowned around, posed for pictures, grinned and laughed. Probably could have bagged skiing and just gone sledding on that behemoth. Funny and awesome.

And then we went to dinner at Black Rock, which is basically one of my favorite places to eat period and I have no idea how it came to be in Springfield, but there you go. I love the food and didn't mind being squeezed into a side of the booth with Baba and Kate (Kate wanted to sit next to Baba, so that's just how things worked out; ideally the two kids would have been on the same side, but whatever).

We reviewed the menu briefly, and I told Jack I would be getting the salad bar and would smuggle him a piece of tasty bread. (That's what we call white bread.) So naturally when it came time to order, and the waitress asked Jack if he wanted to add the salad bar to his meal, he said loudly, "No, my Dad said he would smuggle me a piece of bread." I am not sure whose jaw dropped more, mine or the waitress'. Later he told me he didn't know what "smuggle" meant. Hmm. Dinner was great, Jack and I had steaks, Kate had a hotdog, and Jack talked Dad into sharing his lobster, too. Oh yeah -- dessert. Jack got ice cream, Kate got a piece of chocolate cake the size of her head, and we all went home stuffed.

Not a peep out of either kids after their heads hit the pillow that night. Another nice Vermont ski trip. Can't do it all the time, but fun when we do.