Powder Hounds

 I still remember that day when, at age six, Papa took Mikaela and I skiing for the first time.  We got a flat tire on the way up the mountain, but compared to the prospect of skiing, that was but a trifle.  Burned into my memory is that first step I tried to take after strapping these long skis to my feet--I reeled back instead of moving forward, and I suddenly realized that this skiing endeavor might be more difficult than I thought. 

And then that night, back at home where sidewalks were not slippery and no impromptu snowball fights could be had, I demonstrated my skiing prowess to Mama on the garage floor and fell asleep with the gliding sensation of skiing still under my feet.  I loved it!

Since that first time, our family has gone skiing nearly every year, but last year it simply did not work out.  That break in tradition only served to bring our anticipation for this year's ski expedition up to fever pitch!  By Monday evening, we were cozily ensconced in our log cabin, secure against the wintry jungle outside.  By Tuesday morning, we were up early, eating a big breakfast, packing sandwiches, organizing fourteen gloves, seven ski bibs, scarves, goggles, lift tickets, and sundry other items.  We bid Mama good-bye, as she spent the day getting some alone time, and the rest of us crowded into the van for the trek up the mountain.   

Doesn't Jonah look great in his ski gear?  The lift operator asked Melanie, "Is that your little brother?"  "Yes," she replied.  "He's cool," the "dude" then informed her.  We couldn't agree more! 

 The first day of skiing was so beautiful!  The snow was a perfect powder, but the sun shone in a periwinkle sky!  The second day, the wind kicked up and it snowed the whole time, but the powdery perfection on the slopes still meant that we were some happy skiers! 

 Mikaela! (She's always up for doing the black diamonds with me!)

 Me!  (With Susanna awaiting her turn at top!)

 Susanna!  (She's a fabulous skier who does not crash unless another skier on the slope slams into her out of the blue.  Then she tends to lose her balance!)

Melanie! (Who both skiied and snowboarded)!

Micah!  (Who made it his goal to expertly spray all of us with snow whenever he careened to a stop next to us!  I just don't have that talent, even though I tried my best!)

And...Papa!  He took all the photos, so we don't have photographic evidence of him on the slopes.  Just trust me on this...he is one great skier! 

 On the lift ride up one day, a snowboarder asked me, "So are you going to party tonight?"  I chuckled and replied, "Oh, we love to play games and watch movies!"  And indeed, after our nightly soaking of our sore bones in the hot tub, we had family party time!  (It was those same snowboarders who, on discovering that we were skiing two days in a row, informed Susanna and I that, "You are powder hounds, that's what you are!")

 Mikaela is trying to win it for her team with a vigorous demonstration of a sword fight!

 Anna and Micah laugh together. 

Can you tell what we are all so intently focused on watching?  Look closely now...

A friend loaned us the new Emma, and I was the only one in the family who had seen the entire thing!  Besides Mikaela and I, most of our family is not very interested in period dramas, but they actually all watched the whole thing and enjoyed it very much!  (Well, the boys might not put it into so many words, but I'm good at reading between the lines!) 

Saying good-bye to "our" cabin for another year!  Until 2013!