Got Snow??
We ended the year 2007 taking a fun family ski vacation in Brian Head, Utah. The Saturday after Christmas we leisurely packed up the car and drove to Las Vegas. Carrie, Jason and the Haslam cousins were supposed to meet us there and then we would all drive up to Utah together. Brian Head is about three hours north of Las Vegas. Unfortunately the Haslams got stranded in Cleveland due to a missed connection. They ended up flying into Salt Lake City and driving south to Brian Head. And because we took our time leaving California on Saturday neither of our families got to the hotel until very late Saturday night. The boys loved seeing Andie, Brady and Emme on Sunday morning. It was, as always, a joyful reunion with our beloved Haslam cousins!
Just a few days prior we had signed the kids up for ski lessons on Sunday and Monday. Should have actually done that a few weeks in advance because they ended up on standby. It was a crazy morning as we rushed over to the lodge at 8 am to be the first in the standby line. Scott, Jason and I sat out in the cold until they opened the doors at 8:45 am. Brian Head changed their registration procedures this year and the resulting chaos was very stressful. Finally around 10 am we had everyone organized. Chad, David and Andie went to ski school. Brett went to a fun wee ski class for three year olds in the morning and then the on site day care in the afternoon. Brady's class remained full so he skied with Jason. After walking back and forth from our hotel to the ski lodge (half mile round trip) at least six times with various kids and gear Scott and I were pretty worn out by the time the morning was over. And we had not even put n skis yet! Scott brought his brother Evan's snowboard so after resting and regrouping a bit he went snowboarding. I opted to stay at the hotel and have a relaxing morning and afternoon. Brian Head offers a really fun tube run right next to the ski lifts so we decided to have an early dinner and then take the kids tubing (or "tubit" as Brett called it) at 6 pm. Even Brett sat in his own tube which basically looked like a heavy duty gigantic pool inner tube. The kids dragged their tubes to the front of the line and the tube was then attached to a rope tow which pulled them up to the top of a hill. The fun part is flying down the hill and our kids loved it!
David riding his tube up the mountain
Our kids did not want to go to ski school Monday morning. In fact Chad was up to all hours the night before obsessing over not wanting to go. I do not think his performance the day before had been particularly stellar and he was a bit discouraged. Fortunately I had paid for the lessons the night before so we avoided the crowds until it was time to check the kids in at 9:30 am. Brett went to his combo day care/wee ski with no problems. David required a pep talk but then went to his determined to do his best. I promised Chad I would pick him up for lunch and take him to the lodge cafeteria. But even with that to look forward no amount of encouragement would change his attitude. He went both unwilling and unhappy. When I came back at lunchtime I found him in the "Sick and Sad" room. He had not skied all morning. I decided he needed a good solid lunch before I started lecturing so we ordered a cheeseburger with a trip to the salad bar where he selected olives, shredded cheese, green jell-o and carrots. Scott joined us a few minutes after and we both talked to Chad about not giving up. He seemed much more receptive after a good lunch! Fortunately this story does have a happy ending. When we picked the boys up both David and Brett had a great day and Chad had a fun and definitely more productive afternoon. We really appreciated the praise we received from Brett's teachers. He was taken out on skis for an hour in the morning and in the afternoon. His teachers told us that he "made their day" with his joyful personality and quick learning. I think that is the first time anyone outside of our own family has said that about our children so naturally we were thrilled.
The Edgeworth Family after a truly FUN day of skiing!
Brian Head offers a really fun and decidedly low key fire works show at 6 pm on New Year's Eve. That is the perfect time for parents with young children. And the best part is the torch parade. All the ski instructors ride up the lift adjacent to the big lodge each carrying two bright red torches. As the fireworks are going off they come skiing and snowboarding down the mountain in a pattern while carrying the torches. It was beautiful and made me so happy to watch. It reminded me of something we would see in a tiny Swiss villa. We took the kids swimming after that at the hotel pool. After a pizza dinner I took Brett back to our room to fall asleep. We were joined shortly by David around 9 pm. But Scott, Chad, Andie and Brady all managed to stay awake until 12:30 am playing the Wii. So the six year old child rang in the New Year while his mother was deep asleep! The first of many to be sure...
Edgeworths/Haslams on our way to the fireworks - last day of 2007!!
Tuesday morning we checked out of the hotel and then took the kids sledding for several hours before heading back to Las Vegas. We brought our Swiss sleds and the kids loved them. We were quickly shedding layers as it was a bright warm day outside. The best kind for sledding. One of the sleds was still wrapped in plastic bubble wrap and as Scott cut off the bubble wrap he thought it would actually made a decent sled. So we gave it to Brett and he had a great time sledding with his bubble wrap for the next two hours. It was light enough that he could easily carry it up the short hill and by the end he was laying on his stomach going down Superman style!
Brett sledding on his bubble wrap sled
It was so fun having a few more days in Las Vegas to play with the cousins and the kids really got along well. On Wednesday my mom and I took the kids roller skating. On Thursday we all went bowling at the new Red Rock Casino. I would highly recommend this kid friendly casino as it WAY off the strip and relatively smoke free. After bowling we signed the kids into the casino's huge indoor play area. They played very happily while we saw National Treasure at the movie theater next door. They were all red faced and sweaty when we picked them up!
On Friday morning I had a great massage just down the street from my mom's house (if you are ever in Las Vegas make an appointment with Jamie - www.lvhealer.com). We packed up the car and left after that in order to have the week-end to decompress. The boys were sad to leave their cousins and Grandma. And while it was hard for me to leave too I did feel that the vacation had been very restorative and that I felt much more refreshed and relaxed. It is always a blessing to be with my mom as she takes such good care of us!
Chad went back to school the following Monday and the boys finally started preschool yesterday. Not a moment to soon as I was definitely ready to hit the grocery store solo. We are busy now with Chad's flag football games and homework but with the weather mild and warm we are truly enjoying a Southern California winter! If I cannot be in Switzerland then I might as well be in Southern California...
