Future Ski Bunnies?

Jack and Winfield had their first ski lessons at Sunburst, the closest, respectable resort outside Milwaukee.  I use the term resort loosely because this is no Park City, but it was perfect for the kids.  They were hilarious and just looked so little out there, but the most important part is that they LOVED it.  Christian was so excited he was all set to fly the family out west for a spring break ski trip until I reminded him that we still have two little ones that will be stuck in the lodge with yours truly.

I laugh every time I watch this because Winfield nearly runs over that poor kid and neither he nor Christian seem to notice!

This is man-made snow.  In Wisconsin!!  The kids started ski lessons during the only winter in 6 years that we haven't had more than two days of snow.  Oh the irony.

Winfield was all smiles (a shocker to us), but who wouldn't be when you get a piggy-back ride up the hill every time you ski to the bottom?  I admit, nobody likes the dreaded rope tow.  Why don't they finally ban those and spare us all the rip-your-arm-out-of-the-socket yank that you have to endure every darn time?  I much prefer the chair lift, and so does Win, apparently.  

The Cello Recital

Winfield started cello lessons and it may just be the most stressful 30 minutes of my week.  He is very musical and very artistic and very, very creative, but he's also 5 and has his lesson at 4:45 pm.  That makes for one distracted kid and I spend most of the lesson biting something, mostly my tongue, but also my knuckles or pencil.  Here's what happens: his fabulous, patient teacher gets his feet set, then his bow hand just right, then puts it on the string, then his feet scoot up under his chair and while she's fixing his feet his bow slides down to his knee and then he slumps over and then he asks her why her file cabinet is red, not blue.  However, he is learning and I am learning and if this boy never plays a full song it will be okay because the two of us are learning patience and endurance.  So, enjoy his first recital and enjoy a nice, long chuckle.

Win the Rock Monster

Winfield finally got a proper birthday with friends and games and the whole bit.  In true Win fashion, he requested a Rock Monster party.  You know, that obscure Lego series that few have ever heard of?  It was a challenge, but we had a great time.  The boys made axes (they are power miners digging for crystals).

Win trying to push Charles the helper out of his candle blow-out.

The boys decided to see what effect water had on their rock candy.  To give the party a surprise twist, Christian dressed up and hid in the basement which we decorated like a cave.  The boys went down looking for crystals (glow sicks taped together in clumps) and heard some growling (the rock monster) and headed for the stairs back to safety.  They actually thought there was something scary down there, and frankly Christian did look a little menacing in the dark!  There were a few tears, I'm embarrassed to admit, but all ends well when there is cake and ice cream involved.