I can hardly move this morning!  My arms and upper body hurt so bad, and my legs aren't much better.  On Sat evening, I took the boys downhill skiing out at camp.  They'd already had lessons, so we practiced on the bunny hill for a bit, and then moved on over to the big hill.  They did great!  But, they still weren't able to get up the tow rope for most the night.  Which means that mom (or another staff) had to take them up....making it that much harder on the arms!  *ouch!*  It was a really fun night.  I was a bit sore Sun morning, but not sore enough to make me not want to go again on a beautiful Sunday afternoon!  It was 30 degrees and sunny.  I had to go.  Plus I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get Anna started!  If she could learn, then almost all of us could be out there together.

Matt had to study for a speaking engagement, so I put Leah to bed and headed out with the older three.  The boys did super.  They both were able to get up the tow rope alone this time, and could basically be on their own on the big hill.  David even went over one of the small 'bumps' (a ramp).  I'm getting glimpses of the thrill seeker he is going to be.   He told me, "Mom, I like a challenge!".  Yikes. 

And Anna....she really stuck with it.  Learning to ski is alot of hard work for a little one.  You spend alot of time doing not so fun things, trying to figure out how to position the skis and your body!  But she worked at it with an instructor for almost three hours.  And finally, by the end, Del Kroeker (our master skier) took her up the bunny hill a few times and let her wedge her way down.  It was SO cute....I wished for my camera.  To see her in her crouch, intensely concentrating (with her tongue stuck out)....it was too cute.  We'll be going with the AWANA group Wednesday night, so I'll try to get pics then.  Now that she's had the feel of it, I think it will go quicker for her.  She even made it up the bunny tow once on her own!

I'm so proud of all of them!  Now, if we find someone to watch Leah....we can all go skiing together.  They love it!  But did I mention that I am SOOO sore?!  It had been about 4-5 years since I'd been out.  OW!