A day at the slopes

So Jamie and I have wanted to take the kids skiing for a while, and last saturday it finally happened, where I took those that could speak, and Jamie had to stay home and watch Cambrie.
Last year we drove up to a few resorts to let the kids see what it was like; however, the reply was apathetic. So, we decided to wait - and this year, the oldest 3 were excited to go. We had acquired some boots from family a year ago, that as luck would have it fit Gavin just barely. We have been watching the classifieds and were able to get a good deal on skis for Gavin, and boots and a helmet for Rylan.

We decided the kids would benefit best from a lesson at first, since apparently listening to your parents is lame (isn't karma wonderful?)...
Gavin and Alyssa were signed up, and I decided to start Rylan off with a harness - kind of like a sled dog. So while the two oldest were in their beginner lesson, I was able to take Rylan on the bunny hill. Brad came with us and captured some great action shots and video; I had my hands full at the time. It started out with Rylan spending a lot of time on his side, as you can see :). Rylan is an expert at going limp for extended periods of time, such as the first and second trips down the bunny hill. About this time, I realized that my feet were in a lot of pain. At the top of the magic carpet the third time, I was in agony. So I pushed Rylan over to the lodge, hopped inside, and took off my rental boots. I was shocked to find that there were insoles in the liners - INSOLES! Who puts insoles inside the liner?
Anyway, I pulled those fetchers out and stuck them in my pockets. I hauled Rylan back out, and my feet were in much better circumstances. While on the bunny hill, we met up with another small toddler with a ski instructor. She asked how old Rylan was, and I replied three. She said that the boy she was teaching was also three, and that he was from Texas - she then asked Rylan where he was from. Rylan blurts out "Harrisville, but i've been to Texas Roadhouse", kind of a rhetorical question/statement. I smiled, and the ski instructor laughed. Shortly thereafter, the kids lesson was over so Brad and I went over to pick up Gavin and Alyssa from Beau, their instructor (who was very nice and very patient). As Brad and I listened to Beau, Rylan ran off. We didn't notice until a bit later, at which point I had visions of Rylan stuck face-down in a snowbank slowly suffocating (this is what marriage and kids do to you!). Turns out he was in the bathroom - he needed to go!
After that fiasco, we went back to the slopes and finished our day. It was quite fun, and the kids loved it. Brad was able to take Gavin over to the big hill, while I stayed with Alyssa and Rylan on the bunny hill. They were all doing great, and by the end of the day, I didn't even have to use the "reins" on Rylan's harness. There was a chance for a life lesson however, as Rylan and I were in the lodge watching out the window Alyssa walked up with a huge chocolate chip cookie from the cafeteria. I had to explain to her that the food was not for free, and that I didn't have money with me to pay for it. So, I had to trudge out to the van, get $3.50, and go back and pay for the stupid cookie. Alyssa felt bad, but she wasn't shy at all to tell her mom that she had stole a cookie. Oh well, it could have been a lot worse.

So the day ended with all of us in the van driving home. I explained to the kids that I used to stop and get an ice cold Dr. Pepper whenever I got done with a long day of skiing. So we stopped at Maverick, and asked the kids if they wanted a drink. Both Rylan and Alyssa wanted Cherry Coke (after their mother), Gavin wanted suicide (a mix of everything - he currently thinks this is awesome), Brad wanted a diet Dr. Pepper, so I was the only one to carry on my proud tradition. The kids are already screaming to go again, and both Alyssa and Rylan have asked politely for their own skis. How can I say no to such angelic voices?