Winter 2009

Our winter fun started right after Christmas when we went up to the cabin for the day. We couldn't believe all the snow they had. It must have been almost two feet deep! We went on a family snow mobile ride through the woods. It was really beautiful. There was piles of snow on all the tree limbs. After a night at the cabin we headed further north to Traverse City. It was raining when we got there. We intended to ski, but the weather was not looking good. We shopped and got a movie. Overnight it got cold again and the rain turned to snow. We woke to a couple of inches on the ground. So we headed to Mt. Holiday right in Traverse City. It's a small ski resort and also a non profit organization. Therefore the prices are very low. In the early afternoon we did an hour of tubing. It was really fun. They let you hook up your tubes together and go down the hill. It's really fast. A tow rope takes you up the hill. You just sit and ride. We went back to the condo for a rest and dinner. After dinner we went back to Mt. Holiday for a Sunday night special. For $15 you get lift, rental and an hour lesson. The kids took a lesson and we skied. Then we came back for the kids and they were ready to ski with us. Nathan just wanted to climb a snow hill so we took turns going on the chair lift with Katie and Noah. It was really fun! Definitely check that place out if you want to take your kids skiing. It's inexpensive and perfect for beginner skiers.

Since we had such a good experience skiing we wanted to go again. We got our chance in Ohio when we got a snow storm resulting in Ken and the kids having off from work and school. We braved the roads and headed to Bellfountaine to Mad River Mountain. The roads really weren't that bad, but for Ohio not many people were on the road. This time the kids were ready. Nathan skied the "bunny hill" all by himself. He liked the "magic carpet" ride a conveyor belt that took you up the hill. There was a thick blanket of new powdery snow. Katie and Noah went up to the bigger hills on the chair lift. We even got Nathan on the chair lift and Ken helped him down the hill by holding out his poles for Nathan to hang on to going down the hill. It was a really good day. We were glad we got to ski on our day off. We think we may have found a sport the 5 of us enjoy. We want to try out the other ski place here in Ohio soon. Hopefully we get a chance to go again this winter, but definitely next!! Positive thoughts and good wishes go out to everyone who reads this blog!! I will try to update again soon! I have just been lazy!