Skiing and more

We've been skiing three times now at the Porkies, and I'm amazed at the kids' new abilities every time we go.  I shouldn't be surprised, really, because kids do pick up on things so quickly.  

Lena spent the first day on a harness, just balancing down the hill.  She spent her second day on the harness, practicing turns and snowplows.  On the third day, the hill was so busy it was all out of the free rental harnesses!  So Lena learned to manage the bunny hill on her own and then graduated to Hidden Valley, one of the easier slopes.  Soon she was flying down, doing her turns and snowplows, and waiting for me to help her on the two steep sections.   This is how she often spends the hour long van ride home:  

 

Nora has been slipping into the woods to do some tree skiing and loving it.  I hardly see the older two; they are off on the more difficult hills.  Nora wanted to do a black diamond last Saturday so Matt took her and Karl on that while Lena and I did the easy hill.  Nora loved it! 

We bunny-sat for a few days while neighbors were out of town.  Nora shed many tears when it was time for them to go.  

Clare with her cousin's aunt's huge Saint Bernard that is still just a puppy.  

These two are in the local Finnish American dance group.  Here they are in their traditional costumes and braided hair.  

The kids got a hoverboard for Christmas and damp-mopping the floor has never been so much fun.  

Kirby decided he prefers this sort of bed.  Remnants of a play room fort.