We took the kids nordic skiing for the first time on Saturday afternoon.
Realizing that - especially for kids - the anticipation and memory of an event can be every bit as pleasurable as the activity itself, we began to whip them into a frenzy already as we ate our breakfast fruit souffle. They promptly donned boots, snowsuits and mittens and spent the rest of the morning with their over-padded selves wedged into their chairs at the kitchen table, trying to cut out paper Valentines with puffy mitts on.
Pete and I didn't have any lofty goals for the trip to Cypress Mountain, seeing it as more of a reconnaissance mission. We planned to check out the children's rental options, introduce the kids to locomoting on two extra appendages and perhaps, if we dared to dream, have hot chocolate at the lodge.
And success! Leif glided around like a true Norwegian. He did fall over a hundred times, maybe two, but he laughed every time. At one point I caught him scrambling out of the track, trying to breach a snowbank to ski into the woods in pursuit of bobcats, he explained.
Saskia sailed down hills with her braids flagging behind her, arms outstretched, pink snowsuit-clad legs wobbling.
We were happy that the kids were so game. I think gameness is an undervalued trait, and I hope they maintain it into adulthood.
Ariana was too small for even the tiniest boots, so Pete pulled her in a pulk. Truth be told, I'm not sure we could have handled a third one on skis.
We made it to the lodge. We had hot chocolate and poutine on a scarred wooden table in a dark room that smelled of wet clothes drying.
Happy and tired in the van at the end of the day, we snaked down the mountain with the lights of Vancouver and beyond sparkling orange against a dark blue-gray evening. Mission accomplished, and then some.
PS The Sony has been hospitalized with a seizure disorder NYD and so I am back to a compact camera (Canon Powershot SD880) for the time being.
Nice one, Leif. I think you earned back the manliness points you lost with the pink cast you wanted. I would never chase bobcats in the dark woods.
Posted by: Bart | 08 February 2009 at 09:26 PM
Looks like a lovely afternoon! I've wondered about taking our four up...you may have inspired us. Hmm. Especially if we could pull one (or two!) instead of worry about poles and skis. Do you rent the pulk? I'm grew up cross-country skiing in the Prairies so forgive my ignorance.... ;-)
Posted by: Karen | 09 February 2009 at 04:42 PM
@Karen - We rented the pulk ($15). They had three available when we were up on Saturday, but I recall going a few years ago and finding them all rented out. Also - we regretted renting poles for the 4-year-old. He did much better without. Good luck!
Posted by: FreshMD | 09 February 2009 at 07:32 PM
Great post - brought back a lot of memories of Wayne and I taking our sons skiing - your lodge description was right on. (We used to order chili)
Posted by: JeanMac | 09 February 2009 at 10:31 PM
Beautiful photos.
Posted by: dragonfly | 10 February 2009 at 02:06 AM
Great pics, and sorry to hear about your Sony:( I'd be waiting by it's bedside if it were me.
I had to laugh at those pics of Saskia with Leif in the background in various poses of disarray. Hilarious!
Posted by: Amy H. | 10 February 2009 at 07:29 PM
Great minds think alike!! I was laughing at the photos of Leif in the background!!
Posted by: Mary Smith | 10 February 2009 at 10:51 PM
I am a nurse, wife and mom who enjoys photography. I enjoy folowing your site when I have time. May I ask what type of camera you use? Your photos are beautiful (and so are your children)! Please email me! Thank you!
Posted by: chris | 11 February 2009 at 11:04 AM
@Chris - Thanks! I've had a Sony Alpha dSLR a-100 since October/08:
http://www.freshmd.com/fresh_md/2007/10/sony-alpha-100.html
However, it's been in for repairs for a month and so I've been using a Canon PowerShot SD880.
Posted by: FreshMD | 14 February 2009 at 04:24 PM