Mile High Hamiltons: Ski Lessons Sandwiched By Heaven

Week two of ski school started all-a-glow with a sunrise sent from heaven.

Week two took a very unexpected turn. Unexpected, but not bad. There was no dog hair, flooding floors or allergy asthma attacks. It was much different than that.

We dropped all of the boys off at ski school and all went smoothly. We talked to both instructors to make sure that our boys were on track and all was well. Oliver was bound for a bigger day as the entire class had excelled the week before and a few other students had been moved out so that they could move along. Kellan was bound for the top of the lift to learn to ski on his own and keep up with his class.

After the boys were ready to rock ski school, the parents went to gear up and hit the slopes. While we stood in the LONG line to take the lift to the top of the mountain, Keith's cell phone rang. He ignored it since he didn't know the number but when I saw it, I knew who it was, Kellan's ski instructor. I looked at my phone and I had missed her call and she left a message. After listening to the message I called her back and she said that Kellan was panicking at the top of the lift. I asked her what she wanted us to do. She didn't exactly say, "Please come rescue me," but that's what she implied. I knew exactly what she was dealing with. We experienced it a few weeks prior. We rode the lift and headed straight for Discovery Park's warming hut, where they were waiting for us.

Kellan came out of the warming hut (potty break) with the biggest, sadest eyes every. All he wanted was to ski with his Mommy. I said to him, "I'll ski right next to you." He replied, "no Mommy, I want you to ski with your feet outside of my feet." Sure thing. We had to do something to turn this frown upside down.

The instructor looked relieved and we were all off; one instructor, six ski school students and two parents. I'm sure that people thought that we were clingy parents. Instead, we were caring parents who wanted to give Kellan a good experience in order to learn how to ski and parents who wanted to give an instructor a hand. Not once did she imply that we should take Kellan out of ski school, she only needed a little help so that she could do her job.

I wrapped myself around my baby and skied with him down the mountain. As he gained confidence, I rattled off tips for him to improve his skiing as we chatted about what was going on around us. Keith snowboarded along side us as he cheered for Kellan, cheered for the other kids and overall entertained everyone. As the class waited for Kellan to gain his confidence, Kellan's Daddy kept them laughing (or wondering who the crazy nut was). As we skied down the mountain, Kellan went from wanting me to have a firm grasp on his waist (talk about major leg workout while in a constant squat) to allowing me to lightly hold the shoulders of his jacket. As we neared the bottom he said, "Mommy, I can do this, I don't need you anymore." I said, "OK, it's all you." and I let him go. As he skied forward, we cheered him on and I pulled out my camera (of course) to snap a photo of his first solo moments.

Next up, the instructor was going to take all six kiddos up the lift for the first time. As nervous parents with a brand new skiier, we offered to ride up with them to help out as well as to make sure that Kellan's confidence continued. We hopped on the lift with Kellan and Cole while the instructor, Cindy Lou Who* rode with the other 3 students. (Yes, she's amazing).

*Lucy is the instructors name, but it's it more fun to say Cindy Lou Who? At least it is when you're trying to entertain your four year old who needs a funny distraction. I did quietly apologize to her if she hated it. She said that she didn't mind as long as everyone was having fun. Hopefully she thinks it's fun because there is nothing like hearing Kellan say, "Cindy Lou Who, watch this."*

Once off the lift, Kellan pointed his skis downhill and started to go. His class had gone to the left, but he wasn't sure how to turn, or stop. As we cheered, "push your feet out if you feel like you're going to fast, push your feet out, PUSH YOUR FEET OUT, PIZZA, PIZZA, PIZZA!" I had to think quick on how I was going to stop this freight train. I skied up along side of him and put my pole out to the side to stop him. It worked, he panicked at the realization that just happened and cried. He cried, but Daddy was right in front of him saying, "ski to me, you can do it." He did it and he was awesome. Then, his instructor did the same and he again skied to her. IT WAS AWESOME! He was slow, but he was skiing!!

As we approached the snowmobile ride stop, the instructor decided that the 6 students were ready for lunch. The snowmobile pulled up with the trailer full of seats and seat belts and all 6 kids scrambled on. They LOVE the snowmobile ride.

This was also our free pass to take off. It was an hour well worth it. If we had left Kellan to "toughen up", he may have had a miserable 4 weeks of remaining ski school and never learned to ski. Or, we spent an hour building his confidence and we hoped that he would end the afternoon as high as we left him prior to lunch.

We met back up with Kristi and Patrick and we took full advantage to take some photos on top of the mountain.

Carrie and Keith, ready to hit the slopes!

Kristi and Patrick, ready to ride.

We anxiously picked up the little boys and were greeted with RAVE reviews. Kellan skied the rest of the afternoon, just as we had left him. He was skiing, turning and stopping. I was so overjoyed I hugged Cindy Lou Who!!! (I guess she isn't holding a grudge for her new name, which I'm sure she's heard before.) She even had a video to show us of Kellan skiing. We were all so proud!! He loved it so much that he wanted to go for another run. I never thought that I would hear that. I would have loved another run, but we had already taken our boots off. Sorry bud, next time!

Cole and Kellan, our skiers!!

Cole and Kellan after I said, "stand together like you like each other."

Cutie pies.

We may have bribed Kellan a bit with a treat after a great day of skiing. He wanted something like the skittles he had two weeks prior, but when we all opted to meet at Starbucks for kids hot cocoa, he was even more thrilled to have a warm morning bun.

Someone is a happy camper and is LOVING skiing AND the snacks :)

The big boys come off of the mountain a bit later than the little boys, especially when they are having as much fun as our kids did. Oliver and Owen's instructor said that our boys are real "tree hounds" as they LOVE to ski the trees. They are doing great learning to transition from snow plow to parallel and they are loving every minute of it. Oliver said, "This was the BEST DAY EVER!"

I think his crazy hair and big smile tells it all.

Hot cocoa is always a great way to end a ski day when you're a kid.

What's even better than hot cocoa is a hot tub on the deck!

Kristi found a great condo for the weekend. It was MUCH better than our usual lodging at the base of Winter Park and we only had to walk 2 steps into the cold outdoors to take a dip in the hot tub. The boys were in HEAVEN!