Snowboarding Adventures

Since we bought boards for the kids and I will be teaching them this year how to ride, it only seemed fitting for Will to purchase a board as well and "learn". 

Today was our first test run :-) We headed to the mountain and began the lessons. It was rather difficult since I ride "goofy" footed (right foot forward) and he rides regular footed (left forward). Everything I was doing, he had to do it backwards. After a bit he got the hang of the basics and actually did very well. I was proud!

The mountain is not "officially" open but people still ski. It could be better groomed, but perhaps the snow machine will be operational when the official season starts. Good thing is, there was not a lot of people or overly crowded. I'm all for it, if there is snow and the lifts are working, I will be there with bells on!!

This cathedral is coming along beautifully! Very nice view from the gondola today :-)

One day I will have a picture of my family next to this sign

All ready to go! Hehe - He was nervous. Something about learning a new sport mid 30's seems intimidating :-) No longer young and nimble but he tolerated the awkwardness like a champ. And.... he's pretty handsome with a board!

Prone position was his usual for the first hour :-) Poor guy was getting frustrated

Then he got the hang of things and greatly improved. Still fell but it was a bit more controlled and he started to figure out his edges

Most importantly , he had fun and his feet did not hurt!!! We will be back with the kids next time!

Russia's Prima Ballerina ~ Well Not Quite

The fabulous Inna was able to procure a ballet instructor to come teach the little ones one day a week. From 130-220 she teaches the 3 and 4 yr olds and from 230-320 the 5 and 6 yr olds. 

I was a bit on the fence about the whole thing because it is on Wednesday and that is the day I had set aside as my snowboard day with the kids because it is a half day at school. However, the official season has not started yet and the mountain was closed today so I moved forward with ballet and I am SOOO glad that I did :-)

I wen out to buy her a tutu leotard, tights and ballet shoes. That's a plus living in Russia.... you can always find ballet attire here! When I brought the stuff home for her and told her what she was going to do, her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. She went full blown theatrical on me with "Oh for me! You shouldn't have Mommy" 

Excited is an understatement. She was so enthusiastic about the whole thing and I just loved seeing her passionate about something. She was in a class with Halle and Sophia and they will be the ones she with until more kids fit into that age bracket. 

SO HAPPY

Little Ballerina's 

Barbara is in the younger class but loves these girls so much that she needed a picture with them :-)

The girls getting to know Miss Shiho and playing around

Miss Shiho closed the door to parents but we could see through the window at what they were doing. This was the first time that she has been at an extra curricular activity that I have not been present. Such a big moment for me! 

It was so cute! They learned all the positions and for not having any dance class before, Ash was catching on pretty quick. It helps that she prances about the house like a ballerina though :-) 

Then my dam phone died and no more picture taking!!! I know I know... I should have charged that phone 

More to come next week at the next class!

Winter Is Coming!

Hehe... Since Will and I are on a marathon watching Game of Thrones and on the last few episodes of season 5, it only seemed fitting that my blog about winter be titled with one of the most famous lines from the show :-) I wish I could think of something to write about with "You know nothing Jon Snow" but I got nothing.I know... I'm a bit ridiculous

So Winter is here in Yuzhno!!!! And let me tell you... I am already enjoying it SO MUCH MORE than last year. We are settled, we know the routine, snow storms are nothing anymore and most importantly... CJ is no longer afraid of the fluffy white stuff!

We were outside sledding the other day when Will and I just watched CJ handle the stairs and sled all by himself screaming "This is awesome" down the hill. When did this happen? My "baby" will be 3 in February and is developed far beyond his years. It is amazing watching him keep up with his siblings who are 6 and 4. 

These three melt my soul! I am convinced that Sophia is Ash and Mike's soulmate. My kids absolutely adore this little girl and how cold you not :-) 

"Lets climb the mountain guys!"

"Mrs Tiffany! The snow is yummy!"

She is indeed the apple of my eye - my little snow bunny

Then there are these fools - The Dogs Of Winter

"I dont care how much now is out here. I will find my soccer ball and be cold while chewing it"

"MOSYA KEEPS TRYING TO STEAL MY TOY!"

Watching these two clutch their miniature Burton Snowboards makes me so giddy inside! This is their first year learning to ride so I thought I would take them behind Community Center to ride on the little bunny hill. 

Tried teaching these goons the basics of snow plowing and stability on the board. WAY too much powder. Even I had a hard time! Powder was almost knee deep in some areas and then grass in the others. Not really a good day for instruction. But that didn't stop miss Ash, she strapped in and said "WOOHOO, here I go" and took off. My fearless child. She came in hot, lost her hat and got a face full of snow. Meanwhile, Mike, my son who is the epitome of the Exxon Mobil way, starts screaming "THAT IS NOT SAFE ASH! THAT IS NOT THE WAY! YOU WILL BECOME HURT AND NOBODY NEEDS TO BE HURT! 

All in all - not a successful first lesson - Next stop, the real mountain

Sledding with friends! My kids played for quite awhile with Riley :-)

The hills around here are pretty fun

Snow Angels!

Ash was so proud of her masterpiece

"Operation Finding Firepit" started early this year!!! Last year I spent a week digging out the pit. Not this year. I made a vow to stay on top of the snow fall :-) Putting the boys to work why they are willing to dig!

We got the fire pit out and in the process, made a few extremely fun sledding runs in the yard! This little sled like thing is so much fun!

Page family came over to play and this is why I love this year so much better. Yes, these kids are still little. Halle and Mike are 4 years old and she lives two doors down from me but our yards are contained and it is compound living. Extremely safe. The can play outside and we do not have to be on top of them ALL THE TIME. I can run in the house and throw dinner in the oven, or switch out laundry or anything else and they just continue on. This is my back yard and they went on for quite a while. Halle put on all her stuff and walked over, it is amazing watching all these kids grow up. Last year it was tough with them being new 3's and still very much unsure of stuff, slightly difficult, and not so independent. Now they are riding the bus to school, CALLING EACH OTHER ON THE PHONE, playing Ennie Meenie Minnie Moe (spelling?)  - And for goodness sake, my eldest turned 6 last week!!! What!!! 

It really is an incredible journey being a parent - What's the saying? "Life ain't always beautiful but its a beautiful ride"

For sure - Its hard, its trying, its complicated, but through all of it, it is so magical to see the world through their eyes. The innocence of it all. They are shielded from the ugliness that currently engulfs this planet and live in a world of imagination. 

You have Ash and Halle making up hot lava games as they climb back up the hill to Mike screaming at the neighbors yard because the light is off and that means the monster is coming, to finally "not so little" CJ and Weston playing King of the Hill tough man style with the "You Shall Not Pass" stance knocking each other down!  (Man Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings reference all in one post.... Yea, I have nerd tendencies :-) )

What I'm trying to say is that it goes by SO fast. Enjoy it while it lasts because next year they may not want us to play outside with them 

I love this picture

I am looking forward to what this winter brings us. There will be many more adventures in the snow but I wanted to share our first real two weeks of snow :-)