Skiing

We went to a ski hill today, about 45 minute drive to get there. It was so fun! We had some skis, had to rent some - we didn't spend money on lift tickets today, because there is a 'free' hill, with a tow rope. It was just perfect - you can sled on part of that one, too. Well, N wasn't thinking it was perfect after about 1/2 hour - he wanted the bigger hill. But he really had fun on this, too. Amazing how the 3 oldest boys seemed like they've grown up on skis. It's so nice to learn at a young age (as with many things!) M is much more hesitant (like me), K more adventurous - and for whatever reason (I guess because they were perfectly content to sled), the boys were the ones with the skis on. Anyway, I told A I'd really like to see the girls have a chance to get on those skis, too. So VERY reluctantly a couple of the boys had to give up their skis for about 15 minutes and the girls got to give it a try. And M didn't want to give the skis up! K was ready (I think she fell down while taking the rope up the last time.) Anyway - we decided next time we'll leave the 2 little ones with a really fun babysitter, and the girls and I will use the same 'little' hill and get some practice - A and the 3 bigger boys will get lift tickets and use the next bigger hill. It's sooooo nice to have opportunities like this with family!

N has such a gift for some athletics - he seems so 'natural' on skis. On this hill, along one side there were about 5 'bumps' and it didn't take long for the boys to be 'jumping' as they went over these. But before long, N was also turning backwards on the second 'bump' and skiing backwards the rest of the way down. The boys had such a great time!

A C 'funny' from out there: (he's 2 1/2) he and L were sledding and were seeing who could go farther. The first time C won, and the second time L did (just a little cheating on his part, but C was clueless and I didn't tattle!) So L was saying "I won! I won!" And C looked at me, pointed to L and said, "He one. I two, haah Mom?" And then added on, "Ah-ah-ahaha! I two, he ony (only) one!" in a sing-song voice! Oh did we get a great chuckle over that one!

One more thing - the last post I mentioned that T has read some condensed versions of Harry Potter. I now know that they are not condensed. I didn't realize that not all of those books are three inches thick. So since the first one is rather thin (compared to what I thought), he was done reading it in 2 days, and is just itching to get more in the house. The problem is that he doesn't really care what consequences come if his homework is not done the next day (he's never cared much about homework) - if he's reading a good book, his homework just doesn't get done. I can sit him down at the table right after school and tell him he has to do that first - and realize soon that he's disappeared. Call him back. Soon he disappears again. And so it goes. I have though had a debate within myself sometimes - when a child has no difficulties in school (and is only 8 years old), is homework really so important? The one I really do want to make sure he gets done is the oral reading in Finn.