Valentina and Lucia - Role Reversal

What always baffles me is how sometimes the baby acts more mature than the big kids. This issue seems to be more apparent with Lucia. Maybe she misses being the youngest. Maybe it's her weird in between age - no longer a baby - but doesn't have the emotional development of a big kid. It is not all bad because sometimes her baby attitudes are meltdowns that are painful...

...but other times she is just having a little fun

MLV Okemo - Last Day 2016

Today was our last day in Okemo. We weren't doing any skiing, instead we work up had a nice breakfast, the kids said their goodbyes and we headed out onto the road.

Girl friends rule! These 3 (Lucia, Oona and Amelia) had a great time together...

...and Miss Valentina also liked hanging with the big girls.

MLV Ski Okemo - Day 3

Today was the kids last full day of skiing and they both did wonderfully. It is also the day when all of the other OXOnians are also skiing. Its also when there is the big OXO dinner and then for the 3rd year in a row we are hosting the Hot Chocolate Party in our condo. Hosted by the girls - Oona, Amelia and Lucia.


Links below show the end of each of the kids lessons. Lucia was focusing on turning and jumps (or mini hops)...

Lucia's Rocket Launcher 2 skiing

Look at how these two carve the mountain

"Pizza wedge is the best!"

Mateo got to go in the "Bubble" ski lift he said he had such a great time he was a bit nervous because the bubble goes pretty high up. It's a covered ski lift with seat warmers and the passengers are pretty enclosed which is why it's called the bubble. His main lessons were around keeping his skis parallel. He has mastered turning and stopping quite well. Next year he will definitely be able to do blues.

Mateo "navigating" the slopes after a day on the greens and in the "bubble"

After a day of skiing we all headed over to the pool, where Alex helped Valentina swim...

...and the rest of the crowd just splashed around .

After the pool, Valentina just relaxed a little in the locker room cubbies

And after a quick bath, we all headed to dinner

Valentina had a great time

Making her rounds in her cute "apres ski" gear. Boots and a furry vest complete every snow bunny's look.

These two ladies took their job of handing out "Hot Chocolate Party" invites very seriously. They made sure to invite all kids and whatever adults gave them the time of day.

Once the OXO dinner was complete a lot of the kids headed to our place where the Hot Chocolate Party kicked off with a pillow fight.

And finally, cocoa was served

yum!

The ladies love it

Valentina didn't drink any, instead she helped herself to chips

The hostesses with the mostesses wound down after a successful party.

Since this was our last night, the girls were allowed to sleep together in the closet

Night, night

MLV - Ski Okemo - Day 2

Today was day 2 of our Okemo ski adventure and because everyone did so well yesterday, they were excited to get back out there.

Lucia and Amelia were ski rock stars. Watch their cool moves in the link below. Please take a close look at the little trick Lucia does when she gets down the hill. 

Lucia's Ski Moves

After her lesson was over, Lucia made "snow castles" as we waited for Mateo to finish up his lesson for the day.

Speaking of Mateo - click on the link below to see his super skills as he skis off the magic carpet. I was unable to get him getting on an off the lift, but I was told by his instructor that they took the lift up several times today and he did very well. He is on to the Green level tomorrow.

Mateo skiing off the magic carpet

He wears it well

After everyone was back from skiing for the day we all settled in for dinner, lounging and playing on the ipad. Shay was enamored with little V.

A

Benat helped the girls - Lucia, Oona and Amelia - decorate cupcakes for dessert

MLV Ski Okemo - 2016

Normally, I wouldn't really say that I have too many favorites during the winter. I mean, it's cold, it gets dark early and you have to wear layers of oppressive clothing. Well, for the past few years, we have had something other than Christmas to look forward to in the winter and that is my company's annual ski trip to Okemo. We decided that since this is really the only time that the kids get to ski during the year, we would take off a little early so they would get a full 3 days on the slopes. They love it because they get to miss a little school and also get to see their ski buddies - some of the other kids from OXO. Oh yeah, they also are starting to enjoy the skiing too!

My little ski bunnies have their rental gear and are ready to go!

Although it has been warm, Vermont did get some good snow on the mountain.

Mateo insisted I take this picture of him pretending to be knocked out on the snow

As you can see, Lucia's first day was a success. She was in the Snow Stars school (which means smaller hill) and started out as a Moon Beam 2 and tomorrow get to be a Rocket Launcher 1.

Although I didn't get a video of Mateo, he also did quite well. He started out as an orange and by the afternoon he got moved to yellow. He was so happy because that meant ski lift.

In the evening the kids wound down, ate and played video games. Mateo and Shay were joined by more boys - Zeke, Wendell and Oliver who also had a very full and tiring day of skiing.

Can't wait for tomorrow!

P.S. Valentina is also here, but she didn't go skiing, she just vegged out all day indoors with Eddie.

School Valentine's

Tomorrow, is going to be the Valentine celebration at the kids' school and instead of me doing my normal exercise of just going to CVS and buying a 32 pack of kids-themed cards with a lollipop and a clever saying like " I Ruff You!" I decided to put forth a little more effort and do some homemade treats. After all, I don't get to go into the classroom or being a helping parent as much as some of the other parents, so this was my way of showing that I cared.

So it's almost midgnight and I can't believe what I have gotten myself into. Sure Rice Krispie Treats are not difficult, but making 32 popsicle shaped, chocolate-dipped, red-white-and-pink sprinkled Rice Krispie Treats  after you come home from work and put the kids to sleep is time consuming. There are easier ways to show love, I mean, I don't make them pay rent.

Never again...

Valentina Brushes her Teeth

Whatever the big kids do, the little monster wants to do as well. Now every morning after breakfast they go to the bathroom to brush their teeth...

...and she does as well.

Dental hygiene can never start too early.