Jingle Bells..

The trepidation for the Christmas season was creeping up on me each passing day. A paradox of the expected excitement as is every Christmas, together with the fear of not being with my family on such an occasion. Trying to hold a positive mindset was a challenge. I kept telling myself that it's just one day it's just one day. The girls held a secret Santa at Starbucks, where we each gave a $15 gift. It was a laughable, enjoyable evening to spend with new friends. Gifts were fun and thoughtful.

Our Christmas tree was picked out by myself and the kids at the local " Christmas Tree Place" where we brought it home on the roof of the Suburban. Decorations included home made ornaments by the kids, and a collection of ornaments from the past thirty, forty years, passed down from generations, and accumulated each year by the kids, and special memories and places. I had been given my very own stocking, matching the family, with my name embroidered, hanging by the fireplace, enough to feel extremely special.

Danielle and I were skiing in Vermont the weekend before Christmas, it was a pleasant distraction. Driving back early Monday morning, leaving the Condo in Vermont, I saw one star shining brightly and " Wishing upon a star " jumped into my head, and the first wish would be that I could be home for Christmas. It started a series of crying sessions throughout the day. Getting it all out was the only option. I had work for the afternoon as a distraction, and Christmas dinner with the family that night. Having bought the kids gifts, I dashed to TJ Maxx to buy the parents gifts too, cutting it fine seems to be my forte. We made gingerbread houses with the kids, and had a lovely Christmas meal. All the children opened gifts from family, Santa's gifts were to be opened on Christmas morning. I woke up early in anticipation of the kids drooling over their presents, to my surprise I had to do the waiting. Being afternoon in SA, I had family members and friends badgering me into Skyping and phone calls, understandably the day was almost over, but it had only just started for me. I was juggling between messages and opening presents with my host family, phone calls and morning waffles, Skype sessions and stocking fullers. My family loved all their gifts, such a warm feeling making someone happy. I myself was very blessed, with wonderful unexpected gifts. Skyping with all the family was entertaining, as my dad and the gang down the South Coast, couldn't get their camera working, so all could see me, and I had to make the distinctions via voice recognition. Mom and the family exchanged phone calls, as they were enjoying the hot weather at Midmar Dam. It was an emotional few days, but once it passed, I knew this was just another obstacle I had overcome, making me that much stronger.

First Snow ..

My first snow falling experience happened while Danielle and I were at Panera Bread having lunch, it was such an exciting, overwhelming moment I wanted to share with everyone I knew! We stuck out like sore thumbs as we danced and screeched around the parking lot. It was evident the locals felt nothing near what we were feeling, if anything, the opposite in the lines of inconvenience and frustration. We snapped away at the very minimal snow falling, and thought driving home would be the best option, considering we'd never driven in snow before.









Coming home, Nick and I put on our snow gear, and started making small snowballs and throwing them at each other. I was wrapped up in parallel calibers of excitement as the kids, sledding down the bank and getting icy snow all over our clothes !

 

However, as I type this, being the 11th February, we have come to experience a number of snowy occasions. Most recently being Nemo, whom brought 3 feet ( under a meter ) of snow to our doorsteps. Snow is beautiful, but on a more temporary standpoint, its come to cause a hindrance due to driving and outdoor activities. I can roll my eyes at it, but I can still feel giddy inside knowing that it's only a temporary lifestyle, and let's be honest, how pretty is white fluffy fresh fallen snow !!

 

 

Slalom baby, slalom

Arriving in Ludlow, with a slightly altered itinerary due to an on the ball host dad, we still anticipated a ski fulled weekend. Exhausted from the previous nights events, we had an early night in the condo, which was sitting at 20 Degrees Fahrenheit on arrival.

We woke up and began the dressing process, tights, warm long socks and ski pants, a shirt, a thermal shirt, and a thick ski jacket and scarf, helmet, goggles and gloves. We drove to the bottom to find our way, meet up with our ski instructor and get our passes, being newbies, putting on and tightening our boots I felt like an incompetent fool, laughing at ourselves hysterically as we wobbled and duck walked our way across the ice and snow. So much for smooth and sexy skiers. Legs already cramping we met up with Bob, who to my disappointment was not a 25 year old, blonde haired blue eyed, tanned, muscular snowboarding pro who would guide me in his arms as we ski'd down isolated slopes and into the sunset together........ We had a group of 5, and started in the bunny slopes, feeling the motion, understanding the leaning and the turning, we all did exceptionally well for first timers if I may say so myself. We went up the magic carpet, and down the powdery snow for the next 45 minutes, all managing to grasp the concept! Dan was a late bloomer, but boy did she bloom !


 

We had a lunch break with coffee and noodles and came back for our second session. With a little more confidence, we were strapping and tightening like we'd totes done this before ! Bob took us for one last bunny slope and told us we were ready for the lift. Ohhh.. big step. Going up for the first time is daunting, you have to wait for these steel bars to vigorously swing around the rotation, slide to the black line, then turn around and the next steel chair is there, it swings back then scoops you up, gravity pulling you and then ripping you upwards, woah rush! Not to mention the jump off, where you place your ski's on the edge and wait for the precise moment to stand up and find gravity under your feet again, and with speed down a small embankment. On the second lift process, I followed the procedures, turned around to find my seat and some fella had already taken it, the chair comes so quickly, and state of panic I ended up on his lap. My life flashing before me as I vision myself plummeting from the lifts into the snow, splattered, I held that gentleman like he was the last piece of fresh bread, he could clearly feel my desperation and was holding me in places that only dawned on me once the lift had been stopped and I was safe again. Apparently the ski lift thing was like traffic, and traffic when everyone is in a rush to get to work, its dangerous! Nevertheless I ended up skiing down twice, Dan more bravely a third time, we went slowly and cautiously in a group, intermittently, always together. It's such a great feeling when you gain some speed and you feel yourself zigzagging in a consistent motion, a great sense of achievement, and such a rush! A must try sport if you have the means. We were knighted at level 3 skiers by the end of the day, not too shabby.