ski ski ski ski ski and ski

a week spent with family! in the snow! with a swimming pool! and skiing! this is, like, a few of my favorite things. it's right up there with raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
just after christmas, about 3 hours after the start of a high wind/big wet snow/dangerous driving condition sort of blizzard, we loaded up for a long drive to northern michigan. the drive to marinette, on the border of wisconsin and the UP, was a terrifying nightmare and we were so relieved to get to our hotel, eat some food, swim, relax, and watch the snow pile up outside our windows. vacation, baby.

car at home, packing it up, in the fresh blowing scary snow.


swimming pool!


hotel penguin walk, post swim.


 and naked casual lounge on the hotel room floor. who is this kid?


the next day, we drove along the beautiful lakeshore in the UP, and across the big green mackinac bridge. the kids were very excited to call it a "green golden gate bridge." we were pretty quick to tell them that the mackinac bridge is bigger, longer, and frankly, a national treasure.


shortly after crossing the bridge, we arrived at our destination! nub's nob, the michigan ski location of david's storied childhood lore (which i have heard a lot about....for years).


we settled right in. i donned my newest ski vacation muk luk slippers in the shadow of the caribou head over the fireplace. really reeeeally felt like a ski vacation.

the next morning, these two squirrels, their parents, aunts, uncles and cousins, were ALL ski ready.


towing the kids on the flats


riding the lift, with fresh snow falling


james on skis--trust me, he really does know how to turn on those skis.



ramona on skis, nailing her first blue run


 happy staples


later, nana took to the slopes for the first time in over 20 years, flanked by her grandchildren


 look at these happy turkeys, floating down the back of the hill together


 all that skiing sometimes makes little people want to lay down, so that's what ours did from time to time. this mid-afternoon picture features james and ramona, with their skis off, just laying in the middle of all the action, at the feet of their family members. this is what the end of the day looks like when you ski with children.


and this is what the end of the day looks like when your family takes care of your kids and you enjoy the view of the slopes at closing time. thanks guys!


 we skied with family for 3 full days. it was really really super.
 we really nailed the black diamonds,


we had a little fun in the fresh fluffy snow,


we got in some good long cross country ski outings,


we watched some star wars,


we had some nice evening strolls with nana back from the pool,


and david even managed to squeeze in a few illicit midnight sledding runs down the back of the hill with a childhood friend.

 so, happy new year from the happy crew!

 

 

these two need a nap. 

but first, a ski boot bathroom jig!