After 85 days on the mountain we are off, all packed up and ready for the next phase of the family adventure. Here are a few photos and thoughts to round off the winter season.
After the multiple trips to the medical centre in February I’m pleased to say we had none in March and April – YAY! Tim’s shoulder has healed; he was only off the mountain for 3 weeks which is incredible considering the break, but unsurprising for those who know Tim. All of our skiing and boarding improved (the boys to ridiculous levels) as we learnt to manage the different conditions -27 to +10 degrees, deep snow to sheet ice, powder to slush, snow, sunshine and rain. The boys entered a few competitions in the board park and on the mogul field – Tim and I had a glimpse of years to come as we stand on the slopes watching the kids flying through the race course trying to get a video or photo (not to successfully from me).
A summary of the favourite bits from the boys; ‘nailing’ rails, anything in the board park, spread eagle jumps, tubing, snowmobiling, carving, cross country skiing, building igloos, building ice slides, destroying igloos and ice slides, making snowmen, making snow chairs, the goody box (on mountain sweet shop), axe throwing (yes really sharp axes thrown to a target…..) In the last week we hired a car so that we could experience a few other places in BC, funny little wildlife park, met our first grizzly bears (just out of hibernation), long drive to see 500 year old trees; only to find out it was still closed for winter so drove all the way home again.
I said I would give an update on homeschooling… I would love to write that it has been easy or even that it has got easier but that would be a lie. We have found a balance that works (most of the time), star charts were the best motivator but then also became a bargaining chip. People write about ‘best parenting’ skills and I’m pretty sure that playing off activities against each other and using the ipad as a reward for everything isn’t one of them, but it worked for us. Having mum and dad around to help was amazing – both boys have improved their Maths thanks to Pape, reading has been fun with Noona, although I’m sure they manage to get Noona to do more of the reading than they do ;-). We have figured out things that work, what time of day to try and do things, making sure we don’t try and do everything at once as their attention span doesn’t last that long (neither does mine if I'm honest). Archie still firmly believes that real school is sooooooo much better than home school – oh how he might change that thought when we get home, until then he’s continue to punish us by reminding us we are ‘not fun’.
We are missing home, we miss Stevie, CeCe and Spike and our friends so much, (Archie misses his bike), more than ever we all realise what an amazingly special time we have right now and planning to make the most of every minute. We have loose plans for the next part – Vancouver with Kelly and family next week, LA, Mexico City and then Bucerias on the west coast of Mexico.
It’s going to be a change for us all, I can’t wait for some sunshine and washing less clothes….
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