Winter is so much fun because of the snow, even if you have to travel to the mountains to enjoy the snow.

New Year’s Day we went on a hike at Rockport with my extended family. Beautiful views, and we had fun at the shore of the lake after.

The next Saturday, we went skiing for the first time. What an adventure! Peter and Evie stayed behind due to age and disinterest. The rest of us got to figure out ski boots, hills, and snow plow. We drove many hours and past other ski resorts to Cherry Peak, because of good, affordable beginner packages. Joe and Curtis were the only ones brave enough to attempt a full fun down the mountains. Henry and Zack found the equipment very uncomfortable and were done after the two-hour ski lesson.

I never managed to figure out how to stop reliably, broke a sign, and pulled out a flag. I didn’t mind much when I needed to stay with the kids instead of trying harder things. Some parts were not as hard as I thought they’d be (like just staying upright on skis, turning), and others were harder to click (stopping). But I did enjoy myself, and I want to go again! This time not as a complete newb. It’s fun to try new things, and that experience doesn’t happen as much the older you get. (When I say fun, I also mean frustrating and humbling, but then there are moments when you do something that seemed impossible 10 minutes ago.)

And we were back on the mountains the next Saturday for a bit of sledding.