Ski Bunny

Savannah at Gore Mt. on the J bar Learing to use the J bar

Daddy and his daughter--in 7th heaven

Learning to ski--I love how they do it

Ready to go

Waiting in the lodge at Whiteface for her turn

Up the magic carpet

up, up, up

Lesson

This is at Gore. I love how they have it set up. Very safe

Her instructor loved her and was sad when her lesson was over. She is so motivated and fun.

Learning

Wow!

Up again

Learning to turn and stop

Using the cube for stopping

Great action shot

There she goes

Down the bunny slope

Her instructor showing her how to turn

Look at our girl go!

Back for more

And again

All the pictures of Seth are on the iPhone. But I snapped this one of him sitting in a chair in our family suite. How cute and what a big boy.

After a 7 hour (with stops) snowy ride home last night from the mountains, we are glad to be safe and secure. These photos are of Savannah skiing. Rich took the point and shoot to the mountain. He has some of us around the village on the iPhone.

We had a great time in the mountains and beautiful weather. We hit it right until coming home when we drove through very heavy bands of snow. Not fun at all. But in Lake George there was hardly any snow on the ground and when Savannah went to Gore Mountain and Seth and I went outlet shopping it was over 40 degrees. We got a lot of good deals and everyone loved Seth. He fell asleep in the stroller and Mommy got to shop a lot. Then he took a three hour nap in the hotel. He was awesome. In Lake Placid it was freezing when we got there, overcase, flurrying and windy. But then the next day the sky cleared and the sun came out and it was gorgeous. It was pleasant walking around the village and again Seth made a hit in every store. When we stopped for lunch he made friends with the people at the next table and we ended up talking to them for over half an hour. He is definitely a people magnet. He did not fall asleep until 1:45 p.m. and then he slept until Rich and Savannah got back from skiing. He is awesome. I had fun hanging out with him, but missed by previous shopping buddy while Daddy skis, but now Daddy has a little ski bunny to ski with.

Savannah took 2 ski lessons. Her one at Gore Mt. was a half an hour and then she skied for an hour and a half with Daddy. Daddy did not ski on his own that day, since her lesson was at 1:30 p.m. and only a half an hour. It wasn't worth the lift ticket and rentals for him. Then he skiied with her until they closed. Then at Whiteface in Lake Placid her lesson was an hour so Daddy got two summit runs in. Both of her instructors loved her, along with the lift operators. They thought so was so cute, so motivated, and was having so much fun. The instructor at Gore Mt. was sad when her lesson was over. She has really caught on quickly. Rich said she likes to go fast and do it "by herself." She doesn't want Rich to hold her hand. One problem--she can't stop. Rich also said skiing backwards is a good workout for him. She wants to go on the chairlift, but she knows she has to, 1. get bigger, 2. stop, 3. turn.

We had a wonderful time, but Mommy is looking forward to warmth, sun, and sand! Mommy also got a special surprise--two birthday presents--1. Rich said we can go to Disneyland for the Japan Families Adoption Reunion (I cannot wait to go and meet all my friends and their adorable children) and 2. the heart Tiffany key chain I wanted, but wouldn't splurge on myself. Thanks Honey. I love you!

Special Delivery

Seth reading is Baby Love book Savannah and her new "I love you" bear

And the book tastes good too.

Wow! A pillow with an S for my new bed

My card

Seth's Bear

Bear Hugs

OOOOO! A box!

Seth's bear all wrapped up

Savannah opening her bear Savannah and Seth received a special delivery Valentine's Day package from Papa and Sheila today. The kids were so excited and enjoyed pulling apart the tissue paper, ribbons, and wrapping to find the treasures that were inside. I must admit, they liked the box and wrapping too. The even liked the cards. It is hard to take pictures of them these days with turning heads and being on the move and making silly faces, but I hope I captured how much it meant to them. Just being acknowledged and remembered and thought about is what matters to children. It isn't the "what" at all.

Thank you so very much Papa and Sheila. We love you and miss you!

Valentine's Day Part Dos

After swimming, all dressed. Back in hearts and my hair is cut, but still a little wet from my bath

I took the nap of the year, so we had dinner at home.

Styling with my new haircut and eating off a plate for the first time without dumping it.

A Tinkerbell Tutu and hat made especially for me

She is dancing

Seth got a Handy Manny tool box for Valentine's Day and Savannah was caught red handed taking his tools

Playing together

Reading her new Tinkerbell book with her legs swung over her riding moose. So boring to sit on it the traditional way

Now Savannah is sharing her new Wow, Wow, Wubbzy laptop computer with Seth

I love the way she shows and teaches him

Love my girly girl

This was the best one I could get

A balloon ribbon is more fun than toys

I love this picture.

Look who is by Seth's feet

Eating while a kitty is tickling his toes

Yummy fruit and sugar free jello for dessert

Giving her brother a snack

Our Valentine's celebration plans got a bit changed, but that is ok. We went to West Hartford earlier in the day to get the kids haircuts. Then we had lunch at Moe's Mexican Cantina and coffee at It's a Grind. We headed back towards home for Savannah's swimming lesson and then came home and put Seth down for a nap and got ready to go out to dinner. Little did we know because Seth only snoozed for a half and hour all day he was going to combine all his naps in one and sleep for almost 4 hours. So, by the time he got up at 8:30 p.m. it was too late to head out, so we had spaghetti, salad and sugar free jello and fruit. It was yummy and worked out great. Then we exchanged gifts and had a blast playing until it was time for bed.

Savannah and Seth are getting SO close. Savannah just adores Seth and told me the other day that Seth is her best friend. Melts a Mommy's heart! She also teaches him so much. She "reads" to him, counts with him, sings to him, plays with him, and yesterday she even told him to cover his sneeze when he sneezed and showed him how. Just adorable. This is what I always dreamed of.

Today we woke up to snow and more is predicted, so I canceled our plans for today and we will stay in once again. I so wish to move to an non-wintery climate.

Speaking of winter though, we are headed up to the mountains this weekend, so it is kind of a continued celebration.