Seven Springs II

We returned to Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, for some more skiing.  The house accommodations were arranged by Carter and were much better (and next door to the place we stayed last year).  Here are Anders and Maura facing off.  Anders was very excited about Maura, which he showed by trying to grab and claw off her face.  She wasn't into it.

Ellis and Maeve were the night owls, staying up almost an hour later than the other girls.  So they found ways to entertain themselves.  The pool table was a favorite, as was jumping on the bed in the extra bedroom.  They laid out pillows on the floor "to catch them" if they fell. On the last night, Ellis saw me having fun with Mary and told me to "keep talking," then walked off.  A minute later Mike and I went to find her for bedtime and could find her nowhere.  We searched room by room...nothin'.  Finally, Mike was walking by the mud room and heard singing.  There Ellis was behind an open umbrella.  Honestly, if she had not been singing, I am not sure that we would have found her.

There was some fun adult time after the kids went to sleep, but we struggled to make it to 11pm.

Then there was the actual skiing.  The girls were entered into the tiny tots ski class and did a great job.  The bad moment was when Ellis was split from the Maeve, Maisie and Bridget.  First Ellis cried then she got pissed (picture to come when I have the chance to scan it in).  Then she skied like a champ.  I was slow with the camera and didn't get video, but she rocked the skies.  The first day was a slushy, almost snow-less day.  The second was ice covered with a couple inches of new snow.  Ellis did well in both.

Here are all the kids.  Gibbs (Maisie's little brother, 18 months), Anders, Ellis, Maisie, Maeve and Maura.  Gibbs was a kick in the pants.  He just roved the house and would be randomly found under the sink or some such place.

Next year, I think we need to go West.  Ellis skied great in ski school but we didn't give her enough credit.  When she skied with us, we protected her too much.  She kept telling Mike to move out of her way, that she liked to go fast, and that she didn't want to learn to stop.  Next year, she will go to ski school each day and then ski with us after lunch.  It will be another year for Mr. Anders.  But I think he will attack it -- just not sure he will stop so much as crash.  He is such the bruiser.