Lake McGowan Skiing New Years Eve

 

It seems that we have a lot of traditions at this time of year.  For either New Year's Eve or New Years Day we always take the girls to the snow, ever since Alli was a baby.  EXCEPT, last year there was no snow anywhere.  These years are quite different cuz this year there is snow everywhere.  We decided to head to McGowan Lakes Ski Area in Lassen.  It was perfect.

We found the girls some snowshoes on sale 50% off and Shane and I skied.  We went in for about a mile.  Hiking in the snow is so different from hiking in the dirt.  Jill made it about a mile and was POOPED!!!  Alli wanted to keep going, but we decided to stop and make our snow kitchen and have some hot chocolate, coffee and tea.

 Shane loves to dig with his snow shovel so he made a great kitchen for us to have a break.  

The girls played with Hazel and found icicles on trees and made snow angels.

We lasted for about 3 hours which is pretty good for 30 degrees outside!!

Then we headed back the mile to the car.  There was a great sled hill right by the car so we wanted to let the girls play for a while before heading back home for Mimi's New Year Eve Tacos!!  The girls were pretty tired so Shane pulled them back on the sled.  Hazel tried to hop on.  Guess she was tired, too!!

Jill has never like doing things where she is not in control (examples from the past - merry go round, trains, ferries) so add sleds to the list of that.  She wouldnt get on, but she would slide down on her belly.

And here is a video:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

4 Days of Cross Country Skiing

Shane and I are lucky enough to have a tradition of getting away ALONE after Christmas.  We went back to Clio and stayed at the great cabin with a hot tub (but this time the smaller one)  We made the reservations in August and the rate at that time was $89 a night, that is a CRAZY DEAL!!!!  Here is the website for anyone interested Nakoma Resort.

Unlike when we came with the girls, Shane and I were on the move the entire 4 days.  The snow this year is incredible, so we cross country skied every day.  A few days were gorgeous blue sky and 26 degrees out, other days were overcast and 32 degrees.  A few times it snowed on us.  But no matter what,  it was an amazing ski trip and a great GETAWAY.  

We were at the cabin enough to enjoy the hot tub many times a day and we ALWAYS crank up the heat since we are not paying for it.  At home our house is 60 if not colder, so I try and leave it at 70, but I think that was a bit hot for Shane!!

The kids had a fantastic time with Mimi and Poppy.  But when we got home this time they had actually missed us.  For days, they would tell us how much they missed us while we were gone, and they were always hugging and kissing us.

The second day we were home Jill was still hugging me every possible moment and she said, "Mommy, I missed you so much I am never gonna stop this love town."

We have been going away alone since they were little, little, like 16 months and this was the first time they both REALLY missed us.  Dont know if that means that it will be harder for us to get away.  We only do it 3 times a year so I think they will be fine.  

Post Thanksgiving trip to Clio

We wanted to start a tradition of taking the girls ice skating the first weekend in December because that is what we did last year.  But, weather does not always cooperate and this year we had a crazy wet storm come through which made it impossible to ice skate (At North Star the rink is out in the open).  But we had a great trip even though we were cabin bound.  

I joked that it was our weekend of gluttony.  We made the girls hot chocolate every morning and were able to start their advent calendars.  We had Dark Chocolate Shortbread Cookies in the morning and all day. The girls played in the hot tub for hours on end and were able to watch 3 Christmas movies EACH DAY!!!!  Since sugar and videos are not overused at home, it is fun to be able to allow these special treat for the girls.

Shane read the entire first book of the hunger games and I was able to get some school planning done, plus the two of us played lots of cribbage .  We also brought lots of family games and were able to spend hours doing that together, too...UNO, Left, Right, Center, Go Fish, animal sound uno....

The weather did allow for a bit of hiking just outside our cabin.  There was a wonderful trail that followed a little creek and just skirted the golf course where we were staying.  It was nice to get out and get moving a little bit.

then the girls made their annual Christmas Story Book.  Each year they "write" a story and it is so fun to see the progession each year.  Last year  I wrote as the girls dictated, but this year Alli was able to help with some spelling and Jill was able to add some of her own letters.  

If anyone is interested in this place we stayed it is called Nakomas Rentals and we stayed in the Tower with the girls.  When we are alone we stay in the Villa.  They run some great off season deals.  

HAPPY HAPPY DAY!!!!

The day has arrived that I NEVER thought would come.  Alli is starting to read!!! 

Now, when i say NEVER that sounds like an exaggeration, but believe me when I say that I really did have doubts about this event ever happening.  Our progression to this day has been somewhat long and painful.  I realized early on that Alli did NOT care about learning. Even as young as 2, I could sit and read books to her for hours, but if i ever said, "Alli, can you point to the cat?"  she would turn off completely and tell me to just read to her. If I ever had the audacity to ask her if she knew a letter or sound she would get really angry.    

This was one of the main reasons I chose a Waldorf school for her when she started kindergarten and the MAIN reason I decided to homeschool her after that.  Fast forward to April of first grade and Alli and I are doing math....we have a 100's chart in front of us and 

I say "85" 

 she says "8 - 5"  

I say, "yep, can you point to it?"

She stares BLANKLY at the chart

Then.....

Jill points to the number

Three days later, Alli and I are at the eye doctor.  The assistant hands Alli a piece of paper with different sized paragraphs and asks Alli to point to the place on this sheet where she can see words.  Alli says, "I cant see any words."  The letters at the bottom of the chart were  HUGE!!!  I was heartbroken for my little girl.  All this time we had spent sitting on the couch reading, no wonder she didn't care about the tiny details, she couldn't see them.

This year, for 2nd grade, she has worn glasses for all school related activities plus I have her wear them for anytime I read to her.  Although we worked on letter sounds and some sight words, she just was not GETTING it. 

(It is important to remember that the method I am using is a year behind California, so Alli is basically working on first grade topics) 

 I would say, "What word starts like LAMB" and she would say SHEEP.  Or..."Let's sound this out....SSSSSSAAAAAAATTTTTT and she would look at me like i was an alien, and Jill would say SAT!!!  I dont regret homeschooling at all, but this is SO much pressure on me, or actually, i am probably putting too much pressure on myself.  

Now, we are in week 16 of school.  I decided to bring this book home from our homeschool center just to SEE if Alli would try to read.  She does not like any Level 1 readers I try and get her to read....but this book was a huge hit for her.  She already knew about 50 words and was so excited because we sat down and she read the first 5 stories in the book by herself!!  

The minute Shane got home she wanted to read to him, then she called my parents and went over there and read to them, then she Skype'd Shane's parents so they could see....

We went on a trip to Clio this weekend and I brought the book just in case she wanted to read some more.  Well, this morning Shane and I wake up and hear Alli say to Jill, "Do you want me to read you a story?"

Shane and I snuggled in bed listening to Alli reading a book to Jill.  

Amazing!!