Bombers.

This year, with our season passes to Mission Ridge, we got S signed up for the Bombers ski class. For six weeks, he tooled around the mountain with a group of four or five other kiddos and their instructor, Steve. S went from being able to get down greens and blues to going pretty much anywhere on the mountain. That meant K and I had to follow him, or do our best.

It was a blast.

In between, there were a lot of moments we shared as a family. From driving up to the mountain and escaping the valley fog, breaking out into sun just beneath the base area, to taking turns with H while the other skied alone or with S.

We even got H skiing down the bunny hill. She loved the rope tow and seemed to enjoy sliding downhill. In fact, she showed much less resistance than S did. K and I are hopeful that despite her being younger, she'll be able to keep up with her older brother in a couple of years.

One day, while K was up skiing and I had H, she went to get on the high-speed quad lift. Low and behold she ran into S's class. Steve turned to Katie, not recognizing her and asked, "Would you mind taking up one of the kiddos?" She cleverly responded, "Not at all, as long as I can take mine."

On my turns with S, I had fun following him wherever he wanted to go. Often that meant weaving through trees. I showed him some cool spots, like a hidden creek and a bell someone placed in memory of a loved one tucked in the forest off one of the runs.

There were some sweet views and some sweeter sunsets.

As well as moments, tired and happy, spent in the lodge with hot chocolate and stuffies.

Now, K and I are beginning to see the dividends from the amount of effort it takes to get a kid up skiing. Already, whichever of us is with him can plan on going up any chair and preparing for an adventure. It's only going to get more fun from here.

Yay for family traditions.

This year, with H, it was about starting to get her used to sliding on snow. Next year, when she's three we'll be a little more into getting her up a chairlift. Also, preparing for more adventures wherever Sefton chooses to take us.