Winter Fun near Steamboat
We spent a long weekend (Reynald took a day off and so did I) about 45 minutes north of Steamboat Springs (Hans Peak area) this past weekend with friends Corinne, Dan and Ada. Luka and Ada were great buddies and Axel thought Dan was the greatest.
We also went to Steamboat Springs Hot Springs. Luka loved it and Axel screamed in his car seat till he fell asleep. It was too cold for him out of the water. Ada and Corinne had a blast too--poor Dan was back at the cabin sick. :( The adults had fun on their huge water slide. Corinne and Reynald had to convince me, but then I did it a second time!
Axel spent his first snow shoe hike (or any outing) in the baby back pack. He was a trooper. It
was sunny all weekend and Monday long, so we lucked out. Everyone else skied but me (no back country skies yet, just snow shoes). Luka even got a ski in around our cabin with Papa. He did some sledding and rode in Ada's ski sled too. So did Axel. We also rigged up a sled for Luka using our red plastic sled and Axel's high chair/booster seat. But, we loved Ada's enclosed ski sled so much, we just bought a double ski sled for the kids. We would have liked to get away with a single one, but for skiing and hiking, the double seems necessary despite the gap in their ages. It is a Chariot and we got all the kits for it. They are found at www.chariotcarriers.com. It was a big (= spendy) purchase, but hopefully, we will use it all year round. It is a gorgeous pod for our little guys!
All this outdoor stuff encouraged me to spend other some money at REI too. They are having a big sale. I got a new day pack with reservoir system, Axel got a new bunting and fleece baby shirt for winter and Luka got a ski helmet and ski goggles (actually, those were from www.Trail-kids.com). Today was really cold. It was 0 degrees at around 5 p.m. and last time I checked, it was -2 degrees. Oh-- www.weather.com now says it is -7 degrees. Brrr!Oh, Axel screamed all the way home from Steamboat (~3 hours). I am not kidding. It was awful. Not sure why he did it, but we could not get him to stop. :( Oh well....hopefully, he will be happier next time.
Axel news: He is extremely smiley and people comment on it wherever we go: Chipotle for lunch where he flirted shamelessly with a couple next to us, at our CPA today for our tax appointment, with people in the tea house where I had a tasty tea to ward off the cold weather, etc. He also seems to like solid food in the morning but lately is not too keen on it in the evenings. I think he is too tired by that time.
Luka seems to be having a lot of fun at school. He is really into playing with his friend Johnny. He asked if Johnny could come to his house--he has never asked that about anyone before. He has known him since Toddler 2 (1 - 2 year old class), but John is 4, I think. We were watching the Olympics the other night and figure skating was on. Luka said, "I can do that!" and did some turns around the living room, imitating them. To him, seemed pretty simple! :) He was very proud. Maybe he will be an Olympic champ some day--ha ha.
I have noticed that no one ever mistakes Axel for a girl. That happened all the time with Luka when he was a little baby (under a year or so?). I think it is because he was so "pretty" with his long eyelashes (like his Grandpa Paul). Axel has gorgreous dark brown eyes too, but his lashes are not as long, I guess.
Fur Rondezvous Memories from Anchorage, AK
Talked to my mom today on the phone and she said Fur Rondy (big winter carnival in Anchroage, AK) was starting. I miss it. Sounds like it will be fun. The Miners and Trappers Ball is being held again this year. We had some fun times doing that (me, Cathy and Dolly--were those fun days, or what?!). She is also going to the Pioneer Pancake Breakfast. I wonder if they still have the Polar Bear Party. That was the best. I remember going with Dad too when it was dowtown off G street at the old Fur Rondy office (now is that building the Glacier Brew House?) and in later years going with Mom, Charlie and others when it was at the Sheraton. We would sneak in using the polar bear sticker passes from the previous year on our Fur Rondy buttons (you were supposed to be a "VIP"). That was hilarious. Some pretty good sneakiness for us straight-lacers. Well, we are VIP's too--(ast least Dad was). Tee hee.
I remember when I was a French painter in the parade--something about I got extra credit for that in my high school French class??? I remember that it was fun, but pretty cold. And talk about cold--going on the carnival rides down at the "buttress area" on Third Ave. That was really cold. After the Round Up or other rides, we could hardly move our faces because they were so cold. In college when I would tell that story, people thought it was weird. It is just the way it was--and I guess we were pretty tough Alaskans. ;) And I can still smell how it always smelled like cigarette smoke down there. Carnival rides always do, don't they?
And the fireworks. Very cold but fun to watch outside from the TeePee park or downtown, all bundled up. And, one year I was in the Miss Fur Rondy pagent, but that is another story....Ah.....I miss the the Fur Rondezvous. Like Mom and I said, I had been going to those events since I was born, so there are a lot of years to be nostalgic about. If you want to visit Anchorage and make your own Rondy memories, check out their site at http://www.furrondy.net/.
