Growing up in New Hampshire, we never skied during Christmastime. When you live in ski country, you avoid the touristy ski times (holidays, school vacations) because of the long lift lines and all the “outsiders” taking over the mountains. But now, being that we don’t live there, skiing has become a major part of our J-M Christmas. Kyle and Owen started skiing the year they were three (link here), and they LOVE to ski. Meera started at age three too, and is good with it, but is not nearly the fanatic her brothers are (they are really hoping that will change over time, because if it were up to K & O, we’d spend our entire Christmas week skiing).
This year we spent the day-after-Christmas at King Pine skiing with Sadie, MorMor, and MorFar. There is something really, really special about skiing with three generations of family.
The next day, for the fourth year in a row, Braydon, Kyle, Owen, and I spent the day skiing at Bretton Woods, while Meera spent the day with MorMor and MorFar. This day is such a huge highlight of the whole year for K, O, B, and me. It is just unbelievably gorgeous way up high in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Even the drive is just spectacular. We had lots of snow this year and a beautiful day. K & O have become such good skiers that we’re now 100% enjoying every bit of it together, with all four of us skiing on more-or-less the same level. K & O are still little daredevils on the slopes (they sure do love their double black diamond trails), but they are fully parallel turning, using their poles correctly, and taking the jumps and moguls with confidence and control. It makes them super fun to ski with. There is something extraordinary about enjoying a day together doing something that we all truly love.
Lunch at Bretton Woods’ Lattitude 44, at the top of the mountain, only accessible by chairlift (!), is a highlight every year. Braydon swears that they have some of the best burgers anywhere.
We met MorMor, MorFar, and Meera for dinner at Flatbread — one of our favorites in North Conway. It was our last night in New Hampshire.
Our Christmas is a blend of old and new, a double-strand twist of traditions, it is a time when I can’t help but think of the past and think of the future. It is all bound together. I don’t know how long our rituals will last, how fast they’ll evolve over time, what pieces will stay in tact. So, I try to take the best of what we have in the here and now and enjoy it as best I can. It is a good way to end the year, and a good way to anticipate the start of a new year.
Here are my two favorite pictures — iPhone pictures of course, like all the rest from this year — from Christmas 2013. I love the looks on my parents’ faces. Thank you, so much, for everything Mom & Dad
Awesome photos and descriptions! Ohh I loved the photos of the kids and the dogs — so so cute!! As you know your bambinos will cherish and reminisce about these holidays and your blog post scrapbook entries are invaluable!
– Kate