She couldn't move. So we all just laughed at her for a while.
The gang. (We were still laughing at Eden. And I kind of feel bad about it. But. Well, look at her.)
Not too sure about the boots.
As we got ready for the lesson, Ren repeated many times that she was scared she might fall. “Oh, of course you’ll fall,” I said. “Everybody falls. But you don’t have to do anything you don’t like.”
Not so sure about the helmet.
And then all four kids were geared up and ready to go:
Do they look totally psyched or what?
We met Mr. Paul, the ski instructor:
Not so sure of anything. Think I'll hold Dad's hand.
So freaking Norman Rockwell.
The kids started in the obstacle course. They practiced moving themselves along in their skis.
At an airport, it's called a "people mover." On the kiddie slope, it's a "carpet." Ren likes it.
One by one, the kids crapped out and went for the Lodge. Until only two remained: Six year-old veteran skiier cousin Ben … and Ren.
They left the obstacle course and made their way to the kiddie slope, riding the carpet up to the top and then skiing down. Ren fell a fair amount. But at the conclusion of the first hour, she was successfully skiing solo.
As in by herself.
Down a mountain.
“I have to tell you,” Paul said leaning conversationally against his ski. “She’s very good, she likes speed. I’m spending most of my time now just trying to cut her off so I can slow her down. If you tell a kid to slow down, they don’t, so I just kind of get in front of them a little. In fact, I’ve only had a few skiiers like her and they all turned out to be racers –”
“Excuse me, Paul,” I said. “But is that Ren?” I pointed to a small determined character standing straight-backed and impatient on the carpet. She was about halfway up the slope.
“JEEZE!” he said with a start, signalling the carpet operator to stop it. He skadooed up the side of the mountain toward her while Ren looked around in annoyance that she was stopped. He got next to her and they went around again a few more times before it was time to go.
I was doing a good job of Minding My Business and Staying Out of It, which unfortunately meant staying in a position not to take great pictures. So most of my shots don’t really capture that tiny little person barrelling down the mountain, hands up, with a grin that could only properly be described as “shit-eating.”
I bought her ski mittens and goggles to celebrate. I think she liked them.
The Unabomber. Gearing up for the big Mike Tyson fight.
Visions of high rates of speed danced in her head.
I’d like to say I’m surprised, but I have been following your blog since she was a baby and “know about Roo”!! I love her fearless spirit! You go Roodle!
Well, you kinda had to know how this was going to turn out, given that she was riding a posting trot at age, what, two? I harbour a suspicion that you are raising a speed-loving, thrill-seeking athlete. May the Force be with you, and keep the health insurance paid up.
She looks fabulous in those goggles. Not a surprise that Ren’s a speed demon!!
Literally laughing out loud. With regards to Eden, all I could think of was “A Christmas Story” when Randy says “I can’t put my arms down”.
As for Ren, ah, I have one of those too only she didn’t start skiing until she was 8. By the end of the six weeks of lessons, the instructor was calling her White Lightning. No fear, straight down the mountain. Heaven help me! I ski and I couldn’t keep up with her!!!
Good luck to you!!!
I so laughed at the Eden pic. But you might want to keep Ren away from race cars.
On the plus side, you could tell her all about supercolliding superconductors. Speed, and the potential to create blackholes? Sounds about right, right?
The first picture? Substitute a more masculine color and no Ren grinning behind, I have that same picture of both my boys.
The last picture made me cry. And all the stuff in between affirmed my belief that Ren will be a household name before she’s thirty and she’ll probably be quite annoyed by it.
And Paul is cute. Single? Oh never mind…
I feel sort of bad, too, but I couldn’t stop laughing at Eden, either. And I won’t be surprised if Ren ends up as a racer, either!
So awesome! Not a BIT surprised at Ren’s need for speed! I can’t wait for her debut in the Winter Olympics come 202something.
Because I didn’t grow up on skiing, it scares the hell out of me. But my husband loves to ski and really wants to teach our daughters. The first and only time I’ve ever attempted to ski? Whistler. Who DOES that? Me. On my honeymoon.
Was Mary not a big fan? Or is hot cocoa by the fireplace more her speed?
I was always a cross-country gal, myself, but don’t forget about the other Massachusetts mountains for the rest of the season: Jiminy Peak, Butternut, and Brodie out west. Might be good to remind the girls that Mass isn’t just Boston.
OOoh that made me cry a little and miss my speed demon too! But then I remembered last weekend when I took her to ski again (5 years since the last time) and at nearly 15, and lots larger than at 10, SHE ROCKED it again!! Love watching her go! Thanks for the sweet memories this morning…..
and the HUGE Laugh from the baby!!!!!!!!!! bwhahahahahahahah!!!! every time I sneek another peek at her… I kill myself laughing again!!! LOVE it!