Our Swiss Family Robinson Adventure

It's a sad thing that the fall weather in RI has come so early because we usually squeeze in a few Saturday beach trips before it gets too cold.  Instead, we ended up spending our Saturday afternoon at the pool while Randy was helping someone move.
I'm happy to say Landon finally embraced his inner fish and splashed me with cannon ball after cannon ball all the while Parker was jumping in and grinning from ear to ear.  Parker copies everything his brothers do so naturally he put both hands together, leaned forward, and dove headfirst into the pool.  I was glad to see another son has inherited Randy's swimming abilities.  Of course all this jumping into the pool was getting lots of attention from other swimmers and bystanders because that's what happens anytime I take the boys out in public and because we were having a lot of fun.   But things got even better and more entertaining when Marcus and Bean started reenacting the scene from Swiss Family Robinson where the guy is wrestling in the water with a giant python.  The boys broke through the surface of the water grunting and gasping as if for their last breath before being pulled under by an imaginary python.  It. Was. Epic.  I'm glad a lazy summer afternoon watching an old Disney classic could later inspire such theatrics in the pool.

Note to self: The lifeguards must be blind because they never once blew the whistle or tried to rescue my boys from what looked like a legitimate strangulation by python.

Watching Swiss Family Robinson with friends, inspiring great fun in the pool

We Ski

Our family skis!  We just got back from a trip to the White Mountains of New Hampshire for three days of skiing.  We had a blast!  It was as magical as a trip to Disney Land, as memorable as our adventures in Okinawa, and relaxing enough to make me want to go again.  And again.
You probably think we're crazy for taking our little boys skiing, but skiing is like speaking a foreign language.  If you start young you figure it out quick as a whip. The boys love flying down the mountain and get such a feeling of accomplishment when they zip past adults struggling just to stay on their feet and I'm one proud mamma knowing my kids can ski better than me after only going a handful of times.
Each boys' skiing style matches their personality.  Marcus skis in control and tries to do everything technically perfect, and according to his instructor is "every instructor's dream."  Ethan is a speed demon and flies down the hill, giggling as he goes.  He lucked out being the only kid in his ski class and after a day of one-on-one instruction went from the bunny hill to skiing solid blue {intermediate} runs.  Oh, and the college girls couldn't get enough of him.  Landon skis with caution even though he's super athletic and has nothing to worry about, and does a victory cheer every time he arrives at the bottom of the hill.
Of course all this fun is made even better because of our sweet military discount on lodging and lift tickets.  It will be a sad {and expensive!} day when Randy gets out of the Navy. We scored a two-story condo complete with full kitchen, washer/dryer, upstairs master bedroom, 2 jacuzzi tubs, and plenty of beds.  Our friends were right across the hall so we pretty much played non-stop when we weren't on the slopes.

Landon thinking to himself, "They can make me do this but they can't make me like it."

He was a big baby the first time down

I LOVE riding the lift with Bean.  He is so entertaining

Bean the speed demon

Marcus skis better than me

Heading off to ski school

Don't blink or he's gone

Our Canadian friends joined us and all of their kids took to skiing like ducks on water

My skiing partner Rachel--Randy and I took turns watching the little boys

Poor Parker had to watch all the fun

See that smile?  Now he loves it!

Randy taking the boys to the top of the mountain

Parker brought his book to pass the time while his brothers got registered for ski school

Approximately 27 trips down the bunny hill later and this kid thinks he's a pro

After a day on the slopes it was off to the indoor pool and hot tub

The kids played and played

Lunch Break!

Lunch break while watching TV in bed.  It doesn't get better than that!

The bed that pulled out of the wall was a huge hit

One tired boy

Here's a little clip of Marcus and Ethan on the first day of skiing.

Landon on the bunny hill - doesn't get cuter than that!