Warm Adventures: February 2017

Our one family photo

Every year for the past three years we have gone back to Nauders, Austria and although we love it every year, each time we say we are going to go somewhere different next year. But we seem to end up right back at the same place. This year we did it mainly because we were a bit busy and honestly didn't have the time to look for something else. It is also the comfort of a familiar place, as well as a place we know the kids enjoy.

So yes we were back at the exact same Aparthotel, which we adore. The kids and I arrived back in Switzerland just a few days prior to us turning around and leaving again for this trip. I am not complaining as we had a great time in Florida and I know I am privileged to be able to go on a ski holiday as well. But to say it wasn't a little bit nutty would be an understatement. I still hadn't fully recovered or unpacked from our Florida trip before turning around and packing for this one. And for the record yes the kids still had another week and half school vacation. Here the kids go back to school in January then have two weeks off sometime in February (it varies from Canton) that they literally call Sportferien aka ski holiday.

Do you wanna build a snowman

We enjoyed a pretty easy and uneventful drive on Saturday. As I've mentioned before hotels typically book Saturday to Saturday, with a few exceptions. But that means everyone (who is on school holiday) is on the roads that Saturday and can cause a bit of a traffic snafu in this small country. But ours was normal, we got a late start as usual and ended up hustling around when we got there in the early evening to get our skis, sign up for ski school and hit the grocery store before it closed. We managed.

The kids are now fairly experienced skiers. Miles did a couple of half days in the Bambini ski school last year and somehow managed to skip a class this year and was put into the 2nd level ski school. I think this may have been a mistake as he was by far the youngest and smallest kid in his class. But you know what, he never complained once and excelled like it was his personal mission. I was so darn proud of him. He did great, learning to pizza and turn. By the 3rd day he was out of the kiddy area and up on the regular mountain. We would pass by him skiing and while he wasn't the fastest, he was by far the happiest.

Little man big dreams

Alison progressed to actually having poles this time - look out world. I think it helped her actually not be so kamakazie down the slopes. Instead of going straight down the mountain at full speed, she managed to learn to go back and forth a bit. She also did great and never complained. She may have been a bit disappointed in her 5th place standing during the end of the week slalom race, since in years past she had won 1st and 2nd place. But I had to remind her she was skiing with kids much older than her and I think she felt OK about it. So proud of both of them.

I took a chilled approach to skiing this year. I always enjoy the bit of time Erik and I get to ski together while the kids are in ski school. The weather was nice, actually a bit warmer than expected. I had a bit of difficulty with my boot bindings this year, not sure why but they caused me some great discomfort even on the loosest setting for some reason. This made me take it easy and not ski like a nut which I am prone to.

We love our ski vacations as it is good family time in the evenings. We usually go for a swim together in the heated pool in our hotel, which feels amazing after a day of skiing and then enjoy a game together after dinner. And I have to admit it gets easier each year to get the kids ready in the morning. The first year I just dreaded getting the kids and all their layers on, making sure you have everything you need because it is a short bus ride to the ski lift and then a long gondola ride. This year was totally manageable and pleasant even.

All in all, another successful ski trip.