Post Christmas Ski

The freezers got stuffed full and we used ALL the tupperware boxes, and we went off for a couple of days skiing.  Bit silly going to a hotel really as we still have so much food but it was all a bit last minute and all that I could get.  It all worked out ok, even though I was sure I had booked a place in Kirchberg, but when I checked the night before we went I noticed it was Kirchbichl - a totally different place but so different it made a huge difference - still mostly the same ski area.

Anyhow, the beginning of December the snow was looking quite good but now there is not much at all.  It has been too dry and sunny which is no bad thing but it could do with snowing a bit.  And Christmas week was so mild in the day that so much has gone.  Fortunately it has been cold at night so the cannons have been able to run.

So, we headed down on Saturday morning and it was fairly busy.  We went to Westendorf and spent a happy afternoon playing on the nursery slope at the bottom.  It was a good starter for Alex.

At Westendorf at the bottom of the run

He has the stamina

and the orange ears!

He just wants to go fast!

 

 

 

 

FASTER!!!

heading to the lift

Saturday night it snowed. Well actually it was rain until about half way up the mountain.  We decided to park at the bottom of the "End of the Line" lift at Westendorf.  It was nice and quiet - the reason being, the home run wasn't open.  Oops!  Oh well, we got to eh top and the snow was lovely, but not the best kinder friendly skiing.  They both did really well though.  We got down the steep bit to the chair lift, did a couple of runs and played in the deep snow.  Had lunch and then Matt took Alex back down the gondola to the car and Katie and I skied down to the bottom on the other side while Matt drove round to pick us up.  She really wanted to ski top to bottom and was quite amazed at how many runs and lifts there were on the mountain.  I was amazed at how well she did as it was hard going. There was a lot of new snow and on the steeper bits it was all getting pushed off and exposed the ice.  She's a very controlled skier - just carefully going down. I never worry that she's going to crash.  Alex on the other hand…

She was so pleased when we got to the bottom even though it had been hard going.  My legs ache from snow ploughing too much.

Lots of snow

mountaineering

playing

monkey!

Today we went up to Scheffau where we came out of the cloud near the top into beautiful sunshine… and a million people!  Oh well.  Matt went off and did a small trip Katie and I struggled with Alex who was being a bit rubbish.  We met up and then skied together for a bit before lunch and then headed down again.  Katie skied from top to bottom again and Alex skied the lower half.  Poor Matt's bent legs holding him on the icy bits.  And all Alex wanted to do was to go faster.  He needs some proper lessons as he is not listening to us.  Not interested in stopping and turning - just going fast!  Had reins on him thank goodness - he's a liability.

In the gondola

Katie zooming

So our first weekend as a ski family!  It works OK.  There is no rush to be on the first lift as we are at kinder pace.  It's all pretty relaxed really and as long as there is chocolate.  We are lucky that they both really love it and are not put off by anything.  

End of Year Catch Up.

It seems I am always writing "catch ups", but life is just a little too ordinary for just blah blah.  I realised that I have not written anything since our big New Zealand trip.  I think the reason being is that we have just been happy living a day to day life where we know what's going on  - not too much excitement!  And now it's nearly Christmas!

Alex has become settled in kindergarten.  He took a little while of clinging onto me and I could only creep out once Morgan Kreis was in full swing but he got better quickly and particularly since Lina, our neighbour who is in his group took him under her wing.  He loves her now!  Katie has been continuing to enjoy kindergarten but she is excited to start school in September too.  I hope she lasts the year without getting bored.

We haven't done anything too exciting but we did have a lovely autumn walk at Wildbad Kreuth back in October. It was a beautiful day and the leaves were just lovely.

Playing by the river

Leaf throwing

Then we had Laterne.   We  spent time making lanterns and then had a parade from kindergarten with them with the "real" Sankt Martin on a horse at the front.

On the way to Latene parade.  The only time they run to kindergarten!

Mum and Dad came to visit at the beginning of December and we had some snow so it was suitably wintry.  We did some Christmas markets and Dad brought some flat pack bird boxes he had fashioned out of old pallets fro the children.  Not sure if they will attract any birds mind.  We shall see come the spring.  They enjoyed helping put them together though.

Glühwein at Tollwood

Making bird boxes

Ice skating. 

Christmas Window display

The we had a day were we went skiing and our lovely neighbours went too.  It was a great first day for the children.

Snack time with Lina

Katie did well on her longer skis

Every week, we go swimming with Celina and her children Wendy and Nico.  Katie and Wendy have been swimming together since they were a year old.  I always forget my camera but here are some typical ones of them under water. 

Katie and Wendy

Alex has suddenly stunned us all by going from an edge of the water potterer to suddenly launching himself off the edge and swimming!  He loves diving to get a ring and is always asking me to "push him down" ! 

Getting a ring

water baby

Christmas has now officially begun. We are staying here for two weeks (with a two day interlude skiing), and it's nice just to have nothing to rush about for.  Today we went to get the Christmas tree.  So, Christmas tree chosen and paid for we then went on a sleigh ride while Matt tied the tree to the car, then we had glühwein and sausages before heading home to decorate it.  It's a nice little tree. Not too big or large at the bottom. Sometimes I feel we get a too massive one.

Gingerbread house decorating

running through the cut trees

glühwein and sausages

A pirate princess tree decorating

And fling!

So Seasons Greetings to you all and we'll write some more in the New Year.  Have fun.

New Zealand Trip

Our last event for our busy summer was a trip to New Zealand to visit my sister and her children.  I have been contemplating this trip for about a year but it became a now or never kind of thing as next year Katie will be in school so unless we go in our summer - their winter - it would not be viable.  Katie really wanted to see Belle and it would be great for all the cousins to meet as the last time was when Belle and Katie were 16 months old and so they can't remember.  After Googling the NZ school holidays (Belle started school on her 5th birthday) it seems ed that October or Easter would be the only options.  I didn't want to go in their summer holidays after Christmas as that is prime ski season so after talking with Naomi, it seemed that the October holidays would be best.  It was all a bit closely tacked onto the end of all our other manic summer plans to be honest, but as I have only done this to myself, I shouldn't complain.  So after manic searching for flights etc I finally booked to leave on Sunday 30th Sept on Singapore Airlines:  Munich - Singapore, Singapore -Auckland, stay overnight at airport hotel as we landed at midnight, then next day Auckland down to Paraparaumu.  I gulped as I pressed the "Book Now" option on the computer.  It's so much money.

So, with a total weight of 25kg - much of that to leave in NZ, we set off on our adventure.  Oh and before I continue, Matt wasn't coming. Just me and the kinders!  I have to say the flights were great.  The kids were great, the inflight entertainment they loved.  They were happy to watch Disney Junior, Bugs Bunny and Dora the Explorer over and over and over.  And I was glad of my top investment of children's headphones that were comfy and didn't slip off their ears (until Alex managed to break his on the way home!) The much wanted Trunki was borrowed and I cursed it - except for the mad dash through the airport on the way home where is was a godsend to pull Alex along.

We arrived at midnight in Auckland after a good couple of flights. Nice straightforward transfer at Singapore, no waiting about.  When we got to the budget hotel at the airport no one wanted to sleep even though they were so tired.  A couple of hours was had and then we were up to catch the 8:30 flight to Paraparaumu.  It was a tiny plane but the sky was clear and so we had magnificent views of the coastline, Taranaki and Mount Ruapehu all still snow covered.  Katie thought it was wonderful to see a volcano.  We were at the back of the plane and as we landed at the tiny airport the kids saw Naomi and the children waiting behind the fence.  It was all very exciting and we got off, collected our luggage off the trolley and jumped in the car to go home.  Naomi has a 7 seater so we could all fit in nicely.

The whole 2 weeks was thoroughly enjoyed by all the children.  They all got on really well and was very easy entertaining them.  I had said to Naomi that there was no need to do anything special as they would be quite happy going to the beach as they are a 5 minute drive/20 minute walk away.  The weather of course was very changeable, being spring, but that didn't really bother us.  We are happy to go to the beach whatever the weather.

We had a bit of a pirate theme going on as we had a pirate entertainment thing in the scout hut to go to which was good fun and so we bought pirate dress ups and that kind of continued.

In short we spent a lot of time at the beach, a day in Wellington where we went to a great kids theatre production about seasons and then the Tepa Museum which they loved and we didn't even see a fraction of it.  We went to Staglands which is an animal place in the bush.  Then there were the lovely playgrounds and a great bush walk when the weather was a bit rubbish, and just playing in the garden and at home. They were all as happy as anything.  In fact Katie's favourite thing was playing in the garden. Alex said his was going to the beach.

Now I was thinking about New Zealand and comparing it to here and although I love the scenery and the outdoor life there,  I'm not sure I'd want to live there.  Before when I have been there, we have always travelled around and I think it is a fantastic country to travel in, but to live there feels quite isolated and constrained.   I mean there is lots to do on the doorstep but it's quite difficult to travel further afield and this is where it is so easy in Europe.  I like it in some ways. 

It was also nice to get back to a proper solid house.  I know there is a high earthquake risk there but the houses feel like tin shacks - especially when it is raining. There is no double glazing but the windows are big and feel like they could easily shatter and all the walls are so thin.   And the heating is rubbish.  I think I have become spoilt.  But then, it is more economical to live in a better built and insulated house, surely?

I  did sprain my ankle after 4 days which was a bit of a pain in the neck but could have been a lot worse.  Even so, I felt we weren't moving that much.  Although the area is pretty flat there is a total car culture. We are used to walking and biking a lot more and I noticed the lack of moving quite a bit.  It is so suitable for cycling but not many people seem to.  In fact my ankle aches more now as we have stairs here and I am more active. 

I'm glad we went to visit Naomi and the children.  It was so nice for the cousins to meet and play and spend time together.  Not sure when it will happen next though. 

Playing on the beach