One thing I have so enjoyed about our season of renting is how much family time we seem to have together. Of course, the ample and regular amount of snow we have had helps as well! We have gone skiing, skating and sledding in the last 5 days!  It was a beautiful night skiing on Friday, with the lights on and quiet swish of skis on fresh snow. Gretl was ready to ski all on her own down the "Sleepy Hollow" slope. She even tried the jumps at the top. (Very, very slowly!) Tim took Lottie on those jumps as well, between his legs.

These pictures are taken at Centennial Lakes, which is really a long canal of sorts, maintained for skating in the winter. They have a gorgeous warming house, with two large wood-burning fireplaces on either end. People can rent skates, sleds for pushing/riding on the ice and these big metal contraptions which help the not-so-stable skater to stay upright. They pipe classical music to outdoor speakers, and it is all a whimsical, romantic time. Like a Currier and Ives postcard. 

The sledding took place on our day off school this week: Snow day! The hill is at the local elementary school, and is getting to be known for its near disasters. I exaggerate a bit, maybe, but I can tell at least 3 stories of wild rides, one ending with a ride in an ambulance! Those happened under different conditions than we had this week. The fresh and deep snow makes for a soft, fun ride, not like the icy hill in years gone by. 

I keep reminding myself...You cannot do this in the Caribbean!