Down We Go

Saturday was the day of Cross Country Skiing. We woke up early and headed out to Fahnestock. My parents, aunt and uncle joined us. They have their own equipment so they started out on their own as we rented ours. It's a small park that has a handful of trails ranging in all levels of difficulties. Chancho laced up his boots and off we went. He was a natural. He didn't fall until later on in the day. Granted, he did take it slow in the beginning to get the hang of it, but he was moving along just like everyone else on the trails for the most part. At one point a lady passed by us and said "Great job at not falling! My husband would have fallen at least 5 times already!" and off she skied. I guess we stuck out as beginners. For the first half of the day we stuck to flat land. We did a loop on a field and then ventured out onto the lake. I was little bit nervous as we could see the ice on the lake. The snow was melting fast and the edges around some of the lake was back to water. I made Chancho cross over it first to make sure that it was safe. He gladly took that challenge on. Half way through the loop across the lake, Chancho realized that he was wearing the wrong size boots.

 He was feeling a lot of pain and just wanted to get back to the rental hut. We wound up getting back just in time for lunch. My dad was missing so as my mother searched for him Chancho got replacements for his boots. Once my dad was found, he apparently went off skiing by himself, we sat and ate lunch. Homemade sandwiches, soup, granola bars and fruit filled our stomachs enough for round two. Feeling a bit more confident Chancho decided he was ready for an intermediate trail, which meant there would be hills. We headed over to the trail with the easiest hill, but it was closed due to the snow melting away. That's when my uncle suggested that we go with him and my mother on another trail that had a few hills and just turn around before it turned into the most difficult trial. Chancho felt up to it so that's what we did. He fell on each of the hills, but it seemed as though he was getting the hang of it, that's when we stood at the beginning of the most difficult hill. It was a straight climb up a hill. We had a decision to make, go for it or turn back. Another skier came by and looked at it and then turned around. That did not deter Chancho though. He wanted to do it, so up we went. We climbed up the first hill, no problem. Skied down the first hill, made it successfully. Climbing up the second hill, not so easy. My uncle made it up, but with a struggle. Then followed my mother. She face planted, then rolled over onto her back and her ski's were up in the air. I started laughing hysterically, which in turn made me fall. I slide down a few feet towards Chancho. As Chancho witnessed all the falling he thought it best to choose a different route, off the trail. His ski got caught in some bushes and down he went. There were all three of us rolling on the hill laughing at one another. Once we gathered ourselves and made it up the hill we reached the top of the most difficult down hill of the park. My uncle, who is experienced, decided to walk half way down and then ski it, I followed him. My mom and Chancho walked it to the bottom. It was very icy and steep. At the bottom of it was a tree and if you didn't turn, you would hit it or if you missed the tree, you would fall into a rock wall. Luckily, we all made it out just fine. Chancho smiling and feeling accomplished. He finished his first Cross Country Ski trip without injury and only a few falls. I of course had the camera ready just for those great moments. I really had such a great time.

Quote of the Day: "Love isn't about the romantic nights or gifts. It isn't about fireworks going off around you when you have that first, real, kiss. Love isn't about kissing in the rain and dancing beneath the stars. It isn't about the big moments or the big surprises. Love is not a fairytale. Love is about still having the butterflies after years. It's about the second looks and laying in bed wide awake, all night, because you can't go to sleep mad at each other. It's about being willing to sacrifice, literally, everything for someone, just because you care so deeply for them. It's not about buying them gifts, but it's about leaving them little presents here and there, just to remind them that you are constantly thinking about them. Love is about all of the little things, that add up to really big things. Love is rare and special, but should not be treated as if it will break. Love needs to be thrown around and beat up a little bit, worn in, but not worn down. Love needs to be a comfortable feeling, a place to go when NO ONE else in the world can relate. A safe place, where you know that no matter how ugly you look or how angry you are, you will still be... loved."