4 Turtle Doves: Winter

Christmas came upon us way too fast, then I blinked and it was over. The tree put away and January was ushered in by Influenza A. One (of the many) hard parts of having four kids is that when one gets sick you just know that it's going to hit the others, but you aren't sure when it will hit. Molly got knocked down by the flu and I prayed, washed hands like crazy, kept her away from the others, and was optimistic when a week went by and no one else got sick! Then two weeks went by and we are avoiding the dreaded 'flu.' Molly still coughs and blows her nose, but no one else was hit...yet! You see, I thought it would be a great idea to help pass the long winter by joining the gym. The little's would enjoy the play area and the pool and I would get some needed 'run' time done. According to the Pediatrician the Gym Daycare is the worst place in town to drop your kids. Sick kids and healthy kids get stuck together and it's a breeding spot for the transfer of germs. When Heidi came down with a fever and refused to eat and tested positive for Influenza two weeks after Molly was sick...well, that means we didn't get sick from sister, but from the Gym daycare! Great! I swear a mother can do absolutely NOTHING without feeling a tinge of guilt. The month of January was spent quarantined in the house, recovering and keeping our germs to ourselves.

The weather in Nebraska is not conducive to helping high energy boys burn their energy. The 1 hours indoor Soccer game on Saturday wasn't enough to keep Grant from bouncing off the walls, couch, and his little brother. So, we forced him into wrestling! It's what the Zeleny boys do, wrestle. And to this mom it seemed like a logical choice to help keep the peace in the house.

January means "dance" at our house. The dance world is pretty quiet in the Fall/early Winter. I think I managed to go into the studio about 2x over 6 months with the amazing carpool set-up I have this year! If I wasn't friends with one of the dance teachers I would have no clue what was happening in the world of Nebraska Dance, who I am kidding, Molly tells me everything! I don't need to go into the studio to hear all the details! It's a win-win for me! (that place is loud, chaotic, and filled with too many people).

Then February came and it was time to load the van to the bursting point and strap in for the 9 hour car ride to Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, Colorado! Mom's Birthday would be spent in the mountains. It was the first Ski Trip as Family and it went much better then I assumed it would.

Austin and Heidi seemed to understand the 'vacation' idea. They were excited by the change of scenery as I they explored the condo we rented and quietly looked out the windows at the mountains and all the snow! Heidi is definitely the most adaptable in the Family. She has a "go with the flow" attitude that must be the criteria for the baby of four. Austin, he doesn't have any characteristics remotely close to "go with the flow." The boy does NOT do well with change!

Austin is somewhat excited about skiing. Actually he is excited that he gets to be apart of everything the older kids are doing, and not lumped in with Heidi, who he sees as a 'baby.' The fact that he would be going down a mountain on mini sleds didn't sink in until we dropped him off at Ski School...and I left!

Molly and Grant are in their element in the mountains! They LOVE everything about snow skiing. Being on the slopes with them is a great experience for Don and I as we get to spend hours seriously enjoying them. There isn't tattling on the mountain, or arguing, there isn't telling them how to behave, there isn't attitudes or raised voices. We all legitimately enjoy each other! And for this reason we will spend a week every winter in the mountains!

And when Austin and Heidi are a few years older we will put them in Ski School together! Because, nobody wants to be dropped off on the side of a mountain to learn something all by themselves! Austin is no idiot! He lasted three hours in ski school and refused to do any more! He wanted to be with his sister...his little sister! Isn't that what vacations are all about...being together!