Snow. Sun. Ski. Repeat!

Look at this beautiful snow bunny of mine.  Sweet.

We just got back from our first family vacation in The Alps.  Praz de Lys, France to be exact.

Ok, so I must be totally honest.  I wasn't necessarily looking forward to this ski trip.  I know.  Ridiculous, right?  Let me explain.

I'm from Michigan.  The place where people LEAVE in February to find sun and warmth somewhere south of the Mason Dixon.

I am familiar with snow.  I am familiar with cold winters.  I have skied before, and in true spirit of trying things before criticizing them, I knew I could honorably say that skiing is not my favorite sport.

So, when Arnaud's family invited us to spend a week with them in The Alps, I was happy for our kids to spend more time with their cousins, but as for me?  I was less than thrilled.  After a loooong winter in Holland, I have been so missing warmth and sunshine that I was more ready to book a holiday (as they call it here in Europe) in Dubai or anywhere close to the equator.

Then, this happened:

Have a little vegetable soup

Say Fromage!

Mila

Rémi is under there somewhere 

Vin chaud

On skis at the base of the slope

Top of the slope w/ my honey.  His coffee, my vin chaud!

The boxes that our rented fondue sets came in

Mila's wearing her Ecole Ski Francais metal with pride

Rémster and his badge

The week brought us tons of family time, lots and lots of skiing, warm sun and copious amounts of cheese, charcuterie and vin chaud that the French Alps ooze.

Lessons come from everywhere, I think.  Just as I was reminding Mila and Rémi that their dreaded daily ski lessons would "surprise them" and that sometimes the things in life that scare you the most end up being your best memories, I was having a little epiphany of my own.