I love it when a plan comes together

This week is not one of those times.

We had Maddie all signed up for ski school. She would learn with other kids and Skip would go snowboard and I would enjoy all the relaxing ammenities our hotel had to offer. It was a great plan. Unfortunately, ski school caused Maddie to have a massive meltdown. Even after we left her in the hands of really great English-speaking instructors, when we came back to check on her, she was sitting by herself refusing to participate. Never really got to the root of the problem except for the fact that there were no other English-speaking kids there. Maddie could have easily hung with the German, but for some reason it made her uncomfortable to be the different one.

So there we were on the first day of week long ski vacation with a seven-year-old who didn't want to ski. Ugggg. In a desperate move, I offered to take the lessons with her and she liked that idea. (For those of you thinking that we spoil this child terribly, you are right. But we've paid too much for this vacation to take the hard line on this particular week) So yesterday, I rented the skis, too and we met for two hours with Michael, our very patient English-speaking, college student ski instructor. We both did very well. I have never skied before--only snowboarded. We will meet with Michael again today. And while Maddie really is doing well, I have doubts that we will be able to convince her to go beyond the bunny slope. When you progress to the next lift, it goes so high you can't see where it lets off, and she's not terribly thrilled about that.

After our lesson and Skip's time on the slopes on his snowboard, we hit the pool/solarium area. The pool is for all ages, but the solarium is for adults only. There are two saunas, a steam room, a Kneipp pool (which is this icy cold water wading pool developed by Dr. Kneipp) and a salt-rock grotto. While Maddie and Skip played in the swimming pool, I hit the solarium. It might have been a little more relaxing had I not been the only one wearing a swim suit or a towel. It was a very co-ed, very naked place. By the time the sauna was filled with me and three naked men, I was ready to get out. It was even more fun to see those same men at dinner later. I thought that maybe next time I would be more comfortable if I was naked too, but it was a fleeting thought. Just can't do it.

We pay by the hour for internet usage in the room and I only have one hour this morning and have promised Maddie a little play time on-line before we meet Michael for our second lesson.