Exchange Ski Weekend

**Revised 12/21 to add Jess thong photo**

The kids have really been looking forward to this. All the exchange families, and Aussies got together this weekend for a trip to Winter Park. We all stayed in this huge lodge that we had all to ourselves at the YMCA of the Rockies. We traveled up Friday night and pasted through Frasier, Colorado the Nations Icebox. Frasier gets this title since it is one of coldest places in the US on a continuing basis. As we drove by the truck temperature gauge was registering -10F (-23C). When we got out of the truck Jess, as usual, was wearing thongs on her feet (no Americans, not underwear; flipflops) and she remarked that "...it didn't seem that cold out". WOW! I think that's the first time Jess uttered those words the whole time she's been here. Must be that warm letter jacket she won't take off.

The next day most everyone skied and snowboarded at Winter Park, and some of the Aussies took lessons. Everyone had a pretty good time although some spent more time on the ground than others. Once again, Jess managed to crash on her already injured backside, and it was a bad scene there for a while. I think she must have bruised the tailbone, but it's hard to keep her down for long.

Back at the lodge the kids exchanged gifts, and watched a DVD of their parents, and friends from back home. I was a video complete with "Santa" (yeah Andrew, we know who you are), and some re-written christmas carols, but good fun.

Next day we went to the Frasier tubing hill. Everyone took turns riding innertubes down a steep snow hill; even the parents. We were encouraging Jess not to ride for fear her bum might be further injured, but the other kids "determined" that she could do it safely. We insisted she go on her stomach, and this proved a wise move as the very next time down one of the other Aussie's smacked her bum on a bad ice bump, and was out of action. Did I mention winter sports can be hazardous?

Overall everybody had a good time and, compared to previous years when someone has tradionally broken a limb, we came away with relatively minor injures. Sorry...almost forgot...Cathy twisted her thumb, but it's really turning a lovely shade of blue.