How to Not Ski in Japan

I am unable to ski this year due to my knee incident in Vietnam (can you hear the sadness in my voice -- not). So I decided to be a good mom and wife and go along to "watch". As usual, things in Japan aren't always how we thought they would be. 

So how do you go and just watch?

1. Get up at 4 am, pack, and load car.
2. Depart at 4:45 am.
3. Drive 2 hours without any issues.
4. Hit toll booth where the ETC lane needs shoveled clear so it takes 15 minutes to pay ¥300 in the one lane open.
5. Drive 1/2 way up a snowy mountain while it snows the biggest flakes Alexis has ever seen.
6. Stop and put on tire chains.
7. Drive 1/4 way up mountain until you reach a car that is stopped in the middle of the one lane mountain road.
8. Spin around and slide back down 1/4 way of mountain.
9. Try again to make it up the mountain.
10. Finally reach the top where there are several huts with ski rentals. NO lodge in sight.
11. Everyone puts on their ski gear, except for Alexis who has none as she was NOT skiing due to her knee injury.
12. Load Alexis, in jeans, crappy gloves, Uggs and no hat, onto a ski lift along with a 10 pound backpack and camera case.
13. Son calms Alexis down, who is deathly afraid of heights, on the 20 minute ski lift ride.
14. Ski lift drops everyone off in the middle of a mountain, with no lodge in sight.
15. Alexis walks through 8 foot snow to a series of buildings carrying 10 pound backpack and camera bag, while wearing jeans, crappy gloves, Uggs and no hat.
16. Said buildings contain tables, approximately 500 Japanese children and someone’s kitchen.
17. While sitting in building Alexis cannot see nor have any idea where her husband, 11 year old and 7 year old are. Camera will remain in bag.
18. Alexis may return home after the spring thaw, as she is not going back down that ski lift.

Highlight of the trip:  The building has free Internet.
Moral of the story:  Be a crappy mom and wife and JUST STAY HOME.

Skiing in Japan

My idea of a perfect weekend or vacation is soaking up the warm sun rays, in minimal clothing, while engrossing myself in a good book. My husband's idea of the perfect trip is flying down a cold, snowy mountain with your feet attached to two skinny pieces of plastic. You can probably guess who wins from pictures of all our past vacations.

Matt has really been hoping that at the ripe age of 35 I would suddenly develop a love for skiing. I have to admit, the slopes here are beautiful, but as Diana Ross loved to sing there "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" to make me want to play in the cold, wet, snow all day long.

Skiing is a popular activity in Japan. And unlike almost everything else, it is actually decently priced. It doesn't actually snow where we live, so you have to drive at least 3 hours to find decent skiing.  Matt loves when the weather turns colder and he can head North and hit the slopes. Last year we took a family trip to Gifu, where Sami learned to ski. This year, thanks to my knee injury, there will be no skiing in my near future. (Can you sense my disappointment?) So this month I stayed home with Sami since she isn't ready to brave the slopes alone quite yet, and Matt and the other two kids took a few day ski trips to Hachi Kita.

This year, Chris and Matt traded their skis in for a snowboard, and surprisingly they did very well. In fact, Chris is way better at snowboarding than skiing. We have a store nearby that sells lots of used ski and snowboard equipment so both were able to find themselves some good, cheap gear. Emily wasn't quite ready to trade her skis in, but she is planning to next weekend when she goes to Fuki Ski Jam with her two friends.

Matt, Chris, Emily and our neighbor Maggie getting ready to brave the slopes

 Beautiful mountains

 Emily and Chris on the slopes

 Chris and his gear

 Chris trying to be cool

Emily & Maggie

 Matt & Chris on the chairlift. As you can see it is really snowing.

I think Sami was feeling a bit left out of all the fun, so Matt helped her practice the proper ski look at home. 

Walking In a Winter Wonderland

Yesterday we were bracing for the "biggest snowfall in 4 years". At first a winter storm warning was issued for 2-4 inches and in some places maybe even 6 inches. Heck even Wilmington real estate was calling for some type of snow. Then it was downgraded to 1-3 inches. In the end all we got was a dusting. But in anticipation everything shut down. Chris's basketball game was canceled yesterday and church, Youth group and Awana's are all canceled for today. I even put flannel sheets on my bed to give us the more winter feel.

The kids were excited in hopes of seeing some real snow. In the end it didn't amount to much, but we still managed to have a mini snowball fight. I told them we still have lots of winter left for snow, but considering it will be 60 this weekend I somehow don't see it happening any time soon.

The snow started falling around 3:30 pm.
The snow was more slush than actual snow. But it looks cool in pictures.
The same railing around 8 pm. Cool, huh?
Our yard this morning when we woke up. The kids had hopes to waking up to a completely covered ground and building a snowman. Yep, not even close.

Swim Fun

The kids have had a blast swimming in the indoor and yes, even the outdoor (don't worry mom, it's heated) pool. Tomorrow we are hoping to hit the beach for a while.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

Hard to believe it is only 41 degrees outside right now. But hey. I'm at the beach... so who cares. Okay not totally true. I do want it to be a bit warmer than the 57 expected today, after all I am at the beach.

We have a 10th floor oceanfront room at the place we stayed last night (we are going to our condo tonight). It makes for a relaxing morning when you can watch the sun rise up over the ocean.