4 years 4 months 22 days

Day 1604. This morning it was Emmy who was up before the alarm went off at 7:30. Tammy was already in our bed, but Emmy came over in the morning and kept asking when the alarm would go off. Then he was excited to get up. Tammy was fast asleep, and I woke her up trying to dress her. Then we went downstairs for breakfast.

Everybody found something they liked. Then Emmy and Tammy ran off to go play. After the rest of us were done eating, I went to join them in the playroom with Sammy, while Randy went to our room. I let them play until 8:45, then we went to the room. And that's when the "I don't want to go skiing" whining started.

And not just whining. They tried to keep me from putting their skiing clothes on them, but I just continued dressing them anyway. Randy was also dressing Sammy, so they could come along, as Sammy is crying for me the whole time waiting for me at the hotel. I went downstairs with the two so they would not be hot inside the hotel, and we waited right outside the entrance of the hotel, where those two hedgehogs are standing. Once Randy and Sammy arrived, we walked to the bus stop. We were early, but Tammy and Emmy were playing with the snow there again. Sammy was already cranky and crying, but he did not want to stay at the hotel with Daddy.

The bus arrived at 9:25, and we rode it to the skiing resort, which was not very far. Then we walked up to the ski school area. We walked straight to the hut, where they had their ski boots. We put them on, then walked back down. I went into the room to get their skis, but they were not there. I ended up talking to the boss, who said they were not anywhere there. So I called the hotel and found out that they had taken the skis back to the hotel yesterday, where they still were. Thankfully they offered to bring the skis to us, and a few minutes later they already arrived with them. Thank God! Randy had gone to the parking lot to get the skis, but the guy had taken a different route, and so Randy was still there. I was holding Sammy the whole time, and he's heavy now. I tried calling Randy, but he never hears his phone. Tammy and Emmy are in different groups now, Tammy being in the group with the kids that can ski better, and I gave them their skis once they arrived. Tammy's group went off right away to go up the bigger hill, while Emmy's group was still doing a quick round with the parachute. I wanted to see Tammy ski down the big hill, but I was also aware of the time and the bus at 10:15 that we needed to catch. And with Randy not there, I had to be the one carrying Sammy all the way down. I started walking, but saw Tammy's group coming down the hill. I took a picture, but I was too far away to make out which kid was Tammy. In any case I'm proud she went down there. And later today Emmy's group also went up that same hill. Hopefully I can take some pictures tomorrow.

Sammy had been crying the whole time, pretty much, just calming down briefly, when I put in the effort. Once we reached the parking lot, I shouted for Randy, and he joined us, and together we went to the bus stop and rode the bus to the hotel.

I then ended up with Sammy in the playroom, while Randy went to the grocery store to buy batteries for Sammy's favorite toy. Once he returned, Randy went to our room, while I stayed with Sammy. I was waiting for 12:30 to come around, which is when the kids were coming back. As that time was getting closer, Randy came downstairs and went to the open fire room with Sammy, while I went to the entrance they were gonna come through. Little did I know that I still had to wait for such a long time. But then there they were, and they were happy to see me. I asked them about their day, and they told me how they had gone up the big hill.

We took all their clothes off and let them go play, and then eat with the other children. Randy and I ordered some food and sat down with Sammy, who also got a plate of kids' food. That meal for children at lunch time is included in the package. After Randy, Sammy and I had eaten, we went to the playroom as well. All three kids were playing there and having lots of fun. At 2:30 I went to the room with Sammy, as I was really tired, and left the other two kids there.  Randy was already in the room resting. We then stayed in the room for about half an hour, then I went back downstairs with Sammy.

At 3 pm they started doing crafts, and today they were making masks. Tammy made two of them in the course of the afternoon. She also did some coloring. Emmy was playing with another boy, which was great to see. They were all having fun. Then I suggested we'd go swimming, and so we all went to the room to get dressed. Then we went to the pool.

There was only one other family in the water, when we got there. The kids started having fun, and all three had lots of fun. Tammy and Emmy now love jumping into the water, and they also had their diving goggles that they used. We were playing for quite some time, then left and returned to our room.

After everyone was dressed again, we all went back downstairs to the playroom. I lay down on a mat with pillows, because I was so tired, and Randy then put Sammy next to me. And surprisingly Sammy fell asleep, as did I. We both needed it. After we were back up, Randy returned to the room to get some rest, while I stayed downstairs with all the kids. There was still some time until dinner, but they were getting bored. I then got a board game out that I played with Tammy and Emmy. Then they wanted to play another one. Randy returned, and they were all still playing until we left at 6 pm to go have dinner.

And then there was more drama, as Tammy had already had a fit in the play area. Now the reason was that she didn't like any of the food on the kids' buffet. There were hamburger  patties with mashed potatoes, as well as tortellini with a white sauce. Emmy had some of everything and ate it. Sammy did too. Then Tammy liked the soup and ate some of it. But that was not enough food. She wanted ice-cream and had a fit, when I said she first needed to eat some real food. She then ended up eating a piece of bread, then I let her have the ice-cream. Emmy was already gone, as they had a playtime evening tonight, and so Tammy didn't finish her ice-cream, because she wanted to go join her brother. The three of us remained. We adults finished our food, then it was time for dessert. Emmy and Tammy returned to have some chocolate cake, then went back to the playroom. Once we were all done, we went to get them and returned to our room.

We started getting them ready for bed right away, then I put them to bed and prayed over them. Tammy and Emmy wanted a story, so I read one, then it was time to go to sleep. Sammy fell asleep quickly, and so did the other two. I turned my computer on and started working on today's pictures. Randy soon went to bed, and now it's 11:30 pm and my turn to go to bed. Half our vacation is already over.