Day 1969. Today Sammy was up pretty early, but we all got up before 8 am and went downstairs for breakfast. Emmy ate an omelet again and already announced he'll do so again tomorrow. Then we went to the room, where they put their ski gear on. Today Sammy wanted to come along, so we all went downstairs. Tammy and Emmy boot their ski boots on, then we got their skis. When the shuttle returned, we all got on the van. Sammy was excited to ride a car again.
On the bottom of the hill we got off. It was snowing hard, and I could tell right away that the snow conditions were wonderful. Tammy and Emmy wanted to show Daddy what they can do. As it was still early, they walked up the hill a little, then skied down. Then I found out that they were taking the gondola to go up the mountain today. Finally! As they were still waiting for two more kids, they first went up the little lift there and went down the hill.
Sammy was complaining that he was cold; he doesn't like the snow much. And so we got on the next shuttle back to the hotel. Back in the room, Sammy started playing and I eventually lay down for a much-needed nap.
Not long before noon my alarm went off. It was time to get up and go get the kids downstairs. They had just arrived. We took their ski boots to the room, then went to our room so they could get changed. Then we all went downstairs for lunch together.
We sat down by the window, then I left to go get food for three kids and myself. That takes quite some time. And when I finally get to sit down and start eating, one of the kids needs something else I have to get up to get for. When Emmy was done, he went over to the same table as yesterday, where the little girl had again taken a game to the table to play. When I was done eating, I took Tammy to the library so the two of us could play a game together. First, she played her concert piece for me, then we sat down to play. She'd found a good game that we played. Then Emmy joined us, and they picked out another game that we played. Then Randy and Sammy also arrived. Randy had to leave for something, and Sammy started playing with the door - his favorite activity. He even took off, but I got him back.
They start doing crafts in the kids' room at 1 pm every day. It was already later than that, so it was time to go there, as they wanted to join in today. It was monster today, so they each created a cute monster. Randy was playing with Sammy, and I left to go to the room for a nap.
I was woken up, when they returned and knocked at the door. Emmy had been asking me all day to go play Fußball with him, so the time had come. While the others stayed in the room, he and I went to the games room on the top floor and started playing. Last time, I had won which had frustrated him, so I told him that I'd let him win next time which motivated him. So today he had a great time, as I let him win. In the end he had 20 goals, while I had 18. He was a happy boy.
We returned to our room. They were building a snowman at 3 pm, but only Emmy wanted to do that. So he put his snow gear on, while the others didn't, then we all went downstairs for the afternoon cake and coffee. After we were done eating, Emmy and I went outside where all the kids were. When we got there, we found out that the kids had not been interested in building a snowman, so they weren't doing it. Emmy was disappointed at first, but then he grabbed the sled and started walking up the little incline and sledding down. He was having fun.
After a while we left and went to our room. It was time to go swimming, so we all put our bathing suits on and went to the pool. Once again we were all having fun in the pool. Emmy wanted to take his swim rings off to show me how he can swim. I encouraged him to do the right movements, the way they learned them in class, but he was struggling. Then Tammy did the same. I then encouraged them to put the swim rings back on. Sammy was also having lots of fun with me. He likes me chasing him in the water and then putting him on my shoulders and throwing him in.
At about 4:45 pm we left as Happy was coming back today, and I thought it was at 5 pm. We went to our room and got changed, then went downstairs to the kids' room. But there was no Happy, even though it was after 5 pm. We found out that he was coming at 5:30 pm. Tammy immediately went to go get a book for me to read to her, and I did. I gave Sammy the lion that makes noise as he enjoys that, while Emmy was climbing around. Randy hadn't been ready, so he was still on his way to us. Sammy was impatient to see Happy; he kept asking when he was coming.
At 5:30 pm there was a knock. It was Happy! Sammy was still a little scared, even though he was also excited. All the kids went to greet him, and I picked Sammy up and carried him over so he could also give him a High-Five, which he did. The teacher talked with Happy a little, then it was time for the dance. Randy was holding Sammy, and they were standing pretty close to Happy. Sammy was still a little cautious and watching Happy the whole time. After the dance, they talked some more, then it was time to say good-bye. As we still had a little time until dinner at 6 pm, we stayed and I read another book to Tammy and Emmy.
Then we went to dinner. Tonight they had a "gala dinner" for the adults. As always I first got the plates for the kids from the kids' buffet, then I got myself a salad. We had five courses tonight, and it was rather slow going. The first course neither one of us liked, then we got a soup, then icecream with champagne on top, then duck as the main course and a dessert. The kids were already done before 6:30 pm, and then ready to go back to the kids' program. Sammy stayed with us, and we had the task to keep him happy. By the time we were finally done with our last course, it was 7:45 pm. When we got to the kids' room, the bedtime story was nearly over. Then we went to our room.
It was time to get them ready for bed. I still read them a story from our book and prayed for them all. Soon they were all asleep. It was time for me to turn my computer on for the first time today, download the pictures, choose the best, edit them, upload them, then write my report. Now it's midnight and everyone has been long asleep. Time to join them.
