Note: This is also linked at Mile High Mamas – check it out!
As we started our family ski weekend, the kids couldn’t contain their excitement, and were ready to go first thing in the morning! I still hadn’t had my coffee, but their enthusiasm perked us all up for our day with Epic SchoolKids. We planned a ski weekend and experienced all the mountain has to offer for families, and I learned a few things too! For example, did you know that the Epic SchoolKids program offers 16 free ski days for kids in grades K-5th Grade at four Colorado resorts (4 days each): Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail and Beaver Creek? Their website also discusses FAQs on free lessons for first time skiers. Check out epicpass.com/ColoradoKids for updates. The instructions for getting the kids signed up are all here, and are super easy, if you have not done it yet. We had so much fun, here’s a short video, but you can check out the full one at this link or it is embedded below.
Epic School Kids Keystone 2017 from Deadline Motion Works on Vimeo.
On the day of our epic ski adventure, it was super easy to get both kids registered and fitted for
equipment for lessons. From the moment we walked towards the ski school, until we picked them up, my husband and I both commented what a well-oiled and organized machine Keystone Ski and Ride School is. Our eldest wanted to try snowboarding and was a first time snowboarder. She had a blast! She said after a couple more lessons, she will be a boarder.
For my military readers, the Liberty Pass is available through Snow.Com at snow.com/epic-pass/military, and offers the best deal to our military and their families. You can check with your local ITT office or call the resort.
My husband
and I also reconnected while the kids took their lessons. We hadn’t skied together like this in several years! After lessons, and lunch (included for the kids with their lessons), we skied the terrain together as a family. It was fun, and we could not keep up with the kids. They are way too fast for us! Long ski runs at Keystone made for a tired and exhausted family at the end of the day, so be prepared for worn out kiddos and adults!
Since our family was at Keystone, we loved eating at the top of the Summit, and enjoyed some breathtaking views. We also explored other parts of Keystone Resort, including tubing for the first time! Our kids didn’t want to stop tubing, and our little daredevil, our youngest, wanted to keep going even after 
her one hour was up with the tube. Check height requirements, and make sure to bring soft-sided boots (not ski boots), and you can even go down tubing as a group! The kids also crawled through and enjoyed the mountaintop snow fort. I took the gondola down because I was completely wiped but my little skier wanted to ski down with daddy.
If you are planning a family ski weekend, and want to avoid the I-70 traffic to/from Denver in both directions, which is quite stressful for all, check out lodging specials. We really enjoyed relaxing the night before the big ski day adventure in our condo, and regrouping again after our epic ski day. The private condo unit, not affiliated with Epic SchoolKids, was a short walk to Mountain House and ski school and made our lives easier with equipment, the kids, and the fatigue that set in after all the fun we had. But, it is nice to
have a property close b
y to eat, change clothes (it was
pretty hot when we went, so de-layering was a must), or just relax for a bit in the jetted hot tubs. I find that staying an overnight or two truly makes the epic adventure complete. All in all, our family had a successful, fun trip, and we loved everyone we met.
We reconnected as a family, did something
new, and shared lots of laughs before returning to reality. The kids’ final comment on our drive home said it all, “when can we do that again? I hope soon.” That was nice to hear, rather than hearing, “are we there yet?!”
Epic School Kids Ratna from Deadline Motion Works on Vimeo.
Required Disclosure: I was selected to blog and promote the Epic SchoolKids program on behalf of Vail Resorts, in exchange for a post and social media promotion. Our family received compensation in-kind. The opinions expressed here are my own, unbiased, and not attributed to Vail Resorts.
en Disney On Ice presents Dream Big, now at the Denver Coliseum through April 9.
My oldest picked an angel nutcracker, as you can see from the picture and there was also one Clara nutcracker left, but my youngest really wanted a soldier. She calmly and quietly said, “I want a soldier, but I want a clear faced one, not brown-faced.” I couldn’t help but look around, considering I am and they are Indian-American. At that moment, their mommy became a whopping mixture of both brown and red-faced. No one heard, but I couldn’t help but wonder where I failed as a parent that my child wanted a white nutcracker; a child, mind you who was born a month after the Obamas entered the White House and hasn’t seen any other President yet in her short lifetime.
It made me realize that no matter how innocent kids truly are, they perceive things through activities, shows and such, and what we expose them to. The American girl episodes do not help either with its cast of characters, or the TV shows they watch from time to time. Everyone is “clear-faced.” Children certainly don’t intend to discriminate in the same illegal manner that adults may, but they distinguish attractiveness based on what they see and experience, and TV and movies are a huge part of this. My sweet young daughter was embarrassed about what happened, so I don’t force the issue any longer, but when possible, try to show her things I think will help her self-image, and perception of the world around her. Ironically, as we checked out at Target, the people magazine cover struck me and my daughter smiled too as I showed it to her, but she was indeed embarrassed about her innocent comment earlier. Black or white, it does not matter, but I hope we can see past race some day in their lifetimes. Judging from who was elected President recently, his appointees and what he proclaims to stand for, I say we have a long ways to go.
Ahh… it’s that time again. Happy Veteran’s Day and thanks for your service. On Nov 11 and some places like Bed, Bath & Beyond are offering deals for Nov 10-13. Check it out. If you know of more places, please share.
