Belated snow fun

The Grodnik Nagle Ski Team spent MLK Jr weekend at a cabin on the ABR cross-country ski trails in Ironwood, Michigan. The area had finally gotten a belated dumping of snow, so the trails were groomed, the sky was blue and the surrounding trees were heavily frosted with white stuff. It felt good to get out of town and enjoy some great skiing! Kyle and I got out on skis and Sylvie enjoyed her first ride on snow in the Chariot. We stayed at a cabin with one of Kyle's colleagues, her husband and another couple and their two kids.

Kyle did the Sisu Half Marathon, and got first in his age group! He minimized the achievement by saying that all the serious skiers were doing the full marathon, but we were all psyched for him. Best of all, he skied the whole race with a small group, so had the fun of strategizing with them about when to push and when to draft.

TRACTOR LOYALTY
During dinner one night, the conversation topic struck me as a vast departure from anything I had ever experienced before and a reminder that I live in the Midwest, near farm country. Our cabin mates were discussing, in seriousness, which tractor color they were loyal to and why. Red = one company, blue = another, yellow = another and green = another. Prior to this conversation, I was only vaguely aware of tractor branding. A couple of them had grown up on dairy farms, and their family members had worked for one company or another, which had influenced them to this day in their choice of tractor.

TODDLERDOM
At 14.5 months, I feel confident in reporting that Sylvie has turned into a toddler. When I say this, I mean not only is she walking, but she has begun to embrace tantrums as a means of expression (protest). Her explosions are usually related to wanting to be held by me, but can often be set off by having to have her diaper changed, having something sparkly and interesting (usually sharp) taken away from her or just frustration at not being able to get something or go somewhere. Oftentimes there are no tears coming out of her eyes, but she is crying! Other times her cries will subside, but when you make eye contact with her, she will start up again! Who is this crying baby and where did our cooing, independent, happy girl go? I am telling myself that these episodes are a result of her being tired after daycare, that they are a phase that will pass quickly. But really, I have no idea. So far, toddlerdom has been a mixed bag.