It's HOT here but c~o~l~d at SKI DUBAI!

Jetlag has slowed us down a bit but we wanted to take advantage of Jake's time off for Eid al Fitr (end of Ramadan) so what else should we do when it's 111 degrees outside?  We've never been to Ski Dubai so decided this might be a good time.  So off we went!

We were a bit concerned it would be crowded on a religious holiday but my theory that most people would be celebrating with family on the first day seemed to hold somewhat true and it wasn't too busy to schedule ski lessons for the girls.  In fact, the classes weren't even full and they had two instructors for just four kids in their classes.  You can get a lift ticket, do the snow park (inner tubing, sledding, roll down the hill in giant inflated balls, etc.) or do ski lessons.  We opted for ski lessons for the girls as we are thinking about doing an Alps ski trip this Christmas.

They were all pretty game for the whole experience - which was big because they aren't often game for new and uncertain physical activities!  Suiting up took a good 1/2 hour and they all marched off to their lessons just fine.  Anna looked like a stuffed Pillsbury dough boy - but one with a smile on her face.

Jake and I were fortunately to get a table at the window of a restaurant overlooking the ski area so we thoroughly enjoyed seeing them in action.  Anna and Meredith were in one class and Jane and Regan were in another.  We couldn't see Regan and Jane for much of the lesson but we got to see Meredith and Anna walk around in a circle trying to get used to being on skis.  They looked very cute!

At the end of the lessons we were able to see them come down the learner slope.  Regan and Jane did great.  They really only learned the "pizza wedge" but they were clearly having a good time and eagerly hopped on the "lift" which was like a little escalator that took them back up.  Regan was willing to get out of the wedge to see if she could go a little faster.  They are at such a great age to learn to ski and they clearly loved it.

Meredith's instructor helped her down the first 1/2 of the hill and she made it down the rest on her own. She did great, too - still a little unsure but happy to give it a whirl.  Watching Anna was hysterical!  She was the tiniest one (of only 4) in the class (with two instructors) but obviously had no ability to control herself at all.  One of her instructors got her down the hill by letting Anna ski in between his legs.  He left her at the bottom of the hill and she was basically stranded there with arms sticking out straight until someone fetched her at the end.  She was adorable!  I don't think she loved it though but she had a good attitude about the whole thing.  She asked Meredith to make a snowball and she put it in her pocket and brought it to me after her lesson!

We definitely want to go back - to let the three big kids do more lessons (they have ski camp, too) but also to check out the fun snow park for some just plain fun.  It has gotten us thinking though - we're not sure if this is the right winter to take a family ski trip or if we should wait one more year until Anna is a year older.

But it is amazing that our kids can be having fun on the snow when it is unbearably hot outside.

All suited up and feeling good! 

Check out Anna's adorably short skis!  All the girls
are all ready for their lesson!

Regan's first time down the "big" ski school hill

The ski lift escalator.  That is Jane at the rear (green helmet)
and Regan is #2 (black helmet).  

Sweet Pillsbury dough boy Anna at the bottom of the hill -
she was just parked there for about 5 minutes while all
the other kids took another run to the top

Jane turned and stopped herself at the bottom - yay, Jane!