Snowy Days

Blogging has not been high on my to-do list this past year, but I'm back now. I was looking through all the photos we took over the last year, and there are so many which have such special meaning. As I've said before when I first started this blog, it's not only a way for us to keep "in touch" with family and friends, but it's also a "picture library" for Ryan and Mia. So I will try to keep my updates more regular and hopefully regain my enthusiasm for blogging.

The kids are growing up so quickly. Our big baby will be turning 7 in a month's time and our little baby will be 4 at the end of the year. Each day continues to be filled with surprises, frustrations and challenges but every night as I look at them while they sleep, I am reminded of just how lucky we are to have been blessed with these two amazing little beings. But of course that doesn't stop the screaming (by Mama) when homework's not finished or toys not put away!

We recently spent a week in Niseko over the Easter holidays. Japan had an amazing ski season this year. The official end of the season in Niseko was 8 May so when we called to book our holiday for April, Shad and I were quite worried that we would either have very little snow or icy slopes. But when we got there, the slopes were amazing. There was about 10-15cm snow fall each night and the snow on the ski slopes was so powdery. The roads in the Village were often covered with snow. Ryan and Mia absolutely loved our nightly walks out to restaurants for dinner. We practically had to drag Ryan away from playing with the snow on the ground and along the embankments.

We stayed in a very comfortable one bedroom apartment in Hirafu and the kids loved having all the extra space to run around and play. 

Our cosy apartment in Alpen Lodge

Gearing up 

Day 1 at Tic Tac Kids' Club... leading the pack

All kitted up but unfortunately still too little to ride the slopes

So we had to settle for snow ball fights

and snow angels 

R and M bunked together for the first time and loved it 

Since Mia couldn't go to ski school, Shad and I took turns staying with her while the other went skiing. Today it was Daddy's turn to ski, so Mia and I went and did a little exploring. We took a bus to the Grand Hirafu Resort to check out the kids' park.

Waiting for our ride

We found some snow caves 

And discovered how much fun tubing was (or "tuting" as Mia calls it!)

Guess what else we found out in the snow? :)

Welcoming the skiers home

Our evening routine...pre-dinner snacks and drinks while watching tv

Starving kids 

Mia loved the idea of having Shad all to herself for a day, just her "hanging out with Daddy". They had a big discussion about all the fun things they would do. The morning started off with snow play which then led to hot chocolate while watching her favourite show, Tinkerbell at the Vale Bar & Grill, followed by a long nap in Daddy's arms. After that it was a walk to the shops to buy toys then lunch, and back to the VBG for ice-cream before coming out to meet the skiers as we skied home. Talk about the dream day for a 3 year old! 

Of all the luck, my first day of skiing turned out to be on the day a typhoon-strength storm blew over Hokkaido. The winds were so strong that only two chair lifts were operating that day. Still, it was good to get out onto the slopes. However, by lunch time my hands and feet were freezing and the constant wind and snow blowing into my face was becoming unpleasant. Thank goodness the instructor decided to call it a day by mid-afternoon!

Mini Mia bob sledder

Back inside all warm and cosy

Freezing cold, strong winds and heavy snow fall, yet Ryan kept insisting on going up "one last time"

Out on our nightly after-dinner walk to Seico-Mart to pick up dessert and snacks

Today was family day. The initial plan was to take a day trip to either Sapporo or Otaru but the thought of a 2-3 hour train ride with two bored and cranky kids quickly dispelled that idea. Since Ryan had been asking to go tobogganing and tubing after hearing all about it from Mia, we took them down to the Hirafu Kids' Park instead.

Ryan was so tickled when he saw these triangle wheels

Creepy crawlers coming through a snow tunnel

Ice sliders

Doughnut fillers

Mount Yotei which is often shielded by clouds made a rare appearance that day 

It was such a beautiful day after the storm blew over, blue skies and fresh snow, that it would have been a waste not to ski so after a quick lunch Shad took Ryan out on the slopes. It's really amazing how quickly Ryan picked up skiing. This was only our second ski trip and already he was coming down pretty steep runs, skiing through trees and jumping off little bumps. He just loved every minute of it.

The Ngam men downhill race team

Hot chocolate, just perfect for warming up 

Fueled and ready to ski back down to the bottom

Yakiniku dinner, Ryan polished off half of our entire dinner

Both kids loved walking through the snow to get home from dinner each night

Today's girls' day-out was all about full tummies and relaxed bodies. First stop was Hilton Hotel's Japanese restaurant for brunch. My snow crab legs chirashizushi was delicious but I would have just as happily eaten Mia's tonkatsu set. 

Someone lurved the corn soup

Tonkatsu for Mia

Snow crab chirashizushi for Mama

Next stop, the onsen. We only spent about half an hour in the onsen itself because this little girl kept going in and out, in and out, telling me "Mama, it's too hot". But she absolutely loved sitting on those tiny wooden stools while showering herself. 

That wash cloth was the perfect sized towel for this little Missy

Who would have thought a hot bath could be so tiring!

Dinner at Ebisu-tei izakaya

The weather was just perfect on our last day, and it was my turn to ski :). There was fresh snow on the slopes and the view coming down the slopes was just breathtaking. Even my seasoned instructor was amazed at the weather condition for this time of the year and kept saying, "wow" as we skied through powder snow all day.

Instructor to self: "It's faster for me to carry her skis than wait for her to 'skate' to the  door"

Hiro-san, he happened to be assigned to all three of us separately on different days

Not one to lose, R playing dirty trying to get to the finishing line first!

Seafood nabe to warm our tummies

Seven nights went by in a flash. The bus was scheduled to pick us up for the airport at 10am but Ryan still insisted on heading out for one last play in the snow. We were all very sad to leave. This was one of the loveliest family holidays we've been on.

What a treat! Jelly and ice-cream for breakfast (only because Mama was trying to clear out the fridge!)

The attacker(s)

The target

"Can we take him home?"