The "pretend Sanju"

Yesterday we went skiing with Melina at Teacup Lake, and while we were in the warming cabin we met up with Melina's preschool friend Sanju. Melina was in a pretty bad mood, but I was surprised that she wasn't more friendly to Sanju and that they didn't seem to want to play with each other. In fact, they both seemed really shy and surprised to see each other out of context.

Later, in the car, Melina said that that was the pretend Sanju. Because obviously the real Sanju lives at the preschool and never goes anywhere else! This would explain the reticence. It's funny how preschoolers find ways to explain new situations. I wonder what will happen when Sanju tells Melina she went skiing yesterday!

Speaking of skiing, yesterday was one of our most difficult ski outings with Melina. She was grumpy, and it was unusually cold - around 19 or 20 degrees. We bought handwarmers and toe warmers for her, but the handwarmers were "uncomftible" so she kept trying to take off her mittens. No matter how many times we explained that her hands would get cold if she took off her mittens, off they came. Finally she resorted to holding the handwarmers and keeping her hands inside her sleeves.

Toddler mittens are a big pain in the neck. To be insulated enough, they must be so bulky that the kid can't grip anything well, including ski poles. Melina always has to have her ski poles, but she can't hold them with mittens on, so there's no way we can win. And then when she is in a good mood and her hands are warm, she entertains herself by trying to clear all the snow off the trail (good luck) or stopping every 10 seconds to clean the snow off the top of her skis. This is especially fun - and exasperating - when it's snowing hard.

Meanwhile, we are continually passed by five- and six-year-olds who are already adept at skiing. So apparently it does pay off, but this has to be the hardest year!