B.A.B.E. Week 36: Ski trip tips

Here we are in Utah -- where I am from and where Wilson loves to ski.  So we are making the best of both -- seeing family and hanging out at ski resorts.  

Wilson has now skied at Alta, Brighton, Solitude and Snowbird on this trip and Elle and I were with him for the first three.   For the first three (and tomorrow),  we head up to the resort as a family and set up a base camp in the lodge.   At the base camp, one of us watches Elle while the other one grabs some turns on the slopes.   And despite snowy boots and the loud cacophony of skiers enjoying their day, so far our system has worked pretty well.   So I've developed some "tips" if anyone else chooses to do the family ski day with a baby.

1. Plan to buy some sort of food items.  Usually the best places at ski lodges are also the places that serves as restaurants/cafeterias.  Thus, if you want to be warmly welcomed by the staff, plan to buy some food and leave on your table for the duration of the day.   That way, you are paying customer who just happens to have blankets spread on the floor by the table.
   
2. Bring multiple blankets.  You need a couple of blankets for your sweet one to roll around on, sleep on, play on, etc.  And then you need a blanket or two to throw on top if your sweet one does take a nap in the middle of the noise.   Also, blankets (rather than just ski coats/suits) are very handy because it is easy to take them on and off when the temperatures in ski lodges vary widely.
3. Bring toys and books (especially books).  While I am a big fan of letting your child explore and play with non-toy items (like oranges), it is nice to have some actual toys.  Especially if that toy is one your child uses to soothe with.   I also think that books have been particularly handy because it is a great time to be fully focused on your babe and read books to him/her.
4. Find a corner.    A corner helps to keep both your blankets and babe out of the way but also to afford a little extra quiet to the babe to sleep.
   
5. Try to fit all your stuff into minimal bags.   With skiing alone, you have a ton of stuff: boots, goggles, gloves, helmets, skis, etc.  With a baby, you usually have a lot of stuff as well.   Thus combined, it feels like a mountain that you have to schlep from place to place.  Thus, we found that if we put almost everything into a huge black bag and also brought a ski bag that fit both sets of skis and poles, then Wilson could carry all that stuff while I focused on Elle (keeping her warm and safe from the car to our final destination).