A "ski-trip" has been something we've been wanting to do with the kids around Christmas time for a couple of years now...But, dude...planning a trip around Christmas takes time! Which, of course, we often feel as though we don't have enough of between holiday obligations, gift buying, making...and other holiday fun. This year though we were determined to make it happen...our family Christmas gift...a trip to Lake Placid!
We told the kids ahead of time, because there was no way we would've been able to keep it a secret and because it was important for us that they knew this was part of their Christmas gifts. Plus, there were skis to rent, helmets, goggles, ski jackets and more...
Of course, once we booked the hotel and acquired the necessary goodies we sort of stopped the planning until the drive up...which didn't end up being too big of a deal actually. We chose Lake Placid because, while far away, it was still a drivable distance...and that long drive allowed for some car ride planning! Plus, we knew that no matter what happened there would be loads of things to choose from because aside from downhill skiing there are so many other fun things to do between Olympic venues, ice skating, dog sled rides, sleigh rides, tubing (which we didn't do as it was sold out, who knew?!), cross country skiing and more...we were constantly moving from one winter fun adventure to the next!
We stayed downtown, right alongside Mirror Lake which was perfect! I'd actually been to Lake Placid before, years ago when I was in high school my mom and I went for a weekend in February on a whim...I remember it feeling so quaint and magical...I've been wanting to revisit ever since. Being downtown afforded us magical lake moments, walks to dinner across the lake and down the town's streets.
It really was the best and most magical "winter wonderland" trip!
(we made this fun pennant as a memento at a shop called ADK outlet)
It was also COLD!
We hadn't yet had much cold weather before Christmas...we'd been riding a pretty mild exit from fall and entrance into winter. The weather in Lake Placid, we knew, would be colder than we had felt thus far this season. As we sorted through the clothes we had and the clothes we needed I quickly realized that the "snow clothes" I made a couple of years ago no longer fit and the kids needed some warm layering clothes to wear under their ski jackets and snow pants. I initially thought that we'd simply purchase a couple of pairs of long johns for each kid...but goodness...these layering clothes were adding up, quickly!
Then I read this post from Erin on Imagine Gnats about sewing with wool jersey...and remembered that I had recently purchased some performance knits from Joann as well...and I just couldn't bring myself to buying super expensive long underwear for fast growing kids. So, I did what any sewing mama would do...I ordered some amazing wool from Imagine Gnats, stayed up until 2am making the kids each a pair of "woolies" and a pair of long johns, tucked them into a box, wrapped them up and put them under the tree!
I was one tired mama the next day...but the excitement over long underwear on Christmas morning...yes, there really was excitement, made it oh so worth it!
Also, these clothes were pretty much the only things that each kiddo wore the entire time we were in Lake Placid. The high temperatures while we were away were in the low 20s. And, while on the mountain skiing and in town the wind chills dipped to the single digits. These kids stayed snug and warm!
The rambouillet wool is super soft, soft enough for each to wear alone. The kids really loved wearing these!
And, I just love the colors...so pretty!
It has only a 25% two way stretch but it's just enough for tees and leggings. I've been washing and drying these along with my normal everyday washings with no problems.
Because the wool doesn't have quite the same stretch recovery as the performance fabrics they were a bit baggier, which also made them perfect for layering overtop of the other long johns...
The performance wear long johns on the other hand are super stretchy and "slippery" making for adding layers over top a cinch!
For Violet, since she is getting to be sooo tall nowadays, I didn't have quite enough fabric for her shirt...
So, I improvised and added different sleeves and colored blocked the back with some nylon/lycra I still had left from these pants and this shirt...
I actually totally love the way it turned out too! Hooray for accidental awesomeness!
Between layering with sweaters, fleece, each other, and snow pants these long underwear ended up being the perfect base layer to start off each and every day. Of course the fact that they were called long underwear caused some confusion for Henry, as he thought that he didn't actually need to wear any other underwear...
What's surprised me though, is how versatile these pieces are now that we are back at home. The wool shirts are such a lovely color and are so comfy and cozy that each have been worn simply as shirts, as have the other shirts...and the pants are perfect for gym class or layering under dresses, etc...
Whether it's because I know they fit just right...or because I'm too lazy to print out other patterns... the tops are all Flashback skinny tees from Made by Rae and the bottoms are all Wild and Free Lounge pants (sans pockets and panels, etc...ie the super simple version) from Coffee and Thread.
I've been making a ton of these shirts and pants of late...some you've seen on Instagram and have yet to be blogged...and some I've actually blogged about...either way right now, this is a total winning combination for me lately!
