We figured the kids would like to go tobogganing or "sledging" on the 3K run, but also thought we'd take our ski gear as Rigi's brochure said it was good for beginners. We hauled all our stuff up on the 30 minute cogwheel train ride up to Rigi Klum.
What a view! I never get tired of looking at these mountains! It was obviously below freezing but it was so sunny, it felt almost warm (with all our gear on of course!). We ate lunch outside and rented our toboggans. 
We had seen lots of families heading down the toboggan run, so we thought it would be great fun. It was kind of fun, in that scare-you-to-death-no-side-rails-on -the-steep-down-hill-turns kind of way. We were going to do the whole run, but decided after a few crashes and 2 crying kids that we would stop at the half way point. Here we are before our near-death ride:
So, we ditched the toboggans and put on our skis. We found a nice "training" hill that lots of kids and adults were doing. I tested it out and wasn't quite sure our kids (or Jason) could handle it. But Aidan wanted to try. So I took him down one time. He was scared and knocked us both down a few times, but we made it to the end of the run and he did really well on the tow rope going up again. I figured he was done. But, he wanted to try again! So I took him again and made him try a bit on his own with me in front of him. After his first "I can't do it!" statement, he made his first turn! Then, that was it. He went past me, nearly full speed all the way to the bottom making nice turns and all! He was so pumped!
Once he did it one time, he was a master! He went down at least 12 times, even trying out the mogul jumps a few times! He's talking all sorts of trash now. He knows he's better than me now. 30 mins was all it took to surpass me. Now he thinks he can hang with Chris and his boys when we go with them to Murren. (I don't think he's there yet, but he's got confidence!)
Once Aidan didn't need my help anymore (and frankly didn't want me holding him back), I tried to help Lainey. She was not such a quick and willing learner. We fell a few times and she was willing to just be left on the slope. I ended up taking of my skis and pulling her down. She did like the tow rope though! I think she'll be in Snowli Land for a while longer.
I can't believe Aidan. He's such a crazy kid. He swears he can't do something and refuses to be pushed, but then one day he decides to do something and can do it perfectly. He did it today with skiing, last summer with swimming and riding a bike. In December, he struggled to finish a 1.6K race, but yet ran 4.4K with Jason last weekend easily. He just gets it in his mind that he can't (or won't) do something, but then once he is pushed just a bit, he's amazing! I can't begin to say how proud I was watching him come down that slope today.
To finish up our Super Swiss Sunday, Aidan had a Rivella on the train back down and I made fondue for dinner. Today was a FANTASTIC day!
Here's a video of Aidan skiing. You can hear him saying "delete it! Turn it off!" because he wasn't happy with his run. Already the perfectionist!
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