New Years Weekend or MLK Weekend?

I am planning to take my kids skiing for the first time (including lessons) and my options are the weekend after NYE (so Jan 2 and 3, Saturday and Sunday) or MLK Weekend. I am thinking Mt. Rose, or maybe Sierra. I understand the likelihood of crowds but is one of those weekends better than the other? I don't want my kids to be intimidated by a massively packed mountain, but we can't go during the week. Help!