Ski Fever

Winter is here!  Even though we would love more snow, we've done a pretty good job of getting up to Brighton, especially considering how busy everyone is.  I've learned that it usually takes a day to get everyone warmed up to the slopes.  While I wasn't there for the first adventure, I heard that much of it was spent in the lodge.

This season we've spent a fair amount of time introducing new skiers to the sport.  Besides working with Eila and Anders, Jason helped teach our neighbor Ezra how to ski as well.  Here's Ezra with his Dad Brian.

The great news is that both Annika and Jason are so social that they are plenty happy to ski slowly if it means hanging out with friends.

Whoops!

Annika demonstrates how it's done.

Here we are on a different afternoon with Ezra, Brian, and their mom Sonja.

Christy, Ben, Justin, and Ruby too!  Like I said, Jason's really good at talking everyone into coming up the mountain.

Gotta admit, we know how to party.  When it comes to tailgating, we rock the resort.  (And occasionally melt the table.)

Christy and Justin at the top of Great Western.  I'm pretty sure Christy didn't appreciate how icy the slope, but she was a great sport.

Rubes...

...and a picture with my Brookles.  She may not remember, but Brooklyn was only ten days old the first time she spent the day at the ski resort.

Talia with her old man.

So what does that make me?

Justin and Ruby cruising down Majestic.

Jason even brought his office up to Brighton and taught Zizheng how to ski.

One evening we all switched roles and became the learners after I picked up some snowboard rentals.

Let me tell you, snowboarding was incredibly humbling!  I literally gave up ten minutes into the adventure.  My boots hurt, and I decided that the last thing my family needed was a mom with a broken arm.  At 43, I have nothing to prove.  Skis are fine for me.  But look!  Brooklyn's doing great.

Talia was fearless and had fun until a nasty fall brought out her grumpy side.  

I wish I had pictures of Annika and Eli as well, but unfortunately my phone ran out of battery.  Eli LOVED it and wants to go again.  Watching Annika for the first time, I had the thought:  Maybe this is it.  Her thing.  Perhaps she's a boarder.  As for Jason, despite some success with his snowboard, he was thrilled to be reunited with his skis.

Since then, we've had some longer ski days where we've skied more challenging terrain.  I continue to be amazed by how confident everyone is on the slopes.  It's really something to see our whole family zipping through the trees.  It's inspiring, but makes my heart pound a bit too.  I am always grateful when we make it another day without injury. 

This next week our cousin Gregory is coming for a ski visit.  Yay!  Perhaps I can talk some of the kids into catching "ski fever."  Weekends may be fun, but the uncrowded slopes on a weekday are incredible.  Here's Eli the last time I talked him into playing hooky.  We skied Milly Bowl together.  Once.  Because I value my neck.

School is important.  I'm glad my kids are so responsible that they hardly ever want to miss.  Even so, I'm grateful for the clarity of mind and spiritual education that comes from time spent in the mountains. 

January Jumble

March is coming, and gosh darn it, I'm determined to be done blogging January before it gets here.  Although to be honest, it feels a little phony to be blogging trivialities when there is such unrest in the world.  All our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine right now.  

On a happier note, the Wells family sent us a super fun Escape Room in a box for Christmas.  Here we are learning all about Ireland as we search for clues about the lost jewels.

Good news!  We found them.  Plus now I want to kiss the Blarney stone.

The Escape Room in a box was so fun that we decided to do an actual escape room, courtesy of our Get Out Utah pass.  

The kids rather amazed us by how quickly they unraveled the clues.  They sure are bright!

Good news!  We found the missing hat with minutes to spare.

Other news: Annika acquired a new "pet" courtesy of our friend Anne Vinsel.  After hearing about how Annie gave away some of her beloved stuffies for Christmas, Anne decided to replace them with something bigger and better.

It's definitely bigger!

Plus, this frog can be worn as a backpack.

Annika even managed to bring it to school one day.

Her bed is getting pretty darn crowded these days.  Most mornings I can't even find her in it.

Worried that she might lose track of her favorite animals, she made them yarn leashes.  Most caterpillars could slip away, but I have a feeling this one won't.

In another moment of good fortune, we won the "lottery" for Hamilton.  Eli and I ended up with the most amazing tickets in the very front row!  The show was everything we dreamed it might be.

Then fortune changed and the show got postponed due to Covid.  When it was finally rescheduled, I gave Brianna my original ticket.

Wouldn't you know, the tickets I bought for the family ended up being in the very LAST row!  Talk about a different perspective.  Ah well, you can't win 'em all.

Nothing like pastry to drown your disappointments.  Introducing the 2022 vintage meat pies.

As for Spark, he'd prefer a carrot.

Last but not least, Brooklyn's performance of Tchaikovsky 4 with the Utah Youth Philharmonic.

Perfect excuse to indulge in U-gurt.

And there you have it--a jumble of January jollies.