Family Ski Day

When I was young, I was a pretty avid skier.  There were many years of my youth, that during the winter months, I was skiing almost every Saturday.  I was never a phenomenal skier, but I could definitely keep up with the best of them and there wasn't much of anything I couldn't get down.

As I've gotten older, I've become much more selective about when I'll ski.  I have zero interest in skiing on cold, gloomy days - no matter how good the snow conditions may be.  In fact, the only time I want to ski is in the spring - when the sky is blue, the snow is slushy and I can ski in short sleeves.  That is my kind of ski day!

So, a few weeks ago, on a gorgeous spring day, we pulled the kids out school early and hit the slopes for a Family Ski Day.  It couldn't have been more perfect!

Peter, Henry, Abby, Isaac and I pose for a picture.

Isaac and Henry ready to head the down the hill.

Peter has mastered the snowplow.  Look at that blue sky!

Lucy spent most her day eating snow while riding on Andrew's back.  She couldn't have been happier!

And Andrew couldn't have been happier having his whole family on the ski slopes.

Skiing with my girl.  I can barely keep up with her!

T-shirts and shades: my kind of ski day!

Andrew wishes every Saturday could be a family ski day, but with all the demands of life and busy schedules, I am pretty bad about making that happen.  Even still, it was an amazing day skiing with my favorite people and enjoying the beautiful spring weather.  It really was pretty close to heaven!

Fall Break

Last week, along with every other school-aged child in Utah, our kids had their Fall Break.  Andrew and I debated for awhile about what we wanted to do while the kids had a few days off school.

At one point we considered making a quick trip to California.  We could hit Disneyland, the beach and come back home.  It would be quick, but it could be fun.  The more we talked about, the less enthusiastic I became.  I wanted to do something fun but lacked the energy that is required for even a "quick trip."

After further discussion, we decided to stick closer to home.  Instead of a 12-hour drive to Cali, we opted for a 20-minute drive to Park City and had an amazing couple of days up there.

We spent one night at Hotel Park City which was so fun and pretty fancy for this family of seven.  The weather could not have been more beautiful.  The sky was the most spectacular color blue, the sun was shining and all around us the leaves were brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red.  It was warm enough that the kids spent several hours swimming in the hotel pool while all around them were signs of autumn.

Not a bad place to spend a couple of days.

Love the expression on her face.

Unfortunately, I forgot to pack Lucy's swimsuit (totally typical of me) 

so her pool time was spent in a onesie.

After a fun day of swimming and a "relaxing" dinner with our friends and their four kids,  we went back to our hotel and all the kids piled into the huge jetted tub for a family bath.  Unfortunately, none of those pictures are appropriate for this blog, but believe me, it was a great time and the kids felt like they were living in the lap of luxury as they soaked, floated and swam in the tub.  

Peter was quite comfortable in his plush surroundings and following the bath, 

he spent much longer than necessary walking around our hotel room wearing only this towel.

After the bath, we all snuggled in bed under a big down comforter and watched a movie.  It was so cozy and fun as we enjoyed a night together with no distractions.  

The next day was much of the same.  Swimming in the pool, a picnic at the park with friends, pizza party with friends and more friends, and then a sleep over at our friends' condo.  On our way home after just two nights away, we drove up over Guardsman's Pass and ooohed and ahhhed at the glories of fall.

After all the discussion that had gone into our Fall Break plans, it ended up being perfect.  We didn't have to travel far and we were able to relax, spend time with great friends and enjoy being together as a family.  That's what taking a break is all about and sometimes there really is "no place like home."

We Made it a Date

A couple of months ago, on a beautiful summer evening, we were over at my parents house when unexpectedly, my Aunt Robyn and Uncle Steve stopped by, driving some cute little scooters.   As Andrew and I oohed and ahhed over their scooters, my aunt insisted that we borrow them sometime and take them out for a spin.   Andrew and I pictured ourselves, driving up the canyon on a beautiful summer day, feeling the sun on our face as the wind cooled us down.  It would make a perfect date for the two of us.

Well, despite this generous offer, it took until today before we finally made it happen.  Luckily, it was a beautiful day.  The first day of October - and nearly ninety degrees - the perfect day for a scooter ride. 

 Ready to ride. 

Initially, I was a little nervous about my scooter skills.

You see, when I was 13-years old, my friend, Laurel, and I took her scooter out for a ride - illegally, obviously.  I knew my parents would ground me for months if they knew I was doing it, but even with the thought of that threat, I begged Laurel to let me have a turn driving the scooter.  I started out great, but as I made my first turn onto a street, I realized that I was making the turn too wide.  Before I knew it, I had crashed into the curb and both Laurel and I were thrown from the scooter.  

I landed hard on my shoulder and then slid across the sidewalk on my stomach.  When I stood up, the first thing I felt was relief that I was alive, then I felt a pain radiating from my shoulder area, and then I felt fear. What would my parents do if they found out I had driven the scooter and then crashed?   I knew this could be the end of my teenage social career.

I learned a couple of valuable lessons that day:

1. I am not a coordinated scooter driver.

2. It is impossible to conceal a broken collar bone from your parents for more than 45 minutes. 

3. The fear of punishment is not so scary when medical attention is required.

4.  Making a 7th grade girl wear a collarbone brace that pushes her shoulders back and her blossoming chest out, is worse punishment than anything a parent could do.

In any case, ever since that fateful day - oh so many years ago - I have been somewhat leery of scooters.  I was a little nervous today when we went to pick up the scooters.  It took several trips around the neighborhood before I felt comfortable enough to venture on to real streets - and even then, I kept wanting to buckle a seatbelt that wasn't there.  It definitely took a minute for me to relax.

Andrew and I decided to drive up Millcreek Canyon and once we got into the canyon, I calmed down and loved every second of our drive.  It was such a gorgeous day.  The sky was the deepest blue and the leaves were brilliant shades of red and yellow and orange.  Even though it was October, instead of the middle of summer - like we had pictured - we still got to feel the warm sun on our faces and the breeze cooling us down as we drove.  It was nothing short of spectacular.

Is there anything more beautiful than aspen trees in the sunlight?

It was an amazing afternoon.  We came home relaxed and rejuvenated, and I feel like I may have conquered the demons still haunting the 13-year old girl inside me.  

After today, I am once again a lover of scooters.  Thanks Steve and Robbie.

Labor Day Hike

Labor Day was a beautiful, crisp, fall-like day.  As soon as I woke up and stepped outside, I knew it was the perfect day for a hike in the mountains.  My mom, dad and sister agreed, so we all met up at Silver Lake and hiked to Twin Lakes.

Abby, Emily, Henry and Oma on the path to Twin Lakes.

Henry came prepared - his backpack is filled with stuffed animals. 

Isaac stops to pick up rocks and enjoy the fall weather.

My dad was gracious enough to carry Lucy the whole way - which was good since I had a hard enough time getting myself to the top without having to carry her measly 18 pounds.  Thanks Dad.

The hike was a little steep and half-way to the lake, Peter "petered" out.  (Pun intended.)  Emily was nice enough to take him down the hill and hang out with him at the bottom while the rest of us finished the hike.

The three mighty hikers.

It was a beautiful day.  We packed a lunch and spent the day enjoying our family, the warm sunshine, the cool mountain breezes, the leaves just starting to change color, and this amazing area we live in.

It was such a fun day that it almost made it okay that summer is over and fall is here.

Sunsets

Just one more reason why I love summers in Utah

(as seen from our front porch.)

You're Welcome.