Snow Bunnies

I've been missing out, and I had no idea! I didn't grow up in a snow skiing family. I learned to water ski when I was 7, but my only snow skiing experience was when I was in 6th grade. I rode up on a bus to Tahoe with a bunch of my friends from school. My friend Crystal gave me a quick lesson on the snow plow in her living room the night before we left. That was the extent of my training. Once we arrived my friends jumped on the lift with me, telling me when we got to the top,"Okay now just ski down! Have fun!!" And off they went. I haven't back been since.

Jeff grew up skiing in Idaho and was on the ski patrol in Jackson Hole Wyoming for a few years. He has only been twice since we've been married. Life has just been a bit busy. He has been wanting to get the whole family into it for as long as I can remember. In fact when he was in law school he came home from an early morning donut run with 3 sets of skis he found at a yard sale!! They're still unused in the attic.

This year with all of the kids getting older it seems much more do able. After our failed attempt a few weeks ago and the arrival of my new coat last week, I was chomping at the bit to finally give it a try. Last Saturday Jeff and I left the kids at home and headed up to Sierra Summit.

We had to stop to put chains on the car, but still made it up in time to get in a full day of skiing! We skipped the bunny hill and the tow rope and went straight up to the top of the easiest run. I think this may have been the first time Jeff has ever seen me nervous. He was laughing seeing me feel so vulnerable and was amazed that I was listening and trying to do everything he said. Aslo a first, at least as far as he remembers.

By 11 am it started to snow and by the end of the day it was really coming down. I could not have cared less. I was having so much fun! Jeff would ride the lift up with me, and then do some harder runs and meet up with me toward the bottom and then go the rest of the way down with me. No one will be surprised when you see the picture of Jeff on the lift with his phone in hand.

Jeff probably spent half of the day skiing backwards so that he could watch me and tell me what I needed to be doing differently. He said he didn't want me looking like a "newb" out there. He kept asking if I wanted to stop and take a break. My answer was always the same, "Nope I just wanna go up again!" Between 10 and 4pm we stopped just once for 25 minutes to grab some lunch. The rest of the day was spent just going up and down the mountain. I was having a blast and I just couldn't get enough!

Monday school was out, but Jeff had to be at work. Several of our friends were going to be spending the day at Sierra Summit so I decided to grab the boys at get back up there on my own.

Wes already had a snow board and had been up a few times with friends. He knew what he was doing and after this picture was taken first thing in the morning, I didn't see him again until about 2pm. Garrett and Drew had both been just once, two years ago. Garrett rented a board and went off with his friend Zach. Within an hour of our arrival he got a horrible stomach ache and ended up catching a ride back home with some friends who had to leave early. Until they were ready to go, poor G spent his morning laying on a bench at a picnic table. Lucky for him, it was a gorgeous day and he found a good sunny bench!

Little Drew-be-love was with me on skis. The problem was that I was so new I didn't really know how to help him. Talli took him up the bunny hill and worked with him a bit and then Aaron McCaulley worked with him a few times on the tow rope hill. He had such a great attitude as we figured things out together. He is the sweetest kid and I loved hanging out with him!

I loved being up there with good friends, but it made me even more determined to learn whatever I can, as quickly as I can, so I can actually ski with them!

By two o'clock Jeff was so jealous of all of us up skiing with out him that he left work early and joined us. Wes took Jeff down a few runs so he could show Jeff his "awesomeness".

Then while Jeff took Drew for a little further instruction, I got to go on my own for a bit. So much fun! I didn't need anyone with me to enjoy this. We are buying season passes for next year, and I am certain I will have many days where I just take off on my own to spend a day on the slopes.

Our Monday with friends wrapped up perfectly when we all met for pizza at our favorite place in Shaver. I hadn't even bothered to stop for lunch this time!

I am planning to go back this weekend with some of the boys. I have found a new addiction. All these years I had no idea how much fun I was missing out on. I'm ready to make up for it!