Ski Blizzard

Annie and I headed up to the Brighton Ski Resort this morning with high hopes of good snow and lots of laughs.  We had lots of laughs on the way up, but were met by Mother Nature fiercest's snow storm.  "White Out" would be an understatement.

We did two very painful, cold runs and decided to eat lunch at 10:55am!  We layered on extra socks and layers.  Then headed out for another attempt.  One run later, we skied directly to the car despite the incredible snow.  Poor Annie was frozen to the bone.

Sweet powder

The parking attendants at the resort did a VERY poor job of parking the skiers vehicles today.  I had about one inch of extra room to get my vehicle out of the parking lot.  It was a bit stressful with all the snow and wind.

After many prayers of safety, we headed down the mountain.  Unfortunately, our van is the WORST in the snow.  (and NO it is not the driver)!!!!  I happened to pull out first in a long line of cars.  My top speed was 15 mph and there were many times where we were at a complete stop because we couldn't see.  The wind was blowing SO violently and there was NO visibility.  I have never been that scared driving EVER.  

White knuckles

My visibility

We finally reached the mouth of the canyon and were welcomed by blue skies.  I have NEVER been so grateful to see the plowed freeway.

Annie and I stopped at Cheesecake Factory and snarfed down a piece of chocolate cake.  It was definitely the highlight of our day.

Though we didn't ski a lot of slopes, we definitely had a lot of stories to tell!

3rd Grade

Did you know that 3rd grade is hard?  Numeric grades are given instead of a pass/fail grade.  Those 3rd grade teachers definitely step it up a notch.  Homework is a bit more intense and more concepts are required to be learned at home.

I always feel overwhelmed when I leave parent/teacher conferences.  There is so much more we can do academically as parents and conferences are a reminder of that!  I can't tell you how many hours we currently spend working on addition/subtraction flash cards.  Learning our multiplication tables.  Practicing reading slowly and understanding what is being read.  Spelling words.  Speech therapy.

I'm not complaining or looking for sympathy.  But it is just my reality.  Having three children in the same grade throws a twist into the whole scenario too.

As we just pasted the half way point of the school year, I feel like we are making progress.  We are rising to the occasion of 3rd grade.  The kids are getting into the routine of spending more time after school doing homework (as in 45-60 minutes a day!!!).  They are understanding the complex subjects that are being taught by their teachers.  And I'm proud of them!

First day of third grade

Lately

Somebody is growing like a weed.  Considering Carter is two minutes younger than his oldest sister, he is literally a head taller.

Carter started playing basketball.  We are still working on team building skills, playing by the rules, sharing the ball with team mates and having fun.  We still have some major work to do.

It has been bitter cold here this winter.  Usually, we are able to play outside some during the winter months.  But for the past few weeks, the high has been in the 20 degree range.  So we've spent a lot of time indoors.  Annie is UNSTOPABLE at the Just Dance Wii game.  No one can beat her!!

Carter participated in his first Cub Scout pinewood derby.  We are thankful for a neighbor who has a garage full of tools and saws.  Carter built a Bat Car and did a great job at the derby.  He learned a lot about sportsmanship!

St George Half

I knew going into this race that I was out of shape and fat.  My first 13 miles AND race since my stress fracture (my longest run has been 10 miles).  So my main goal of the weekend was to have fun (even though secretly, I knew I would be disappointed with my time).

I dropped my preschooler off at school and picked up Collette (we went to SG last year together and had a blast!!!) and Kellie (my newest running bud in the neighborhood).  I knew I instantly liked Kellie because she wanted to stop and get a soda before we hit the road.  My kind of gal!!!

We had a wonderful conversation on the way down to SG.  These are such intelligent, interesting, educated, and funny women.  So darn awesome!

We headed to the expo and then to the hotel.  After unloading our stuff, we ate dinner at Brick Oven.  While eating, I started to get a case of the chills and body aches.  I just prayed that I wasn't starting to get sick.  After we ate our fill and laughed until our cheek bones hurt, we headed back to the hotel for some shut eye.  I took some Advil before bed in hopes that it would help my pending cold.

I struggled with my clothing choice for the race.   But finally settled with capri tights, tank and long sleeved shirt - which ended up being perfect.  I found Smooth and Karen and brought Smooth's stuff to my car (I got to bring her home after the race....lucky me!!!).  We walked right up the start and the gun went off.  

I ran with them for the first 6 miles.  It was SO wonderful to catch up on life with those lovely ladies.  I started to loose steam after 6 miles and lost them on a hill.  I took a GU somewhere in there too.

My lack of fitness was starting to shine through.  It bothered me.  Though I can't train any faster after this dumb injury, it was eating at my ego.  I could see Smooth's green hat just ahead of me, but could never catch her.

Around miles 7, I caught up to Collette.  We chatted for a minute, but were both too tired to say more than a few words.  So we just ran.  I left her after a mile.

Mile 12-13 seemed to take forever.  It never seemed to end and my ankle was starting to get tired.  Not to the point where I needed to quit, but just tired.  Finally the bridge came and then the finish line.  I saw my cousin Callie at the finish area and was SO darn proud of her PR!  Yahooo!!!!  I caught up with Rachel...oooo...I miss her! And lots of other FRB's!

I started to get a bit nauseous and just weird.  So I sat down and chatted for awhile.  But then I started to really get cold.  So Collette, Kellie, Smooth and I headed back to the hotel for a HOT shower (I even took a 10 minute cat-nap).

We ate lunch at Cafe Rio in Cedar City.  Again, it was a wonderful conversation on the way home.  I was able to catch up even more with Smooth and realized just how much more I love that woman!

Though I ran my slowest half marathon ever, I was very sad to see the weekend end.  It was just long enough to feel rejuvenated, but short enough that my family didn't suffer.

Time and Patience

Sunday morning, I was showing my kids a few running you-tube videos.  Team Hoyt, SGM home page videos, Proctor and Gamble Olympic commercial and a few others.  I'm such a sucker for those kind of inspirational videos.  They always make me cry!

I've been thinking a lot about my running goals and where I want to be. I'm realizing the more I learn about running...the less I know.  I have so much to learn.  I have so far to go. And it is a long, slow road.

As I was watching those Olympians in the weepy videos, I had even more respect for them that I had before.  You can't become GREAT over night.  It takes patience.  Time.  Lots and lots of time.  That is what has made them GREAT.

I'm not going to hit my goals today or probably this year.  But I'm hoping to be closer than I was.  I still have a long ways to go.

Mature Families

Tim and I have been watching our friends/family member that are "the more mature families".  "More mature" meaning, they have raised GOOD, GREAT kids.  Not to say they don't have problems or issues.  Life has not been easy for them.  But they are consistently moving in the right direction.  They are constantly trying to be better and to make a stronger family bond.

One of the commonalities these families have is that parents have a created a family tradition.   Something that they can do together.  And have fun doing it.

Tim and I decided to give skiing a try as a family tradition.  We can do the sport now and hopefully when their teenagers, college students, married and eventually with grandkids.

The kids started ski lessons last year and have really continued to improve this year.  Our goal is to always leave the slopes happy.  Even if that means we leave a little early or skip a certain run.

We've been up to the Brighton Ski Resort three times this year.  Every time we go, the kids' skiing skills get better.  Now everyone can clip into their skies without help from a parent (this is a HUGE accomplishment)!!

Here are a few snippets from this weeks' ski trip (and they had some pretty sweet snow!!!)

 Peachy's new goggles:

Peachy and cousin/BFF:

Uncles and cousins:

Secret pictures during ski lessons:

Best family ever:

Dad and Annie flexing their muscles:

Pink cheeks after a fun day making pizza and french fries:

Peachy was getting tired, so she and I played a roaring game of Uno in the lodge:

We always stop at the 7-11 to get a treat on the way down the mountain:

I really don't know if this plan is going to work.  I know there will trials, problems and other junk.  But I hope this togetherness will help get through life.  Maybe the 7-11 Slurpees will help too.

Christmas Preview

True to form, December was a CRAZY busy month!  Here's what we have been up too:


Christmas sing at school:

Dance performance at the old folks home:

New Christmas skirts:

Dance performance at the church Christmas party:

More handmade Christmas ornaments (ooooo....I love making these!!!):

Going to the Nutcracker with Georgia's preschool:

Annie's reader theater at school (she did Stella - Queen of the snow and she was the narrator):

Luckily, Abby and Carter were able to come and watch Annie:

Skiing at Brighton with a favorite cousin:

My first time skiing in TEN years (as in before I had children)!!!  Thankfully, it is just like riding a bike!

Georgia in ski school:

My extended family on Christmas Eve (all the kids gathered for a game):

Christmas Eve pinata:

Me, Callie, Aunt Jane and Jenny

I don't have a picture, but I went on an eight mile run with a favorite running bud.  When we started, my driveway only had a few rain drops.  By the time we finished, my rain jacket was soaked and I had a few inches of snow on my hat.  It was absolutely majestic!  Fresh snow tracks and great catch-up conversation.  It was a wonderful way to start my day!