Top of The Mountain

I made it to the top!! For all of you who know Grand Targhee ski area, that would be the Dream Catcher Lift to the top. Steve made me stop here to prove I did it. No, Jason it is not a fake backdrop, those are the Tetons behind me, great view at 10,000 feet up.The smile looks a little fake because I was looking down the mountain to where I was going to have to ski, and it was steep. OK, Emily I know what you were talking about wanting to swear!! Snowplowing down a mountain is not the way to go! Steve and Drew didn't like going so slow for me either!! However I did make it down alive and nothing broken but my pride. I have six months to work up the courage to try it again as the ski hill closes today for the season. There is still a lot of snow up there so our kids are up enjoying it one final day, and we are enjoying a little quiet time!!

Josh's Birthday at the Hill

For Josh's 17th birthday we decided to take a day off and head to the hill with our good friends, Christin and Jake. The day was great, snow coming down but not too cold. First thing we hit "North Pole terrain Park", you can see some of those shots.After lunch we convinced Christin to ski as well using Dad's equipment, a little big but it didn't stop Christin! She said she hadn't skied since last year and wasn't that good, ha! She just took off with the kids leading the way. I did my best to keep up with them all. Each kid took her on their favorite runs, "Eyeball forest", "Bird Brain","Wacky Weasel Way", "Rainbow Row" and "Otter Slide". Most of those go through trees and have jumps in them, I don't do trees! However, one of the runs Ruth led us through "The Bat cave", I decided to follow them not knowing that Christin didn't even do it. There is a jump, not too big but enough to give me a little air and throw me off balance. Anna thinks I looked like a monkey trying to fly, not too flattering!! Anyway I hit the snow. Christin challenged me to go beyond my comfort level, and I did. Hey, by the way I did break my run record of ten, I'm now at twelve!!
After skiing all day Jake, a little sore, and Christin joined us to celebrate Josh's birthday with dinner and cake. Thanks you guys for making Josh's birthday special!!

Record Break!!!

OK, I might be hooked!! Third day in a row on the hill. The sun was shining I think it was up to 47 degrees, we now have skiers tans. Today we set out to break my record of 7 runs in a row. We did it, I made 10! I know Jason and Joel are saying we told you mom!! April was a great help teaching me to make quicker turns and how to go down the the big bump section without getting out of control. Anna took me down a trail I hadn't been on before that was a little hairy, but I made it down. I didn't look real great and I took a few falls. My last run I decided to go Alley Oop Alley( the big bumps, now that I can do it), but I also wanted to do another run. I decided at the last minute that I could do both if I hiked across the meadow, now that is determination!!

More Skiing Adventures

Yesterday was a great day!! We went to the slope after church and had about 2 hours to ski. I actually figured out how to get off the lift without help and without falling. Falling is so humiliating when they have to stop the lift and help you up. I made the first run up the lift with April as my helper and it was great. I did washboard bumps and didn't fall. I wasn't tired when I got down and said I would do it again. Actually, I did 7 runs in a row!! I was very impressed with myself since I had never done more than 2 without being worn out! Sunday was the first time I could actually enjoy skiing because I didn't have to concentrate so hard.
Today I took the kids up to the hill without Steve. The kids thought it was the best day ever. There was nice powder and no people. I took the camera and took lots of pictures. They wanted pictures of them jumping in the trick park. I even tried one at the bottom not quite enough speed but it was overall a great day. Emily and Abby next time you come out you have to try it with me!! It gets better after the first day, considering my first day I hit a tree going uphill, the only way I could stop!! Enjoy todays slide show!

Skiing Exploits

OK, this is for all of you who have been wondering about my exploits as a skier!! It all started when my children decided to buy me skis for my birthday in October. Really there was an ulterior motive to that, they needed a lift to the slope! If they could get me to ski I would be their lift!! First time out I could actually stand on the skis, I was shocked!Steve and Josh became my teachers. My problem was turning and stopping other than that I was great! Needless to say I fell most of the way down the hill. Little kids who could ski looked at me with wide eyes at this grown lady who was flying down the hill out of control. We have this thing called the Magic Carpet on the bunny slope, basically its like an escalator, no stairs. One time down when I couldn't stop I ended up with my feet and skis going up the carpet the rest of me flat on the snow! It literally took me 40 minutes to make two runs,most people do it in 60 seconds. That was it for that day, I spent the rest of it sitting on a bench figuring out how I could get out of ever skiing again!
Second time out,our friend Barry a ski instructor on the hill, gave me a lesson. He taught me to snowplow straight down the hill with him going backwards holding the tips of my skis together. He was great! I practiced that for a while but still could not turn.
Third time out, I could actually snowplow and stop going straight down the hill!! Steve decided that I could do the lift. He helped me off the lift, so far so good. However, the hill was very intimidating. I could only turn by planting my poles in front of me and walking my skis around. Needless to say it took a very long time to get down the hill, at least 40 min. with a lot of falls and a few screams of being way out of control. I didn't do the lift again, I was tired from snowplowing most of the way down the hill.
Next time out,yes I did it again,I'm indebted to my children,they won't let me stop,Drew taught me how to turn!I don't know why but I could just do it. Barry came by to see what I could do,he was very impressed and gave me another lesson on turning.

A Visit With Joel and Emily

Joel and Emily arrived later in January for a visit before Lyndsie returned to North Carolina. They came into Jackson on a beautiful sunny day, so we showed them the sights and took some photos. Being only about 8 degrees we didn't spend too much time outside. We spent one day skiing at Grand Targhee, another day sledding, mostly we just hung out. The day they were to leave we had an avalanche on the pass and couldn't get to the Jackson airport. We tried to get to Idaho Falls airport but all the roads were impassable. They ended up with an extra evening with us and finally got out the next evening, just barely! We have had one very wild winter!! The house got a little too quiet for Lyndsie when everyone was gone. We so enjoyed getting to know Joel's Emily better.

Christmas in January

Sledding and Snowmobiling

Building a Snowman

We had a great time building a snowman, some for the first time ever! The snowman was built sort of LA style with Mohawk and spray paint, ok, so we couldn't find any rocks because there was already too much snow! The girls named the snowman Charlie, the boys named it Arted.

January's Visit

   The middle of January all the kids but Joel and Emily(who came a little later in the month) were able to come home for a visit. We had a great time in the winter snow building a snowman, sledding and snowmobiling. Of course, we had another Christmas while they were here, too!!
This photo was taken the last day, we were headed to the local Emporium to get a world famous huckleberry shake before they headed back to warm CA.
Left to right we have, Drew 7, Lyndsie 19, Steven 15, Jason 27, Karla, Josh 16, Anna 13, Lorissa 23,Vince 24, Abby 25, Ryan 25, in front April 11, Me, Ruth 9.

Cancun Wedding

After many laborious hours, Anna and I (with a call to Jason) finally figured out how to add a slide show to our blog!! I hope you enjoy the pictures of the Cancun Wedding, which was August 29, 2007.
Our next challenge will be to add a slide show of January visit with all the kids.
Miss you all,
Mama Quiz

Quiz Newz

OK everyone I'm going to keep you updated on our family through this blog, if I can figure out what I'm doing!!
The first photo is our family in Cancun, Mexico for Jason, our oldest son, and his new wife Karla's wedding. We had a great time being together as a family and the wedding was beautiful.