Extreme Extremes

We spent yesterday morning and afternoon skiing. 

It was an exciting day since JR skied his first black run. (And he didn't even fall!)

He was so proud of himself.

 

Still cheering for himself

I took this picture of the run as I went over it in the ski lift.  It's called 'Limbo Alley", but our neighbor calls it "Torn Ligament Alley", which I think is a much more appropriate name.

And for a completely different way to spend the evening, we headed over to Farmington to watch Motocross.

JR brought his friend, Steven. 

As you can see, they're perfect for each other.

What's Motocross without a fight?

Oh, and there were motorcycles too.

Some watched intently

Others were really excited about their new monster trucks...

Again! Again!

Other than squeels of delight, "Again! Again!" are pretty much the only other words I heard today.

Some Pictures and The People I'm Going to Start Stalking

Don't look now, but I think we might actually have some traditions on our hands!

Snowmobiling last Christmas eve was a great way to funnel some of JR's excited energy, so we gave it a go again this year.

My favorite part? I didn't have to drive!

JR begged and begged to drive, but he just couldn't with the many feet of new, fresh powder. 

He rode with Granny Sherry.

Our snowmobile group (Jason's parents)

Really, who could resist playing in all that fluffy goodness? 

And just like last year, that evening we rode the Polar Express.  

 

Reed received the "first gift of Christmas".

And who do you think the chefs picked out to dance with them?

My parents, of course!

See, I got my "fun" gene from both sides.

Okay. So this next part isn't a tradition, but I love a good overdone Christmas decoration, so I have to include these people.  

On our way home from town we always see a house with lots of lights up on top of a hill/mountain.

(Hill or mountain...depending on what part of the country you live in.)

JR kept asking to go, and we finally went by on Christmas Eve.  Now, if I'd have known it was going to be a-may-zing we would have gone up there every night!

 I so appreciate that they welcomed onlookers in full costume. 

Do you think these people would be scared if I informed them that they were my new best friends?

JR with my new best friends (plus a random girl).

Reed and my new best friends.

Something New

I did something last night I've been wanting to try since we moved here.

Just check out our shoes!

Don't worry they're rentals, if they were mine I'd have to find a way to put a high heel on them.

(I'm on the right.)

We rode the ski lift up about 3:30 and went snowshoeing in the "out of bounds" area of Purgatory. 

It was gorgeous! (And obviously snowing)

I love the trees weighted down with snow.

After snowshoeing for about an hour, we headed over to The Powderhouse for wine and cheese.

(I had some serious hat hair, so photos not available.)

After our "refreshments", we were supposed to walk down to the base under the light of the full moon.  But since it was still snowing, we walked by the light of our headlamps.

*Sing along* We'll be coming down the mountain when we come....

Once we were near the bottom we were able to turn off our headlamps.

And no, we weren't cold at all. I had on my giant coat, so I was almost too toasty!

Ski For Yourself

I'd been trying to convince Jason that taking Kyle and Reed skiing was a really good idea.

Jason (being the realist) said there was no way they were going to be able to ski.

Me (being the "creative one") reasoned that since they were the stars of gymnastics class, of course they'd be great skiers.

Yesterday was the big test.

I took pictures while they were being fitted for their boots/skis since I was nervous I'd be too busy with falling down skiers watching them swoosh down the mountain. -

Even though it was snowing, I was already sweating by the time we got everybody unloaded, dressed, and to the bunny hill.

We dove right in and put them on the ski lift first thing. 

They were wearing little backpacks with handles, so I just picked Kyle up by his handle and put him right on...just like a piece of luggage!

   I think Jason made Reed work a little more than I made Kyle.  I had Kyle between my legs just like Jason has Reed, except I put my arms under his armpits and just went down the mountain. It was basically like skiing with a 25 pound 3 foot tall kettle ball.

A fuzzy picture, but at least it proves I was there!

 My ski partner.

We did the bunny hill about 4 or 5 times, and though I'm not sure you can call what Kyle and Reed did "skiing", they loved everything about it. 

Nobody cried, fell off the lift, or got run over. 

I'd say it was a very successful day!

Another Favorite Season

So what season starts after Halloween but before Christmas...and isn't Thanksgiving?

Ski Season!

And I know it's getting closer since we got to pick up JR's skis and boots.

(Reed was happy to model them for me.)

As you can see by Reed's face, the little guys are super excited about learning to ski this year. 

And Jason and I are just as petrified thinking about teaching them!

My Triple Salchow is Ready

Feathers? Check!

Sequins? Check!

Glitz and Glamour? Check!

Looks like we're a go.

Fabulousness beyond all fabulousness, we're ready for tonight.

I seriously can't help it. I've loved watching men's figure skating in the Olympics since I was a little girl. It all started back in 1984 with Scott Hamilton. I loved him! The way his few wisps of hair he still had left would blow as he spun on those skates. I thought he was amazing. My friend, Stacy, and I went to see him in the Ice Capades. (Stacy and I were also in love with the 1984 Men's Olympic Gymnastics Team, but that's another story.) I ran down to get Scott's autograph and he told me he couldn't give it to me, but he touched my shoulder. And um, yeah, I still tell that story often. One of the first times I met my friend, Sunny, (I was an adult living in Beijing) she told me she was from Sarajevo. I immediately freaked out and started asking her about the '84 Olympics and Scott Hamilton. "Had she gone? Had she seen Scott Hamilton? What was it like?" And since Sarajevo has suffered through a civil war since they hosted the Olympics, I'm pretty sure she thought this American had lost her mind.

My next crush (not really sure "crush" is the right terminology, but I can't think of a better word) was Brian Boitano in the '88 Calgary Olympics. It was the battle of the Brians! The Canadian, Brian Orser, against The American, Brian Boitano. Boitano had on that blue military inspired jumpsuit. Classic. The Ice Capades were passe' 4 years later, but I did get to see Boitano in the Campbell's Soup Stars on Ice! (I still have the flyer in my scrapbook.) My friend, Julie, didn't share the same love for figure skating as I did, but she was happy to go with me and agree that Boitano did, in fact, wave back at me.

Unfortunately, I've had a 22 year dry spell of male figure skating idols. Sure, I've watched them at the Olympics, but nobody has jumped out at me like Scott and Brian did. But I think I've found a new "love". My mouth literally dropped open when Evan Lysacek skated onto the ice in full black sequins and feathers. I woke Jason from a dead sleep trying to make him watch. (You can imagine Jason's excitement, so I texted my friend, JD, instead.) And though Johnny Weir's pink and leather ensemble was pretty darn cute, it was no match for Evan's chiseled cheek bones.

So, yes, I'm looking forward to tonight! The costumes, the pageantry, the jazz hands! Nothing could be better.

Go Evan! (and Johnny and Jeremy!)

Now That's Some Serious Pressure

I really don't consider myself a high adventure gal. I guess some would say I've done some pretty high adventure things (I'm thinking moving to Communist China with a 7 month old would count), but as far as extreme sports type things, I have no desire. I do enjoy more "medium adventure" things like riding on the 4-wheeler, a jet ski, or riding Jason's sidecar. Notice I said "riding", not "driving". So when Jason decided I should be the one to take JR snowmobiling with Gary and Anita (while he stayed home with the babies), I was a little nervous. And very quickly I went from nervous to feeling some serious pressure.
They lined up all the snowmobiles and I was to follow the guide, and right behind me was Anita. Now, had I had one of my other silly, giggly girlfriends behind me I wouldn't have felt any pressure. I would have cared less if we'd held up the line, laughed when we stalled the snowmobiles, and felt comfortable that neither of us would have any idea what we were doing. But Anita's not my typical, giggly girlfriend. She rides her own Harley and had her own sidecar in Beijing. And she likes to go fast. We did a sidecar ride to the Great Wall and I've seen first hand that she doesn't like getting stuck behind somebody slow. So yeah, I was under some pressure. When we stopped for a break and Anita told me I was doing a good job, I was so relieved and empowered I was even able to restart my own snowmobile! And to make the day even more perfect, JR told Jason I was faster than him (Jason) and "did the jumps bigger". I am woman snowmobile driver...Hear me roar!
(Although I'll be happy to go back to being the rider anytime!)

JR and Madison enjoying our break.


I did let JR drive when we got to an open field area. This is my view from behind JR. And to be fair to Jason, JR reported that Daddy let him drive faster than I did.


More JR at the wheel. (Sorry Grandmothers for JR's face being cut off, my arms just aren't long enough for self portraits.)