Ski Bus

I have decided to face a long time fear of mine racing, or tumbling, down the cold mountain on two skinny pieces of wood. I knew that the only way to do so was to jump in all at once. I signed up for ski bus, along with this great opportunity comes free ski lessons once a week. I also have a student whose father owns a sporting goods store so I swapped lessons for ski equipment, and now I am off and running or rather skiing.




One of the other huge benifits of ski bus is that I don't have to drive on the roads. Thanks to our bus driver Karen, who also teaches Math at the high school. She braves the snow covered curvy roads with fog, to get us safely to our destinations. I have let her know over and over how much I appreciate this bravery on her part.

Here are my friends from week one that made sure I new where to go and what to do. They could see the fear in my eyes. I was so scared!!!! So scared that these are the only pics that were taken on week one.

I only fell once my first day of skiing and that was getting on the Magic Carpet, a conveyer belt that takes beginners to the top of the bunny hill. Problem was that once I was down I could not get up and they had to stop the Magic carpet. All the students that were on kept looking down and yelling at me to see if I was ok. Then they lost patience and just got of the Magic carpet, walked up the hill and then skied down past me still on the ground trying to get up. Finally success and I was on my way again. I decided that I just wouldn't fall any more.

At the end of week one what had I learned???

• I needed to have more water and tissues because I got really thirsty and my nose was constantly running.



• I don't care if the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, I always looked for the safest, slowest route, regardless of if I had skis on my feet or not.



• I absolutely love skiing and wish I had not waited so long. I wanted to head back up on Saturday morning.

And so ends week 1.

Week 2-I am so excited to go back up, and not so much scared this time....but I am still a little. I know that today I am going to conquer the ski lift, and ski down the much anticipated "Milk". I also know that my old singles branch is going to up here for an activity tonight and can't wait to see everyone.

When I first arrive I quickly change into my ski cloths and go to meet my ski instructor. We head straight to the Magic Carpet so we can head up the bunny hill. Rember the only fall I had last week was doing this very same thing. In my head I am thinking, "Don't fall, Don't Fall, DON'T FALL!!"

Steps to a succesful Magic carpet ride:

Step 1: Make sure skis are parallel and lined up, scoot onto the Magic Carpet. "Don't Fall, Don't Fall...."

Step 2: Stick ski poles behind me into the Magic carpet and then ancore myself so that I do not start sliding backwards. "Don't Fall..."

Step 3: Enjoy the ride. "Yeah, I did it!!!!"

Once I had one success I was well on my way to a terrific evening. Here is a video clip of me coming down the bunny hill. Enjoy, and notice the graceful way in which I turn, ha ha.

Click here to watch me ski!

Come and join me, we can race down the mountain, I am not afraid to lose :)

My Wonderfully Relaxing Christmas Break

I woke up on my first day of Christmas Break really excited to go skiing, but I didn't have a camera to capture the wonderful event for posterity. I decided I would run to Walmart to get a camera, and hurry back to teach a lesson. An hour and 15 minutes later I had barely shovelled out 1/8 of my driveway and sidewalk. I still could not get out of my garage to get to Walmart. I had to give up shoveling to teach a private lesson, and my hope of getting a camera that day. No pictures of me tumbling down the hill this time.

As the lesson was ending I heard a great noise outside and low and behold the best home teacher ever had come to rescue me!! It took him minutes to clean out my driveway, I was so amazed and very grateful. I need to get me one of these for sure.

The ski trip was canceled due to all the snow closed roads, no camera no problem.

I was able to get out of my driveway and make it home for Christmas, which I spent at my sisters home. Santa knew exactly what I needed and I received this beautiful camera, and a pink tool kit.

After opening presents we proceeded with the next Christmas tradition: Dad makes omelets for everyone, yum! This is one of my favorite holiday traditions.

Chloe even had a little Christmas fun, and my niece and nephew were so kind to feed her everything they did not want to eat off of their plates.



During my break I also got to visit friends, help hang shelves,

and make pecan fudge with my grandma on her birthday. This is the best fudge ever. I am posting the recipe so that you can all give it a try.

1 tall can of evap mild

41/2 cups sugar

1/3 margarine

cook 6 minutes full boil, take off heat, add 3 pkgs chocolate chips and two pints marshmallow whip, 2 cups chopped nuts. Stir until smooth and turn into a pan until cold, then cut.

Yum Yum.

Overall a great break visiting friends and family. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season too. Happy New Year.