Feeling guilty

As we drove home after skiing for 4 hours yesterday, I was feeling very guilty. There was still so much powder to be had. Darren and I had enjoyed 4 hours of exhausting fast skiing. Every run we took was covered in wonderful fluffy white stuff.

Sadly though, we had to leave. I for one was getting sloppy and was falling down too much. Falling down in at least 3 feet of powder is quite the workout when you are trying to get up!

Darren lost a ski at one point of the day, but thankfully managed to find it buried deep in the snow. Solitude Ski resort is wonderful and so is my husband!

Our Christmas Holiday

What a week for snow around here. Most of my friends either don't live around me, don't ski or have a job... so I couldn't find anyone to go up with during the amazing snow days. Thanks to my sister and my parents, Darren and I went up the 24th morning and skied a wonderful half day alone. They opened up Honeycomb Canyon just as we went up a run, and so we had three runs of blissful powder... floating on feet and feet of fresh powder. It is magical!

Then my parents brought up the kids and skied with us the rest of the day. Ella didn't fall asleep this time which was REALLY nice!

Christmas Eve night we had both sets of Grandparents over. A simple dinner with wonderful desserts. Followed by a great puppet show about Jesus being born. A few songs were song and Tyler preformed a few songs on the piano. Then we headed over to our church for the Neighborhood Christmas Eve devotional.
Christmas morning found us bright and early. 7:30 I guess isn't too early! Pat and Seth joined us for the festivities. It was a wonderful Christmas morning. Ella got a few more princess items and was as happy as could be.
Grandma Balls made my kitchen helpers aprons just for them. We have already used them.
We spent the rest of the day relaxing, talking two walks, visiting my parents at their house to open socks and a few more presents. Then to finish off the night we went to my Grandma Elaine's house. The kids love Aunt Linda because she has so many fun things to share with them. My Grandma just called me a few minutes ago, just to tell me how much she was like Ella when she was young. She was active, excited, full of joy, bouncing... I asked her for some advice of how to be the best parent to her and my Grandma said, take your vitamins, just take your vitamins!

Ella first day with no ropes

This is Ella skiing the run before she fell asleep (while skiing)

What Darren has been doing!

Wasatch Dawn Patrol - Nov 30, 2010

A fun weekend

We went downtown this week on a Tuesday. It was much less busy than a weekend, yet still very full! It was warm which made the whole experience more enjoyable. One youth group even gave us all hot cocoa and fresh doughnuts.

Here is the best story about our weekend.

We took the kids up skiing at Solitude. They did really well. So much so that Tyler went down a few blues. At the end of them he said his little legs were tired!

Ella was ready to take off the ski ropes from her back. We hold on to the ropes to slow her down. But she was ready to just work on skiing on her own. She and I skied several runs on the beginner hill alone. Then Darren and Tyler came over to see how she was doing. The time was now about 3:15 pm. (Ella usually naps around 1:30 every day)

Darren rode the lift up with her. He commented later that she was rather quiet as he talked to her. We get off the lift and start skiing down. I have to keep reaching out to her and slowing her down. She was just going so fast. Each time I grab her she kind of laid her head down on my out stretched arm. I didn't think much of it, just that she must love her momma! But by the third time of racing up to her and slowing her down , and the third time of her laying her head on my arm... it came together in my head. I bent down and look at her eyes through her googles. SHE WAS ASLEEP! Eyes closed and all!

I picked her up mid ski run and carried her down to the truck. Darren undid my skis and I walk her to the truck. We take off her hat, goggles, skis, boots, and coat and she doesn't even move. I lay her down and she sleeps!

Other news:

• Darren has been skiing early mornings with a friend. Mike, his friend, calls the group he skis with the "Dawn Patrol". I will post a video of their fun adventures. Darren isn't actually in this video. But I think my husband is pretty cool for getting up at 5:00 AM and hiking up a mnt, skiing down and then heading into work!
• I have been climbing still with my friend Ang. It reminds me that I can be a mom, a wife and still be Amy- having fun!
• Tyler is working on Spanish still. He is also practicing the piano a lot.
• Ella doesn't sleep in a crib anymore. She is almost three and I just felt guilty putting her in a crib. But in the last 7 days of no crib, she has taken two naps. She just doesn't want to nap anymore. We all pay for it around 5:30 when she falls apart!
• I got to ski two runs on my own yesterday. Wonderful powder. Darren gave me his "old" skis. Wow! What a difference. I was skiing on skis that were only 9 years old but it was night and day difference with newer skis.

MERRY Christmas Everyone!

Or Happy (late) Hanukkah

Getting Older

I turned 31 on Friday. It was a great birthday. Yet it was so different than any other birthday I have ever had.

This birthday was quite, not too many people and just for me! Darren and Tyler "surprised" me with breakfast. We did put candles in the omelet and it was good! I met Darren for lunch with the kids. Then the kids and I went to Provo to rock climb with my friend Ang. The kids loved it... and so did I. We try to go every week, so they are finally getting better behaving there (which makes for a more enjoyable experience).

Then the rest of the evening just fell into place. I was so grateful! We had to go to a work party in Alpine. The kids got to play with my cousin Kimi and Carlee. They loved it! But the best part was putting my kids to bed at home, and having them wish me a happy birthday all day.

Then Saturday Darren took me on a date. Mexican food at the fish taco place - No I didn't try the fish tacos, just Darren did. Then he told me he got tickets for some movie... "The Tourists" or something like that. I tried not to be too disappointed. But Darren said I failed miserably! I couldn't tell if he was serious- I kept saying, are you serious, you didn't get tickets for Narnia, the Dawn Treader?

He finally told the truth, He did have tickets for Narnia! THANK GOODNESS! I have been so excited to see it!

Does it mean I am getting old when I like quite peaceful birthdays with my little family!?