:: Utah Olympic Park ::

This past weekend we finally made it out to Park City to look at the Olympic Park from the Winter Olympic Games that Salt Lake City hosted in 2002. We took one of Danny's workmates who was visiting from Toowoomba & made an afternoon of it.

There were some aerial skier's practicing which was lots of fun to watch. Sorry about the blurry video quality... not sure what happened there.

The boys loved playing on this replica bobsled!

Some of the toys made for the games. 

Medals

Looking around...

Some of the Opening Ceremony props. They were amazing up close.

Interactive sking game downstairs.

This is why we will be snow snobs for the rest of our lives. Utah powder on the right, most other places on the left. Snowboarding just won't be the same anywhere else I don't think...

:: an afternoon in Aspen ::

The highlight of our road trip to Colorado was the afternoon that we spent in Aspen, Colorado. I hadn't actually put our whereabouts into any kind of geographical context so on Saturday night, when I was researching on the iPad what we could do the next day, I stumbled onto the fact that we were about an hours drive from the world famous Aspen snowfields. Further research concluded that the next day was the last day of the ski season. Danny & I both concluded that we had to make the effort to go, despite a lot of odds being against us. 

I mean,  how many people can say that they have been snowboarding in Aspen? (Actually, not me cause I had to look after the boys, but Danny can!)

The town is basically a Richville with Gucci, Prada & Ralph Loren lining the streets just waiting for the uber rich & famous skiers to finish their day out & spend some money on pretty things. And yes, the  shopping district is just at the bottom of the ski slope! 

A very Gilmore Girls looking gazebo in the middle of the park.

The base for the ski resort that is right in the middle of town. There are 3 others that are part of the Aspen Snowmass ski resorts just outside the town too, all linked together for super skiing fun. 

We headed over to Aspen Highlands because it was the only one actually still open for the season. It's tradition on the last day of the ski season to dress up in crazy costumes & have a party around the slopes. The atmosphere was very fun & Jamin was the one in the family who fit in the most with his crazy winter hat & rockstar sunglasses.

At the bottom of the lifts.

Crazy costumes & the village shops.

Kael was very tired at this point but yet to have his super extreme meltdown in the middle of a snowstorm in the village park. Ah... such good memories.

The party at the top of the slopes just before a snow storm hit & put a dampener on the fun.

Here is the video that Danny took of a couple of people skiing & boarding through the pond. Jamin saw it & asked if Daddy had a go. Daddy said, "No, I didn't want to get wet!". I can understand that!

We have some fun memories from this afternoon that made all the pain, cold, blood (yes there was blood) & tears worth it. Sometimes you do just have to push through the hard times because you know that the memories on the other side will be worth it. This was one of those days...

+ a snowboarding update +

With only a week left of the ski season, we thought now would be a good time to take some video of how far we have come in our snowboarding this season.

Danny is feeling pretty confident with jumps at the terrain park.








We went up to the summit at Solitude & unfortunately it was very icey under the couple of inches of snow they had gotten the night before. These runs were a little out of my comfort zone but I was trying to link some turns until I have a nice stack. Didn't hurt too much...






Another video of Valerie & I trying to make our way down a messy run & not doing such a great job of it. It really wasn't very fun!






Although these video's don't really show it, there has been amazing improvement in my skills even since we got back from our trip to Australia. It's amazing how much difference a couple of sunny mornings on the mountain after some snowfall overnight can make! The conditions really are everything!

:: spring? ::

Last week I felt the giddiness of spring in the air. We played out the back in the very soggy sandpit, went on the swing & rode our bikes.

Then winter decided to remind us that it was not yet ready to loosen it's grip on us. We got a foot of snow dumped in the early hours of Sunday morning & throughout the day. This was great for Danny & I, who made the most of it on the mountain snowboarding & the boys who had fun playing in the snowy park & going sledding with Dad. 

But really, I just want to get back to those 20'c days & play outside.

Spring... come back please

:: jetlag vs. snow ::

Amazingly, there has been a pretty equal pleasure to pain ratio in the last 24 hours. A horrible night of jetlag, with various participants from 10pm till 4am, compared to an absolutely stunning day up on the mountain skiing & snowboarding. 

This is what Danny found this morning when he went into Jamin's room at 9.30am. 

We made it up to the mountain about 11am & spent the rest of the day taking turns skiing the beginner slope with Jamin & having some serious runs on our own. The sun was shining, there was 200ml of fresh powder on the ground & incredibly not many people out. Kael even got to have his first turn on the ski lift when one of the kind operators felt sorry for him being stuck down the bottom. He loved it!

I am so thankful that we can experience another 6 months of this beautiful place & I do just think that our adventures will make the plane trip & jetlag worth it. 

< jamin's first ski >

It's official! Jamin has inherited his Dad's natural athletic ability & my unwavering confidence when it comes to learning new sports. Danny & I have decided that it really is the best combination of our abilities & couldn't be prouder of our little 3 year old!! 

We headed up to Solitude on Sunday morning with our good friend Valerie who had volunteered to teach Jamin to ski. Jamin was very very excited & jumped right into the skis & off he went. 

Our little family at the foot of the beginner slope. Jamin is learning how to walk in the skis. Kael is still having a lot of trouble walking in his snow boots so he just hangs out. 

Heading straight up the lift. He loved looking out at the trees & the other people skiing although he did want to be on Mummy & Daddy's chair.

Here's his first ski down the slope. He has an amazing sense of balance & was pretty comfortable going at a medium pace. We were all pretty impressed.

Jamin saw Danny jump a few times on his snowboarding to get himself moving so guess who started jumping on his skis? Yes, he definitely is our little boy & no, he didn't even fall over (unless you count this one in the video which he does on purpose)!

By this point Kael was all kipped out, so him & Oma took a break & Kael had a little sleep. Apparently he attracted a lot of attention & conversation about kids skiing.

This video is one of Jamin's best stacks & he got up laughing. I think he is pretty used to hearing about us going skiing & coming home hurt from falling over.

This last photo is one of our favourites from the morning. He keeps talking about how "we are going to go skiing lots of times now, hey Mum?".  Not sure how Danny & I are going to get away to go snowboarding on our own anymore... 

:: a night away ::

Danny & I have just gotten back from a night away at The Inn at Solitude without the kids. It's amazing how much a mere 24 hours away from our normal routine can make. We started the day with Jamin having his first ski lesson (more on that tomorrow!) & then waved goodbye when Oma drove away back down the mountain. Next we took the lift up Moonbeam & had a picturesque lunch at Sunshine Grill. We snowboarded the afternoon away & then walked back to our room for the night. Doesn't that just sound like another world? It seemed like it to us!

I would have to say that the most exciting part of our time away was being able to eat, sleep & relax on our own schedule. Kids really do take over the day at home so we reveled in eating a snack at 5 o'clock, then going out to dinner at 8. We slept in till 9 in the morning, something we remember so fondly from our days before kids & just made it to the restaurant in time for breakfast. 

This night away has been many many months in the planning & has had numerous setbacks & changes. It really still amazes me that we managed to escape at all. Normally Danny & I go away every year for our anniversary but this year in August we were very far away from our babysitters. So 5 months later we managed to get everyone comfortable & healthy enough that we could leave the boys with Oma. 

So thank you Oma for giving us a much needed break & for surviving the crazy chaos that is our house full of two little boys. You are the best!

:: a chilly winters morning on the slopes ::

Winter here in Salt Lake City has been getting me down over the last week... so much so that if Danny said "time to pack up & go home" I would have whooped in excitement. But today seemed to make up for some of the summer homesickness that I am feeling. I am finally becoming more confident on the snowboard & am starting to really love it! It was a chilly -12'C temperature when we stepped out of the warm car this morning but we just geared up so that not an inch of skin was exposed & hit the slopes. The sun came out an hour or so later & the day got even better!

On the Sunrise Lift heading up the mountain. Its super slow but the scenery is spectacular.

Here's a little video to show you how my skills are progressing. This was at the start of the morning & I had actually improved a lot more by the end. It is just amazing to have the opportunity to learn to snowboard at a resort 30 minutes drive away. Rather than having to go through a painful week or two of a holiday on the slopes dealing with beginners injuries, we just head up a couple of times a week to have some fun & build on our skills.

And here is another quick video of the end of my last run for the day.

Danny had a great morning as well except I am not quite as skilled as him yet to be able to get a video of him while riding. Next week maybe? He went and explored up the Powderhorn II lift a few times to snowboard down Sunshine Bowl & Gary's Glade. He is doing so well & absolutely loving our new sport!

So for all you skiers & snowboarders out there turning green with envy while reading this... buy a ticket & come over to check it out. We have a basement that is just waiting for you to crash! You just have to put up with family life the other 80% of the time we aren't in the slopes.

:: an adventurous mishap ::

One of the things that I love about Danny is his spirit of adventure & guess who he got it from? His Mum! 

When Sue arrived in Salt Lake City a few weeks ago she was keen to try snow skiing for the first time in her life. She gave her travel insurance a call the night before our trip up to the slopes & upped her insurance to include sking & off we went. The first morning she had a lesson for a few hours to get the basics down, then she was off!

Down the bottom of "Easy Street" just near the lift. 

Looking pretty proud of herself for her great effort!

The next week Danny & his Mum & Dad headed back up the mountain with our friend Valerie for our normal Wednesday morning ski. Sue hit the slopes again with Valerie giving her some pointers. After a morning sking down "easy Street" Valerie thought Sue was ready to head up the Moonbeam lift to try out the next level slope "Same Street". Now I just have to say for the record here that I only headed up this slope on Sunday for the first time & my oh my it's just a little bit daunting. Nothing like the bunny slope that we had been learning on! But here is a video of Sue doing an amazing job skiing down the first part like a pro... except for the bit where she crashes at the end.

Unfortunately it wasn't this ski where she fell & tore her ACL & MCL, rather the next one. Oh dear. 

Danny snowboarded down to get some help while Valerie stayed with Sue. Then these guys show up before Danny could even get back. They just patrol all of the runs looking for people who might need some help. 

The tobagan looks pretty comfy & they put her leg in a lovely splint. I think they might have done this a few times before... They did comment that everyone was far too cheery for it be too bad an injury.

And down the hill she goes! Looks kinda fun hey?

They have a pretty amazing medical clinic at Solitude, complete with X-Ray machine. Although she went for an MRI later in the day, the Physician's assistant here was spot on with her diagnosis. 

Sue has been recovering really well over the last week & she started having some physiotherapy yesterday. She might not be up to any sledding with the boys just yet but she is still making the most of the holiday. 

:: a snow date ::

Danny & I were totally spoiled today by Danny's parents looking after the boys so that we could have the day to ourselves. We started off having a late breakfast at Silverfork Lodge, a great bar & restaurant just before Solitude Ski Resort.

A photo of me sitting next to a toasty fire, waiting for our pancake stack whilst watching the snow fall outside. This is the life!

Next we headed up to Solitude and hit the slopes for some snowboarding. Today it finally clicked & I was linking turns coming down "Easy Street", the beginners slope. After perfecting some turns Danny took me up the Moonbeam chairlift & I scared myself coming down "Same Street". Have a look on the map & see if you can follow our path. After a beer in the heated pub overlooking the slopes we headed over to the Sunrise lift & headed down "North Star". It was very steep & I got pretty scared. There was so much snow that it was affecting our visibility & there was almost too much powder to try & board through. It was rough & I was tired so I ended up getting out of my bindings & walking down the last part of the slope. A big day but lots of progress!

Danny & I on the Link chairlift.

So much snow!

A cute picture of our boards outside the pub.

We returned hot very soggy & sore to some welcoming children who have steadily deteriorated into grumpy children as the afternoon has progressed. Glad we had the morning off!

:: snowboarding for beginners ::

My sister has requested that I post a picture of all of my new snowboarding gear. Danny & I made the most of a Jamin-free Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago (he was having a play date with Boston) & headed to our local Ski'n'See shop to buy ourselves snowboards, bindings, boots & helmets. We got some really good deals but I have to say that I certainly noticed an increase in speed having a brand new board with no battle wounds. As a result I am going to have to miss our weekly ski tomorrow while my tailbone heals up again. It is really the most excruciatingly painful injury.

Here's a video of Danny taking on an intermediate run called Little Dolly. Don't tell him I told you but he actually ran into a fence just after I turned off the video :)