Spring Break in Utah (March 21-April 1, 2013)

We always look forward to our ski trip out to Utah! Since we no longer get our Feb. mid-winter break here in Ohio our only chance to ski in Utah is during spring break in March. Thankfully this year it timed perfectly with Sean getting the boys so it was a full house at mom and dads! We were also very happy that Mother Nature cooperated and it snowed the day we arrived and for the next couple days which meant for some fresh powder in the mountains! Since Soldier Hollow had just closed the weekend we arrived we didn't make it up to our favorite tubing spot but the kids were able to get in a few good sledding runs at our favorite hill up at Sundance. This year they had put up a fence so the kids couldn't go up as high as they had in past years but they were still able to get some good speed.

Sage being cautious and smart...



Tyler likes to look for anything that slightly resembles a bump which would give him some air and I think he also secretly likes to wipe out...



Connor, our man of speed loved flying down the hill and off the brick wall...



Teagen was the master of turning...just in time...



And Chazzy just preferred to watch and hang out with his dad and Sage...



After a relaxing weekend it was time to head up the mountain for some skiing. The kids were excited to have their cousin Teagen join them on the slopes and it was clear how excited Teagen was to go just from watching all the times he tried on his skis and practiced his pizza and french fries moves before we even left the house. The jury was out however on how Sage would do this year after our not so pleasant experience last year. We enrolled Sage and Teagen in ski school together and we were proud of the boys for agreeing to also take a class together to help them improve their technique. Here are all the happy faces before!



And here are the real happy faces... :)



When we picked up the kids from ski school we found Sage and Teagen in a tent drinking hot chocolate. Who knows how much of the lesson they spent in there...lol! After lunch everyone was excited to get back on the mountain including Sage and Teagen! Unfortunately Sage's excitement didn't last long. We mistakenly took her up the longer beginner run that has blues and greens but it was clear she wasn't ready for that. When she would fall she'd get embarrassed and frustrated and would want to quit on the spot. Thankfully Paul has the patience of a saint and was kind enough to help us get her back down the mountain, most of it between his skis. This was one of her better moments...



Teagen on the other hand was dominating the mountain. He would just head down straight and when he'd fall he'd be up in a flash! Sean got some great video of that! After a nap in the car Jack was able to get Sage to agree to doing a few runs down the bunny hill which at least made for a better end of the day. Lesson learned: the same lesson we learned last year but didn't take...full day private lesson for Sage!!!

What would we do without Paul who takes the boys while we deal with Sage...



After being schooled on the mountain by Paul, it's sometimes nice to have leisurely runs with mom...



Thankfully the day ended with no broken bones and happy faces...



...Perhaps though not quite happy enough to bet on another day with Sage on the slopes so we sent her back to Grandma and Grandpa's with Paul and Sean while Jack, I, and the boys spent the night at Solitude. The kids enjoyed a reverse polar bear plunge and alone time with mom and dad.





Solitude is such a lovely place. We had a great room that overlooked the slopes and how nice it is to just wake up, eat breakfast and head out the door to the slopes. No waking early to fight traffic for the hour drive up the mountain and no feeling worn out after the first ten minutes from schlepping all the gear from the parking lot to the slopes. It was great! Paul had some homework to do so he couldn't stay the night with us but he was kind enough to head back up the next morning and spend the day with us!




Unfortunately Jack wasn't feeling well half way through the day so Paul and I divided and conquered the slopes each taking a turn with the boys so they didn't get stuck with me on the blues all day. I love at Solitude how wide open and large some of the runs are. By the end of the day the boys were wiped out! Paul had run them ragged on the blacks and they were feeling it! Needless to say the next day none of us could move...




Between feeling achy after two full days of skiing and warmer weather we decided to take a break and return to grandma and grandpa's! The weather in the valley was beautiful, 60's and sunny! But of course the best part is hanging out with the family. We had a full house at my parents including Gary and Kelly and the boys, Paul, Sean and his boys and us. We were sad that Steve couldn't make it though. It was an action packed week full of bowling, miniature golfing, a BYU football scrimmage and baseball game, speedminton in the backyard, Easter egg hunts,and lots of late night movies and malt shop stops! Jack even got in a hike with a friend, we attended a baptism for some friends of ours from NYC who were baptizing their son in Utah and I got to see Rachel at the BYU game. BUSY!








I love that our spring break always manages to time well with being in Utah for Easter...




The beloved Easter Egg Hunt!






Saying goodbye! Everyone loves being at Grandma and Grandpa's! We are so grateful for them and all they do to make us all feel welcome. Thanks mom and dad! xo