Its Feb. all ready??

My friends it has been awhile. I have been reminded its NOT Thanksgiving any longer. I mean well, I do. So many exciting things have been happening, that I haven't had a chance to sit and tell you about them. I have ideas and things to say but they don't always make it to the keyboard.

Jacob is #92 Ashleigh second row behind #10

The children have started skiing. They are on the Hillberg Youth Ski Team (HYST). How exciting for two "summer" kids who have never been on skis. After three practices they were off to the big hill going up the ski lift. I find it easier for them to learn than their old mother. If Jacob falls which doesn't happen usually, he gets right up and starts skiing again. Same goes for Ashleigh. I think they are made of rubber and just bounce! I tried skiing, after not skiing for 23 years, and it was not pretty. I was a turtle. Yes folks, a turtle on my back. I don't bounce like tigger or bend like the children and get right up. I was embarrassed and felt like a real dum dum when my sweet baby girl goes its okay mama, I will ski backwards and help you down!!! I kindly told her to go away and made it down with out falling. When you first start to ski there are two basic positions... french fries (skis straight like french fries) and Pizza wedged like a pizza slice to help you slow down or stop.. My skis don't like pizza, like my stomach, my skis like french fries.. I felt like I was flying fast down the hill, which I wasn't according to Ashleigh. I kept saying pizza pizza.. go into pizza I want to stop.. Haven't skied since.

Luckily the children have and have improved every time they hit the slopes. A typical ski team day is get to the slope at 11:30am Saturday morning with skis, helmets, gloves, toe warmers, extra gloves, face masks, picnic lunch and everything else but the kitchen sink. Scott and I are in and out of the lodge watching them come down the hill. We don't leave the slope until 5pm or after. A race day is even longer!! We arrive at 8am and leave around 5pm after awards! We try to get in a bit of race practice on Friday nights when the gates are up and on Sunday afternoons when we get a chance. Jacob has learned that freestyle ski is the up and coming thing. You know.... doing snowboard stunts, grinding, picnic tables and rails on skis!!! The first time I saw him try a picnic table I almost jumped up out of my seat in the lodge. One of the dad's assured me it was the up and coming thing.. easy for him to say Dan is a ski instructor....

                                   My racers on race day!!

Ashleigh coming down the hill

Ashleigh crossing the finish line

Jacob down the hill

Jacob crossing the finish line!!

The first race was so exciting!! Jacob and Ashleigh did so wonderful in their classes.  Jacob won a bronze medal. He was so stunned. He didn't think he placed at all or maybe 5th but not Bronze medal!! The coaches wanted the boys to raise their arms as you can tell from the other boys, but Jacob was so surprised he just raised his finger. Ashleigh did not medal this time because she wiped out on the 2nd run. The judges combine run times and if you wipe out you are disqualified. Her first run time would have gotten her a bronze. She wiped out because she hit ice and then powder on a turn. However, my girl got up and finished. Despite her little knee bruised and swelling she finished all the gates and crossed the finish line. I was so proud of her for getting up and not quitting. A fry and hot cocoa made her knee feel better.

We have another race this weekend, tomorrow to be exact... at Alyeska Resort. I am excited about going too. Looking at the place online looks beautiful.

I have more to tell you! Exciting things in store for me.. I want to tell you all about how dreams come true hint hint..

Until then my friends. We are having so much fun in this Alaska snow. New sports, new adventures.. new opportunities. I will keep it more up to date on things Alaska.


With love,
Angela