SKI KARMA?

After enrolling my son in a ski school class (since teaching him ourselves seemed impossible) and watching him learn to love skiing, I decided to become a ski instructor myself. I went through the necessary training and paid my dues and Brighton Ski Resort hired me. I was so excited to teach and also improve my own skiing in the process. Season one was a complete success, no injuries, had fun teaching, improved my own skills, increased my drive to learn and teach and become the best I could. Naturally I was looking forward to Season two. I got the call that I was on for another year and was geared up to teach again. Winter hit Utah early and we were off. My kids (6 and 3yrs) were excited about getting their first season passes my husband was enjoying the perks of me working at the resort and I was excited to teach again. My schedule was one day a week (Sunday afternoons) perfect. Plenty of time for me to ski for fun and get the kids up. January 18th changed a lot for me. I was teaching a lesson with 2 kids who were having a ball, finally getting it, learning turns and smiles all the way when out of no where my world came to a stop. I was taken out at the base of the hill (next to the slow sign) by an out of control snowboarder. I was completely knocked out and when I came to it was like a dream. My head was spinning and my face was bleeding and my left shoulder hurt. I saw the look on my kids’ faces and hoped that this would not scar them for life and I hoped that they would return to the hill. Patrol got to me pretty quick and asked me what happened and who did this and to my surprise the person who hit me was no where to be found. A Hit and run on the hill! What, people actually do that! I was taken to the hospital with a concussion (even with a helmet) and a broken collar bone and a busted up face. I had one thought - Karma! Will it come around for that guy…… who knows? I am not one to wish bad for someone but COME ON at least have his board stolen or broken and his pass yanked! I can’t ski now for two months so he should not be able to ride that long either. That kid needs to learn his lesson. As an instructor we are taught to teach about Safety, Fun, Learning. That kid needs that lesson.

Are You Ready To Ski?

Ok so it has now been a whole month almost since my last entry. Since then the snow has come. The ski resorts are opening and I am getting ready to teach for my second year at Brighton Ski Resort. Last year when I tried out I mainly did it so I could get a free seasons pass which is way cool but learned that I actually like teaching. I got to work with alot of kids and watch them finally get it and even though I was teaching them they were actually teaching me. I had alot more time on my skis last year and I think I got better :) When you teach you break things down into a step by step process and that actually helped me think about what I was doing on my skis and correct anything that I was not doing right. This year I have a desire to really step it up and learn that pesky powder business so it doesnt look so painful when I come down the hill. Yesterday Matt and I and Collin went up to get our Passes. Collin and Evan are free but they can still get a pass with their picture on it for 10 bucks. It was cool to see my baby sitting there so grown up ready to get his pass. He has no idea what he is in for since this will be his first year on skis, but I hope he likes it and since he seems to do whatever Evan is doing I think it will work out ok. After yesterday I had a small glimpse into my future for my Winter Mondays. (I have Mondays off at my other job) ...... next year Collin will be 4 so he can go to ski school and I can teach and then the next year he can ski all morning and then go to kindergarten in the afternoon and the then the year after that........... school all day so my mondays are mine again at least from 8:30am to 3:30pm so I will be skiing and teaching and probably a few naps!

I have been tagged AGAIN

Six insignificant things about me.....

HMMMMMM - This is hard to do since I am very significant :-)

1. All my pants get a hole in the same knee (my right knee) Wierd.

2. Sometimes I take more than one hot relaxing bath in a day. (It is my time to chill, read, and not ask a three year old if he needs to pee) good thing we have a good water heater.

3. I could eat spaghetti every day! I just love it!

4. I have to put lotion on my feet before bed! I just hate that dry feeling.

5. I never can remember if I locked my car or not so I often have to go back and check.

6. One of my all time favorite movies is "A League of Their Own"

Ok..... there you have it.

I now pass along this tag to my dear sweet sister-in-laws
Janie - Who I am totally jealous of cuz of her season pass to Disneyland and living just 10 minutes from there and Sara who I just love to read her blog.... she makes me laugh and I think she should write a book.

TIME CAPSULE

Yesterday I got to spend some time with my nephew Chandler before he had to go to football. He really wanted to make a time capsule to bury in my front flower bed. I gave him some ideas of what to put in it. He went home and gathered up his things he wanted in the capsule then we put all the items in the plastic bag, taped it up and then put that inside a metal tin and then duct taped that up. He wrote his name and the date on the outside and he started digging the hole. I told him we should wait a long time before digging it up again. I thought it was a cool idea and I was proud of Chandler for working to complete it. When he puts his mind to it he truly is amazing. We just love Chandler and what a great example he is to our boys.

After he finished burying the box he played a little football with Collin. What a great kid!!!

I GUESS SUMMER IS NOT TOTALLY OVER

Last weekend we went camping in Arches National Park with a few families from our neighborhood. We had a blast. Evan and Collin ran around in the sand and climbed the rocks and the Whites had us hiking ever arch they could think of. Tim, Melanie, Abby and Matt are like energizer bunnies...... they just keep going and going. It was fun. My favorite hike was to Delicate Arch (the one on the Utah Plate) Matt said we have hiked it before but I honestly don't remember. Weird! Don't you think if I had been there before I would have taken some pictures and or at least remember the very distinctive slick rock hill we had to hike up? Well I will remember it now. It was cool. On Sunday we hiked around in Devils Garden and that was cool to. It truly is amazing that I really have not been there and it is pretty much in my backyard. What a beautiful state we live in. Thanks Tim and Mel for the invite we had fun!

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID "THIS" SUMMER

The Hanson Family summer is Go, Go, Go..... I really like everything that goes along with summer like Swimming (lots of swimming), Canyoneering with friends, Climbing, Baseball, Lagoon, Oakley Rodeo, Picnics in the Park, playing with the kids in the front yard, staying up late, BBQ's, (new to my list this summer was a couple of Triathlons) yeah, road trips, camping at Lake Yuba, having the top down on the jeep, singing on the front porch with my sisters and her Georgia Boy Kevin. We have managed to fit almost all we wanted to do in this summer Matt even got to climb Mt. Rainer and he finally got to canyoneer through Heaps canyon in Zion. (We will do a seperate blog about that). AMAZING! Here are a few pictures of how we spent our summer.

I will say even though there is a lot about summer that I love, I am also ready for it to be over (almost). The kids go back to school, the kids go to bed early, my shows start back up, I seem to be able to stick to a work out schedule when it is cold outside, ski season begins. I guess what I am getting at is that we live in a pretty awesome state. When you are sick of winter, spring and summer show up and when you are sick of summer, fall and winter are here again. How great is that. To top off what a great state we live in we also live in the best neighborhood ever. Friends all around for us and our kids a brother next door a sister across the street a mom (both our moms) less than a couple miles away, and big and little cottonwood canyon right out our front door for all our outdoor needs. How Great is That! Now that I have finally updated our blog lets bring on the SNOW!!!!

I have been tagged???

Ok to be totally honest I was not sure what being tagged meant but I looked it up (yes I googled it) here it goes Jess. Five things about me that most people don't know. That is a hard thing cuz I am an open book.

1) I really like to take baths - You can find me most nights in my tub after the kids have gone to bed. I usually have a book to read. I also usually have my Dr. Pepper in there with me. HA HA Sometimes if I don't have a book to read I will bring my ipod in there and just relax.

2) I have to put lotion on my feet before I go to bed. I am not sure why but I don't like that dry feeling on my feet in the sheets. There have been times where I hop in bed and forget to put on lotion and and think.... oh I don't need to tonight I am to tired but I always end up getting out of bed to put lotion on. I usually have the lotion on my night stand.

3) I like to eat cucumbers cut up and soaked in vinegar and I also like Rice a Roni the Sanfransico Treat (San-fran flavored kind) I only like it super hot right from the pan.

4) I loved teaching kids how to ski last winter..... I hope that I get that opportunity again this year. I am not sure if it was the teaching or that fact that I really improved in my own skiing. Either way it was all good!

5) I love being with my family - I guess that is not something that no one knows.


Ok so there you have it...... I am boring aren't I? In 5 years from now you can tagg me again I the list would probably be the same... Well if you are perfect there is no reason to change anything right! HA HA