Big Air 2009

Big Air 2009 was held Saturday at Beaver Mountain. We kept crossing our fingers for sun...we had some sun, along with some wind, some snow, and some cold temperatures. We were so excited to see our favorite ski buddy Gavin jump. His first jump was awesome but his ski released during takeoff. Amazingly he landed on his other ski and a boot. Gavin leaves for his mission in 1 month and we will miss seeing him at Big Air for the next 2 years.

Chet is looking totally "legit" in this photo.

Group shot with Izzy the lap dog.

Here are 2 of the craziest ski buddies you will ever

meet. Neither one of them skis their age.

Lori and Leanne and even Gary made the trip.

I captured Gavin's first jump with my new zoom

lens. Check out Gavin's loose ski in the lower right

hand corner of the picture.

Just loved Melanie the cow...not sure why she

wanted to be a cow that day.

Here's our favorite Big Air boy...and you should

have seen the size of the steak he devoured at

Hamilton's the night before.

These are some of my favorite girls...aren't they

the cutest things ever?

The Hlavaty's came up...this was Michelle's first

Big Air. Can you believe she's never been?

Gavin and Dean...what a pair.

Mama Lisa and 2 of her buddies Autumn and Sid.

What Little Boys are Made Of

This is what you get when your Sister and Brother-in-law go to Peru and bring you back a prize. What almost-12 year old wouldn't want to have this available for fun times? Chet has been asking if he can wear it everywhere. "Mom, can I wear this to tennis?" I said no...

I love this boy...he makes each day a treat!

Here we are trying to take a fun "girls only" picture

when we were ambushed from behind.

Hope Blooms

This beautiful plant has a special place in my heart. Dione was first drawn to this plant by it's unique beautiful red blooms. They grow and blossom in such an interesting way. She bought it for her sister almost 1 year ago. This plant has survived the most extreme conditions. Last spring was one of the coldest I can remember...we dusted snow from it's petals. Last summer it baked in the heat of a Cache Valley sun. Dione hinted several times that I could get rid of it, but it is more than a plant to me.
Last fall I brought it home for some TLC. I wish I had taken a picture of it so you could see how sad it was. There were no leaves or blossoms and some might have thought there to be nothing left. I replanted it with a shot of some good fertilizer...the shock was almost too much. I wouldn't give up... I gave it a prominent place on the window sill which is bathed in morning sunlight. I will not lie...it might even have received the "bottom of the glass Diet Coke" every once in a while. Slowly this plant has come back to life. We remarked at the progress with each new leaf and then finally a blossom with many others to follow. It isn't the same plant that first caught Dione's eye...but this new plant is beautiful in its own way. I applaud it's progress, tenacity and most especially the ability to survive. I have named it Hope and today...Hope blooms!

Heels or Flats

Dean just returned from a 10 day trip to Brazil. While he was there, I received a text message from him that said "Heels or Flats?" Apparently the country of Brazil makes beautiful designer shoes. So... my sweet husband was doing some shopping for me and wanted to know what I would prefer. I responded like any woman would and said..."Both!" The shoes are wonderful quality with fine leather, some bling bling on the flats, and incredible embossed soles. I would have to say they are the nicest pairs of shoes I've ever owned...and I've had a few shoes in my lifetime.

Road Trip

Dean was invited to a "guys only" cat skiing trip in Steamboat Springs Colorado. Somehow he talked Izzy and I into making the 7 hour drive with him. Did you know there are "pet friendly" hotels around? Highlights of the trip...hours of needlepoint applique quilting while driving, getting lost in Wy-freaking-oming when the GPS lady wants us to take the mountain pass that is closed in the winter, watching my giddy husband return from one of his best ski days ever, Izzy eating peanut butter from the hotel breakfast buffet, pancakes at a diner called Freshies, and most of all... hours of great company with my favorite man in the world. Sometimes you have to stop thinking about the long journey ahead and just enjoy the moment.

Izzy and Dean chillin' in the hotel.

Early morning start at Steamboat Powdercats

This is Tigger the snowcat. Apparently this thing
can get almost anywhere in the back country.

Dean doing what he does best and enjoying every

second of it.

Conditions were perfect. 5 days of previous storms

and a bluebird powder day.

There is a winter sports training facility right in the

middle of town called Howelsen Hill. Notice on the left

the old lift. You "ski" up the hill with this chair/seat thing

behind you. On the right there are many training ski

jumps. It was very fun to watch them jump.

Izzy and I found a beautiful place for a walk.

Is there a more spoiled dog than this one...I believe not.