Been Skiing

We took a trip skiing this week and have just returned this afternoon. We decided to go as a family, somewhere very close, since the kids have not skied yet and I last tried it 20 years ago. (my only previous experience was not so positive: in my 19 year naitivity, my "friends" took me up a mountain in New Hampshire by ski lift, left me and another newbie to find our way downhill as they skied laps around us. Did I mention I fell OFF the ski lift since I didn't know to lift the tips of my skis once on the lift and was therefore flipped out of the lift? It took the two of us 3 or 4 hours to get to the bottom of the mountain, obviously not the bunny hill they had promised to be taking us to. )

We decided to head to Boone where there were a handful of choices that seemed they would be fun enough for Keith without being too challenging for the kids and I to learn. A lesson was a must for myself and the kids. As we drove into Boone, it began snowing! It didn't stop until last night- meaning it snowed our entire time there. Who could ask for anything better than that? It was COLD...I mean, 12 degrees when we left the slopes at 10 pm Tuesday, 9 degrees when we began skiing Wednesday morning. But it was wonderful! We twilight skied Tuesday, had our lesson at 6:30 pm. With approximately 40 minutes in skis, Kendall really didn't need a lesson. She was a natural. She left the lesson and immediately joined her daddy on the blue run. I felt like I had the basic hang of it by the end of the lesson but stayed on the green beginner slope the rest of the evening getting more comfortable. Justin remained on the beginner slope with me for awhile but did 2 blue runs before the night was over. I never fell skiing, but I did have three tumbles in non-moving situations!

1. A snowboarder plowed me down during my lesson, I landed hard on my back, hitting my head onto the frozen snow, thinking I might have a concussion. Man, the muscles in my neck are still paying the price for that, but the headache went away after a few hours.

2. Later that same evening, I unknowingly stood with my skies crossed. When I tried to step sideways, I fell and landed on my right hand. Thinking, oh, I've probably sprained my working hand, but didn't. However, my right shoulder is still paying the price for that fall :)

3. Then the kicker! Yesterday, in broad daylight and for no reason at all...I was on the conveyor belt leading up the "bunny slope" and simply fell over! Why? I have no idea! It was hilarious/embarrasing. Mostly hilarious though.

By yesterday afternoon, the four of us were skiing the blues together. We also watched Keith do the black diamonds (I had never seen him snow ski). He made it look so effortless, just gliding down like he could have been holding a cup of tea as he skied straight down hill.
What a great experience! We all loved it. Couldn't have asked for better conditions in NC. It was the best family time we've had together, maybe ever!