Happy golden days.

Only three more weeks left. Then I get on a plane back to the East Coast! Meanwhile, I haven't really had any fun at all...

Once I got on the ski lift, that's when I felt REALLY home. The resort was practically empty...and I'm not lying when I say the round trip of each run wasn't even ten minutes long. Which then, of course, I had President Christianson's voice running through my head, "A ski lift is an incredible missionary tool. You have them trapped for eight minutes." 

I tried my best to talk to the one man sitting next to us that one time, but the other fourteen times it was just me and Dad. Don't worry, we still were each other's missionaries as we discussed his lesson on Joseph Smith in High Priests for today. (Yes, I got to come in to the class and add my five cents as Joseph's personal testimony-guard.) So, it was a great doctrine-filled day, along with filling my need for speed that I haven't been able to suppress for the past two years.  

Then the day finished off at the perfect place with some of my favorite people.

"Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more."

-Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Another dedicated post to skiing.

"Skiing: the art of catching cold and going broke while rapidly heading nowhere at great personal risk." -Unknown


That about sums it up. I think the only moments that make me tear up in the early morning is looking outside the window with inches snow on the ground. (That's not a joke, either. I know I'm weird.) Especially after this drought we've had! Anyway, yesterday was phenomenal. I got to spend the day with Jake and my dad up at Deer Valley. Since there has been no snowfall for 100+ days, (exaggeration) all the out-of-staters cancelled their trips to Utah. Needless to say, we had the mountain to ourselves.


Why do I love it? It's because I can go as fast as I want--and not get a speeding ticket. It's because I love the thrill of carving in control while focusing on technique. And, it's because I get to set aside a whole day to go enjoy the beautiful Utah mountains. The greatest thing about yesterday though, was I got to shred on these little beauties:

via: http://www.evo.com/skis/rossignol-avenger-82-ti-axial-120-bindings.aspx

Rossignol Avenger 82 Ti's. I got to demo them last year, and fell in love. They are thick enough to cruise through crud, but versatile enough to basically turn by themselves. So of course my dad got a pair this year, but chose to telemark this time, so I got to use them! I almost kept them for myself. Hehe. But, he also told me I may be getting a new pair of Rossignol's next year...hopefully I can hold out until then! 

So this was the picture of the day yesterday. I don't look as cool as Jake because I'm in the process of getting a new helmet and goggles. But he's got it covered with this new pair he got for Christmas. Man, this kid is a good skier! It was especially cool when he admitted to me on the lift that I was the only girl he'd consider going with because I'm the only one that was "good enough," and the only one that would race him. We actually had a record in our history yesterday: 45 second run. Yes, 45 seconds. He won though, sadly...only because I came upon some unexpected moguls. I may or may not have seen my life flash before my eyes. Of course this is after Dad told us to not get caught by ski patrol this time. Psh.

We were trying to get him to smile...what braces do to 14-year-old boys.

I think the reason I love skiing so much is because I grew up going with my family. It's been our favorite family activity ever since I can remember. I think it's safe to say that anyone that marries into the Hawkes family must enjoy skiing...or at least snowboarding. But then we'll just convert them.

Yes everyone, it snowed!

...in the mountains. But I can't not say anything about this beautiful weather outside. Excuse the plethora of seasonal blog posts for the next few months.

Why do I love this weather so much? I remember growing up and waking up to the sound of my dad's tractor shoveling snow right outside my bedroom window. He would make a huge pile of it right outside the kitchen and that's what we would play in all winter long. We tried making forts by carving mazes, but we never were patient enough to make it deeper than a foot. Sarah's glasses would get fogged up and that shaggy hair would get in her face while trying to distinguish herself as the general contractor. Nicole would try to push everyone off the top of "her" castle, and Jake would just sit there and watch, content as a blue marshmallow with dark pink cheeks cratered with dimples.


Half of us now are grown up and moved out of the house. One thing that brings us back together is this anticipation for the winter season to come. The leaves are changing, I can smell the hot chocolate, I'm planning what to surprise everyone with for Christmas, and I get a chance to spend a lot of time with my family. Since we're getting older, it's actually calm at the Hawkes' house now-a-days, so the Holidays will be relaxing and rejuvenating. Our cabin will even be (somewhat) complete to have Thanksgiving in! It will be the first of many Thanksgiving dinners in that pioneer-looking home on our farm in Idaho with a magnificent view of the Tetons.  The size of the cabin also reflects my parent's excitement for grandchildren. Maybe we'll have a big snowbank there for them to play on. Nicole?

 Halloween '97. A Spanish queen (?), a bear, and a...I have no idea.

Dad showing me what I got from Santa. Oh how I wish I could find another nightgown like that in my size...

Let's be honest, I think this weather is just getting me more excited for Christmas break to be here already. 10 weeks from tomorrow and I'll be out of my last final on my way home with a huge smile on my face.

My dad is cooler than your dad.

So my dad bought this a couple weeks ago. And he thinks I relive my high school days? 

Nicole, Sarah and Jacob were ecstatic. My mom and I on the other hand were covering our eyes while this Dumb n' Dumber look-a-like came scraping into our driveway. 


Aparently he got a good deal...? It's a good thing he married Miss America.
And I still love him.