My Lil' Winter Olympians--Part 2

Just wanted to share a few pics of the kids at the ice rink. As if weekly trips to the snowy hills of Sundance were not enough, I've also got the kids in ice skating lessons too (that way if they aren't good enough to medal in snowboarding, we've got ice skating to fall back on :)

I should point out that I'm not REALLY trying to raise winter Olympians. (I've not actaully a fan of winter--and truth be known I think snow is just annoying :) But I had decided that it might be nice for Kobe to learn to play hockey--I am from Chicago after all. Hockey is a much more common there than it is out here thanks to the Black Hawks. Anyway, the only problem for my future hockey star is that they want your kid to actually know how to skate before they let you sign them up for hockey (Go figure!)

This is not their first time around the rink (I broke my wrist several years ago after an ill-conceived attempt to take my kids roller skating. After that, I promptly signed them up for ice skating lessons lest they develop a life-long aversion to anything involving skates :)
My plan must have worked--they've been enjoying their time on the ice (the two little people on the left belong to me :) If you've got recommendations for the next winter sport we should try, let me know. Who knows, maybe I'm raising a future luge medal winner?

Life on the slopes

I decide awhile back that I would be a bad, bad mom if my kids didn't learn how to ski or snowboard. I mean, we DO live in Utah (you know, the place with "the greatest snow on earth.") Plus I'm pretty sure we've got snow on the ground for at least six months out of the year. Let's get those kids out on the slopes!!

Anyway, I'm also a smart enough mom to know that it would be best if I left the teaching on this up to the experts. So I was very glad when the kids brought home a sign up sheet for an after school program at Sundance--four lessons, lift tickets, and all the 'boarding gear they need. Let the snowboarding begin!! Here are some pics of my future Winter Olympians getting geared up (Just in case you've been living under a rock, snowboarding has been an official Olympic sport since 1998.)

I think the kids were a little suprised and/or possibly embarassed when they saw me up there earlier this week snapping pics. But a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do! (Never mind the fact that I was only up there because Norm and I were going to see a screening at the Sundance Film Festival that night) And I'm also just going to assume that Tehani does not spend all of her time sitting on her her bum out there.

So if you are ever in town and want to hit the slopes, just let me know. (I've got two kids that you can take along with you :)

Shades of gray

So the other day when I was driving the kids to school when we got into a discussion about the MLK holiday (I believe Tehani called it Civil Rights Day) Tehani asked why they had a day off of school and I explained that at one time, there were separate restaurants, water fountains, etc. for whites and blacks. She asked why and I explained that the white people at the time thought they were better than the black people.

I went on to give an explanation about MLK (thinking back now, I'm pretty sure the kids had probably tuned me out by this point) Anyway, some where midway through my intro into the "I Have A Dream" speech, Tehani interrupted and asked "What water fountain would we drink from?"

This wouldn't be so strange other than the fact that Kobe has asked me on several different occasions if he is black (he even asked me once if he was African :) I explained to the two of them that they were brown, not black. Tehani said that she thought that brown WAS the same thing as black. Brown, black, yellow, white--at this point I've decided that being color blind wouldn't be such a bad thing :)

Happy Civil Rights Day!

R & R

I enjoyed some much needed (and much appreciated) Rest and Relaxation this past weekend with a quick jaunt to Sin City with my good friend Simone. Simone and I used to travel together a lot before we both got married, so it was fun to enjoy a girl's weekend away (just like we used to do back in our single days :)

We did a lot of walking, a lot of shopping (new jeans for me and some Valentine's Day presents for the kids :) Oh, and A LOT of

eating. Too bad THAT part of my Vegas trip doesn't stay in Vegas! (Heaven knows I don't need those extra calories--but the Tiramisu from Maggiano's was worth it!)

Thanks Simone for suggesting the trip (and for being such a good friend :)

Sundance Swag

Just wanted to show off some of the "swag" I got from the Sundance Film Festival tonight. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to be a volunteer at the Film Festival this year (ya know, in all my free time :)

Anyway, its been awhile since I've volunteered anywhere (OK, the last time I was a volunteer, it was for when the Olympics came to town. In 2002. Tehani was one.) I've actually volunteered for the Film Festival in the past so I realized that this might be just the gig for me. I mean, I'm definitely not ready to get into a "long term" volunteer relationship right now. The Film Festival only last 10 days. I can handle that kind of commitment, right?

I'll let you know how my new "relationship" works out (oh, and if I see any cool films :)

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Happy Anniversary

So my parents celebrated an anniversary this week. Being married myself, I've become more and more impressed with the great marriage that my parents have. They should be on Dr. Phil or something--either that or at least write a tell-all book sharing the secrets to a happy marriage...

Anyway, in honor of their 41 years together (and no, that number is not a typo) I wanted to share with you some of my fondest memories of their marriage:

I can say in all of my years in living at home, I never ONCE saw my parents fight (For all I know, they fight like cats and dogs now but as a child, I never once had that thought that my parents didn't love each other :)

I never heard either parent under cut or undermine the other. Don't worry, I still followed the #1 rule of being a kid and made sure to go ask my Dad after my mom said no (It was pointless, since he always backed her up. But I asked anyway.)

My Dad always remembered my parents anniversary. And my mom always got red roses. I'm sure at one point in time she got just a dozen (you know, like normal people do) but she has now worked her way up to two dozen. I guess after you've been married for anything over 20 years, you deserve more flowers....

I am pretty sure my mom has every card that my father has ever given her (No she is not a hoarder, just sentimental I suppose/hope)

Right before I left for college, my Dad used to try and gross me out by kissing my mom in front of me and saying loud enough for me to hear, "Slip me the tongue, honey!" I'm sure the two of them thought they were being so funny. I pretend that I was disgusted but I actually thought it was the cutest thing in the world)

Anyway, here's wishing you guys a Happy (belated) Anniversary. Here's wishing you forty more years of happiness (and slipping each other the tongue!!)