ASPEN

Last week Aaron and I went to Aspen to visit Melindy. We had a great time! Aspen is such a beautiful little town. It was fun to get a little glimpse of Melindy's life and to spend time with her. Other than the one night over break, I haven't seen her since May! That is far too long.




The plane I took from SLC to Aspen only held 35 people. That included the 2 stewardesses and the pilot. I had never had to actually walk out to my plane from the terminal and climb up the stairs to get in. It was a tiny plane. The walk out to the plane wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been because it was snowing so hard. I felt like I was in some old movie! It was SO snowy in Aspen that there was no visible runway. Ya it was white... I swear it only snows when I am flying!







Melindy conveniently failed to mention that I would be in Aspen during GAY SKI WEEK until the last minute. So to support, we went to the Gay vs Straight Hockey Game, or as they called it: The Friendship Bowl. It was quite the experience... we were highly out numbered! And... the Gays won! During the game two guys came around with wristbands asking us if we'd like to come to the pool party afterwards... NO THANK-YOU! Melindy had to remind me several times that attending the game was all part of the Aspen Experience.

Melindy and I rented skis one day and went cross country skiing with the lady she nannies for, Stacey. I loved it! I would love to do it again. We started off on a little track behind their house, but then drove to a big golf resort and showed off our skills! It's a ton of fun and a great workout!

The kids: Carter (3) and the twins (11mo) Hayley and Tyler are so cute. We really enjoyed playing with them. They're lots of fun and they LOVE melindy.





















Other highlights of the weekend were ice-skating (it was so cold outside, -10 degrees, that being inside the ice skating rink felt so WarM, Hot Tubbing in the back yard and Snowboarding. Utah has great resorts, but nothing like Aspen. It was great snow too.

The only bad experience I had in Aspen was when the 3 of us were walking across the street in downtown Aspen, where the street are PURE ice (like I am really not exaggerating people, ICE), and I completely slipped and fell. Melindy & Aaron didn't even realize I was missing from between them and I just lay there. It hurt so bad and was so embarrassing. Traffic had to stop, some old guys were coming my way to help me up and two punk teenagers were laughing so hard they could barely get in their truck. To avoid help from an old man I quickly got up after about 10 secs, by that time my friends noticed the commotion and turned around and joined in on the laughter! Ha I couldn't help but laugh too. I was sore the rest of the week! (Steph- I think that triumphs over your parking lot story! haha)

It was a great 5 days and I really enjoyed my Aspen Experience.

Snowboarding

This semester I am taking a full load of academic classes, but I am also taking 2 snowboarding classes. They are the highlight of my week! Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 12:30 I meet the class at the football stadium, we load our stuff onto the bus and head to Sundance Ski Resort. Both days I am in a class of about 12 people, our instruction time is 1:30 - 3:30 and the rest of the time is ours. The lifts close at 4:30 and we have to be on the bus by 5; I get home before the 6. These classes are BYU's best kept secret! I love to snowboard now and am enjoying learning. I can now successfully get on and off the lift without falling, do J-turns, S-turns, the falling leaf, and I am beginning to carve!

The last 2 weeks there has been AmAzing snow. There was 17 inches of powder yesterday. At one point I was going down a really steep side of the mountain and the powder was up to my waist because of the angle I was at... it was heaven. I love the soft, loose snow! It makes those freezing cold days SO worth it!

Boots

Bindings

Snow Pants
Gloves
Wool Socks
Jacket
Season Pass
Goggles
Beanie

BOARD

Boots

Since I have lived in Provo I have been on a quest to find boots! It's been quite a process, but I finally found some that I like! The boots on the left were found at Kohls. I never go there, but my roommate and I decided to stop in a couple weeks ago. Vera Wang has a line there and apparently has my taste for boots. My favorite part about them is their leather smell! haha they have a nice heel and are so comfortable and warm. I wear them to church EVERY sunday! They are not, however, snow and ice proof. The first Sunday I wore them I went to walk up the little hill outside my house and slid right down! It was a good laugh for the roommates!


The pair on the right I wear, no joke, everyday. I bought them when I was in Aspen with Melindy. They are Patagonias... apparently that's a good rugged outdoor brand. I don't know. What I do know is that the traction on those babies is AmAzing! I never slip and fall anymore! (more slipping stories to come) Sometimes I wear them on the outside and tuck my jeans into them and other times I just wear them underneath. They are the best purchase I have made all winter. Forget Dr. Martens, Nike, Puma, even Vera Wang. Patagonia ALL THE WAY! I think they are cute... maybe I just tell myself that because I love them so much, but even if they were the ugliest shoe ever, I would wear them because my feet and legs are NEVER cold and that is something that hasn't occurred since October!


And just to emphasize how cold it is here, this is what I refer to as the icicle bush right outside my front door. Today Brittani and I were sitting in the living room and we saw a neighbor walk by and kick it, the bush didn't even move! The icicles start at the top and hang all the way to the ground. ya, it's COLD!

The Best Friends in the World

I finally uploaded all the pics from Christmas break... lets face it I have been in a bit of a blogging rut. Ha But, I am back to it now... I have just been SO busy!



I had so much fun over the break being with all my friends; it had been a long time since I had seen most of them! Terra came down from Flagstaff, Kassidy and Chani came from Thatcher, our Mesa friends were there and Melindy even got to be there from Aspen. I didn't want to come back to UT after being with them, it's just so easy and effortless to have fun and laugh. We all know each other so well. I miss them so much!








One night we went ice skating, everyone did pretty well... but we had our fair share of falls!