The Hazard Chronicles

This is one of those posts where I have a lot to catch up on. Let's dive right in:

Gondola at Silver: I have been meaning to write about this little observation for a while. Silver mountain is our home ski resort. It happens to have a long gondola that brings you from the parking lot to the lodge, which takes about 12 minutes. To many people this ride is an annoying part of the day and a waste of time. Every once in a while, on a really windy day, the gondola will not be able to run. And for some, all of this is enough to turn them to a different resort altogether. But here's my take- the gondola is actually a magical portal that takes you from the normal world of responsibility and rules to a whole different plane of existence- one of laughter, speed, soft snow, and good times. Where the only thing your cell phone is good for is playing music and taking pictures. Where you are officially on vacation. Kinda like dying and going to heaven. And obviously it's not really all these things, but it feels like it. Like, that ride is a definite threshold to a different kind of feeling. Something a mere walk across a parking lot can never achieve. And then, on the way down with the people you were with that day, there is nothing to do but soak in the last few hours- to talk and tell stories and just be together. It's great. To me, the gondola is a feature.

Casual date on the gondola. Great spring skiing- coats optional.

Addy concert: Addy played her saxophone at a school band concert. She had a few solos. She did a great job. It was obvious from watching her that playing music is something that she genuinely enjoys, and will probably stick with for some time even if she doesn't have to.

Ev concert: Evelyn played drums in a school band concert. I wasn't able to go due to prior arrangements, but it sounds like it was pretty good.

Maren voice: Maren started voice lessons, and she loves it. She is working on the song Mamma Mia, and when she sang it for me I was genuinely surprised. Maren is usually a pretty meek little girl with a voice to match, and I legit did a double-take when she started singing just to make sure the sound I was hearing was actually coming out of her mouth. For those who get the reference, think Sister Mary Roberts from Sister Act. That is Maren.

Maren and Schweitzer: Speaking of Maren...I went to ski at Schweitzer the other week with some friends and invited Maren to come along. Now, these guys are some of the better skiers that I know, and they hadn't skied with M before. To start out with, they suggested a little groomer, and asked if she would be okay with that. She replied softly- "Sure- whatever you want," and then nearly straight-lined the entire run from top to bottom, blowing everyone away. From that time on, the four of us skied wherever we wanted, all keeping up with each other, and whooping all the way down. They were obviously impressed with Maren's skiing, and went out of their way to tell her so on every run. I think that was cool. At larger resorts I usually spend most of my time with the older kids, and it was really fun to have this day with Maren.

Ev concert: Ev went to a metal concert the other night in Spokane with some friends. When she arrived back home near midnight and announced that she had spent the past four hours in a mosh pit, and that she couldn't hear very well any more, I'll admit to mixed feelings. My first was a parental protective response- are you ok? What can I do for you? And my second was one of near admiration- that's pretty hard core. You are so much cooler than I was when I was 16. I didn't say any of this out loud, but I really do think it is rewarding to watch how kids turn out. So far they have made it fun and easy by mostly making choices that I would agree with. Ev will officially be driving on her own in the very near future, and is talking about getting a summer job. These things are rites of passage than come with new levels of freedom, but I have all the same mixed feelings about them as I did when she walked in the door that night.

"I bought a cassette- how do you use it? It doesn't fit into my player."
Evelyn was genuinely surprised when I flipped open the case and handed her the actual tape. She didn't know that the case was a thing. Sheesh, kids these days.... 

Jackson Hole: We spent some time during our spring break to ski at Jackson Hole. It was so, so good and refreshing. We have obviously skied a lot already this winter, and there is a part of me that was feeling ready for spring. That was quickly put to rest though as Addy, Evelyn, and I skied the steepest runs we could find, hitting little cliff drops all along the way and then racing back down to the lift for another run. Also, I have to mention skiing with Lindsey and watching her blindly jump a cat-track onto a different run- how she let out a fearful scream in the air, and then disappeared from sight- and how, when I caught up, I found her laying down and laugh/crying since she had cleared a bunch of rocks and nearly landed herself in a creek with running water. Lastly, I'll mention confidently racing down several runs with Maren that, last year, she was scared to even get on. I think this is her year.

Waffles at Corbet's Cabin for lunch

Snow King with Shannon: Half way through our weekend we took a break from the big mountain to ski at Snow King- the "other" resort at Jackson. I haven't been there since high school, and it sure is interesting how perspectives change over the years. Anyway, we took this little break because Shannon (Rachel's sister) and her family came up to ski with us. Some of them have never skied before, and they had been up earlier to get used to the mechanics of the sport. We spent the day split between skiing with them and exploring the hill, and at the end I think everyone had a good time.

Lunch break at the car. Potato chips in a bun for this one.

And just a plain hot dog for Addy. Man, our kids are weird.

We found a fort at Snow King

Rachel and Shannon

Rexburg stay: After our last day at Jackson, Ev and I got in the car and drove home. I had to work, and Ev was going to a concert (see above). The rest of the family stayed behind to hang out with my parents. They went bowling, did some shopping, went to a potato museum (yes, you heard that right), and watched movies. It seems like a nice break. We all reunited last night when they pulled into the driveway, and we're already planning our next trip. 

Today at work, my office manager asked me if I ever like to just, you know, NOT do anything. Like, do you ever stop to just relax? I had to admit, I am not the best at that. To me, movement, change, and exploration is relaxing, whereas stopping to "rest" feels more like stagnation and wasted opportunity. I think that most people in our family would agree with this sentiment, though probably not to the same extent. We definitely like to get out though, and I love the times we spend together on these adventures. 

It's been a fun spring break. Have a good week!