Skiing with the Family

We decided before we came to Utah that we would get season passes. We started the whole process in September, buying pre-season discount passes at Brighton. The military rate was $500 for Clint and $500 for me and the kids were free. Quite the steal. Then we started the process of acquiring gear! We knew we could rent the boys skis/boots/bindings for about $120, but we managed to buy them gear for less than that. Notable deals--Jack's $5 skis and $10 boots from garage sales, and Cole's $100 boots that adjust up 4 sizes! We got their bibs at Target for $10 and they are really good quality. We got their coats at the Columbia outlet in Park City for $40 each. Clint and I got our Solomon jackets used and Clint uses his Navy pilot winter goretex gear for his base layers and pants. We still spent quite a bundle as we were starting without a hat or glove among us. Clint made up a spreadsheet to check off all our gear as we acquired it. Shopping can be its own kind of fun.

Since Clint and I are just intermediate skiers and didn't feel qualified to teach the kids, we put them in ski school and we started early enough in the season that they always got their own instructor, even though they were paying the group rate.
The ski trips do not come without whining. I think their favorite part is still the snack bar and hot chocolate.
I tell Talmage we have to have at least one "Yippee!" moment before we go home.
Woo! Clint!

Clint and I have enjoyed a couple of afternoons skiing just the two of us. Once when they were all in ski school, and once after we dropped Jack off for Kindergarten. We drove up, skied for a glorious 1 hour and 20 minutes and drove back down the mountain just in time to pick the boys up from school. Sitting on the ski lift in in all that beauty and perfect stillness is to be far away from stress and full of awe of the beauty of the earth and the pleasures that are in life!

We've been skiing 13 times, but haven't been there in a month! It's time to get back up there!