Ski Bum

 2 THINGS: 1. It's already the end of January. 2. How the crap did that happen?!

It's always hard for me to change the year when I write the date- I am still wanting to write 2013!! Just when I feel like I get used to it- it changes! As a child I felt like the years were.so.long.! Summer was f.o.r.e.v.e.r! And Christmas!! Well, it took eternity to come around!
Not anymore!
Now, I feel like I need to start planning for Christmas- the week after Christmas!
And Summer- what summer!! Growing up sucks.

Anyway. Moving on. 

Santa brought Mack some ski's and boots this year along with a day pass to Kelly Canyon. He was so excited- but I think his dad was more excited than anyone! Santa also was able to get Randall and my dad passes to help Mack learn. 

He melts me. 

Thank heavens the weather has been great the last few weeks. When it's really bad the guys have to work, they plow all night and sleep most of the day. But when it's nice they feed cows, do some mechanical work, and sometimes get to go home early. I live for those days. 

A few weeks ago they snuck Mack out of school and went skiing for the day! I remember being a kid and my dad would let us skip school a few days to go to Targhee- it was the greatest thing ever. Ive been so excited to see Mack start this new sport. 

They said the weather was perfect, they were actually really hot most of the day! That and the hill was pretty much all theirs! I guess not a lot of people go skiing on a Wednesday afternoon! And Skiers lane chair lift was broke so the only lift open was Face. Which didn't bother them at all. Mack loved going all the way to the top. 

I love this picture! I remember him (My dad) teaching me how to turn just like that. 

My dad taught ski school forever when I was young. He taught all of us kids starting at around age 4. He then would teach at our school ski school program, as well as on the hill at Kelly Canyon for a few years. He loved it. He may say otherwise, but I think he has been anxiously waiting a long time to be able to teach his grandkids how to ski. 

Mack said he was nervous, but so excited to go. He was spoiled and had Randall and my Dad's full attention on the hill to teach him.  My dad was so patient with Mack and stuck with him the whole day. By the end of the day they were all exhausted, the last run resulted in my dad sticking Mack between his legs and basically carrying him down the hill! Mack was so wore out! 

(Randall was there to the whole time, he was Mack's cheer leader and the camera man.) 

Before they left I made sure they took a camera and made them promise to take lots of pictures. It was hard for me not to go! I can't wait to get up there and go with them next time. 

They said Mack did pretty dang good for his first time. He would stand up and cruise downhill, then fall down when he wanted to stop! They had to work on stopping quite a bit, and turning! 

The next few days after he was so sore! But he hasn't stopped talking about it since, I think he might be a natural, but I'm a little bias. 

Grand Papa Dean (That's what he prefers to be called!) and Mack have a pretty unique relationship. These two like to tease and wrestle and all always bugging each other. Most of the time Mack is the only boy in the chaos of lots of little girls- so grandpa is always a good sport and lets Mack wrangle him into doing more manly activities.  Mack tends to get spoiled, but since he is such a sweet kid I feel he is deserving most of the time. We are all pretty grateful to have Grandparents that are so close and always willing to go do fun things with us. (Even if they drive us crazy! ;)