snow.board.

i like to think of myself as a pretty well-rounded girl. i pretty much love all types of music, with an exception here and there. i like to read, i like to watch tv. i like to cook, i like to eat out. i like to listen to music, i like to play music. i like my toe nails painted, and my finger nails plain. i like to wear make-up, i like to embrace my natural self. i love to talk, i love to listen. on and on, i can think of ways that i contradict my own behavior. so it doesn't surprise me that one weekend you can find me getting my emo on at a local show, and on another getting my jock on at a local ski resort.

i love, love, to snowboard.

the first time i ever hit the slopes was almost 12 years ago, and i had never stepped foot on a ski or snowboard in my life. i had no idea what i was doing, but 10+ years ago i was more fearless, and always up for a challenge. so there i stood with one foot strapped in and the other one awkwardly propelling my unstable, wobbly self forward towards the lift, straight to the top of the mountain. alongside me was another friend who had only gone once before, it was truly the blind leading the blind. i'm sure the sight of us piled on top of each other once the chair dumped us at the top, was one to behold. the rest of the day was spent teaching ourselves how to fall gracefully between the sporadic ride on our boards. it was rough, and had i had any sense, i would've either enrolled myself in a lesson or just thrown in the towel. but no. i was the crazy teenager that was determined to figure this out, all by myself. and so as soon as another weekend trip was planned amongst our friends, i went again. and again. and again. until i finally caught on. and by then, it was nearly impossible to keep me away. as long as there was snow, i was headed to the mountain. a few years later i even got a job up at the resort as a snowboard instructor and then when bryce and i got married, i played the role of instructor for him. i would've hated to have him suffer through what i did to teach myself, and so i spent the first few times there teaching him. it's one of my favorite ways to spend time together. talking and trying to stay warm on the lift, then chasing each other down the mountain. next year, is ava's year for sure. i'll be getting her up on her snowboard and teaching the girl a few tricks myself.
i can't wait.