Best Friends

Best Friends.  We all have that special person in our lives who we consider our best friend.  They are there for us through the good times and the bad.  We can call then up when we are having a bad day and they always know the right thing to say.  They make us smile!

Best Friends also come in unlikely combinations.  Yet the friends find a way to make things work for their special relationship.

Olivia has a special friend that has been in her class for the last 3 years.  During school they are inseparable.  They walk around the school arm in arm.  If her best friend had not been in her class this year I am sure that there would have been tears.

Caedan also has a best friend.  They met last year while skiing and instantly had a special bond.  Even during the summer months when we were not skiing Caedan talked about his best friend.  Then November rolled around, the snow was falling in the mountains, we were back on the ski slopes and Caedan was back with his best friend.

This is Caedan and his best friend Mitchell.  Yes, Michell is an adult.  Mitchell works at Steven' Pass as a ticket validator.  When you are little and a really good skier you get noticed.  When you go through the lift lines the lift operators notice you and give you high fives and cheer for you.  Last year Mitchell started giving Caedan high fives every time that we saw him.  Now, whenever Mitchell sees Caedan he will go out of his way to talk to him.  Caedan has decided that Mitchell is his best friend.  Yesterday while skiing we once again saw Mitchell.   

When Mitchell was done working yesterday he could have gone home or spent some time with his buddies.  But instead he asked Caedan if he wanted to ski with him and they set up a time to meet.  They rode the chair lift together (special perks when you are riding with a lift operator - you get through the line faster) and Michell followed Caedan down his favorite runs.  Mitchell showed Caedan some of the jumps on the runs that he likes to go off.  This lasted for four runs until Caedan needed to go into the lodge to warm up. 

So far the only downfall of Mitchell is that he is a snowboarder but we are willing to over look that fact in this case.

Just another day in Paradise

With all of this snow falling around us the Connor family is in heaven.

When it started falling on Saturday we were outside in the yard playing in the inch that was on the ground. 

Before we could play there were chores that had to be done.  The snow needed to be removed from the sidewalk so that it would be safe for visitors.

The patio and stairs also needed shoveling.

All that snow was then piled up at the bottom of the slide.

If you look closely Olivia is sliding on a snow shovel.

On Sunday we left the snow at home behind for a day of skiing in the mountains.

The day started out clear and beautiful with 7 inches of fresh snow on the ground.

We took a few runs through the terrain park.

Even Uncle Nic got in on some of the action.

Olivia, Uncle Nic and Auntie Sarah.

With more snow on the ground we enjoyed another day of playing in the snow today at our house.  We currently have a 3.5 inch base in our yard.

The kids enjoyed sledding in our yard for hours today.

Don't tell my boss but I am secretly hoping for a snow day tomorrow.  I love spending the day playing in the snow and warming up by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate.

Back in the Park

Two days into the new year and the Connor family was back on the slopes.  Having already skied eight times this season Caedan convinced us that it was time to try out the terrain park.  So we headed up the top of the terrain park to watch the safety movie that everyone must watch before entering the park.  Caedan watched the 12 minute movie and when it was over I asked him was he learned.  His response 'I don't remember.'  So as responsible parents, we figured that he was ready and we set off for the jumps. 

Olivia catching air.

The take off was good but the landing was a little ruff.  Even after crashing he was ready to keep going.  After his biggest jump, and biggest crash, he got up saying "Awesome!"

Olivia enjoying herself.

This one he landed.

Even Robert had fun.

Caedan sporting his new terrain park pass for the season.

As the photographer for the day I was not able to get any pictures of myself on the jumps.  But I am sure that if there was a picture it would have looked something like this: