Andreas visit and Josie's big race!

This weekend my friend Andrea came up from Texas for a visit. Friday we went shopping and out to lunch while Josie was in school. Luke took Landon up to the mountain to go skiing. While we were shopping we saw the funniest thing. There were 2 ladies, probably in their late70's riding the motorized 'animals' at the mall. We were joking that we will probably be those old ladies some day.

 

Meanwhile Luke took landon on the mini terrain park jumps. 

 Andrea and I headed up to the mountain friday night and got her all squared away with her rental gear. Saturday morning we all headed up to go skiing....Andrea was in good spirits:)

 Josie went to ski with her team while Andrea and I took a few runs with Landon before his lesson.

 Landon is in need of a haircut....his hair went crazy when he took off his helmet.

 After dropping Landon off at his lesson, Andrea and I hit the slopes....but poor Andrea was struggling with her boots not being comfortable and her legs cramping. Andrea rides road bikes over 100 miles in one ride pretty often, so she is in amazing shape and is very athletic....but her legs were not prepared for skiing! Poor Andrea had a meltdown halfway down our first big run...She was laughing too I'm sure:)

We made it to the 'back side' of the mountain and let Andrea rest by the fire pit.

 After the break we kept skiing. Andrea was a good sport, and for not skiing for 20 years...she did Awesome! The weather was great and not too cold.

Saturday afternoon we caught up with Josie's Ski team and Andrea was able to watch Josie practice the gates and ride the lift with her a few times.

 After a long day of skiing Josie insisted that she take a few runs with Andrea. I think Andrea was on the verge of passing out or collapsing from the long day, but like a good 'auntie' she sucked it up and took some runs with her. While we were waiting for the shuttle Andrea and josie got some refreshments:)

Landon loved his lesson on Saturday and even got to ski the back side of the mountain which he thought was cool. Saturday night we hung out at the condo and relaxed. Sunday morning we were up and at it again early. Josie had a race Sunday. It was one of the EEYSL races. EEYSL races are where girls from all the other local mountains come together to race and compete against each other. The other races Josie has done are home series races where you just compete against the girls from your own mountain. Josie was excited and the weather was perfect. Josie was trying to show me how to sit with your ski's in the snow...I caught her halfway down in her 'trick'

 It was a 'Bluebird' Day!

 on the way to the race I took andrea down a pretty steep run...I don't think she was too happy with me:)

 We met up with Josie. I took her pants and coat and waited for her at the bottom of the course!

 The race course was all netted off. Ski Racing is a horrible spectator sport, It is really hard to get a good spot where you can see the whole race.

 Josie Skied her heart out and did awesome! They make 2 runs.

After the race they have an awards ceremony. I'm not sure what place she got, but she was not in the top 10. There were quite a few girls she was racing against and she competes against 8 and 9 year olds. Josie only weighs 48 pounds, compared to some of the girls who weigh 80+ pounds on her team...so she just doesn't have the weight to get her down the mountain as fast as some of the older girls. She was a little down on herself and worried that she had not improved.

Andrea took a couple pics of Josie crossing the finish line.

 Today Josie received and email from her coach. He is really good with all the girls and has been a coach for a long long time. This was his email.

 It made Josie feel better and I thought it was pretty cool that he took the time to write her:)
Andrea photo shopped a pic of her and Josie on the mountain....

We headed home sunday night and Josie was wiped....

Andrea flew out today and we miss her already. Her visit's always go by so fast!