Fantastic February Fun

February has been fun and eventful with a little mishap in the midst of it all. Check out my other posts for a recap. 

 

Sun Valley- Sledding Mishap

After getting back from Hawaii on the 11th I decided it was already time for another getaway.  It was Valentine's and President's weekend so I went up to Sun Valley, Idaho to a new friend Elissa's beautiful condo. Thanks Elissa!It was a fun girls weekend with Kelli, Kimi, Alli, and Elissa.   We shopped at the Goldmine, watched several old movies, played the game Ticket to Ride several times (it's my new favorite), ate at some great restaurants, ate a lot of junk food, sat in a giant hot tub (a pool converted to a hot tub for the winter),  enjoyed a nice sacrament meeting at the Sun Valley ward, went sledding, and to top it all off I spent some time in the Hospital.  

The Goldmine is a thrift shop in Ketchum and we found some sweet one piece snow suits.  The store's name is very fitting!  I also picked up some great goggles and a snow hat. 

 

We sported them around town on Saturday as we listened to a band at the town party.  We also were excited to go Sledding on Monday as we were all decked out in our new gear.  

Me, Elissa, Kimi, Kelli and Alli ready for a great day of sledding.

Elissa's magic carpet sled wasn't working out as well as she thought it would.

Sledding was a little short lived as I hit a huge jump on my 2nd slide down the hill. I thought I had chosen a good path but my sled veered to the left straight for the jump, I had no sense of how to steer my sled obviously.  I caught some serious air and apparently looked awesome doing it, but I landed extremely hard and I heard something crack in my back and was instantly in a lot of pain.  As I was rolling on the ground in pain my friends were laughing (they still couldn't get over my awesome jump) and I had to call them over to let them know I was really hurt.  I felt bad cutting our sledding trip short.  As I was attempting to walk to the car I decided I better go to the Hospital and get it checked out since I felt like I was going to pass out.  Good thing too because I ended up having a compression fracture in my back.   

This picture is so funny to me. It was taken just after I was injured.  I like that they are all posing while I am laying on the ground.  Notice the smile on my face, I was trying to pose for the picture as well even though I was in a lot of pain!  

I was glad to have great friends that took good care of me.  It was a little funny having Kelli push me around the hospital in a wheel chair and also nice to have someone to laugh with me as the doctor told me I would need to use a walker or canes to get around.   I started to black out while we were in the hospital cafeteria getting some lunch, Kelli was great as she got me a cold napkin and some ice cream.  I owe her one.  

 

Not a great picture I know, but we had to document the time spent in the hospital.  Really does anyone look good in a hospital bed?

I'm happy to report that I haven't needed the walker although it would have been pretty funny. I did carry a cane around when I went back to school but I didn't really need it.  I spent all of Tuesday sleeping and went back to work on Thursday.  I was feeling pretty guilty after being gone to Maui for a whole week and then needing to take more time off because I broke my back, my students were starting to think they had a slacker for a teacher.  I am feeling pretty good now but my back is still really sore and I have a hard time bending.  I guess we'll see what the doctor tells me tomorrow.  I am lucky cause I know it could have been a lot worse.  

Beautiful Maui

February 3rd to the 10th I went with 3 other friends, Kelli, Kimi, and Heidi to Maui, Hawaii.  Kimi's birthday was February 6th and it was the big 3-0 so we decided it was necessary to be in Hawaii to celebrate.  It was so hard getting back on the plane to come home.  We actually landed back in SLC at 5:30 am the morning of the 11th.  It was pretty rough as I went right back to work that morning with little to no sleep after the red eye flight.  At least my students seemed excited to have me back and they were pretty jealous of my sweet tan.  

Maui was amazing.  I am seriously considering moving there.  It was so beautiful and relaxing plus everybody was so nice there.  We loved just relaxing by the pool and at the ocean.  I decided that is the way to live.  How can I make that happen?  

Our Hotel was so nice.  We picked this hotel off of expedia because it said there was a rope bridge and water slide.  We were excited as we discovered that we had actually chosen a really nice hotel and the water slide didn't disappoint us either.  I don't think many guests at the hotel fully appreciated the water slide like we did. We could go over and over and every once in awhile we would have to wait for a little kid or two. 

 

I felt rich as they walked around with cold towels and otter pops as we laid out by the pool.  I couldn't resist ordering a drink and lunch one day pool side (it was expensive though).  Good thing I don't drink Alcohol I would have paid at least $5 more for my Pina-Colada- actually this one was called a Tidal Wave.  

We visited several different beaches so we could see different parts of Maui. 

We watched some crazy surfers in Paia.  It was so windy in Paia.  We tried to relax on the beach but couldn't handle the sand blowing in our faces the whole time.  

I loved the Old Lahaina Lua.

We braved the road to Hana, I loved it although it did get a little tiresome.  The waterfalls at the end and the scenery along the way made it worth it.

  

We went snorkeling at the Molokini Crater and Turtle town.  We were able to see several sea turtles along with some cool fish. 

  

It is whale season in Hawaii right now so we were able to see tons of Humpback whales.  It was fun to spot them as we would walk or drive along the ocean.  We were able to see several up close from the boat on our way to our snorkeling spots as well as a couple dolphins.  

The sunsets over the ocean are amazing.  

My 30th is next year and I am already thinking about celebrating it in Cancun or at least somewhere warm and tropical, any takers?

Bear Lake Monster Winter Style

One weekend in January I went to my friend Kelli's cabin in Bear Lake with a group of friends.  We always have so much fun up there.  Kelli and I have known each other since about 6th grade so I have fond memories of going to her cabin while in high school as well.  Last summer on a trip to the cabin we were playing on the beach and created a relay called the "Bear Lake Monster".  So we decided we had a new tradition and this time we held "Bear Lake Monster 2" winter style.  It was hilarious, not to mention exhausting.  I'm proud to say that my teammate Kimi and I took 2nd place with a time of 2 minutes 18 seconds!  We took plenty of pictures but luckily no one was at the finish line taking pictures so you are all spared from my cookie snot, sorry about that Kimi:)  

Kelli and Corey who lost and cheated!

The Champions Alli and Troy. 

We also had fun being pulled around on a sled behind a truck on the beach.  The beach was pretty icy in spots luckily no one was injured.  I also made one of the best purchases of my life up there- a pink flamed snow mask for my face, everyone was so jealous.  Luckily I am nice and was willing to share with others.  

It was such a pretty day and evening.  We were still out sledding when the full moon rose over the mountains and reflected across the lake with a beautiful winter scene surrounding Bear Lake.  I love being able to get away for a weekend with good friends, good food, and lots of fun!