Skiing across the country...

Or Cross Country Skiing - cause we would have NEVER made it across the country.  Last week Ben and I took a day off work and were looking for something to do.  He and I both agree - if you take a day off work, you can't just waste it lazily.  We were in Utah to visit my family for a couple days, since we won't be able to spend the holidays with them, and had originally planned on going snowshoeing.  We were hoping we would be able to rent boots since neither of us own a good snow shoeing pair.  Well - we couldn't find a place that wanted to rent them too us and late Thursday night we weren't sure what Friday would hold.  My mom had an idea that maybe Rick and Peggy, {their friends across the street} had snowshoes and boots.  She gave them a call and after Peggy had a big laugh picturing her and Rick on snowshoes and wondering what my mom planned to do with them she said, "Well we do have cross country skis.  Amber and Ben can use those!"

And use them we did!  Neither Ben or I had been cross country skiing before so we knew this would be quite the adventure.  We searched for a resort who had open trails, apparently they all open later in December, and finally found one in Park City {which we both decided later was really a blessing to get us above the yucky inversion}.  Plus the scenery was beautiful, so we suited up and were ready to go!

I was having quite the trouble getting my boot attached to my ski.  Finally, got it!

 Ben showing off his ski and balancing skills.

 We started with a 5k trail.  I was thinking.... "3 miles, I got this in the bag.  I could run this all day!"  Well cross country skiing is a lot like running on skiis, let Ben demonstrate... {you'll have to tilt your head, I can't get it to turn!}

 That's how it should be done.  But, you have these little poles here because what you don't know is that you can tip over at any second!  Let me demonstrate...

I honestly fell more than 15 times! I had to laugh because just when you thought you had it you would be on the ground face first the snow and not quite sure what happened.

 This was the best fall ever!  My legs were so tangled Ben had to come unhook one of my skis so I could move.  I thought falling was hilarious, I never expected to be fabulous at this from the get-go.

 Ben on the other had was quite annoyed that some instability was ruining his track record of being amazing at  everything.  I had to catch at least one picture of a little topple from my sweet husband.  He no where near caught up to my 15 awesome falls though.

We had a blast - falling and all.  Ben is not sure he wants to take this on as a hobby seeing as the best part of it was when we were flying down hills.  And let me tell you, getting to the top of those hills was no easy task.  My original thought that the 5k was going to be a piece of cake was just a tad off, but a good workout it certainly was!  I would love to go again!