Snowboard Dudes

The last full day at the cabin, Aaron decided to take the boys snowboarding. We had received so much snow, and it was such a beautiful day, he couldn't resist. Now, last year, both boys got on a board for the first time. Mason took a full-day lesson, and Zach hung out with Dad, since he was too young for the lesson. I was preggers, so I just watched from afar. Zach took to it like a fish to water! He just loved it! Going boarding is all he's talked about this trip. Mason, on the other hand, has less than a stellar experience. His instructor was Italian, and his English left a lot to be desired! He would yell instructions at the kids in Italian, to which Mason liked none too well. He, to this day, talks about his lunch experience as a prison sentence. And towards the end of the day, Aaron found Mason sitting off to the side of a run, by himself because the instructor left. NICE! Needless to say, Mason wasn't too thrilled about giving it a go again. But, Aaron assured him that HE would be his instructor, and they WOULD have fun! Fast forward to the mountain. Upon getting there, Aaron quickly realized that there was only one of him and two boys needing help. Zach to the rescue! He reassured Aaron that he'd be fine by himself. To which Aaron replied okay, and Zach was off. Next thing Aaron knew, Zach was yelling "HI" from the ski lift! He was off on his own! Aaron explained Zach's strategy to in Zach's words: "When I get off the lift I just fall down, cuz then the guy just stops the lift until I get out of the way. Then I strap on my boot, and go straight down the hill! When I get to the bottom, I just fall so I can stop. Then I get on the lift and do it all over and over! It's awesome!" Well, we all have to have a strategy in life! Aaron eventually taught him how to get off the lift without falling and how to stop at the bottom without falling. Mason took a little more time and patience. But, by the third run, he knew how to control his board and crisscross the run to board more in control! Both boys were pretty whooped by the end of the day (if you don't board, it is a tiring sport!), but both boys said they loved it and couldn't wait to go again!