Super Angie...spinning

I'm so proud of the progress I have made on my spins. :)

Super Angie...Training Hard

Rick went out this morning to train in our 11 inches of snow. Wearing his Lowe 8000 Meter boots, he was ready to do some serious Denali training. NICE WORK!

Super Angie...welcome Spring

How do we say Spring? With 11 inches in 24 hours! And no, there is not a Snow Day--school starts on time, of course!

Super Angie...ugh

I'm not feeling well today.

BUT I'm happy. I have my kids and my husband all here together, so life is wonderful :) Yesterday we spent the day together, running errands, eating, playing. And then we got a sitter and Rick and I enjoyed a nice date night- shopping in Breck and at the outlet mall and then a nice dinner at Kenosha Steak House in Breck. Mmmm...LOVE their burgers!!!

Friday we went to Denver so Rick could see about getting some things for his upcoming trip to climb Mt. Denali in Alaska (the tallest mountain in North America). He is NOT taking the normal/easy route. He is climbing the NW Buttress route which is mostly all ice climbing. He will summit both the north and south summits. I'm so proud and excited for him. So, we went to Neptune Mountaineering store. Such a historical shop. While he shopped, and Dallin and Tanith entertained each other, I took Brennan on a history lesson tour. He REALLY loved learning about the past and present of the sports of rock and ice climbing and mountaineering. He saw old pitons, ice axes dating back to 1850. Old crampons, new crampons. He learned the differences between crampons for glacier travel and ice climbing and he really enjoyed using an ice ax and holding an ice tool. He got to use a cam and learned about nuts and cams. I think the thing he enjoyed most was learning about modern day and historical aid climbing. He was really taken by that sport and said he wants to try it.

Brennan really amazes me. He is such a wild and wiggly kid--doesn't sit still. Yet, we went skating as a family yesterday morning and he just is fearless on the ice. He takes off and doesn't stop. When we were down in Boulder, Brennan demostrated his extreme sense of balance by jumping up onto a railing and perfectly landing on two feet and then immediately striking a one foot yoga pose. He didn't wobble. He didn't make any type of balance checks. This kid is really interesting for me to study. He LOVES and THRIVES in Math and Spanish. He is wiggly beyond wiggly and very silly. He is very spiritual and loves Jesus, the Lord and learning about the gospel. He loves primary and is very sensitive. He loves his sister...sometimes a bit too much. He surprises me daily with his reading skills and how much he is growing each day. He has a tender little heart, yet he is very sarcastic and gets in trouble frequently for talking back. He has a fantastic imagination and loves to play. He is a very happy kid.

Dallin on the other hand complains and whines about having to do something physical, but once he gets on the ice, he practices hard. He is a pleaser. He wants to make others happy. He spent almost the entire session with Rick--working on swizzles, dips, wiggles, backwards skating, stroking, one foot glides and even a two foot spin. He REALLY worked hard. Dallin loves animals and loves to read about them. He doesn't really get into reading novels, but give him a book about animals and he will learn and study it and remember all the facts.

I'm so happy that we are all together right now. There is a different feeling in the house. I love it!

--Super Angie
I miss my mom today

Super Angie... loosing weight for moms or anyone

Today I heard someone say there was no way they could be a size 2 because they were a size 12.
In 2009, I was a size 12.
Today, I'm a size 2.

I have always ALWAYS been a size 10-12. Ever since H.S. Thats just the way it was. Funny thing...I weigh the same today as I did in '94 when I was that size...my body has just changed.

So how did I do?

I got active. Yes i know that sounds so basic. No, there was no magic pill, or expensive video program I bought. There wasn't hours slaved away at the gym. I simply got active.

At first, it was rock climbing together as a family. We joined a gym in Sandy, UT- Momentum. Its a fabulous rock climbing gym. I quickly learned and gained confidence. I took classes and within a year, I was the one teaching those classes! I competed at two National championships and the Teva Mountain Games. After a few weeks of climbing, I noticed my arms getting toned. This got me thinking: what happens if I start walking on the treadmill? What happens if I cut certain things out of my diet?

The answer...I start loosing weight. And seeing that, motivated me to work harder. Soon I was waking up at 5:30 to drive to Momentum to do an early morning treadmill workout.

Then another sport came along: Ice climbing. Again.... burning calories but having fun was the key for me.

Then my friend died. Then my grandpa died. Then my friend lost her baby in childbirth. It was too much for me to handle. I stopped everything. I was depressed.

Feb 2010--the Olympics. Watching the speed skating on TV made me think. I lived in Utah. There was the Olympic Oval in Kearns. WHY NOT!?! So i signed up for a learn to speed skate lesson and I just HAD A BLAST! Soon I bought my own skates (yes, they are yellow!) and competed in my first race. I hired a private coach and found a team mate and together we trained 2 hours, 3 days a week. Speed skating is so intense, but so much fun, and before I knew it, I dropped to a size 8. AMAZING!!!! My legs really surprised me.

Then in June 2010, I moved to Breckenridge, CO and after being inspired by the headliner skaters in SKATE FOR HOPE I set the goal that in 2011, I would skate in the show! To do this, I needed to start figure skating again. It was HARD. I couldn't do anything. But with encouragement from friends and family, I got my jumps back and headed to Vegas in October for Adult Nationals. When I arrived there, my skating dresses were size large. By Halloween, my next comp, those dresses didn't fit and I needed to buy a size Medium! I was a size 6. By November, I was a size 4.
Anna Kournivova said, "When we are happy inside, that's when we feel most sexy". I had found a joy that was missing, and it made me happy and this happiness made me believe I can do anything.

So, the girl who was a size 10-12 since she was 16, is now a 35 yr old who truly is happy. If I can do it, I believe ANYONE can do it!!
--Super Angie

Super Angie... reading Rango

I bought Brennan a book at the bookfair, all about Rango. We saw the movie when my dad was here. So much fun.

I love seeing Brennan so into reading. So proud of him!

Super Angie...new boots for Tan

Yesterday Tanith put her wet, snow covered boots out in the hallway. I put the garbage bag from the kitchen out in the hall too--didn't want it to stink up the house. Someone came by, saw the garbage bag and decided to be helpful by taking it out to the big dumpster. But in the process, they took her snow boots too!!! OH NO!!!

So, today, since it snowed, I took Tan to Antlers and we found these great polka-dot boots.

The other day at Gymboree, she found these fuzzy cheetah boots on clearance, so naturally we just had to buy them.

Question...how many pairs of boots does one 4 yr old need? (HINT: she also has two pairs of Ugg boots-one pink and one brown.) UGH!

Super Angie...after school treats

Yes, the kids were really really happy when they came home from school today! lol

Super Angie... Super Brennan

I got Brennan's report card and can I say, I AM SO PROUD!!!

He got a 5 in Spanish. (5= student is actively engaged and demonstrates a consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge, skills and concepts. )

He improved his handwriting score from a 1, to a 3 and now.....to a 4!!!!

And from his teacher, " Brennan is currently reading at an independent level 10. I would like to have him at a level 16 to go into second grade. He is on the right track to meet that goal by the end of the year. " I AM SOOO PROUD!!!

He loves to sit and read with me on the couch or in bed, and he LOVES to read to Tanith. He reads magazines, nature books and early reader books. He is doing so great.

Brennan, I love you so much and I'm proud of you for all the hard work you are doing in school. :)

Super Angie....cool dude

Brennan...such a cool little dude!

Super Angie...Sunday Best

Brennan- 7yrs old, Dallin- 10 yrs old and Tanith- 4 yrs old.

Super Angie...expression

I was given the nicest compliment today at the rink, from another skater. It meant the world to me.

Super Angie...a better mom

I've been pondering life since my mom died...thats normal, isn't it?

I'm being a better mom. Less yelling. Less frustrations. More time spent together.

I'm packing the kid's lunches the night before. I'm waking at 5:30 or 6 to get my stuff done, and then I wake them up at 6:30, so they can shower, do their morning chores and we can all eat breakfast together and sometimes even read the scriptures together. We started having Family Home Evening again, which is so nice.

Life is going great. There really is beauty all around!

--Super Angie

Super Angie...Sam I Am!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE skating days in Breck when Sam comes and today was one of those days. :) We have so much fun and she is so helpful--I think she should coach someday. She totally helped me with my camel spin! We just have such a blast together. :)

MUWAH! Love ya Sam!

--Super Angie

Super Angie...committed

Church was so great today. It was Stake Conference which was broadcast to our building since our stake center is all the way in Golden. :)

Gave me time to reflex and make new goals and plans for the future.

Also gave me some food for thought, like -- If you commit to something, then you commit to it--knowing all the side effects and ups and downs associated with it. Don't chicken out. Don't back down. Don't make excuses. Do it and do it with a smile! :)

Things I'm gonna work on: Being a better mom. Having family home evening. taking time for simple things. Make more things.

My coach also taught me to stick to my commitments... its hard not to want to turn and run. But he taught me this very important lesson, and I'm thankful for his advice.

I love going to FB and seeing so many of my friends being so dedicated to their jobs, sports, or being a parent. Making home made clothes (Mary!). Or running a faster mile (Brad). Or always being filled with positive quotes on living a better life (Dion!). Life is too short to be angry (Mikey!). You gotta seize the moment (Alexis). and on and on. I love being surrounded by people who see the glass and are thankful to even have the glass, let alone if it has milk in it or not.

--Super Angie

Super Angie...Super Chef!

Tonight, Tanith made dinner--Pizza!
Carefully she sprinkled the cheese
And then she added the pepperoni
Very exciting!
Into the oven the three personal pizzas go!
ALL DONE!~ LET'S EAT!!

Way to go Tan!
--Super Angie

Super Angie...Super Spiral

Tanith and I were sitting together, watching the European Championships. She saw Kiira Korpi skate her Evita program, and when Kiira did her Spiral, Tanith yelled "I CAN DO THAT!"

Yes Tanith, you sure can!

--Super Angie

Super Angie...art by Dallin

Skeleton Hands by Dallin.

Dallin has always been my little artist. Though I'm not a fan skeletons, I like what he did here.

-Super Angie

Super Angie...art by Brennan

Here is a Peacock Brennan painted. :)

I'm so proud of my big bear. He is not an easy child to raise, so when I see something like this--that he really applied himself, I am so proud!

--Super Angie

Super Angie...Colorado winter wonderful land

Super Angie...skating skating skating

What a great session today. No, not great, FANTASTIC! I haven't felt this strong in a long time. The PT, the stretching, the time off the ice is helping me to be a better skater. I really worked my tail off today, and it felt sooo good! :)

--Super Angie

Super Angie...my mom, my biggest supporter

I remember when I was 15, 16 maybe even 14...not sure of the exact age, My mom would drive me to Highland arena in Seattle to skate every Saturday morning. I took lessons with a coach there, Mary Lou. My mom would sit at the tables inside and watch me. She wouldn't read. She wouldn't talk to other people. She wasn't distracted-- she just watched me. Thumbs up and smiles.
When it was obvious that my $25 skates from the Sears catalog wouldn't cut it for me anymore, she bought me a pair of Reidells from the proshop. And she bought me a few skirts. Purple, gray and my favorite--black and white floral print. I had a purple and white striped sweatshirt I would usually wear, and purple turtle neck body suit.

After skating lessons (again, I only took once a week for 30 minutes) I would practice for the remainder of the public session and then we would go to Arbys on our way home. :)

During the Eulogy that my brother gave, he mentioned that from my mom's journals, she said, that as a child, she wanted to be an Actress, a Mother and an Ice skater.

Look at me!

Super Angie...spring break at the rink

Despite the fact that its been a month since my mom passed, I had a killer session at the rink today. Its spring break for many, so there were a lot of people in town= rink was crowded. But I was still able to get in a lot of good skating. AND....a bunch of good camel spins. Ah, those felt so nice. And my lutz...LOVE IT. So light and I *think* I'm doing my arms right...gotta get someone to video tape it for me.

I received some really nice compliments on my posture and artistry and my arms. That made me feel so good, because I'm working hard on my arms. :)

I Love Skating!
--Super Angie

Super Angie...middle of the night

I woke up up a few minutes ago.

It was the exact time my mom died-- one month ago.

I miss her.

Super Angie...up up and away

What a difference a day makes.

Today I went to the morning freestyle. First, it was so wonderful to see so many friends I haven't seen in months. This session is great because its just adults because its during the day. I love all these and feel so motivated when I skate with them.

Tom and Tina were there. I just adore them and am so sad they are moving, but good news...they will be going to Vegas a lot, so I will still see them.

I met a few newbies today. First is Genie. She is 15yrs old, but so mature. I thought she was 19. She is a pre-juv skater and working on all her doubles. She is super flexible and just has a neat appeal on the ice. So nice. Can't wait to skate more with her because she is very inspiring. She home schools which is why she is at the rink during the day.

I also met a really nice woman and man...they are old friends, dating back to when they skated as kids. They live in Breck, but haven't skated at our rink because its mainly a hockey rink. Tracey and Kelly. SOOOO NICE! They have a huge skating background--trained with such wonderful coaches. Really helpful. So fun to skate with.

Pam and Nicki were there. Everyone was really supportive of my mom passing away. Tom was floored..."I just talked to her a few months ago when they came!!!" Turns out Tina's mom died when Tina was just 40. Her mom was only 60!!! So sad!

Anyway, I really felt alive today. My spins were better. Kelly gave me some tips and they worked. I watched and learned from Genie. I felt lower, more stable. I just need to spin spin spin. My back spin was MUCH better and guess what...drum roll please... I did a camel spin. I only held it for 2 revolutions, but WHO CARES! I did it!! I'm so happy. My jumps were amazing. I feel like I'm doing better on my arms and crossing my leg in front. Everything just felt ON.

It was a great day. I felt like I was floating up up and away...

Super Angie...Ouray: kissy face

Ouray with my best friend. :)