North (Western) Exposure!!!

We're back! Canada was absolutely amazing, the most gorgeous sights I've ever seen in my life. Matt and I had SO MUCH fun together! Flying there, we turned off our phones and really didn't turn them back on until we got back to Atlanta, other than the occasional text picture I would send some of my family. It was so pretty, the mountains were full of snow, the air was cool, but not freezing. The first day we arrived we were pretty tired, had a quick bite to eat at the base of Whistler, went and stocked up on some wine, beer & a bit of food which we never ate. Our room was a one bedroom suite, plenty of room, spectacular views, and daily maid service which was a nice surprise. On the second day we awoke early and went to the gym for a quick workout, had a bowl of cereal, and my stomach in knots, we walked down to get our boards and rental equipment. Yep, I wore a helmet and wrist guards the whole time. I love helmets! So we walked to Blackcomb which is the mountain directly beside Whistler, and I arrived for my lesson. Matt walked with me and stayed with me until our lesson started. First things first, I have never snowboarded in my life. Matt used to live on a ski resort in Cali and snowboarded daily for over two months. He is good. Need I say more? My teacher, Dave, and my two classmates, Robin & Lisa, started to buckle our shoes, and I kissed Matt and said I'd meet him during my lunch break at noon. And off we went. All the way to the escalator in the snow. I don't know how many of you reading this has ever snowboarded, but the hardest thing for me to learn to do was walk with one foot while the other foot was buckled in, all the while dragging my board along with me. Well, it didn't go quite as planned. I knocked a few two year olds over, and finally got onto the chairlift, and lets just say that after riding the lift and trying to board off, I stuck to the gondolas the duration of the vacay. Long first day, the lesson was good but I quickly learned that once you get off, getting back on the next day I forgot each and every thing I was taught! Especially on the days we would say to ourselves, "perhaps a bit less apres tomorrow?" which never really happened!

So Tuesday Matt was my guide, and he was exceptional. Totally patient and reassuring, and he was so good at explaining things like, hook it, link it, don't wedge it, and when all else fails, don't fall on your arms, fall on your bum. Watching him he made it look SO easy, he would do the falling leaf, then link it, then go over a mogul, and then turn around to see what progress I had made. One day, after riding the gondola to the Green "Olympic Run" a conversation took place much like this:

Matt: "Are you ready, babe?"
Amy: "Yep, I'm good to go"
Matt: "Ok follow me this way"

Amy: "But I can't get up"
-at which time Matt would come over to me and literally pull me up...

Matt: "Ok, we're going to go down the mountain together, lead with your right foot"

-at which time I am so disoriented that I can't tell my right from my left

Amy: (falls down and starts crying) "I CANNOT DO THIS I HATE THIS I JUST WANT TO WALK DOWN THIS THING"
Matt: (laughing, sort of not knowing if I'm crying through my goggles or laughing?!?) (Answer to that: she is truly crying, sobbing really...) "Hon, you're fine, you've got it. Just link a turn!"

Amy: "I CANNOT (bleeping) link anything"

Matt: "Ok, I'll see you at the base"

-at which time skiers and boarders are flying past me, Matt is flying down the hill and I think to myself, I can do this, I can do this....there is a small child my nephews age just cruising down this thing singing at the top of his lungs...

So I got up and did the falling leaf all the way down. I was just glad I made it.

After that first day my entire body was sore from using muscles I didn't know existed. It was quickly forgotten about after a dip in the hot tub, some wine and a fantastic dinner! I won't go into details on every day we were there because that would take entirely too long. But the bottom line is this: our second honeymoon was perfect. The weather, the food, the snow, the snowboarding, the hotel, the staff, and most of all the company I was in...it was all wonderful! I felt so blessed to be there with Matt and have zero distractions!

And finally, Matt taught me how to link a turn. I think he was more excited than me! We will absolutely be going boarding again and I hope it's sooner rather than later! I'm hooked!

I don't know why the pictures are posting so dang small. Sorry for that, if anyone is reading this and would like for me to send more pictures just leave a comment or send an email letting me know!

Much love to ya!