Grandma status?

Life has been crazy, but that's not anything new. When is life not chaotic?  Rumors are true.  My sister has officially tagged me with the "grandma" status.... whatever, she's Captain Consumer. For the past couple of months, I have been sewing like crazy.  Prior to April, I didn't know how to sew (and its debatable as to whether I "know" how to sew now).  Seriously, I don't and still don't know how to sew buttons.  I know, pathetic.  But, after a lot of time experimenting, asking my mom and aunt, books, the internet and laying awake thinking about how one would make something, I figured it out! 

The above bosu (I think that's what its called, but may have just made it up) lei was the first one that I made.  It required a ton of measuring, counting and I had paying attention. 

 

When my grandmother was still around, she made all of us grandkids several ribbon leis.  However, the one that she made for all of us (or at least all of us girls, aunts included) was a pikake ribbon lei. It was her favorite! Sadly, my grandmother  passed away before all of her grandchildren graduated from high school.  So, my mom unselfishly gave her pikake lei to my cousin when she graduated a couple of years ago.   I don't know if my cousin (or my aunt, Mom's sister) really appreciates what Mom did, but I made it my mission to figure out how to recreate the pikake lei.  I studied my lei, looked at pictures and finally figured out the stitch length and pattern.  The above lei is very similar to the one my grandma made for Mom - white with a red ribbon.  I gave Mom this lei on Mother's Day.

 



What can I say about this cigar lei?  It took approximately 200 yards (100 yards per color) of ribbon to make.  I made two of these leis.  Can you guess where the recipients will be going to college?  (Hint:  GO COUGS!) I bought out all of the crimson ribbon that the stores had in the area, so my aunt brought back some several bolts from HI so I could finish these leis.  It is a good thing that I bleed crimson and gray and didn't mind seeing these two colors!  :)  Anytime I had down time (aka anytime I wasn't working, sleeping, working out/cycling or eating), I was sewing - at Add's soccer games, in the evenings, etc... hence, the grandma tag.  I carted around a shopping bag that contained bolts of ribbon, sharp scissors, extra thread, fray check, a ribbon holder thingy, etc. and would sew whenever I could. 

I have had a lot of fun learning how to sew ribbon leis. Anyone want to graduate or have a special occasion so that I can continue to sew?  Ha!  Until next year, I guess it is time for a new project. Does anyone have some good ideas? 

2013 Ski Season

 

The ski season is in full swing and this year I am instructing.  Here are a few takeaways:

#1 - Teaching ski lessons is a WORKOUT!  I spent more time (the first couple of weeks) with my skis off running (in my boots), trekking up and down the magic carpet hauling my skis, teaching them how to get up after falling, skiing backwards or with kids between my legs.  This all leds to tired quads and carb cravings!  Despite being exhausted and super hungry, its so much fun!

#2 - Parents can be more difficult than their kids.  TRUTH!  I experienced enabling parents when managing the Hawk Squad (high school and college aged students), but having lingering parents interrupting your class multiple times is not cool.  Parents are more than welcome to watch their children, but from a place where their student is not able to see them or know that they are watching.  In other words, interrupting my class multiple times to bring a child water and snacks (she has no health issues that would require this) is not okay. 

#3 -  Parents thought I was a student in a class of one four year old and three seven year olds.  NICE! (Insert a sarcastic comment that is probably not appropriate!)

#4 - Its a SMALL WORLD.  Without going into too much detail, its interesting who you can run into or meet while up at the mountain. 

#5 - When little ones say that they need to "GO POTTY," its amazing how their skiing improves just so that they can make it to the trees in time.  Stopping, making turns, skiing in control... no problem! Hand sanitizer for everyone!

#6 - My younger students (4 years old) learned much quicker than the older ones (6 & 7 year olds).  This may have been a fluke, but it seemed like the 4 year old didn't fear or even think twice about what she was doing versus the older ones analyzed everything.  They even told me, "if you let me fall from this chair, you'll get fired and my parents will be very mad at you." What turkeys!  I was subbing for this class, so my response was, "well bottom to back, back to back... don't be crazy on the chair, PAY ATTENTION and hang on."  I'm nice, huh?!?

#7 - I really love the fact that my ski school provides adult "buddy riders." Even though technically my students are "allowed" to go up on the chair themselves, they are little and still learning. Having the reassurance that an adult is with them on the chair helping to ensure that they get on, off and don't fall off keeps my anxiety levels down so that I am able to focus on instructing and making skiing fun.  Thank you BUDDY RIDERS for helping to safely get kiddos up the chair! 

#8 - Boys will do anything for TREATS.  I like to make the kiddlets earn their treats and it works like magic.  I also do not let the kiddos put their hands into the baggies.  I feed the kids like birds and wait for them to enjoy their treat before we move on.  No choking in my class!

#9 - Using props to teach ski lessons so that the kiddos don't realize that you are teaching is super effective! We drive a lot of Mario carts, spread an unlimited supply of peanut butter and jelly, carry pizzas and often times feed them to different animals, and color the snow. Hooray for PROPS!

#10 - I'm THANKFUL that my students are younger kiddos versus the tweens with tudes (attitudes).  My littles still want to hold my hand (though another friend says never touch them, they have germs and are juicy...and trust me, I carry hand sanitizer), sit next to me and copy whatever I do.  The trade off is that they cry, have a super short attention span, can't outski me yet and need to go potty every 30 minutes!

Happy skiing!