we've been coming up to lake tahoe since i was twelve. each year, around christmastime, we would take a ski trip. some years friends would come, some years my boyfriend [now my husband] would come. and as we've gotten older and gotten married, we've continued the tradition as regularly as possible. the two years that i was pregnant, we didn't come, but other than that it's been something we look forward to all year. and how could you not, with this view? i started skiing at age five, and with our yearly trips, i think i got pretty good at it. around eighth grade, i thought i'd be much cooler if i started snowboarding. for some reason the switch was not easy for me. it wasn't easy being a beginner again, you know? i think i was about 16 when i finally swallowed my pride and took a private lesson. it was the best thing i ever did. i finally learned how to turn the other way on the board. i taught my husband, who caught on in like two days, and we ha...