Grand Parents Day In Denver

What fun to head to Denver on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving for Grandparents Day at Rayna and Kylan's school!  The last 2 years I've journeyed up there by myself but this year Glenn was able to go too!

First we headed to a building supply store in North Denver - traffic was awful up that way - but it was a good stop as Glenn found things he could use at the new house!

And then it was back to the kids' school!  They were both surprised to see Glenn as they didn't know he was coming!  Rayna's class sang a song in Spanish and Kylan's group did one too!!  We went to their classrooms - met their teachers - and some of their friends!!  Of course my camera stayed in my purse except for this picture of Kylan singing............

All in all a fun day in Denver!!

Holiday Madness

Yes, it's time for that crazy holiday schedule!  Are you ready?  I do have to say that this year - I AM!

What a difference it makes to be not working - to know that you have WEEKDAYS to do things instead of trying to cram everything into evenings and weekends!  To know that you can take that "extra" time to really enjoy doing the things you love during the holidays and not have to worry about skipping an event or rushing to get things done!  I am LOVING RETIREMENT!

In fact, I even decorated the house for Christmas this past week - I know, I know - it's EARLY!  But I love the Christmas season and since we're celebrating early with the family (2 sets of kids are going to Iowa for Christmas), I wanted to get into the spirit early!

I actually took 3 days to decorate the house - I spread it out!!  And it was SO MUCH FUN to take my time decorating and think about each item I set out as most of them have a "history".  Of course my travel tree is always a delight to decorate as 90% of my ornaments are from places we've traveled to! I also had the decorations from the business to find a place for - and that's always fun to change things up a little bit!

It was also a little sad as I decorated, knowing this would be the LAST year I decorated this house!  It just doesn't seem like we've lived here long enough to be moving again....................

I am SO EXCITED that we're celebrating Christmas at OUR house this year!!  That hasn't happened in many years since we always go to Denver to the "bigger" houses!!  The original plan was for the Savages and Keppys to come down the 2nd weekend of Dec. for the "Electric Safari" (Christmas lights at the zoo) and the Christmas production over at C. Crk.  But after looking at the calendar and schedules, we realized if we didn't celebrate Christmas that weekend, it would be mid-January before it would happen!  Jaime had that weekend off too so it was decided they would also come down and join us at the C. Crk production!

So Dec. 13th is our official date to celebrate Christmas!  That means I got in gear EARLY and already have all the grand kids presents and stocking stuffers bought!  And since it's snowing out today, it's a perfect day to start wrapping!

But Thanksgiving is first on the agenda!  And we'll be heading to Denver early Thanksgiving Day for dinner with everyone, shopping on Friday and a birthday party for Kenzie on Friday night!  Like I said, holiday madness at its finest!!  And I wouldn't have it any other way!!

House Update

It finally warmed up some this week!!  And that was a good thing since the guys started on the logs AND it was well drilling time!

Here you can see the framed fireplace. And yes, that tall red thing is the drill for the well.

 It was tough hearing that well drilling deeper and deeper and deeper.  We had budgeted for 250 to 300 feet - and they charge per foot of course................I guess the good news is that they DID find water - but it was at a premium - 560 feet - sometimes water is tough to find around these parts!  But it sure was a whole lot better than finding a dry well and having to start all over in a different location!  The water did fill in nicely during the night which is another positive thing!  So all in all, I'm glad that part is done - now to get the pump installed!

 Here's the crew hard at work!  Hopefully by the end of today, they'll have about 6 rows up!!
EXCITING!!

Hot Sulpher Springs/AKA Snow, Snow and MORE Snow

I'm writing this from a cozy rustic motel room in Hot Sulpher Springs - no, it's not hot here - and yes the snow has been falling most of the time since we arrived Tuesday about noon!

And why are we here?  Glenn hasn't got an elk yet so he purchased a late season rifle tag and invited me to come along.  He actually suggested we take the 5th wheel - even though it's been winterized and covered for the winter AND the new truck has been downgraded to comprehensive only for the winter months.  I declined and said the only way I would go with him was if we rented a motel room with a kitchenette AND he would take me to the hot springs - AGREED!!!  So I booked a room for 3 nights..................and the snow started Tuesday afternoon and has barely stopped............

But I'm enjoying each and every minute of our little mini vacation!!  I've spent countless hours on the computer creating posters and books of the grand kids' pictures for their Christmas presents, have read 2 books, and texted and called friends and family.  We even watched Survivor last night on TV!

Our place is 2 rooms - a bedroom with a tv and a front room which houses the kitchen, table and chairs and a couch which is where I'm usually at!!  Nothing fancy - but a great place where Glenn can cook his breakfast at 4:30am (and thank heavens there is a door to the bedroom to drown out his kitchen prep noise) and pack his lunch and then the kitchen is mine until he comes back!

So far no elk - but then again since it has snowed most of the time, the elk aren't up and running around - it is super cold here too!!  Glenn hasn't walked a lot but spent most of his time in the car driving around!  And I'm really questioning why we had to drag the ATV behind us????

We ate out the first night - not in this small town as there's NO place that is open for dinner in the evenings - but in the next town and had a good meal - last night I had brought a chicken dish to warm up - and now we are about to head out to an even smaller town that is having their GRAND OPENING!!  It's a bar and grill but supposed to have great hamburgers so we'll see...............

Today I decided I had to get out of the room for a little while so bundled up good and went for a walk - about froze to death - I had gloves and boots but forgot a hat!!  I walked to the hot springs to check it out and was really excited to go tonight but again, it's snowing and the thought of shedding that robe and sitting in the hot springs with the snow falling is just not quite what I had in mind!!  Yes, it sounds very romantic and IT IS - but the reality is that the air temp is SO COLD and the snow is WET when it hits you and we're getting old - ha ha!!!

But my walk was enjoyable and it was neat looking at the not quite yet frozen water going under some of the ice jams.

After I checked out the hot springs and started my journey back to the motel, I couldn't help but smile at this sign - I'm sure everyone that leaves this place IS totally relaxed!!!

Bring The Music - We Have The Dance Floor!

WOW is all I can say after the crew left on Saturday - they accomplished a lot!!  It was fun to watch the sub floor go from this...........

 To this!!!!  I was ready to dance!!

The lower level is framed in now and I could actually make out the size of the rooms since lower level is the same as the upper!

 Looking into the guest bedroom and bathroom.

 Large area will be the pool table and exercise room - Where Glenn is standing will be the mechanical room with the other part being all storage!

 Looking up at the ceiling on the left hand side is where the stairway will be to come down!

Logs arrive tomorrow!!  More pictures on the way!

It's BEGINNING To Look Like A House!

Another inspection under the belt - Glenn is doing great work and I'm so proud of all he has already accomplished!

The contractor's crew moved in Monday to start the framing and sub floor - and the dispatcher called me today to let me know the logs would be arriving next week!  WHOO HOO!!!  We are VERY excited!!

 Glenn has moved a lot of dirt around and you can hardly see all those white blocks at the front of the house that I put the tar on hour after hour.................

The weather is STILL holding and I actually hiked today in a tank top!  We're praying for sunny skies and no snow for the next few weeks!!

A Fall Walk

Saturday was shopping day with Jill - for once I didn't need anything but Jill wanted some new clothes so we headed out (after coffee of course!!) and she actually did find a few things!  The weather was gorgeous - no coat needed!

After lunch and quiet time, it was time to go for a hike with the kids - I can't remember the name of the place we went but it was by the Poudre River and even though the leaves were gone, it was still a nice hike!

 I loved the suspension bridge!!  Aleah, not so much...........

 The kids had fun throwing rocks in the river and then we had them pose beside this neat huge tree!

 We took the long way around which wasn't too far and the kids did great since after the hike, we were headed to get ice cream - my Halloween gift to them!

 Robby barbecued some yummy chicken for dinner that night and since he had baked up all of the chocolate chip dough (darn him anyway, he was supposed to have baked only 1 tub and left the other tub for Jill and I to eat!!) we had to settle for cookies for dessert instead of dough!!

After church on Sunday, I headed on down to Denver to see the rest of the crew!  Rayna had just gotten back from hunting with her dad so I picked her up and the other 3 over at Jessi's (Kylan was already over there playing) and we headed out for ice cream!!  The ice cream shop was cool since it had a projected image on the floor on the one side and the kids could stomp and dance on the images that were projected - they are sure ready to go back there again!!

What a neat picture of 4 of the grand kids - they're all SO very special!!

BOO!

I was glad Halloween came on a Friday this year as I spent the weekend in Ft. Collins and actually went trick or treating with Aleah and Parker!!  Now how fun is that!!

Aren't these two as cute as can be!!

 Jill brought home pizza for dinner which we enjoyed with friends and then headed out to trick or treat!  Robby and Greg carved this pumpkin while we were gone! 

 "Tigger" was practicing being a tiger here!!

 We walked several blocks while the kids got candy - luckily it was decent out but after an hour of walking around, I headed back to the house as I was cold!

I miss carving pumpkins but got to enjoy Jill and Robby's!

 Even though I was up in Ft Collins for Halloween, the other 2 girls texted pictures so I could see the kids' outfits!  Here's Kylan in his Indiana Jones costume!

 Kenzie was Jasmine, one of the Disney princesses' and Evan enjoyed being a skeleton for the evening!

All of the kids received WAY too much candy - but were sweet enough to pack bags full for me to bring home to Papa!