Still Celebrating Our "Unchoir" Party

 We may be down to only 4 of us but we still celebrate our "unchoir" party!  We've moved our time to meet to during the day so we don't have to drive at night AND when we sing, we actually croak!!  Guess that's what happens as we all age!

Beth and I headed over to Arlyne's early to have coffee and muffins together and later Steve joined us for our midday meal - I had prepared soup, Beth provided the bread and Steve always brings a relish/fruit tray.  

We enjoyed our meal together while visiting and then headed into the "piano" room to TRY and sing a few carols!  Arlyne always plays our favorites and we always lament how high the keys seem to be for Christmas songs!

And then it's back to the dining room to enjoy coffee and dessert provided by Arlyne - she makes a wonderful mint ice cream dessert with an oreo base which is SO good!  Once again, a lovely get together with special friends!

Our Christmas Family Pictures

 I LOVE that we take these same pictures every year at Christmas - it's so fun to compare them to years' past and I sure enjoy looking back at them in my printed books!

And that's a wrap for 2021 Snow Mountain Ranch Christmas!

Day 3 of YMCA Christmas

 Today was the BIG day - opening presents!  We were all up bright and early - an easy breakfast - and then cinnamon rolls to bake!  There was a LOT of trips made carrying all the gifts over and getting them ready to hand out!  I find it easier to put 2 kids' presents in one large bag but there are always the extras to sort once we get over to the other cabin!

We were hoping it would be a little cloudy so we didn't have the sun coming in the windows but that didn't happen - it was a gorgeous day out!  SO we closed the blinds for pictures and they started opening!

I always try to get one item for all the grand kids that's alike - this year it was the nice stainless steel water bottles with either their initials or names on the outside - they were a hit!!

And I don't always get something for the guys but decided to get the glass jars with their names on it for the adults (last year I did them for the kids)!!

Once again I did the photo books for the grand kids - for Rayna and Matias I did "tiles" that hang on the wall with 4 pictures on each tile - they really did turn out nice!

These 3 always make me laugh with their antics!

We told the guys they had to sit in the dining room at the table - they really don't seem to care what the kids open and they always talk SO LOUD so we figured this would be the best place for them - and it WAS!!

After the photo books, I handed out one of their favorite gifts - cracker mix!  And the calendars for the adults!  We all enjoyed cinnamon rolls and yummy coffee after the opening!

The adults did their grab bag gifts (restaurant gift cards or a snack and scratch off tickets) and then the kids did their gift bags (snacks).   We play the "dice game" with these two and that's always fun!'

That afternoon was whatever you wanted to do - some of the guys took naps - Jill, Jessi and I opted to go for a walk up by some of the other cabins - what gorgeous views!

The Smiths went to the craft center to do some painting!

Jill and I were in charge of dinner that night - lasagna, million dollar spagetti, Ceasar salad and garlic bread! 

Most everyone wanted to go back to the gym that evening - but it was packed so we didn't stay long!  A lot of skiers stay there!

So it was back to the cabin to do our predictions - Glenn and I did awful this year!!  But Gary and Jessi did great and won the money!!

After that long day it felt good to crawl into bed that night!  And the sunrise the next morning was so pretty!!  Glenn, Brad and Robby went coyote hunting and got back just in time to load up the vehicles - yup, I packed it all up once again!!  But at least we were a lot emptier going back home with no presents!

The drive home was beautiful again as it had snowed - the roads weren't fantastic but we were in no hurry to get home!  Next up - the traditional family pictures!

Day 2 of YMCA Christmas

 Glenn went coyote hunting early the next morning - Gary and Jessi cooked a great breakfast and the day began - it was snowing lightly and beautiful outside!

Gwyn lost a tooth the night before and the tooth fairy was QUITE generous!!  SO we headed to the gift shop in the lodge as Gwyn had already picked out this stuffed animal the day before when she looked!  It was a nice shop and I got my traditional Christmas ornament and a Colorado bookmark!

This is a picture of the 4 bedroom cabin - guess I didn't take one of ours but it's very similar!

The Keppys went to the craft building and did some ceramics - they turned out really cute!!  I chose to just stay in the cabin and read - the craft building had a strong paint smell and I started coughing right after I went in with them so I went back up to the cabin!

The Smiths and Savages arrived that afternoon - they had some bad roads but all made it just fine!  This was taken at the gym/skating/volleyball/pool playing/ping pong building!!  Worked out great to have it all in one building!

We celebrated Kenzie's 13th birthday after a yummy dinner of tacos!  She was excited to get cash from everyone to buy an Apple pen for her new IPAD!

Kenzie enjoying the dessert she picked out!

Then it was back down to the gym!  Since I'm still dealing with foot issues, I opted to hang out with Gwyn while she skated and then we went upstairs to watch our family play volleyball!  How cool that the entire team is FAMILY!!

Everyone had such a great time at the gym and they played volleyball a LONG time!  Gwyn and I even attempted some ping pong!  It was sure cold when we headed out to the cars and drove back to the cabin!  Another great nights' sleep!

It's a YMCA Christmas!

 ....just not in our usual place!  Jessi had asked if I would make the reservations this year so when it was time, I tried and tried to make them online but it just wasn't happening!  I ended up calling the reservation desk and they informed me that the YMCA in Estes Park was CLOSING DOWN the week we were planning on going!  WHAT???  She went on to explain that the crew had worked so hard this last year during COVID that they all needed a break - and at that point I completely understood, although I was very disappointed!

But she did suggest going to the other YMCA in Granby - called Snow Mountain Ranch!  I checked the distances to get there from each of our places - it was about the same for the Smiths and us, close to 2 hours for the Keppys which is about the same but the kicker was the Savages - they are only about 45 min from Estes Park which makes it really nice for them since they drive down here for Thanksgiving - but there time was about 2 1/2 hours.  In the end we decided to let Jill and Robby make the final decision and they said YES to Snow Mountain!

Hooray - I booked the two cabins and booked our cabin we share with the Keppys for an extra night, Thursday night!  All was set!  Jessi, Gwyn and Kenzie would come up on Thursday and Gary would wait for Evan (who needed to go to class as he had finals the next week) and they would come up on Friday!

BUT things happen!!  Unfortunately Thanksgiving night Brad wasn't feeling well - and felt even worse on Friday!  Nobody thought much of it since him and Jaime are the only vaccinated ones of the bunch so we didn't even think of COVID!  But he did have it - and then Jaime got it Sat. night - and then Robby, Jill and Aleah came down with it, and then it was Jessi, Gary, Evan and Gwyn!  OH MY!!  Glenn of course had COVID a year ago around Thanksgiving time (which I missed that year as I had to quarantine!) and I must have had it too (although no symptoms) because I didn't get it!  Parker didn't get it and the Keppys think Kenzie had it way last spring!  So it definitely ran through most of the family!  Since I had home tests, I did test myself because I had a couple of large group events to go to and I sure didn't want to infect anybody if I had it - but nope, I was negative!

The GOOD thing about everybody having COVID was it was basically all at the same time - nobody could work and of course all the kids were home from school - some were sicker than others - but all in all they all coped with it well!  AND everybody was basically done with it by the time we went to YMCA with the following Monday the day most of them were heading back to work and school!

SO all of the Keppys got to come up on Thursday along with Glenn and I!  WHEW - that was sure a round about way of letting you know how we got to Snow Mountain!

We had a beautiful drive up - sure a lot prettier going through Breckenridge than Denver!!  The roads were a little slick in places but we took it slow!  The Keppys got up there about 1/2 hour before us and we all met in the parking lot to check in at the Lodge - the two cabins were right beside each other so we were thrilled about that!

We were happy there was a gas fireplace in our place!  Check out our cute little tree and lighted snowflakes on the mantle!

I brought 3 gifts that Gwyn opened up early - color books, colors, activity books, colored pencils, construction paper and markers - she loved opening up them and kept busy!

This is inside the lodge - so pretty!

The list of the cabins up our way - ours was called Tippecanoe and the other was called Chalet!

Lots of snow after it snowed most of Friday!

Silly Glenn!!

We all slept pretty darn good that night after our long drive and unpacking the car!  Our car is always packed when we go with all the presents - and quite empty on the way home!  On to Friday....

Holiday Fun

 December is more than 1/2 over - snow is a memory - colder temps are finally arriving - and the holiday season is in full swing!!

I had planned on downloading pictures and doing the Christmas blogs yesterday - yea, that didn't happen!  We had high winds come in - horribly high winds!!  I did rescue the grill cover (after Glenn had secured it part way under the grill) before it went flying away as the wind moved the grill across the deck, along with 3 of the chairs!  The electricity went off about 12:30 - no big deal (or so I thought) as we have the wood stove in the lower level!

But I had just put wood in the stove and with no fan to blow that hot air out, the stove gives off this "hot" smell that plays havoc with my nose and makes me cough!  Glenn was just getting back from CS after picking up the truck from the mechanics' place and there was high winds down there too!

It's funny when you don't have electricity, and you realize there really isn't a lot you can do!  Hence, no downloading pics or blogging!  So I settled into the recliner (and of course tried to use the electric button to recline - ha!) and read the afternoon away!  And then it got dark - we realized we didn't have any "D" batteries for the lantern!  I found many small candles (they sure don't give off much light) and some little battery operated candles and we made do!  I had laid out frozen stew for dinner so that was easy enough to heat on the gas stove!

We could text, but phone calls dropped after a minute or so!  I read more (and luckily my kindle was charged as I just couldn't see enough to read a regular book) and about 8:30, the electricity came back on!  HOORAY!!  Back to civilization!

So today is back to the computer to finally blog!

The first weekend of December was busy with the holiday quilting party and the Holiday Home Tour!  Friday I went to the party which is held at the Lutheran Church - a friend from 4-H days had invited me along with 2 other gals from 4-H so it was great to catch up with them!  There are things to buy and a quilt to buy raffle tickets on and a fabulous potluck meal!

Cindy had decorated the table we all sat at and it was cute as can be!

Here's the quilt we all bought tickets for - it sure would have been fun to win it!

It was a fun time and I enjoyed seeing friends!

Joleen got in that afternoon so she was along with Jane and I for the Home Holiday Tour the next morning! We met in Divide as the first house was out in the country behind gates so they had a shuttle to take you to the house - WOW - what a house!!  7200 sq ft!  It was absolutely beautiful and decorated so pretty!!  We enjoyed seeing 4 more houses in Woodland Park that were very well done too!

Mucky Duck in Green Mtn Falls was our choice for lunch and we enjoyed their famous tomato basil soup which I have always loved!

What a great couple of days with friends!

November Photo Dump

 December has arrived - but you would think it's fall around here - besides a small 4" snow that we got on Thanksgiving Eve, it has been dry and warm temps!  Red flag warnings are out when the wind blows and we're desperate for moisture!  It's December - let the snow arrive!!!

SO here's the Nov. photo dump!

I decided our bedroom needed a couple of new pictures so I sorted through my beautiful fall pictures and had 2 made into canvas!

One day I went over to help Jaime decorate for Christmas - she not only puts up a LOT of Christmas trees but she is gnome crazy!!  These are just a FEW of her Christmas gnomes!

We've had beautiful sunrises and sunsets!  I just can't seem to stop taking pictures of them!

My cousins' wife brought us a spagetti squash - I had NEVER cooked one before so got a recipe from Jessi and made this casserole - it was WONDERFUL!  I will definitely make it again whenever I get another squash!

The Christmas tree and decorations went up early this year - our tree has been around for a long time and the middle strand of lights went out so I had to fill in with a string of lights - but in the meantime I have purchased a new tree for next year and this one will be handed to someone!

Coffee and cocoa time when the Keppys' were down!

And yes, it was meat cutting time this month from the elk that Glenn got - not always a fun process but we sure enjoy the steaks we cut up!

And that's a wrap for November - onward to December!