Winter 2015

Winter is not my favorite season, but the longer I live here the better I get at it.  I learn how to dress for the cold, how to drive in the snow (or how to avoid driving in the snow), and find things that I enjoy.  This past winter involved a lot of snow and the cold doesn't seem to end, but it's Colorado so there are always bits of warmth and sunshine throughout.  

Probably my favorite winter activity is snowshoeing.  I don't know why I never end up going more, but I did at least get my one snowshoe outing in for the season.  Christine and I headed out for the trails at Mueller State Park.

Great snowshoeing buddy!

Most of the trail was snow covered...

but there were a few patches of dirt-shoeing :)

Snow does make a beautiful landscape

I had a few days that I probably could have used some snowshoes just working to and from work.  They made for quite the adventurous treks.  I throw on my snow boots and snow jacket and have fun with it!

Trekking up the hill towards home

So happy to be making foot tracks and
not tire tracks

Maybe I should have gotten a ride home?  Nah!
This is way more fun.

I tend to celebrate more random and not so random holidays in the winter.  It's probably because I tend to have more time at home avoiding the cold plus people need a little more cheer to get through winter.  Here are a few that we celebrated.

Maria only got to visit for a night and day, but we still
managed to find time to celebrate Chocolate Cake Day!

Each of my co-workers brought in a can to add
to the Chili Day celebration - like stone soup, but chili

It turned out to be some really tasty chili thanks to everyone's
contribution plus T-Doe's cornbread

Surprise Valentine's box from my wonderful mom & dad
Malvi Mallows!

My friends and I did a tasting so that we could compare all
the flavors.  The winner for all of us was Peppermint
Chocolate.  Vanilla Salted Caramel was a close 2nd.

Scott is our very own Cookie Monster, so
this cake was perfect!

Strawberry Ice Cream Day

My co-worker had a precious baby girl in February

We played a fun matching game that involved a bunch of
candy associated with pregnancy and new baby terms
Ex: Contractions  = Whoppers

We got more and more snow...

The start of a mountain outside my place

We even got a couple snow days, which I totally took advantage of to do some quilting.

Perfect snow day = hot cup of tea + crafting

I'm thinking I might take up sewing as a winter hobby

And then one random weekend in February, it was unusually warm and sunny.  So some friends and I decided to do The Incline and take advantage of the warmth in the middle of summer.  It was our first time since the upgrades were finished.  They did a nice job of keeping the rustic look, but making it a little safer.  Once thing is for sure, they did not make it any easier.

Here we go!

Always worth it when you get to the top
and are able to turn around and see the view

Everybody thought it was a great day to get out for a challenge

They fixed up the social trail to get down!

I am so thankful Colorado is not a place of constant snow, gloom, and sub-zero temperatures through the winter.  The sunny days carry me through!

Christmas 2014

As many of you probably know or can imagine, the first time for everything after losing a loved one is hard.  You don't know how it will be or how to handle it, but you know it will be different.  I wouldn't be walking across the game room to lightly knock on Zach's door.  I would be the only one coming down the stairs; the only one seeing what "Santa" left me.  But despite all of the things that filled me with sadness, as Christmas approached, I found myself being more thankful than ever for the real reason that we celebrate.  Jesus, my Savior, was born!  He came into the world to save me, to save you, to save all of us.  And it is that hope of eternal life that I was hanging on to, that we were celebrating.  It's amazing how much God teaches us and grows us through the hardest times in life.

Through the strength of God and the power of many prayers, we were able to celebrate Christmas.  Yes it was different, but it was still joy-filled.  There were Zach touches, continued family traditions, and possibly a new family tradition that made it all very special.

The new family tradition was volunteering at an Operation Christmas Child warehouse.  I personally think there's nothing better than giving to someone else and serving with other people to lift yourself out of whatever you're going through.  It was a great experience and amazing to hear the impact that this ministry has on so many lives.  What a cool thing to realize that each box that you pack is going to share the love of God to children all around the world!

A perfectly packed box!  Good work Dad!

The team at station 2

I really hope we get the opportunity to do it again!

Of course the tree had to go up.  This year it was adorned with a special ornament that everyone knows is totally Zach.

Heinz 57

So thankful for great cousins!

Christmas Eve still consisted of our traditional homemade pizza making and games.  Delicious and fun as always!

We have really perfected this process!

Some friends of mine, who are game players and know that we are too, sent us a new game this year.  We got to battle it out to see who is the most famed and feared pirate in all the seas.

Who will it be?

The most famed and feared Pirate Jim

Christmas was filled with great family time by the tree, in the kitchen, and of course around the table.

Grandma with her amazing Red Velvet Cheesecake Layered Cake

Can you believe that cake?

It was delicious!!!

How cute is she?

20 something years later and we still love taking
matching cousin pictures 

Christmas shoes!

Making some new marshmallows - mint with a dark
chocolate drizzle

Great little gifts and continued practice for a future business?!?!

This little man is quite the blessing.
The humor is courtesy of Zach :)

I am blessed with so many great cousins!

Not sure how he feels about it, but I'm loving some Baylee time

It's always shocking how fast the time flies by, but I am so thankful to get to celebrate and spend time with all of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  What a great family!

And before I knew it, we were celebrating the new year.

Putting my new stocking stuffer to use
A make-it-yourself banner
Perfect for all my random holidays!

Happy 2015!!!

Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving is always very special to me, but I never could have imagined just how much I would cherish Thanksgiving 2014.

I got into Dallas just in time for the Southwest Holiday Craft Bazaar, which Zach was able to get us special access to.  He even trusted us enough to leave us on our own for a while to continue shopping and checking out such a cool place to work.  Seriously, I've never been in a work environment quite like it.  TVs everywhere, lounges to take a break in, a paper-football table, fun pictures all over the walls.  Work hard, play hard!  Then we got to steal Zach away for a delicious Thai food lunch.

Of course it's always tradition to run the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.  I've even lost count of how many times I've run it.  Since Zach had his own place near Dallas, I decided to spend the night at his house the night before. It gave us a chance to hang out, go grab dinner and a movie with dear friends - Candiss and Taylor, change a flat tire in the middle of a major highway split (okay maybe that wasn't the highlight of the night but memorable nonetheless), and get to enjoy some good brother-sister time.  It was kind of weird to be spending the night in his place; that had never happened before.  He always stayed with me at my place.  But it couldn't have been a more fitting place for him.  My personal favorite decoration was this adorable wall hanging from a friend.

He had the guest room all cleaned and ready for me.  I felt quite special.  I got a good night sleep before getting up early the next morning to join Candiss and Taylor for the big Trot!

It was another beautiful morning for a run.  I felt great and enjoyed it as always.  The route was a little different this year, but I don't really care.  I just look forward to a sunny run with lots of people.  Then after a good run, you're ready for all the delicious Thanksgiving food!

The rest of Thanksgiving was filled with delicious food and fun with wonderful family.  We finished off the day playing Fish Bowl, with made us laugh so much that we hurt.  I had always played with 3 rounds, but Zach taught us a 4th round - trying to say the word with your mouth shut.  It didn't strike me as something that would be a super great addition to the game, but we decided to give it a try anyway.  Oh my did it make us laugh!  It was hilarious to watch everyone's attempts at being a ventriloquist.  If I didn't think everyone would be really mad at me, I would post videos.  Fish Bowl will forever be so much funnier with round 4 added.

Friday was our annual Eastup bonfire/fire pit night.  I look forward the event so much every year.   We sat around concocting new marshmallow and s'more ideas.  We tried to think of names for my future, imaginary marshmallow business and had some great laughs.  You have to be careful what you name things in Colorado if you don't want it to be taken the wrong way.  There's something special about sitting around a fire roasting hot dogs and making s'mores under the stars with people you love.

I will hold on to these memories and treasure all the laughter until we're together again in our eternal home.