Boldly going into 2017

We're wrapping up the most low-key holiday we've ever spent together. I didn't get to travel or see much of anyone, but we do have a (relatively) clean house, a full pantry, rested bodies, relaxed minds from outdoor time and family games, and clean laundry. That's a pretty solid way to begin a new year, I'm thinking. Especially when that new year is 2017. Battle stations, everyone!

We've kept our pizza-movie night tradition ever since my co-worker gave me the idea back in 2013. Friday morning found Adele and me out grabbing some pizza-making supplies after getting (ok, almost matching) haircuts. On the budget we're on, I'm always grateful for any free, or nearly free, fun my town can provide. 

Hooray for the one-penny King Sooper's horse! 

And hooray for Adele's pink cowboy boots from Dad & Agnes, right?? Miles got em in shiny red. 

 Friday afternoon we gave our library state-park pass another go at Lake Pueblo. Again, I'm really grateful for the free experiences we're able to scope out wherever we live.

I remembered the beauty of this park, but I'd forgotten the strangeness of the very blue lake surrounded by dry desert bluffs.

The wintertime barrenness just accentuates this strangeness.

 We hiked up the Arkansas Ridge for the view.

I kept marveling, "This is Mars. I live on Mars." 

The cactuses are a weird substitute for trees, but not without charm. 

 None of us was happier about this trip than Koopa. We let him off-leash on the shore for a while, and he tore around like a maniac. His recall, as long as alpha-male Jon is around, is excellent. He just needs a whistle.

 We have made some resolutions, which I will detail in the next entry. We begin the year with an uphill financial battle, but we hope to end it very differently. We figure if we can get through last spring's Battle for the House, summer's move, fall's new job and final semester of grad school (including thesis defense), we're pretty much a match for 2017. I'm trying to install solar panels in my body to draw energy directly from the abundant Colorado sunshine.

 The dog is a great inspiration, too. He is our communal delight and joy and we do so much good good stuff because of him.

Waves and seagulls in the desert. With Pike's Peak. How crazy is this place? 

 We're planning a sweet family New Year's Eve party tonight, complete with Mario Party on the Wii. We wish you all blessings and joy in the New Year!

All our love, from Mars.

Four Calling Birds

 On the fourth day of Christmas, we decided we needed a getaway.

We've been in Colorado for six full months, but we've seen precious little of the landscape. We've been to Denver and Springs, and to a couple of parks in Pueblo, but we haven't wandered. And in the six years we spent in southwestern Virginia, we did very little exploring. I think I have a fear of the car breaking down in the middle of nowhere. But this fear meant a smaller world in Virginia, and I'm determined to make the most of our time in Colorado. We need to live more.

So we made the one hour trip south to Lathrop State Park, to find another landscape.

I love this accidental shot from the car. We entered anyway.

One of the two lakes at the park

 I was reluctant for so many reasons to go on this hike. I'd been tired since Christmas. It's been a long while since our kids took a long walk, and it seemed certain they'd whine and drag their feet the whole way. And the weather, while not terribly cold, was brutally windy.

All my worries disappeared within minutes of starting to walk. The wind died down, and we were like deer on the heights. It's a treat to walk in such new landscapes, in the dry, invigorating desert air. We saw snow on cacti and yucca, and mesas, lakes and snow-capped mountains formed an improbably and gorgeous background.

The main attraction: The Spanish Peaks

Greenhorn Mountain

I look old, but feel young

Jon took this through his binoculars!

 We did a 2.6 mile loop, plus a short dash up a second hill to get the view again. This is not a rigorous hike for adults, but my short-legged five year old was struggling a bit toward the end. Nevertheless, there was zero whining and no request to be carried, from anyone (even me).

 Exhilarating views, exercise, and sunshine. Exactly what we all needed.

Blooming in the winter. I can relate.

 We're going to remember this as a really special holiday. Did I mention it's the first Christmas for which we haven't travelled? at all? We're just enjoying each other and our home this year, and it's been precious.

We're rejuvenated. And I think I've settled on my OneWord for 2017, which cannot come soon enough! Am I right? George Michael, Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds.. Who dies tomorrow??

We rest and we party and in 2017, we get to work. 

The close of Advent and The Day Itself

The children of district 60 get more than two weeks off of school! How strange and yet wonderful to be finished with work for the year on the 16 of December. 

Santa at the shopping mall charges minimum 22 dollars for pictures. I'm gonna go with the hell naw option on that one. But Santa at the public library? This is more my style. 

He was a bit of an awkward fella, but Miles seemed to accept him ok. And Adele got closer to him than she has ever willingly gotten. So maybe Awkward Santa is Best Santa. 

 He has such a serious and confidential discussion with Santa, deciphering Adele's letter for her and relating his own wishes. With his hair all mashed from the bike ride over. Seven is marvelous.

 I also got to host a playdate last week. Adele's adored preschool friend Sasha and her family came, as did the family of Miles' schoolmate, Noah. Another neighborhood friend showed up with Noah and we hosted seven kids! There was cookie decorating, Grinch watching, hot chocolate drinking and lots of laughter. And the house wasn't too trashed afterward, since both moms stayed and helped.

 Adele's new bff gave her a best friends necklace for Christmas! I love her mom, who is an ER doctor and dog lover and swell person. Thank God for new friends.

 Christmas Eve was exhausting!! At least, it was for me. I was up early baking gingerbread cookies and preparing the Christmas dessert, cleaning the house and wrapping what wasn't already wrapped. We attended a very sweet family service at our church at 4.

 After which, we posed for pictures, had dinner, wrote Santa's letters, set out cookies, checked Santa's progress on NORAD and tucked the kids in.

 Then at 8:30, I was off to my second round, for two hours of singing in choir.
It was beautiful, but it just took everything out of me. We sang as if the universe was hanging in the balance. When I came home, I had just enough energy to sink into bed and check Santa's position one more time:

 He was on his way!

Christmas morning was a little rough, as the kids thought 5:45 was a great time to get up. We got them to go play while we dozed until 7:30. When we got up, Adele had gotten into her stocking, and they had worked together to arrange the gifts into oddly shaped and tall sculptures in the living room. We had to fight to get that sense of humor started.

Miles wanted badly to go to church, so for the third time in 24 hours I went to church. And you know? I'm so glad we did. It was so jolly to hear the organ and sing and shake hands with everyone on Christmas Day.

And after a late morning snack and some more caffeine, we opened gifts! The kids did very well.

 Some big hits included Adele's tea set, roller skates for both kids, a construction kit for building forts, and these noisy "little live pets." The adults are really being impressively tolerant of the small mechanical frog and mouse scampering around the house.

 Koopa did pretty well on his first Christmas, too. He got a stuffed squirrel and several bones.

 I take him on off-leash evening romps at the elementary school playground now, which gets my blood going and allows him more intense exercise. He is such a joy and a force for good in our family.

Father Scott, who baptized Adele years ago, sent the kids these 3d Christmas lights glasses. I'm inspired. Next year, I'm going to try to write Real Christmas Cards.

But for a first Christmas in Pueblo, while I'm still underemployed? Christmas 2016 exceeded expectations. And now it's St. Stephen's Day and 11am and I'm still in my pajamas, sitting on the couch, while the kids happily play with their new toys. I've got my latest Bernard Cornwall Saxon novel next to me. I could get used to this.

First Pueblo Snowfall

 Ok, it wasn't technically the first snowfall of the season. If you remember, the first snowfall was on my first day of work. But that was a relatively small squall whose main impact was to inconvenience me. It melted the next day.

On the 17th, though, we got several inches which lasted for days. That was one of the lowest temperatures at which I've ever experienced snow. In my experience, snow doesn't fall when it's 10 degrees or lower. But the desert plays by different rules.

Everyone still made it to the Christmas pageant dress rehearsal that morning, nevertheless!

Koopa LOVES it! He romps and rolls and charges it like it's his enemy and best friend combined. 

I am so happy in the snow. What peace and unearthly quiet. 

The kids had a surprisingly great time playing in the 7 degrees.

 We didn't stay out past sundown, though.

 I drove Jon to work that Monday and marveled at the sight of desert landscapes, mesas, cacti, etc, covered in snow. What wonders 2016 has shown us!