Just Telling Our Story

Looking forward to summer vacation

I know it's only February (and it's 23 degrees outside right now), but we're starting to look forward to warmer weather, including our upcoming second-annual road trip to Colorado this summer. Someday soon, we'll be stomping the grounds of Ridgway, Ouray and Telluride — and it can't come soon enough!

Here's a page I started a few months ago but just finished last night. It's a good little taste of vacation in the middle of February. Ah, summer, get here soon!

Journaling:

Aug. 2, 2009

After a hike on the Baby Bathtubs trail at the Uncompahgre National Forest, we made a pit stop in Ouray (just down the mountain) to get some ice cream before heading back to Dad and Anita’s.

The sunshine and colors were perfect for photos, so I started to shoot some outside. E was originally sitting right next to Anita on the doorstep (above, far right), but when I squatted down to get the picture, she stood up and yelled, “STOP TAKING PICTURES OF ME!” and stormed off. It was just too funny. (Got a laugh from a passer-by, too!)

Another little “funny” from the day: E had bubble gum ice cream, but we noticed that when we were getting ready to leave, E didn’t have any gum in her mouth. We asked her where the gum was and she firmly answered, as if I were missing something obvious, “You’re supposed to eat it!”

*****

Sources:

• Elements: Shabby Princess, Promise Collection. (It's free and fabulous - go get it!)
• Fonts: Avenir (journaling) and ChunkFive (title)

I know, I know. It's been a LONG time.

Yes, once again, blogging has taken a back seat to all of the other craziness in my life right now. It stinks, because I was just getting into the idea of my new digital scrapbooking series, something I am definitely going to re-spark here as soon as I can possibly wrangle the time and feel like I'm not sacrificing something important by doing so. So please be patient with me!

In the meantime, here's the quick update from our little corner of the earth.

• We just got back from a trip to Colorado to visit my dad and stepmom. We had a FANTASTIC time. The kids hadn't been out there since 2006, when E was just 1 and G was just 4 years old. (Dad's only been out there full time for a couple of years.) Spending lots of time in the great outdoors did us all some good. The air doesn't get any fresher than that of colorful Colorado. Above is my favorite photo of the trip so far, although I haven't made it all the way through the 1000+ photos I took over the nine days. More to come later.
• Did I mention that we DROVE the roughly 1400 miles out to Colorado and back...with two small children within arm's reach of each other in the back seat?!? Were we insane? Actually, the kids did remarkably well, thanks in large part to modern technology. I'm not usually one for letting the kids sit in front of the telly or play video games all day, but when one sits in the car for up to 13 hours in one day—two days in a row—I'm willing to let down my guard a bit. The portable DVD player we bought for the trip was worth every cent, along with the Nintendo DS and two full iPods (and the accessory that let us play those iPods through the car's speakers, allowing us to avoid the radio-station dance for 13 hours a day). 
• G started back to school on Tuesday. (What, exactly, happened to summer?) He has the same teacher his daddy and I both had back 24 and 25 years ago. :o) The first day, he said he liked her. The second day, he said he wanted to skip second grade and stay home with me. I found out that's because his teacher called him out in class (he says he wasn't the only one) for talking during reading. He was so embarrassed he didn't want to go back. :o) Today was a little better, though. Can't have him dropping out of second grade.
• E has changed classes at preschool, and this week, she started her first "real" organized team sport. Daddy is coaching her soccer team, and after two practices, she seems to really be enjoying it. Given how shy she is, I'm happy she's going out and giving it her all. She hasn't shied away from any of the activities, really. She will probably be the kid on the outskirts of the action during game time, happy as a hummingbird when the ball comes her way but not at all interested in going in the middle of the pack to get her feet on it. :o) We shall see. I'm proud of her for being brave and going for it!
• We'll be spending five days a week at the soccer fields for the next, what?, 8 weeks? I suppose we didn't have anything else to do in the evenings. No, seriously, it should be entertaining. I love cheering my kids on from the sidelines. And this is the first season we get to do that for BOTH kids at the same time. Those days we have conflicting game times will be a bit disappointing, but we'll figure it out as we go.

That's about all that is keeping us busy for now. Before I let you go, here's a recent digital scrapbook page for your enjoyment! :o) More Colorado pics for Dad and Anita! :o) Love you guys and miss you already!

{Click layout for larger image}

Here's the journaling:

(Top right block) We had finally arrived at Dad and Anita’s house, and G** was itching to do something active. So Dad grabbed his shoes, and we headed up the mountain behind their house. The destination: Frank’s Rock. It started to get dark just as we made it to the point where the official (once-cleared) path ended, so we turned around and headed back. G*** was disappointed, but with the whole week ahead of us, we felt sure we’d have plenty of time to make it to the top. We never did head back up to the rock, however. In fact, in my three or four trips to Dad’s house in Colorado, I have never seen The Rock. But I know it’s there, and I know it’s beautiful. Maybe we’ll make it up next time! •• (Bottom right block) At left, E*** was copying every move Dad made on the way back, walking right behind him and lifting her foot, scratching her leg and stretching her knees when Dad did. I think it was her way of latching onto Papa as she started to get settled in for the week.

Digital elements are from:

• Background paper: Americana Mini Kit, Heather Ann Designs
  
• Everything else: The Aidan Bundle, Retrodiva (Tracy Collins). Perhaps my favorite kit ever!

Driven by insanity

I think the only reason anyone would want to do what we saw a group of guys doing yesterday would have to be an insane amount of adrenaline.

At Box Canyon Falls just outside of Ouray (pronounced Yur-ay), every night someone turns on a series of faucets that unleash running water over the sides of the canyon. The water freezes, of course, producing these enormous shields of ice. Each morning, then, climbers come to the park and start climbing the frozen falls. Yesterday, we watched a man climb up one of the falls.

We spent about 45 minutes watching him ascend about half the height of the falls. This picture was as he was approaching the top. Shortly after this picture was taken, he dropped one of his hand picks (not sure what they're actually called), and we thought for sure we'd see him fall. But a group of climbers that were watching him from a nearby bridge rushed to his rescue and lowered down one of their picks. The next picture was when he only had one of his picks and had to use his hands to climb for a bit.

That's about all for today. We had a pretty relaxing day yesterday. Today we're spending most of the day flying. We'll be leaving soon. Chad, G and E, I'll be home soon! Kiddos, I'll be sure to come in and give you big hugs and kisses when I get home (it will be after you go to bed tonight). I miss you and love you all! See you soon!

Dad and Anita, thanks so much for a great trip! I have really enjoyed myself this week, and we are looking forward to our next trip—with all four of us—this summer!

Colorado from a new view

On Monday, I experienced Colorado from a different view—deep into the "back country" in the mountains. With no roads in sight, we went on a 2.5-hour snowmobiling trip just above Telluride about 11,500 feet in elevation. Most of our tour was through national forest, and the views were oh-my-gosh incredible. There were dozens of times I wish that I had a camera on my helmet so I could grab a photo of the amazing forest and mountainside we were powering through. But of course, I was holding on to the handlebars with all my might, trying to stay inline with the narrow paths and winding curves, many of which were on the verge of falling off the mountainside. (I said before I was nervous about the roads...well, our snowmobile path was sometimes just barely as wide as the snowmobile. One false move, one big rock, one split second of taking my eyes off the path, and it would have been all over for me!)

Out of a group of about 14 of us at first, we lucked out and got a tour guide all to ourselves. The four of us were split from the rest (the others must have all been one big group). Our tour guide, Jack, was really good. We stopped several times, and he told us a lot of the history of the town of Alta, an old mining town that is just a few shattered buildings now. It was pretty interesting.

Out of all of us, including the other group, I was the only one who obviously had never been before. I didn't have the gear. I don't really have a reason to own snow gear—snow pants, gator (neck cover), boots, snow-proof coat, helmet, goggles—and I have never skiied before, either, so I was a bit unprepared. I had to borrow everything from the tour company. Boy, did I look like a goober! The smallest suit they had, they warned me would be huge. That was an understatement! It was ENORMOUS! And it was a size small! I tell ya, I felt like an astronaut in all of that gear, and it made for some pretty dorky pictures!

I did have my little point-and-shoot camera with me. I couldn't bring my good camera that I love because it would have been bouncing around like crazy and would have been quite a pain to carry around. My point-and-shoot fit into my pocket of my giant snowsuit, and it did the job OK. Still, there were many, many times I wish I had had my good camera. The scenery is amazing. Makes me want to rig some way to get it out there next time we do this. I would have had some AWESOME pictures!

Anyway, we got a couple of good family shots, too. With the mountains in the background, it's pretty hard to take a bad picture here.

Man, with my helmet-head hair and giant snowsuit, I kind of want to cringe when I see myself! But the rest of the family looks good!

The one above was just about at treeline, 11,500 feet. It was our highest point of the tour.

The funny thing is (and it doesn't really show here) that it was 65 degrees in Telluride, just below where we were snowmobiling yesterday. It was a gorgeous day. There was plenty of snow (something we were a little worried about when we had had a few 50-plus-degree days leading up to our snowmobile adventure. But the guides said they had had a major snowstorm in December and the snow was pretty packed, so it wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. There were some really deep areas...one of which I feel back into! I stepped off the groomed snowmobile path by no more than foot (trying to back up to get a better picture) and fell into three feet of snow...which happened to be on top of a lake. So I was lucky to not have fallen into the water!

So snowmobiling was a great time! Chad, you would have loved it. Wish you were here. G and E, when you get a little older, we'll make sure we take you guys out, too. I miss you all. Love you!

*****

After snowmobiling, we headed into Mountain Village (also above Telluride), to the Peaks and See Forever, where my stepmom is concierge and manager. We toured a couple of the $6-million units (gasp!), and the views, again, were spectacular. (You'd have to be a millionaire to live in Telluride or Mountain Village...literally. Even small, small houses—smaller than ours at home—sell for a million bucks in Telluride.)

Those black/gray areas are rolling shades/blinds. The views...geez. This unit was owned by the in-laws of Dancing with Stars star Brooke Burke.

That wrapped up our day yesterday. Today, we're going to explore Ouray, a small town near where my dad lives. More tomorrow!

More Colorado beauty

On one of our drives yesterday, we spotted this wolf. Had to grab a picture. Too cool. The roads up here are death-defying, and I think I would die of a heart attack if I had to drive on them every day. The road we were on when we got this shot was probably 15 minutes straight up a mountainside...and one false move (or one patch of ice), and we could very easily have gone over the side. Stresses me out! Beautiful scenery, but I just don't think I could live here and drive on these roads on a daily basis!

Anyway...after that trip (to go check on a house Dad is overseeing while its owners are out of state), we headed into Telluride for some shopping and dinner. It's a very cute little town that's swamped with skiiers.

That's Anita crossing the street.

Everywhere you look in Telluride, there are dogs galore. They're in stores, in cars, with people, parked outside while shoppers shop...just everywhere. I love that about this town. Made me wish I had one of our dogs with us.

Today, we're planning on going snowmobiling, but it's also going to be 57 degrees in Telluride, where we're going, so we're hoping there's plenty of snow. I'm also hoping I get to feeling a bit better. This chest cold has moved into my head, and I have almost completely lost my voice. Not fun!

Chad, G and E, I love you and miss you!

A quiet day on Sky Mountain Ranch

It's a quiet day today at Sky Mountain Ranch, the subdivision where my dad and stepmom live. (They're the only house in the subdivision, though! There are four other lots that have been sold but haven't yet been built upon. Three of the lots were sold to one person, so in the end, it will just be three houses here over about 170 acres. This is just amazing to me when I think about Indiana's affection for cramming in houses. At home, there probably would have been about 300 homes on 170 acres.) (Edited, 10:17 p.m. Indiana time: I found out I was wrong on the sizes. There are seven lots and a total of 300 acres. Oops! But it doesn't matter much...Dad's is still the only house here right now.)

We're traveling into Telluride later today for some shopping, a dinner to celebrate my dad's, my sister's and my February birthdays and possibly a tour of a 10,000-foot house (!) that my dad is looking over while its super-rich owners are gone. (Even for the super-rich, it seems like 10,000 feet might be a bit on the verge of overkill.) For now, though, the three of them (Dad, Erin and Anita) are taking a dip in the hot tub while I kill some time online. I've been ready to go for quite a while! If I had known they'd be getting in the hot tub, though, I might have put off getting my shower!

To Chad and my two favorite kiddos, I miss you!

I talked to Chad and the kids this morning, and G, especially, is missing his mom. He's such a sentimental and loving kiddo. E was missing me, too. I think maybe it's good for all of us to be apart for a few days, but it breaks my heart to hear such sadness in G's voice. I told him I'd be home before he knew it, and he said, "No, not before I know it. I want you home now." Such a sweet kid. I love you, Buddy. And E, well, she just has the sweetest little 4-year-old voice and was talking to me about the chicken nuggets and tater tots she was having for lunch and was just not at a loss for words. I love her little conversations. E, I miss you, too! As for Chad, well, I'm just happy he's a good daddy and doesn't mind (too much!) having to take care of the kiddos as a single dad for a few days. Thanks, hon. I miss you, too. Love you all!

Hope to post more tomorrow...

A Colorado Saturday

It's been a beautiful day here in Ridgway (and Montrose and surrounding areas).

I was ready well before Erin and Dad (Anita had to work today), so I went for a walk around the property around my dad's house. I saw these footprints in the drive in front of his house. Check out how big the stride is. This was a big animal! Dad's seen a lot of big animals around his house -- bears, elk, coyotes, deer, etc. Kind of cool, but kind of nerve-racking to wonder what kind of animals are hiding in the woods and keeping an eye on you. Hmmm...

Here's a pretty view, just to the left of the house, a view from the front porch:

And another view from my walk in front of the house:

Dad took a quick dip in the hot tub before we headed out. It's just funny to see him outside in his swim suit when it's 30 degrees outside.

We drove quite a bit today on quiet, pretty, mountain roads. Along our first stretch, on the way to a cottage my dad is selling, this deer just stood a few feet away from the road and watched us as we pulled up next to her, stopped and took her picture. She wasn't the least bit afraid of us...and she was in no hurry. (She also looks like she has had a rough life!)

Here's the view of the mountains from the cottage. Beautiful.

After the quick trip to the cottage, we headed to Black Canyon National Park. It was absolutely stunning. Like a smaller version of the Grand Canyon. Pictures just don't do it justice, but they are pretty.

A good one of my dad, sister and me:

And some more from the canyon:

And the funniest moment of the day was when Erin decided to challenge the sign and go beyond the sign. She took one step, Dad made a beeping noise (imagine the sound of a trash truck backing up), and Erin acted like she was being shot...and totally wiped out. We were laughing so hard we could hardly stop. Just too funny.

(Erin will kill me for posting this, but I had to!)

After Black Canyon, we headed to Dad's spec house at Cornerstone. Stunningly beautiful.

And it has a beautiful view, too!

That's enough photos for today (!). We won't have quite as busy of a day tomorrow, so you won't have to pain through another long post!

Chad, G and E: I love you and miss you!

Beautiful Colorado

So here I am...in sunny, beautiful Ridgway, Colorado, visiting my dad and stepmom. We arrived yesterday and have a busy day planned today. Not much time to post (Dad and my sister are ready to go, waiting for me to finish my post so we can go run around town and see my dad's spec house), but I'll post more later. It's beautiful here. Not as cold as I thought—it's about 50 degrees in Ridgway proper, but about 20 degrees colder up at his house, which is at 8,800 feet elevation. Here are a couple of views of the house. More to come later.

(And a quick note to my hubby and kiddos at home: I love you and miss you!)

View from the front porch:

The house in the shot below is on the right side, about 2/3 of the way down. There is only one house per 35 acres in his area. No neighbors in sight. It's really nice!

More later...gotta go!