Skiing at Keystone

I went skiing with my family for the weekend at Keystone, CO and had a great time. I hadn't been on skis for almost 20 years, and I can't believe it has been that long. I was really nervous but did well. It was almost like riding a bike. I stuck to the bunny slopes, which are like Black Diamond ones out east where I've done most of my skiing. The first time down I was braking most of the time, and by the last time I went down the slope, I was just having fun. My husband is amazing and was a great instructor and partner to ski with me. I was so glad to have Aunt Lea with us who watched the cherubs for the day, which made the whole ski outing possible. Now I have the ski bug and can't wait to go again. We are going next month for military SnoFest with the girls' Aunt Stephanie and we can't wait. I plan to ski some more and take the cherubs for a gondola ride and some snow tubing. We are even planning to take Princess skiing and hopefully enroll her in ski school. I can't think of a better place to learn how to ski. I learned to ski in Utah at a ski school and the lessons were so good, I learned what I needed to know in just a few hours. So ... if you haven't skied in a long time - do it. It is so fun, great exercise without feeling like exercise, the views are amazing, and it is a great escape from the daily grind. But I highly recommend lessons if you haven't skied out west. I sat next to a sweet lday from Tennessee whose husband took her on the slopes without any instruction and she and her 11 year old daughter literally fell down half the mountain. Her husband, a CO native, just kept yelling back to them "get up. this is the easy slopes." They ended up calling ski patrol and only to be told we can't help you. They walked up the mountain, which is a feat I cannot fathom. I couldn't decide whether her husband was stupid or a jerk. Who knows. But lessons... gotta do 'em. And marry the right guy. I did. And I'm looking forward to more skiing with him.

A Simple Christmas

What to get my kids for Christmas?


My kids are blessed and have everything they need and more. Thanks to friends with older kids who've passed on clothes and toys, and thanks to my expertise in retail acquisition, my kids have EVERYTHING. Finding gift ideas for my kids is a challenge. For the past 5 weeks, I've asked Princess "what do you want for Christmas?" I get the same answer, which may surprise you. A purple lollipop, cheetos, pretzels, a candy necklace, and tic tacs from my grandmas. Do you want toys? No, I have so many already. I credit this to the lack of junk food they get to eat and lack of commercial television in their lives. When we watch the idiot box, we watch DVDs or PBS.

But here's the problem; I am a planner. I am always planning or semper paratus - prepared - for what lies ahead. So. When I see something that I think my kids might need in the next year or two, and it is a great price or I don't think I'll have the oppty to buy it again, I get it and store it. The problem is, many times, I forget what I bought. Night before last, I starting wrapping gifts and discovered that I not only bought enough gifts for my kids to open this year, but for all of next Christmas too. Having them open all the gifts I bought doesn't match up to the simple Christmas I had thought I was planning.

Note to self: write down all the stuff I have for them and store it in a note on my cell. Next time I'm tempted to buy something else for them, review the list.

Governor's Mansion and Cherokee Castle

I went on a tour with my friend Rachelle to visit the Governor's Mansion in Denver and the Cherokee Castle in Sedalia. The Governor's mansion was a surprise. It was a huge mansion unlike anything else I've seen in CO - no trace of the SW style and I reminded me much of the homes in Old Town Alexandria. The house is open for tours at Christmas time and the place was beautifully decorated using all "recycled" materials and Christmas decorations in the attic. It seems budget cuts are everywhere. The staff was soooo friendly and welcoming, esp. when they found out I was a military wife. They even had a special tree for the fallen heros who were from Colorado, which had ornaments with each of their names on it. I was especilly impressed that they had a few Coast Guard ornaments on the tree. Thank you Mrs. Ritter for remembering we are here too.

Another highlight and if you are ever in the Denver area, I cannot recommend more that you visit the Cherokee Castle. I went there for high tea and a tour. The food was impressive. The art collection ...priceless. The silver and furnishing...timeless. The history...rich. The castle itself... enormous. Nothing was more impressive than the view. On the back deck there was nothing but wide open space. Acres and acres and acres. Nothing in front of you but land and the mountain range everywhere you looked. In front of you, to the left, right, and behind you. And it was quiet. So peaceful. On the right side in the far distance, you could see the skyline of Denver downtown and that was it. Amazing. I hope to go back for a romantic dinner with my husband in the summer on the deck and just sit and look out. So much beauty out here.

Tours coming up: Breckinridge for Christmas, Keystone for Sno Fest 09, Estes Park in May.

I'm hoping to go dog sledding or on a sleigh ride and outdoor dinner in February depending on mouse's work schedule. Mouse, thanks for taking off work so I could do this trip and others. I love you!

Facebook...a distraction?

I know it has been forever since I've blogged. The culprit...FACEBOOK. I got on facebook a month or so ago and found it so addicting I stopped blogging about all the cool things we've been doing in the Springs. Facebook has been amazing. In one place I can connect with all kinds of friends I wouldn't otherwise be in touch with. Old high school friends, my college newspaper friends, the elite IABC posse, Alexandria Jaycees, my Pittsburgh Just Moved sisters, Pittsburgh Mothers and More friends, and family. Instead of finding 15 minutes to journal about our outings, I can just post a sentence and I'm done. And I can see what my friends are up to and connect with them in a minute.

One day I checked my facebook friends and noticed that my niece "defriended" me. I am thinking, there is no way. Somethings up. My niece loves me. When she got to go to Bermuda for a week for her 15th bday, she picked me to be her friend to go with. I will always cherish that week we had together and am so grateful for the break from my baby and active 2 year old. My precious husband watched the kids that week and pushed me to go. I digress. I called my brother to find out wuzup. She is a junior in HS and decided that FB was a distraction and deactivitated her account. It made me think. Wow, what a mature decision. I realized how much time I was spending poking people and reading what old friends were up to, taking movie quizzes, I was missing out on other things, like blogging...

Having just moved and not having established friendships here in the Springs, it was such a comfort to be connected to my friends and family who know me and love me. At the same time, I wonder if that time took away opportunities to bond with my kids and seek out opportunities to connect in person to new people in the Springs. Friendships do take time to grow. Especially being a SAHM, I find you have to be intentional in building new relationships and that it takes time. It doesn;t just happen on its own, as it did going to college or belonging to a professional or social group.

I still like FB and am happy that I now connecting with people in my present life. I will just be more mindful about not getting sucked in.

Your thoughts?