Snow Day!!!

As I watched the snow begin last night I began to wonder -- so how much snow does it take for Boulder Valley School District to close the schools, preschool rarely closed. This morning I woke up around 6 and turned on the TV and logged on to the computer to see if there was any announcement. At first it indicated only the mountain schools would be closed but then after a refresh all BVSD schools were closed for the day. Hmm, John and I wondered what would we do with James because neither of us have the luxury of a snow day. It's been snowing ferociously all day and it's not supposed to stop until tomorrow night.  This how our day was spent (well I was working and taking pictures).

Sleeping in, snowballs, shoveling, sledding, helping the poor Globe Willow and art......

 

Halloween over the years

Halloween........ was never a favorite holiday. Maybe because I was 10 the first time I experienced it and after a couple years it was almost an obligation that had to be done for various clubs. Over the years since then I've been to a few parties and they were fun but I don't enjoy dressing up.   Then once we had James, Halloween took on a new meaning of fun and kid and ideas. There are so many fun things you can do with kids and Halloween, it fits right in with the fun of Fall-- imagination runs wild. Here's  a look back at Halloween's past.. check back to see after Halloween to see how James looks as an Oompa Loompa.

Very First Halloween - 2004, 6 months - James the Lion

2005 - 1 Year Old - James the Lizard (with a tour operator inside)

2006 - 2 Years Old - James the Pirate

2007 - 3 Years Old  - James the Fisherman

2008 - 4 Years Old - James the Zoo Keeper

Happy Birthday Papa!

Papa's birthday month is in full swing and today is the pinnacle .. your actual birthday. Yesterday James and
I made little pumpkin
patch cakes. Today we'll decorate them and after your favorite meal.. Shake and Bake chicken we'll blow out your candles. We sure wish you were here to blow them out. We miss you so much and most days still can't believe you are really gone. Maybe because you can never truly be gone as you will live in our hearts for eternity. It still seems so unfair that your life was cut so short -- you had so many great experiences to enjoy. Oh, I miss you so much it hurts! I suppose you are watching over us and experiencing it all with us.. in some ways you aren't missing a thing; but we sure miss hearing your laugh, your perspective and your support.

Happy Birthday!
Love, Lisa, James and John

Photos are from 2006, the last time we celebrated your birthday together.


Our Birthday Celebration for Papa and James 1/2 Birthday - Pumpkin Patch Cakes plus Shake-n-Bake chicken with baked potatoes and green beans!

Challenge: For all my friends who dread their birthdays... in honor of Rick's birthday -- I don't know anyone else who loved his birthday more....I challenge you each to take another approach and embrace your birthday, celebrate your life, yourself, your friends, your family and most of all HAVE FUN!!! Find joy in every moment, you just don't know when it will end.

Fall 2009

Until I moved to Colorado, Fall meant little to me -- except maybe school was starting, it was likely to get super hot in October with fire season and perhaps begin to cool down and hopefully get some rain but beyond that it was nothing special. Eleven years ago next month I will have lived in Colorado and Fall has become one of my favorite seasons; even if it's fleeting. There is a crispness in the air.. especially in the evening and early mornings. It is also a bit fickle at times.. cooling down enough to snow and heating up to temperatures that make you wonder if it's still summer. But the leaves change to brilliant colors of golds and reds. The light changes somehow... Fall feels different.

As I mentioned, it is fleeting.. if it's not snow then it gets windy and all the leaves are gone and then I know that winter is around the corner -- I can't wait for Christmas, it is fun for it to be cold but once Christmas is over I am waiting in anticipation for signs of spring and warmth. Anyhow beyond the colors, the light, the chill in the air Fall is filled with so many things.

Here are just a few glimpses into what we've been doing this fall......

• Fall Colors in Rocky Mountain National Park - Lilly Lake, Bear Lake and another small lake near Bear.
• Hiking
  
• Playing at the Zoo with Friends!
• Playing Soccer.. well dancing and singing on the field, does that count???
• Pumpkin Patches