best way to spend Christmas Day in Meeker

Our Christmas adventures this year were pretty mild - with Hamp home, the 3 of us enjoyed the long weekend together. The boys did some skiing before and after the holiday, we enjoyed visits with friends, indulged on good food and generous gifts... and while the boys chose to stay in town and go sledding, Penny and I snowshoed in to the yurt for a Christmas beer in the sunshine!

Hoping your holidays have been merry and bright!

Thanksgiving

I felt truly lucky this holiday to host family in Meeker!

Yaya & Papa drove all the way from Mississippi to visit us in the mountains - stopping to visit family along the way and pick up Hamp in Boulder! It worked out beautifully...

We had great weather - unseasonably warm and dry - which lent itself to some good hiking with Penny and a climb up the mountain for the perfect tree!

It was great that we were all together... having Hamp home, and Penny join us, and family from across the state and across the country, and dear friends, too made it really easy to be thankful!

lucky Penny

When I told our local Animal Control Officer that I would foster Penny for the weekend... I kind of already knew that there was a very good chance that she might never be going back to the dog shelter.

A 3-year old mix of cattle dog, rottweiler, and terrier, Penny is absolutely the right fit for our home at the right time... she is attentive, loyal, well-trained, sweet, and an excellent trail hiker!

And I am not sure who is happier that she has found a new home with us:

Having her has made such a difference in our home, and in our lives these last couple of weeks... I look forward to many years of good, long hikes with Penny.

more weekend adventures

 Sam and I decided that another quick trip out of town to see another National Park was in order for last weekend... so we took off Friday night for the San Luis Valley in central Colorado and spent a day exploring and climbing the Great Sand Dunes! It was an amazing day - the sky really was that blue, the dunes really are that high, and the surrounding mountains really are that majestic. 

Homecoming faves

Sam's Junior Homecoming was so fun: a week full of dress-up days and activities, a parade, volleyball and football games, and a dinner/dance with all his friends.

No doubt his favorite part was probably the Peach Fuzz volleyball game where the Class of '25 nearly dominated... but of course the Seniors ended up "winning". Next year, boys... next year!

Or maybe Sam's favorite part was the parade - where Sam rode in a tractor (???) to represent his class as a homecoming court nominee...

...then ran back and jumped in a cart to represent the boys' Golf Team in their "float"!

But then later that night at the football game, he had a new favorite moment when he was announced as 1st attendant for the Homecoming Court! He was so surprised and grateful and honored.

Then again... perhaps his favorite part was getting dressed up and being all smiles with so many of his best friends before the Homecoming Dance!

a quick and easy visit

Last weekend, Sam & I met some friends in Boulder for a fun little weekend getaway... mostly to see Hamp thriving in his new environment and to show Sam CU's campus (which is beautiful!) Actually, if you asked Hamp, our visit was strictly just to bring him his golf clubs (that didn't fit in the car at the initial move in!) and a few more hangers.

Regardless, my heart was happy to take Hamp out to dinner with us and have him laugh and tour us around campus and buy him new CU gear at the bookstore.

Best part: watching Sam and his friend join in with Hamp and his friends for a game of baseball on the green!

weekend adventures

On the weekends Sam is usually busy doing *all the things* (volleyball games, football games, work, golf, friends, etc!) so I try to make myself take advantage of the incredible outdoor opportunities in my back yard... 

including hiking Trapper's Lake Carhart Trail (with happy hour at the lodge!):

And when I can get Sam to go with me, hiking Box Canyon Falls in Ouray, CO:

And exploring the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park!