Thanksgiving

I am so grateful that we were able to be with family for Thanksgiving this year....

Alec & his family drove up from California - with some great stops in southern Utah for hiking! - and spent the holiday with us either playing outside, or cozied up on the couches together.

While I know many people weren't able to travel or see family for the holiday, I was ever more grateful that we were all healthy and isolated together. We hiked, played at the park, played games, went Christmas Tree hunting in the National Forest, and ate all the good food... 

It was almost better that we weren't really able to go places and do things with a bunch of people... it ended up being the perfect excuse to spend 3 full days just being with some of my favorite people! 

Football

This year's football season has been a surprise in so many ways.... 

photo credit: Bobby Gutierrez

We weren't even sure it was going to happen at all - right up until it did! And even though the sudden season was shorter and later than normal, it has been really great for Hamp and John-Jefferson.

First of all, I am so proud of John-Jefferson for joining the team. He had never played American football before now and he was enthusiastic and eager to learn - and I think he enjoyed it!

I am also immensely proud of how Hamp took John-Jefferson under his wing and helped him feel comfortable with a new sport. He mentored him on all the important aspects of the training: from how to fit a helmet & pads to playing Madden on the xbox with the team at school every week before the game!

I was impressed by how much better Hamp played this year... he is much bigger and stronger than he was last year and seems a little more comfortable being aggressive on the field.  It has been so fun to watch him kick again this year - many great kickoffs and even a few opportunities to get the ball between the goal posts! 

The real surprise was him getting to play defensive line in the last game of the season... and making some really great plays!

photo credits for above action shots: Tiffany Jehorek (thank you!) 

Here's a 2 minute highlight of an extra point, a kick off, and a couple pretty awesome tackles!

I even surprised myself this year - making a couple of Junior Varsity away games where both boys got lots of playing time and great experience.... and I got some great views and maybe some frostbite!

I really shouldn't say I'm surprised at how great these boys are.... they show me every day how funny and hard-working and responsible they are. And I just feel pretty lucky that I get to be there for them... and watch them play!

Peace be with you

 

When Sam asked for a puppy in May, I went against my better judgement and conceded. 

After 5 months I realized that while Peace was a truly wonderful dog as far as temperament and behavior.... she was not right for our family.

So last weekend she found a new, happy home - where she will have a dog brother to play with and an owner that has the time and energy to love her better than we were able.

And even though I feel relieved and confident in our decision, I have to admit that I will miss my hiking partner! Happy trails.... 

Homecoming week!

 With all the craziness in the world right now we were absolutely grateful to have a week to celebrate all the things that are great in our little town: like teenagers and sports and friendships and costumes and Halloween and sunshine and family!

The week started out SO, SO cold... there is nothing fun about watching a JV football game in 10 degree weather, I can't imagine it's much better to play?! (It sure was pretty though...)

But temps were better by the Homecoming parade on Friday and everyone loved cheering on the kids. I especially loved seeing my 3 boys in the parade:

Sam as a hovering ghost in the 8th grade Student Council float...

Hamp riding on the traditional fire truck with the football team...

and John-Jefferson on the Homecoming Court for the Junior class!

I just love all these faces:

Everything culminated under the Friday night lights with a winning football game and homecoming royalty! I loved watching Hamp kickoff, punt and even score several extra points!

And of course, I am so proud of John-Jefferson for not only being nominated for homecoming court, but voted 1st attendant by his peers! What a testament to the positive impression he has made on everyone here with his sense of humor and friendly spirit.

Fall.... and winter!

This year's fall colors were so beautiful.... and I tried to take several opportunities to enjoy them!

My favorite hiking partners & I checked out Trappers Lake in mid-September:

Then I made the boys see Trapper's for themselves a week later... much to their chagrin. While not thoroughly interested in hiking, at least we enjoyed a great meal at the Lodge and got to see & hear a couple large herds of elk on the drive

The colors only got better as the weeks passed... so I bribed the boys again with more food to let me take their picture by the river! They're so handsome and so funny - they made a fall photo shoot a lot of fun...

But nothing lasts for long.... and yesterday we got a big snow storm that blanketed the state and left us with freezing temperatures. 

Someone sure was happy about it:

there's always a silver lining

Rifle Creek

Tiara Rado (Grand Junction)

Meeker

Vail

River Run (Carbondale)

Our fall sports schedule was rearranged this year - which was frustrating at first, but it did give Hamp the opportunity to play on the high school golf team in August & September! After spending his summer days working maintenance at the Meeker Golf Course (and spending his summer afternoons playing on the same course!) he was keen to try to play competitively. And he did just that - shooting well enough throughout the season to not only play at the Varsity level but also qualify for the regional tournament! He loved playing golf after school every day (aka “practice”!) and was able to play at some really great courses all over western Colorado - which he likely would have never gotten an opportunity to do! 

Oh yeah - and in true Hamp form he also had a great time with all his buddies on the team!