Just some schtuff

I am fighting like mad to avoid getting a cold. Yuck. Been chugging Emergenc-C since I felt the symptoms coming on. Hopefully the Emergenc-C plus the good night's sleep I got last night (despite the howling wind) will give my immune system the jump start it needs. I do NOT have time to be sick.

Did I mention the wind? Oh my gosh, it's been horrible lately. It interferes with my outdoor exercise, not to mention my sleep. I'm not a fan of the wind, but I feel bad for complaining because some of you have much worse weather to deal with. I'm talking about all of my southern friends who have to worry about tornados. Tornados in February. 

So, my new bible study starts today. We're doing He Speaks To Me by Priscilla Shirer. I've never done one of her studies but I've heard she's great. I'm excited to get started!

Abbey finished Phase I of her orthodontic treatment and got her braces and her expander taken off yesterday. To celebrate, our orthodontist presented her with a big 'ol bag of sticky, chewy candy. I'm pretty sure she powered through most of it before bedtime, smiling every single time she unwrapped a piece of gum. That poor, deprived child.

Will started track this week. He loves it. He wants to try triple-jump this year in addition to some shorter relay events. I'm very pleased that he wanted to run track again this year, but feel like I'll need to remind myself of that when I'm freezing my tail off at his meets this spring. :)

Sarah had her last speech tournament on Saturday. She had a GREAT season and placed in the top three at every meet! Go Sarah! I can't believe my girl will be in high school next year. I think she's more than ready for it but not so sure I am.

Wednesdays are my busiest days and today is no exception so I should sign off and get movin'. Our Lenten soup suppers at church begin tonight so cooking dinner is one thing I get to cross off of my to-do list. I am super duper thankful for that! Happy hump day everyone.

Currents

Current Books: Here's the stack beside my bed.

Current Playlist: Well, today I listened to my "Incline" playlist while hiking up the Incline. I guess you can't really call it a playlist though if one song constantly repeats itself. I'm pretty techy but for the life of me I can't figure out how to get my iPod off of repeat. I suppose I really shouldn't try to figure it out while hiking a vertical mile. I also suppose I should just ask one of my children if I want it fixed.

Current Color: I'm kinda digging blue Colorado sky. That's a color, right?

Current Drink: H2O baby!

Current Food: Let's face it--I'm a carnivore. I pretty much always crave red meat. Turns out that I can and should eat it based on my blood type (hence that book in the photo above). A friend gave me that book at church yesterday. The small part I've read has been fascinating.

Current Favorite Favorite: My new dishwasher. It's so quiet! And my Yaktrax. Would you think me dramatic if I told you they've saved my life on more than one occasion lately? Maybe they haven't saved my life, but they've sure saved me from completely busting it.

Current Wish List: A monogrammed one of these!

Current Needs: Nothing comes to mind.

Current Triumph: I survived February! Well, almost. But the big stuff is behind me and I should be able to coast into March.

Current Annoyance: Hmmmm...I really don't like turning laundry right side out. Lately, I've been washing and drying it in the same shape I get it in. If one's dirty socks are wadded up in a ball, that's how they get washed, dried, folded and put away. If one's underwear or jeans or favorite shirt is inside out, same thing. No one has even seemed to notice. Sigh.

Current Indulgence: Power naps.

Current Mood: Thinky. (And for those of you who were worried about me after yesterday's post--please know I'm okay. I really am.)

Current Blessing(s): 1. My husband! He helped me sooooo much this weekend while I was consumed with other obligations. He cleaned, did laundry, helped with homework, and took me out to dinner! 2. Seeing God redeem loss with LIFE.

Current Outfit: jeans, boots, shirt, scarf. And a coat! It's c-c-c-cold today!

Current Excitement: For starters, it's a short week--no school on Friday! Also, a USAFA gymnastics meet this weekend with friends, the beginning of a new Bible study, and I'm totally counting down the days until Season 5 of Mad Men begins next month.

Current Link: I saw this link on a friends blog (thanks, Christy). It's a list of ways to be intentional about celebrating Lent with your family. There's some good stuff there.

What if?

What if...
instead of responding to the snarky email, I just deleted it (both mentally and literally) and asked God to help that person have a better day?

What if...
instead of reacting the the one who is always short-tempered and snippy with me, I responded with warmth, grace, and Christ-like words.

What if...
instead of trying to defend myself against the attacks on my character, I let the truth of who I am speak louder than their lies?

What if...
I quit holding grudges? What if I forgave quickly? And (gasp) what if I prayed for those who hurt me? Not just "God bless so and so, but with a serious, intentional prayer?


This is hard stuff y'all. Hard, hard stuff.

stream of consciousness...

i'm so glad it's friday.

even though this particular friday is ushering in one of the busiest weekends i've had in a long time.

i'm not a huge fan of busy.

but today is still relatively calm. thank goodness.

i have a hair appointment later.

a hair appointment that got bumped from morning to afternoon because of some crazy client who had to be accommodated. (there's more to that story that i'm choosing not to share here.)(it made me kinda mad though.)

i'm not mad anymore because it freed up my morning for a hike.

a hike in the snow.

we had a snow day yesterday. a very unexpected one at that. it was a nice day off and it shortened our already short school week even more. i am not complaining.

i am reading through this book for lent, and am enjoying it very much (all three days so far). i was conflicted about what i wanted to do for lent this year (to give something up? to incorporate something more?) after praying about it, god led me to something. something hard, but something good. and something tailor-fit for me. maybe i'll share more about that later. maybe.

lately i seem to have this strange hesitation about sharing personal things. it's surprising because typically i tend to over share. i guess i've realized that some stuff is meant to be held close. it's for me and me alone. it doesn't necessarily mean that i'm not transparent (i believe i am) but more along the lines of this is not for everyone. i also think i've learned the hard way that not everyone is trustworthy with my "stuff". i don't know if all of this makes as much sense written here as it does in my head. :)

well, my stream of consciousness was just interrupted by a text from my darling daughter who forgot some stuff she really needs for school this AM so i must sign off and figure out how to get to the middle school before second period begins. the things one does for love. 

I hope everyone has a fabulous friday! it's friday! hooray!

Loves of late...

This is some stuff I've been loving lately...

1. Dry-erase poster board! Did you know such a thing existed? I had to make a fundraising-thermometer poster for work so I went to buy a sheet of poster board and happened upon this product. So awesome! I think it would be GREAT for chore charts, menu plans, and lots of other things! I'm thinking of buying a sheet of it when I get ready to make our "summer list".

2. Lime-Chipotle-Tortilla Crusted Tilapia from Costco. YUM! I really try to avoid gluten but I've found it really hard to come up with gluten free meals for my entire family. They love bread and pasta a lot! I bought this fish to have on hand for me to eat when they're having a heavy gluten meal. It's soooooo good. The coating does have some gluten in it but it's not enough to bother me. Win-win. I'm thinking of making a pasta dish for dinner just so I can have that fish!

3. Tylenol PM. I have NOT been sleeping well at all lately. Last night (out of desperation) I took two Tylenol PM caplets and slept for TEN HOURS STRAIGHT! It was wonderful. And restorative. I feel like a new person today. I even slept through the hideous wind that had me up for three hours the night before. Tylenol PM-- I think I love you.

4. Coconut oil. I guess most people cook with coconut oil but I keep my jar in my bathroom medicine cabinet. It's a fabulous moisturizer! I put it on my face at night and coat my hands with it (rub it in until it's absorbed completely) and I put in on my legs and arms after I get out of the shower in the mornings. I've been using it for several weeks now and my skin is soooo soft. I also think that my wrinkles around my eyes are slightly diminished. My jar was around $5 at the health food store. That's way cheaper than the moisturizing cream I was using! Here's some more info about using coconut oil as a moisturizer.

5. Clean shower doors. A friend posted a link on Facebook to this homemade soap scum remover a while back and I finally got around to trying it yesterday on the door to my shower stall. AMAZING results, y'all. The soap scum is G-O-N-E.

6. The calm before the storm. I have some big things coming up this weekend that I've been working on for awhile but surprisingly my week is feeling pretty calm. I like it! I like it a lot!

Peace out, peeps. I'm feeling kinda ashy on this Wednesday. :)

There is not enough concealer in the world...

...to mask the dark, tired circles under my eyes. Seriously. It's been a week. It's been a week that has kicked my bee-hind. The good news is that today is my Friday and that my kiddos have tomorrow AND Monday (and Tuesday for the elementary girl) off from school. Hello, four-day weekend! 

I always forget that February is a busy month for me. I expect December and May to be crazy but for some reason February always catches me by surprise. Thankfully I'm seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.

Alright. Here's my brain dump.

1. I'm a computer snob. John's brother converted us to Apple computers almost ten years ago and we haven't owned a PC since. I recently acquired one to use for work stuff because for some reason, many of my work apps are Windows based and not compatible with Apple's web browser (I know, that's so weird since it IS 2012 but that's the reality). I do NOT like PCs. The biggest learning curve has not been how to use the applications but how to use Windows and the stinkin' keyboard. I feel like I'm pretty techy until I open that laptop.

2. I had my yearly doctor visit today. Not my favorite thing in the world by any means but I do really like my doctor and she makes it as pleasant as possible. I laughed this morning when getting dressed because I realized my toenails were quite colorful. Abbey gave me a pedicure last weekend and I'm pretty sure I had the brightest toes in stirrups today. Here's the picture Abbey took of her artistry.

3. Does gray hair sprout overnight for you guys or is it just me?

4. The busier I am, the more I seem to get done. That seems so counter-intuitive but it really holds true for me. Go figure.

5. I'm really tired of homework. Hoping to goodness my kids get a homework free weekend. They did NOT in fact get the weekend off from homework. All THREE of them came home with assignments which they're working on at the moment. I've heard "this is so unfair" multiple times from multiple children. Yep. Meanest mom ever!

6. My aunt is coming this weekend! She has business in Denver so is coming to stay with us while she's here. I'm excited and so are my kids!

7. I had planned to be at the elementary school helping Abbey's teacher this afternoon. She emailed me earlier and gave me the afternoon off. WHAT A GIFT! I've been at school a LOT this week and even though I didn't mind going again today, her email gave me some time at home that I haven't had all week! Yay! It opened up a nice little window of time that I wasn't expecting. Hooray for GREAT and thoughtful teachers!

Alrighty. I need to get some laundry going and finish up some work stuff before my carpool rounds (to three schools!) begin. Such is my life. Peace out, peeps.

I'm learning...

I did something out of the ordinary today: I blew off my to-do list and all the things I really needed to accomplish. I have a dozen things I need to finish before Valentines Day parties tomorrow. My house is a wreck from a weekend of neglect. I have work stuff that I need to get done in the midst of a week full of appointments and commitments and getting ready for some weekend company. It's safe to say that I tend to let my to-do list rule my life most of the time.

Last night John and I were driving to a meeting and I told him that I really wished I could hike today but I had soooooo much to do. He knows me well and began to challenge me about why all those things had to get done today. I gave him a dozen reasons why I thought they did, but he kept challenging me and by the time we got to our meeting, I was warming to the idea of blowing off my Monday list. My friend, Lisa, was also at the meeting and I tentatively asked her what her Monday was looking like. She rattled off a couple of things and said, "Why? Do you want to hike the Incline?" To which I replied YES! Turns out she blew her list off today too and we got to enjoy our favorite hike and a beautiful morning outside together. Conversation is so easy between us and Lisa is one of THE most encouraging people I know. I always feel happy and blessed after I've spent time with her! Today was no exception.

The reality is that my house is still a wreck. My list is still looming. I have work deadlines that still need my attention despite a very full day tomorrow BUT honestly, it's a good thing to let myself be less structured every once in awhile. To not be ruled by a schedule or measure myself by my productivity but to let the things that bring life to my heart play the trump card every once in awhile. I'm learning that I need that more often than I allow it. Today, it felt good. Really, really good. And I'm one hundred percent sure all of those "things" will still get done. I may be up until midnight but they'll get done with a full and cheerful heart!

A Fabulous Friday

I was driving my older two kids to school this morning and the temperature on the bank sign read 10 degrees. Sarah saw it and blurted out, "It's 10 on the 10th!" And believe me, I felt every bit of that 10 degrees on my walk this morning. It was c-c-cold!

I haven't done a 10 on the 10th post in a really long time so I thought I'd share my list of reasons why today is shaping up to be a terrific day. I tried hard to think of ten...but I only made it to six! I think that's why I stopped doing 10 on the 10th. I grew tired of thinking too hard. :)

1. It's FRIDAY! Whew. I need a weekend.

2. It's Will's birthday! He is 15 years old! I am so thankful that God chose me to be his mom. He is such a great kid and we're really proud of who he is and who he is becoming. We pulled out the scrapbook of his first year of life and looked at it for awhile this morning. Seems just like yesterday I was reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear and trying like mad to get that boy to sleep through the night. We have some fun things planned this weekend to celebrate Will, because you know, one day just isn't enough when it comes to birthdays!

3. John took today off! I was so happy when he told me he'd be home with me today.

4. We're going to buy a dishwasher later. Okay, spending money on appliances isn't really fun at all, but our current one is dying a slow, painful death. I'm excited to choose one out that's a little larger and hopefully a lot more quiet!

5. Lunch date! After the dishwasher purchase is complete, John and I are going to lunch together. He told me I could choose the place. Hmmmmm...

6. Did I mention it's Friday? And the beginning of Will's birthday weekend? It's shaping up to be a fabulous day! Hope yours is on track to being great too!

Popping In

Popping in for just a minute or two to say hello. I'd love to keep the blogging rhythm that I had going last week, but man, some weeks it's hard to find extra time. It's been a good week so far. Busy, but good.

Ever have one of those days where you just ROCK the to-do list? I had one on Monday. I ran errands, cleaned, got some appointments/meetings scheduled, organized some of my February projects, and felt like I got most of my "mental sticky notes" transferred from my head to paper! Such a great feeling--I wish every day felt that productive!

Tonight I'm taking Sarah to register for HIGH SCHOOL! My oldest two are only one grade apart in school so it really does seem like yesterday that I was doing this with Will. Here's the kicker--they're going to different high schools. Our town has two. Will goes to the one we're zoned for but none of Sarah's really close friends are going there. After a year of thinking and talking and praying about this, we made the decision to keep her with her core group of friends and choice her into the high school we're not zoned for. [Side note: this is the decision I was referring to last week that is the best one for Sarah and is also the decision that makes my crazy life even crazier!] She's very excited about it, and I know with absolute certainty it was the right thing to do. That being said, I still break out in a cold sweat when I begin to think about all the details and scheduling this will involve.

Two kids in high school makes me feel old. So does the fact that our oldest turns FIFTEEN this week. That is so hard for me to wrap my mind around. Where does the time go???

More later, peeps. Hope you're having a happy hump day! :)

Got Snow?

Well, I got that snow day and three-day weekend I was hoping for. We probably have about 20 inches of snow outside and I think the flakes have finally stopped flying. The sun is trying to come out now and Toboggan Hill is calling our name for some afternoon sledding! Woohoo! 

Yesterday was a nice day. It's amazing what you can get done when you're not running kids back and forth to school and activities. I got caught up on some projects I'm managing, I got my closet cleaned out, and I got to enjoy some down time too! And last night was Bunco. The good thing about neighborhood Bunco is that not even a blizzard can stop us from getting together! We just put our snow boots and parkas over our pajamas and walked to Bunco--or in my case, walked next door! I love my neighborhood peeps so much. We are soooooo blessed to be surrounded by great friends.

I'm getting out in a bit for a grocery run--gotta get fueled up for the big game tomorrow. I'm still conflicted about who to cheer for. I think I'll be okay with whoever wins. So....Go Patriots! Go Giants! 

I'll post some snow pics after we get out and play in it! Happy Saturday, peeps!

Five minutes

I've got about five minutes to blog and thought I'd try to continue my streak of daily posting. Not sure how long I can keep it up so I'm just gonna roll with it while I have the urge.

My friend came over this morning so we could pow-wow about a big project we're coordinating this month and she came bearing Paula Deen's French Toast. Oh my word. YUM! Totally have a gluten headache right now but I'm thinking it might have been worth it. :)

It's supposed to snow tonight and it sounds like we could get a good bit. I'm so convinced that tomorrow is going to be a snow day that I keep thinking and saying today is Friday. I could reallllly use a snow day. Here's hoping we get one! Here's hoping I get all my necessary stuff checked off of my list today.

I love wearing hats.

I hate going to the post office. And by the way, when did the price of stamps go up?

I love planning Super Bowl junk food fests.

I don't love watching my friends suffer. Too many friends going through some really tough stuff right now. Makes my heart ache.

I love the feeling in the air when snow is on the way.

I think I'll end on that note!

Much to do, folks. Happy Thursday! (Or Friday if you're banking on that snow day/3-day weekend like I am!)

100 Mile Challenge--DONE!

When I hung my 2012 calendar it looked so blank and boring (Ha ha, that didn't last long!) so I started writing down the mileage from my daily walks. I get up and walk almost every morning with five of my neighbors--in the dark, in the frigid temps (never thought I'd think of 30 degrees as warm!), in the snow, in the wind, in the fog, etc. You name it, we've braved it. I also think I've mentioned a time or twelve that January has brought many beautiful spring-like days that have necessitated some terrific hiking! Anyway, I decided I'd try to track my walking/hiking mileage for one whole year. And that's why that Pedometer GPS app I mentioned yesterday is one of my must-haves.

About three weeks into January, I came home after a morning walk and tallied my mileage up to that point. I was at 66 miles with 9 days remaining in the month when John said, "Why don't you go for 100?" 

I quickly offered every reason in the world why I could never accomplish that while he just sat there and grinned at me. So I finally shrugged and said, "Okay, I'll do it." AND Y'ALL, I DID IT! I logged 103.8 miles in January. All outdoors. All trail. And all 103.8 miles with some of my favorite friends! 

I'm feeling really good about pushing myself beyond what I thought I could do! I don't expect (or desire) to repeat that in February but come summer, oh yeah, I'm aiming for a few more 100+ mile months! 

Happy hump day, peeps! Hope you're enjoying your week.

 

Tell About It Tuesday: My Favorite iPhone Apps

I got an iPhone for my birthday last May and have discovered several apps that I can't live without so I thought I'd share them with you.

1. Camera+ ($1.99)
I use this app instead of my phone's built in camera 90% of the time, but especially when I want great photos. It's worth every penny.

2. Pedometer Pro (Free version or $2.99 for the upgraded version)
I discovered this app last fall when I was in St Louis for a few days. I wanted to get out and walk but I had NO idea how to navigate my aunt's neighborhood or how to estimate mileage. Pedometer Pro to the rescue! It has a GPS feature that literally guided me through her neighborhood and the mileage is surprisingly accurate. I walk almost daily so I upgraded to the $2.99 version because it keeps track of my mileage history and will generate and send a report to my computer of all my monthly stats in the form of an Excel spreadsheet. The only downside is the GPS feature which, if accidentally left on, will drain your battery lickety split! Otherwise I give it two thumbs up.

3. Fandango (Free)

4. Pandora (Free)

5. Arkansas Razorback Football Bytes ($.99)
Between ESPN, ESPN3, and CBS I was able to watch almost every Arkansas Razorback football game last fall. There were a couple of weekends that I was traveling and this app was a lifesaver because it allowed me to stream audio coverage of the games. The audio streaming is my favorite feature but it also refreshed periodically and updates the score on game day and keeps track of stats, the season schedule, the team roster, SEC standings, and has links to news stories about the Hogs. It's an AWESOME app for Razorback football fans!

6. Around Me (Free)
Love this app when I'm in an unfamiliar place and want to find a coffee shop or restaurant or retail store.

7. Cash Cow ($.99)(Or the free lite version)
A game I'm hopelessly addicted to.

8. Words With Friends (Free or $.99 for the ad-free version)
My user name is Lifeat7000Feet. And I'm not very good (right Angie? right Betsy?) so the rest of you can probably beat me too!

9. Fruit Ninja ($.99)(Or the free lite version)
Just a fun, mindless game.

10. This one just makes me laugh. It's hilarious. And free.

I'm sorry but I'm not a fan of Angry Birds, Cute the Rope, My Fitness Pal, or Kindle but I'd love to know what YOUR favorite apps are!!!

Goodbye, Weekend

Ugh. The Sunday night blues are starting to hit me and I'm already dreading sending everyone off to school and work tomorrow. I like it best when we're all together at home. Sigh.

We've had a good weekend. Today was a really restful day for which I was thankful! Here's some listy stuff on my mind right now.

1. Sarah had a speech meet yesterday in Woodland Park and was gone for FOURTEEN HOURS. She had to leave the house at 5:30AM (yuck!) and she didn't get home until after 8PM. However, she won FIRST PLACE in her event and we are so, so proud of her! She got a trophy and everything!

2. I'm feeling good about the upcoming week. It's not too full (at this point) and that is such a nice feeling going into Monday. Can you believe that we're only a few days from February? January flew by entirely too fast.

3. We tried a new burger place tonight and it was pretty good! The french fries were really thin (and really good!) but oh my gosh, they were super salty. I am sooooooo thirsty right now.

4. John and I helped one of our kids make a big decision last week. I'm not quite ready to talk about it on the blog but it was absolutely THE best decision for this particular child. That being said, it was also a decision that puts me squarely in the driver's seat of the crazy train for the foreseeable future. I'm okay with it, I'm just trying to wrap my mind around all that it's going to involve. :) More details soon, I promise.

5. I can't decide who I want to cheer for in the Super Bowl next weekend. I LOVE the Giants and had half of their offensive line on my fantasy football roster this year. But I LOVE the Patriots (and I really love Tom Brady) too. I think it would be awesome if Brady could get another Super Bowl ring! And it would be equally awesome for the Giants to win. I almost wish one of those two teams had lost their championship game so that I wouldn't be so conflicted! Which team are YOU rooting for?

6. Speaking of football, I really didn't know what to do with myself this afternoon without any games to watch. To pacify myself I went hiking with two friends from church. Hiking with those two is quickly becoming a Sunday afternoon tradition...and one of my favorite parts of Sundays!

7. The rainbow cupcakes that Abbey and her friends made on Friday turned out REALLY great! They had a blast making, decorating, and eating them! Here's a (not-so-great) picture of ours before the frostingpalooza began. There is a recipe link in the post below this one.

Alrighty. It's almost time for Downton Abbey--our current favorite show--so I must say goodnight and sign off. Have a great week, everyone!

Life::: the random and rambling edition

I am so glad it's Friday! I have big plans for today that include laundry, cleaning, and preparing for a little after-school soiree for some cute fourth grade girls. Yesterday I bought the stuff for them to make these cute cupcakes and we have some fun crafts planned as well. I'm looking forward to a fun afternoon with giggly girls.

It's been a very full week but it's been full of some fun things! We had a couple of fabulous weather days so of course I managed to squeeze in a couple of hikes, including one of my favorites--the Manitou Incline! I didn't take any pictures this time, but I wore my trax and didn't even need them. All the ice that was there earlier this month had completely melted and I was thankful! [Local friends, that link is to a YouTube video I found about the Incline and it's super interesting. It's long, but worth it. And Part II is worth watching as well.]

It's also been full of necessary things. I've had some appointments and some meetings and some work stuff and some volunteer obligations. And of course there's always carpool and laundry and dinner and those kinds of "daily" things.

I would LOVE a slow weekend. But I'm not too hopeful about that at this point. Sigh.

Here's a few random phone pics from the week that I took for one reason or another, along with my rambling commentary. Random and rambling. That's how I roll.

Abbey is almost finished with Phase I of her orthodontic treatment. She gets her expander taken out next month and her brackets taken off as well. Not sure how long before Phase II begins. She chose purple and black bands this time and you'll learn why a few pics down.

SCORE! I found this cake mix in the deep recesses of my pantry a couple of weeks ago and finally made it last night. Trader Joe's vanilla cake is something I stock up on whenever I'm in  St Louis or Santa Fe (or anywhere else we travel that has TJs!)  Can't remember where this one came from but who cares? Because rumor has it that Trader Joe's is FINALLY coming to Colorado. Yay. No more mailing my loot home because there's no room in my carry-on luggage!

 I think these TOMS are so cute. Abbey got them for Christmas but the size/style was goofed up, so one month and two trips to Denver later we finally ended up with the right pair. She loves them. I bought a pair for myself in October but didn't love them and ended up returning them (for boots) because I was afraid my feet would freeze all winter long (and they would have). Abbey's are wool so I think she's okay. And NOW do you see why she chose black/purple bands for her braces? Evidently she wanted her teeth to match her toes. That girl.

This was my dinner plate one night this week. Spaghetti and meatballs is a go-to dinner around here. It's quick, easy, and delicious especially when paired with greek salad. I found this gluten-free pasta that I really like so now I'm able to enjoy pasta dishes again. Oh, and my best tip for making meatballs is to wear gloves!

I just thought this picture was funny. Jack-the-Beagle sleeping on the floor BESIDE his bed. Why? Why? Why? I will never understand that dog.

That's all, folks. Happy Weekend everyone!

iHike

Hiking is absolutely one of my favorite things to do. I love love LOVE it. It feeds my soul.

John and I were out hiking a few days after Christmas and he looked over at me and said, "Mer, when I married you twenty-some-odd years ago, I never really pictured the two of us out hiking together". It's true. I have come a long way. Living in this beautiful, temperate place without too many snakes or mosquitos or humidity has certainly helped grow my appreciation of the outdoors!

We've had some really gorgeous days this month and I'm trying to milk them for all they're worth so I've been hiking every time I get a chance. If I'm honest it's partly because I got new hiking shoes for Christmas and I love wearing them! I came home from a hike with friends in early January that involved some rock climbing and when I saw a gash in the smooth leather of my new shoes it made me smile with pride. I don't want my hiking shoes to look perfect. I want them to bear evidence of every single mile of rugged terrain they've traversed.

Here are a few pics that I've taken with my phone while out...

 There is no blue quite like the blue sky in Colorado!

LOVED finding this tree still decorated in early January! LOVE that someone thought to brighten the trail with festive decorations too! So fun. And I also LOVE these two girls 

Most of the trails around here are still pretty snowpacked and icy requiring me to wear trax (those things are AWESOME!)

Don't those scenery photos just make your heart sing? I LOVE WHERE WE LIVE! I don't ever take for granted the fact that we live in a place of stunning beauty. I feel happy and deeply thankful when I'm driving along the front range and see the mountains on my west and know that I've explored so much of that terrain. If God ever moves us away from Colorado, I will leave knowing that I made the most of my time here and got to experience as much of the beauty of the land as I possibly could. It's so much a part of ME!

Currently

Current Books: I'm feeling some shame that month after month I have to admit I'm not reading much of anything. I'm definitely experiencing a dry spell. Two books on my to-read list are Beautiful Outlaw and Odd Girl Out. Maybe next month I will have finished one of them. Cross your fingers. 

Current Playlist: A worship mix.

Current Color: Red.

Current Drink: I have seven caffeine-free months under my belt so that really limits my choices. I mostly drink Good Earth tea, water, and occasionally Zevia caffeine-free cola. 

Current Food: I've been enjoying some amazing blackberries from Costco lately. I'm also hooked on goat cheese--on (gluten-free) crackers, on salads, and just by itself. 

Current Favorite Favorite: Downton Abbey! It's sooooooo good, y'all. Also, I rediscovered my dutch oven. It was actually my grandmother's and my mom gave it to me a few years ago. I've been using it a LOT lately and I love it!

Current Wishlist: A black and white chevron scarf. I have a very clear picture in my mind of what I want and of what I don't. Sadly, I can't find one like the one in my mind's eye. Oh, and I also really like these touch screen gloves.

Current Needs: New dishwasher. Joy.

Current Triumph: I'm caught up on laundry! That's a biggie! 

Current Annoyances: The crazy wind we've had this week. Lying. Passive-agressiveness.

Current Indulgence: A 10-15 minute nap in the afternoons. I get up super early most days and lately I've needed that little power nap to get me through the evenings!

Current Mood: Quiet.

Current Blessing: Getting to spend time with one of my best friends from high school. She was in Denver last weekend visiting her in-laws and we met for a day of shopping (hello, IKEA!) and got to catch up a little since our (short) visit last summer. I wish she lived closer so we could do that more. Love you, Jennifer. :)

Current Outfit: Jeans, UGGS, long-sleeved tee, down vest, and scarf. 

Current Excitement: It's supposed to be nice outside today so I'm hiking with some friends. Plus, it's Thursday--one day closer to the weekend...and football! Hooray!

Current Link: A few actually...
25 Ways to Wear a Scarf (really cool YouTube video)(it's worth the 4.5 minutes!)
A Letter from my 90-Year-Old Self (A post on my husband's blog)
A movie that I watched this week and LOVED!

Newsy schtuff

Today is the kids last day of break. School resumes tomorrow and my guess is that this week is gonna be long and hard. We have a fun outing planned for later today--our  way of saying good-bye to a fabulous winter break.

Can you believe we're almost one-third of the way through January? I'm super thankful for some pretty mild weather so far this year. We were in the 60s for a couple of day last week and it was glorious! I was able to get out and hike and I had to keep reminding myself it was January and not April. Of course, it snowed a couple of days later, but thankfully just an inch or so. I am very anxious for spring to arrive and to stay!

We had some friends over on Saturday night for appetizers and soup. It's always risky to try a new recipe when you're having guests but I took the risk on a pot of soup and was not disappointed! Of course I wasn't too worried since it was Paula Deen's recipe for Poblano Chicken Chowder and Paula doesn't usually steer me wrong. Y'all, it was REALLY, REALLY good and probably my new favorite winter soup! It makes a ton though. I was feeding a crowd so I did not adjust the recipe but when I make it for my family, I will probably halve the recipe.
Side note: the group of friends we had over was the same group that we had over last January when Jack-the-beagle had his unfortunate incident. We try not to let (bad) history repeat itself so Jack saw the vet on Saturday morning for his "massage therapy" and I'm happy to report the party was incident free!

Moving on...to football!

I was SUPER DUPER HAPPY that the Razorbacks won the Cotton Bowl! Bunco happened to fall on the same night as the game so I got a sub for Bunco (because I'm a football fanatic) in order to stay home and watch the game without distractions. We only have one television hooked up to cable and one of our nameless children was throwing a holy fit about having to miss the series finale of Wizards of Waverly Place because of the Cotton Bowl so we watched the first half at home, then kept the peace and moved our viewing vigil to a sports bar down the road and watched the second half over hot wings and brats. About half of my Bunco group came and joined us for the last quarter--it was really FUN! Poor John was at a table surrounded by six women. Not sure if he loved it or was overwhelmed by us all!

The Broncos WON their playoff game last night too! I hate to admit that I had my doubts about their ability to pull it off but even more than that I hate to admit that I DIDN'T EVEN WATCH THE GAME! That wasn't necessarily by choice. John and I listened to the first half on the radio while driving to Divide, CO yesterday afternoon. Our friends, Steve and Gwen, have a beautiful retreat center there called Potter's Inn and on the first Sunday of each month they host a Sunday Evening Dinner at the Inn. The speaker last night was John Eldredge. He shared from his new book, Beautiful Outlaw, about the personality of Jesus and reading scripture with an understanding of that personality. It was very, very good. And dinner (prime rib!) was a-mazing. If you're local, check out the happenings at Potter's Inn. 


Alrighty. I must get up and get movin' and get this day-o-fun started! Happy Monday everyone!

Listy

I almost titled this post "First List of the New Year" but caught myself because this is January 4 and I've already made half a dozen lists since the year began. If you're listy like me you just can't help yourself!

1. On Monday I took Abbey to the orthodontist. On Tuesday I took all three of my children to the dentist. And today I'm taking Abbey back to the dentist to have a small procedure. She keeps letting me know in no small voice that having three dental appointments in three days is torture and deserves some kind of reward. I sort of agree with her but trust me, her reward will NOT be something sugary that might necessitate a fourth dental visit!

2. John went back to work today. Bah-humbug. I like it best when we're all home but I am very grateful for the time he was able to spend with us. Also thankful for his job and the dental insurance it provides! 

3. I'm having trouble remembering what day it actually is because they're all running together in my head. Ahhh...the uncomplicated days of holiday break! I'm going to be in for a rude awakening next week! We all are.

4. Only two more days until the Cotton Bowl. I've only watched one other bowl game this year. I really lose interest in post season college football unless I have a vested interest in a specific team. NFL football is another story though. I like it much better as a whole. By the way, I won THIRD place in my fantasy league this year and was pretty pleased with that finish.

5. I'm outrageously late to the Words With Friends party but I've been playing for the past week and I'm officially hooked. And officially mediocre. I'm just gonna throw it out there that one goal I have for 2012 is to beat my friend, Jen, at least once. She's won every game we've played and it's bringing out the ugly competitor in me.

6. Another lofty goal I have for 2012 is to teach my children to appreciate the non-chain restaurant. We went to Denver on Monday afternoon and when it came time to choose a place for dinner our family was divided against itself. John and I eventually used our veto power to override the kids' unoriginal chain choices and we ended up finding a fabulous Mexican dive that has the potential to become our new favorite. Score one for live! live! live!

7. Just ripped this photo from Moriah's blog! She was in town last week and we met for lunch. We've been blog friends for a LONG time and it's always fun to get to see her when she comes to Colorado to see her family. I think her kids loved the snow!

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Twenty Twelve.

I love love love turning my calendar page to a new month but there is something even more exciting about hanging a brand new calendar with twelve months of blank space ahead. I am genuinely excited about what 2012 might hold for us!

I actually do make goals for each year and while I didn't openly share mine last year, I'm proud to say made significant progress towards each one. The only one that I totally flaked on was "learn to make really good buffalo wings". Shoot! That one will get bumped to 2012 along with some others that I'm not going to jinx by sharing.

We had a great time on New Year's Eve. We got together with friends and ate decadent food and played hysterical games! I LOVE to laugh with friends! I made both of these recipes over the weekend and both were a hit and too yummy not to share. Blue Cheese Bacon Dip and Stuffed Mushrooms. You're welcome!

John and I started the new year off with a climb up the Manitou Incline.

We've never done this hike together so that was kinda fun. Climbing up was the easy part. Going down was HORRIBLE because most of Barr Trail looked like this--that's icepack not fluffy snow. I took my trax but left them in the car because I didn't want to carry them on the hike up. That was a stupid, stupid mistake. I fell once on the way down and it wasn't pretty! It usually takes me about 35-40 minutes to walk/jog back down but it took us 1.5 hours yesterday. Anyway, it was a fun albeit treacherous start to the new year!

Other than that, we've been eating, watching football, eating, playing games (we love Just Dance for the Wii!), eating, and I think today we're going to get out for one last hurrah before John goes back to work. We've LOVED having him home with us. It's going to be sad to send him off to work on Wednesday after twelve days of family togetherness.

I mentioned in my last post that I'd share my word from 2011.
My word was: SHIFT
It means a slight change in position, direction, or tendency.
I definitely saw a shift in priorities, relationships, finances, and parenting this year. On top of that, I picked up a part-time job that shifted the structure of my days a bit.

I also mentioned that we came up with a family slogan for the year of twenty-twelve. It's live! live! live!
John blogged about it here (and he says things much more poetically than I do) but basically, we want to live life and enjoy it to it's fullest this year. I think we're already off to a good start. Happy New Year!!!