A Colorado Christmas

We were fortunate enough to be able to spend Christmas last week in Dillon, Colorado. Monte's parents met us there - we all left a day earlier than anticipated because of the Midwestern snow storm. While Grandma & Grandpa watched Ani during the day, Monte and I had fun skiing at 3 different resorts. The 1st day was Copper Mt, of course, since that is our go-to place to ski. The 2nd day, Gavin drove up to meet us at Keystone, which I had never been to and LOVED. Plus, how can you beat the wonderful surprise of seeing SWING CREW at the Last Lift Bar? And then the last day we skied at Loveland. It's very much a local place, much smaller and not "resorty" at all. 1st time for both of us. Beautiful blue bird day of skiing.

This was also a milestone marking Ani's 1st plane ride. She did pretty well. On the way out, the plane was full, so she had to remain on our laps, but on the way home, the plane was not as full and she had her own seat.

Hope everyone had a great holiday - and see you in 2010! So, will you say "twenty ten", or "two-thousand ten"?

Thank you, Crowne Plaza, for the use of your Christmas tree.

Grandma & Grandpa Dirks

Ani loves her new book.

Spent the day with Gavin at Keystone, then met his awesome girlfriend Meg later that night at Tolzmann's restaurant in Frisco.

Gotta love Dennis of Swing Crew.

Our last beautiful day of skiing at Loveland.

Ani studying the flight safety directions just in case. She looks so serious.

Merry Christmas!

Ani was having nothing to do with Santa unless I held her. Maybe next year she'll sit on his lap by herself!

Elmo, Yellow, Buh-Bye

Here you go, Amy! :)

Also, since she was too young last year, this is Ani's 1st real experience with "the white stuff". Don't let the photo fool you.... we were outside for all of 4 minutes that day before she wanted to go back inside.

Winter Escape

We found a new place to escape cabin fever this winter - the indoor play park at Edinborough. Ani and I went there earlier this week. Highly recommended. We spent most of the morning there and Ani didn't want to leave. They have a HUGE multi-purpose indoor play structure that you can (parents too!) climb all over, slide down, and bounce in. It's entirely padded and enclosed, so it's pretty safe. There's also a large open gym area with balls, and those fun chairs on wheels that we had from grade school. I'm sure they're a step up from back in those long ago days! Ha ha.

Anyhow, I recognized another little girl in the play structure from Ani's daycare. Paige is older, so she's in a different room, but most of the kids know each other. She recognized Ani right away and said, "We have that at school." It took me a moment, but I realized the "that" she was referring to was Ani.

Following Mommy's Footsteps

Sorry for the crink in your neck that you'll probably get from watching this sideways!

Thanksgiving in Pictures

Thanksgiving last weekend was spent in Iowa with my family. We did a lot in the 36 hours we were there!

Ani & Meggie

Look at all those blue eyes - 2nd cousins Ella & Avery

Marcy with baby Preston

Jingle Cross Race in Iowa City. Monte was going to ride in it but had been sick the week before. We saw a lot of MN bikers, which was neat. One word can describe the experience pretty well - muddy!

Crazy Jingle Cross hill

Crazy daughter

Being silly with Papa

3 generations

Gage & Kennedy stopped by

Out at Hoot Owl Hill

Jami hooked up the Belgian horses and took us for a ride

On the hayrack ride