Best Day Ever!

Superbowl Sunday I woke up after a long needed 13 hour sleep at 5:30 am without an alarm. I made myself a pot of coffee and a nice ham and egg breakfast and had a lovely un-rushed meal with a beautiful snow covered view. Eric texted me at 7 that he was going to the gym. I was really impressed because he had to drive a ways on the crappy roads so I figured since I live 3 blocks away from it I should probably go as well and asked him to pick me up. I shoveled the sidewalk. I was very proud of myself! I've gone entire days without being as productive as I was that day before 7:30 am!!! Haha! After pushing Eric's car out of a snow drift on my street we had a nice long un-rushed workout with the gym to ourselves. Then I got ready and we went to his place for lunch. I actually told Eric at this point, I know the Packers are going to win tonight because I am having the best day! Once Russ met us there we headed to the bar where we watched the Superbowl. It was a great game! Close enough to keep it interesting...and me nervous! Go Packers!! What a great day!!!

My view from the front porch when I woke up

"Come help me push my car out, then we'll go to gym"

Eric and I just back from the gym

On our way into the gym, Eric jumped and grabbed a branch above us and yelled "AVALANCHE!" and ran way up ahead. I swear every flake of snow on that tree came down on me!! I started out my workout with snow melting down my back. It was awesome. In this picture he was trying to recreate his hilarious joke. Right before he took the photo he threw his water bottle at the tree and yelled it again. That's my face...And I just realized that that is the reason he made me put on his damn hat in the last picture! Hahaha! What a gentleman! Yeesh!

After the Packers won I collected all the green and yellow balloons at the bar (all 5 of them) and lost one in the rafters. Eric put his life in danger to rescue it for me. Who says chivalry is dead?

I taught Russ and Eric how to pay cricket and they took turns beating me to a pulp at my own game! Then Russ won a Rodgers jersey. Still very high on the list of best days!!!!

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Wow! Sorry guys! I've really been off the grid for awhile! Just been working and skiing! I did go to a Plain White T's concert with Russ last night (which was awesome!!!!) and I took today off. It was time for a little balance! I chose the right day too! Record lows for Denver today! We are not supposed to get above freezing zero. Of course, nothing like record lows for the midwest but its definitely unusual here. I thought since most everyone viewing this is planning to get some severe winter weather as well I would post a few winter photos. Enjoy and I'll try to post more often!

Snow day at Grandma and Grandpa's! Not sure why I'm shoveling around their tree. Probably to give us something to do!

Another snow day at Grandma and Grandpa's!

Skiing in the midwest. There's no snow! Hahahaha!

My first year big mountain skiing in Salt Lake

I love this picture!

I hope everyone is staying warm and cozy today!!!!

Christmas

I was really bad and did not take one photo while I was home for Christmas this year (unless you count a couple I took on my phone, which I will try to retrieve later). I'm going to tell you about my Denver Christmas. Russ, Eric and I decided to meet and exchange gifts on Christmas Eve morning since I was leaving the next day after I got off work. We met at my house and exchanged gifts and had a nice visit. Then Eric saw the popcorn kernels in a clear jar on my counter and asked if he could make carmel corn. I reluctantly agreed (he is a good cook but can sometimes be dangerous in the kitchen, plus I was tired). He then proceeded to burn the popcorn so bad my kitchen and living room were engulfed in a cloud of smoke. So, he figured he would air it all out by propping my back door open. I came around the corner to see all of this and immediately knew that Minnie was outside. She takes any and all opportunities to flee the confines of the house. I had to coax her out from under the back porch with a can of tuna. Eric was then temporarily banned from the kitchen but we all had a really long laugh over the circumstances...and Eric would kill me if he knew I was telling you all about this. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and is getting 2011 off to a good start. 2011 is getting off to a really rough start here in Colorado. Not so much for me but for many of my friends. Let's hope things turn around quickly!

Hi everyone

Hi everyone!!!! Just wanted to do a quick post since it has been too long since my last one. My trip home was very good. It was awesome to just relax and hang out with family. I had a great time. Unfortunately, it was much harder to come back to Denver this time than it ever has been. I have been very busy with work and everything else but I am homesick and missing Ryan and everyone else like crazy. I haven't taken any new photos and I don't have any from home either so here is a couple good ones from a little while ago. First ski trip of the season in mid November. Megan is a friend that I used to work with at St. Anthony's.

Us midwestern girls living it up in the mountains!

Megan and I after an epic first day. We skied until they shut down the lifts it was so good!

Getting in the Spirit

It is almost Christmas!! Being so far away from all of my family makes it hard sometimes to get into the holiday spirit but I am doing my best! The house is decorated, the shopping is done, the carols are playing on the stereo, and I am baking for my coworkers...and missing my family like crazy!!!!!! I will see you all in 3 days and I can not wait!!!!! Here are a few photos of my Christmas preparations. Thinking of you all!! Merry Christmas!!!!!

The reason for the season! This is set up in a great spot right inside the door in the morning sun.

Preparing to bake

All my favorite things...with nuts, thank you very much!!!!

"The stocking were hung by the chimney with care..."

And Minnie is like a little kid!! She just could not wait until Christmas morning!!!!

Merry Christmas!

More Skiing!

I know all my photos have been of skiing but today was the most awesome day of skiing I have had so far this year! The day started out as a complete disaster. Kim and I left a half an hour later than planned and the roads were bad so we spent 3 hours in the car. On the way up I realized I had left my ski coat hanging over my closet door (my ski coat also has my season pass attached to it). We took a wrong turn in Keystone adding time to our trip. I had to pay $15 for a 'forgotten pass' pass. Which is totally lame! They verified I have a season pass but I still have to pay. Then I rented a coat from them for $10. Then I left my camera in the lift office and only realized I did because I left the pass she printed for me in Kim's car which she had to park in the far lot because we were later than we wanted to be. So I went back in 10 minutes after she printed the first one for me to get a second one and she asked if I left a camera. Sure enough!

But once we got on the slopes that all went away! 9 inches from last night and about 2 feet in the last 3 days!! We found some really great powder stashes and skied (and boarded) our hearts out until last chair at 4pm. What an amazing day!!!!! It was kind of sad to put my skis in the closet! No more skiing this year.

I am really looking forward to coming home and seeing everyone though!! I can not believe how fast this month went! I am not ready for Christmas at all! Oh well! My presence will be my present to my family :) I miss you all and looking forward to spending time with you!

I promise my next post will be about something other than skiing :)

Kim

Kim and I in front of the tree in the mid-mountain lodge

This lift was awful! Its not a high speed lift and it goes all the way to the top so very cold and windy, whipping snow in our face and making the visibility at the top about zero. Our conversation went a little like this the entire ride up, "Oh my God! We are not going up this lift again! Why? Why? Why? This is not worth it! Soooo cold!!! This is the last run from this lift" We had this conversation many times because the best powder runs were off this lift and once we got down..."Ok, let's do it again" :) The things we do...I guess you just have to work for what you want.

We were pretty giddy after a perfect day of skiing!!

The drive back down. That is Keystone ski area all lit up for night skiing.

Back Online!! Finally!!

I have internet again after 2 months without!!! It's about time!! I have lots of new photos that need to be posted but I'm going to start with the most recent event. Lindsay and David just spent a week with me and we got to ski/ride for a few days!! Here are a few photos from our adventures. I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season!

Getting ready the first day at Breckenridge

Lindsay and I ready to go!

We went to Copper Mountain on Monday and had a beautiful, warm bluebird day! This is my friend from work, Kim and I

Lindsay and David

Good times!!