Winter Vacation

Wooo-hooo! We are on our winter vacation! We originally were going to go to Cancun, but we felt we could get the same break from the cold in California and I could visit my mom as well. Mom has still not been able to be around more than two people at a time. She is having her fourth chemo treatment tomorrow. As it turned out, I had a bit of a stuffy nose on Saturday so I postponed my visit until Friday. Instead, we visited Joy and Brittany a day early.

Sunday morning we headed out to Palm Desert for five days of fun in the sun. Our room wasn't ready when we arrived so we headed for free day at the art museum. Yes, I can find free stuff to do even while on vacation!

On the sidewalk in front of the museum there is a walk of fame with stars just like Hollywood.

Inside, there were Valentine's activities for the kids.

We had to take a picture with the Chihully sculpture, after seeing the museum dedicated to him on our last trip to Seattle.

We didn't stay too long as the girls were tired from a plane ride one day and a long car ride the next. After checking in to the hotel, we spent a few hours swimming and grocery shopping, had dinner and went to bed!

This morning we went on a hike at Indian Canyons. I had no idea there were naturally growing palm trees out here in the low desert. And water. Who would have believed it!

The girls lasted for the whole one-mile hike. We did not have to carry them once. I'm not saying they were always happy. Or always tear-free. But their little feet were on the ground carrying their little bodies the whole way. That, my friends, is a first.

After the hike, it was lunch and an afternoon at the pool followed by Mexican food for dinner. It's 8:00 PM and I'm the only one awake!

Anna's Baptism

Becky, Arek and Max arrived Thursday night. It was a cold weekend and snowed most of the time they were here. But we still had fun.

My floor is very clean now!

They weather outside is frightful but...

...we went swimming!

And since there was a bit of snow we bundled up and went sledding.

For about 15 minutes. It was COLD.

And then on Sunday Annabelle was baptized.

I'm hoping Becky has some better pictures on her camera.

Anna loves her Godfather.

We drove them to the airport Sunday afternoon and then some friends came over for the game comedy of errors .

Their visit was a little bright spot of a weekend in the middle of winter.

Art Class

Sometimes when you do something for someone else you end up getting even more out of it than they do. That's how it was when Dan mentioned he wanted to go to our financial planner's Christmas party. Ugh. I'm a bit introverted. I'm really not that interested in meeting a lot of people at once. And besides, I wasn't sure I would have anything in common with them. But Dan had a good point. We should go and try to talk to people that have been using this planner long term and find out what they thought about him. We aren't spring chickens anymore and really have to start thinking about protecting the savings we have. So...off I went, with a happy smile even.

We sat across from an interesting couple. It's always easy to sit across from people who talk a lot. Less work for me. Soon I learned that she was a retired art teacher that now teaches art in her home, at a reasonable price no less. My ears perked up. And she taught preschoolers.

So here they are at art class using the light board...

and painting.

Their favorite part of class? Mrs. Hodges' dog and cat who wander in and out of the room. They are only three and four ya know!

Getting Ready

So I guess my meaning didn't come across as clear as I meant. I have been Catholic for about 47 years and was Protestant for about five. Services were canceled a few times in our Protestant church. Never, in 47 years as a Catholic, have I seen a Catholic Sunday Mass canceled. In the Catholic Church, it is considered a sin to not attend Mass on Sunday. A sin for which you have to go to confession. Canceling a service means you might be causing someone to sin. So it's just not done. Ever. Oops, okay, if the Broncos are in the Super Bowl that might be a good reason. Anyway, I was just amazed and had to share.

That being said, I love the Broncos and am very excited about Sunday! For more than one reason. Mr. and Mrs. Maciol will be arriving Thursday night. No, not for the Super Bowl. They are going to be Anna's Godparents for her baptism Sunday! I got her the cutest little orange and blue dress. Just kidding!

But...when we get home after the baptism Sunday, I will put this on.

I just got it in the mail today. My sweet husband, a die-hard Raider fan, ordered it for me. Go Broncos! Go Knowshon!

Craziness

When we first moved to Denver we were watching the news and all of sudden it was interrupted for a "Breaking Story". What was this incredibly important news? Why the Broncos were trading a player! Seriously! I do like the Broncos. But they are not God. (See last post) And, in my opinion, this "news" could have waited until the sports edition. But it was an eye opener as to the status of the team here: not exactly God, but God-like.

I was driving around a part of town I have never been to before when I had to laugh. It was just soooo Denver. I took a picture of two of the houses, but there were several more. And, in case you are wondering, it's real paint on the garage door!

Beth, is Seattle doing these things?????

Really???

For all of you who think I'm exaggerating this town's obsession, this was in our church bulletin this morning.

If I hadn't lived here for seven football seasons, I never would have believed it!

Prairie Preschool

Tuesday we skipped homeschool and went to Prairie School. It's a preschool age program at one of the many nature centers near us. This one was all about winter shelters and ice. It started out with centers. Their favorite was making "igloos" by pouring salt on the ice to get it to melt slightly so that the cubes would fuse together.

There were a few animals to look at.

We also got to handle different prairie animal skulls and play in a tipi.

Then it was circle time.

After that we headed outside to find animal shelters. We couldn't find any nests, but we did find a woodpecker hole.

The kids then built shelters with sticks but my camera was acting up and I didn't get any pictures.

After the class was over we had a picnic. It was a little cold and windy but fun to even try in January.

I tried to get a picture of one of the hundreds of prairie dogs that were all around us, but the sun was so bright I couldn't see my camera screen. I got one on the side of this picture.

Before we left we checked out the tipis on the property.

We'll be back again!