January Day
Yesterday afternoon, right before sunset, we decided to head outside to enjoy the sun and maybe throw a few rocks in a pond. I’d wanted to go for a little hike in the mountains, but Isaac said “No mountains. Throw rocks in pond?” So we decided that might be kind of fun, too
The big pond was completely frozen. No rock throwing possible here. Although Isaac was very impressed with a 10 year old boy pounding at the ice with a big wooden post. Kind of like a caveman.
Geese were walking around on the ice.
We headed over to the St Vrain creek (river?) which was fast flowing and not icy. Looking for a good rock throwing spot…
Geese got spooked and took off flying!
We found a spot. Looks chilly, doesn’t it??
“I’ll throw this one.”
Admiring his handy work. His goal was to find big rocks (so big that when he threw them he almost stumbled in after them). They’d make a big splash, then he’d turn to Jamie and say:
Did you get splashed?? I got splashed!!
Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Mesmerized by the big splash he’s created.
Did you get splashed??
PS: this is the Cheri Hat (I made it!), my pattern info is on Ravelry, here.
First Sweater–with Cables
I’m so close to being done!!
Just a little less than one sleeve to go!
My goal is to finish this before it’s too warm for Isaac to wear a sweater. He’s 2, it’s a size 2T – by next winter he’ll be too big.
Wish me luck!!
Books of 2011
Here’s what I read this year!
- The China Study
- Hotel Pastis
- Ender’s Game
- Nurture Shock
- A Farmhouse in Provence
- Gargoyle
- A Good Year
- The Help
- Girl with a Dragon Tattoo 1
- Girl with a Dragon Tattoo 2
- Girl with a Dragon Tattoo 3
- Dry
- My Antonia
- Dune
- The Beach
- Outlander
- Rasputin’s Daughter
- Lightening Thief
- Sea of Monsters
- History of the Home – Bill Bryson
- Mountain of Crumbs
- Game of Thrones (The Song of Ice & Fire #1)
- Clash of Kings (The Song of Ice & Fire #2)
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
- Toulouse Provence (re-read) – Peter Mayle
- Storm of Swords (The Song of Ice & Fire #3)
- On Rue Tatin – Susan Hermann Loomis
- We’ve always had Paris…and Provence – Patricia & Walter Wells
- Vanity Fair – Thackeray
- Prey – Michael Crichton
Looking back on this list, the ones where I can say I remember the story most vividly (which is a good thing in my book) are: Ender’s Game, Gargoyle, Dune, and The Beach. Oh and the Song of Ice & Fire series…but maybe because I read 3 books from the series for a total of about a zillion pages read on the subjects of knights, medieval lords and ladies, and the occasional monster-y creature. This year looks to have been a nerdy & science-fiction heavy year for me.
I only read one classic – Vanity Fair – this year. The other subject I seem to have majored in is “life in Southern France”. I’m a sucker for anything about Provence. Two of this year’s books (Mountain of Crumbs and Rasputin’s Daughter) took place in Russia, which I also always enjoy for some reason.
I really enjoyed The China Study, which is a nonfiction book about the health benefits of being vegan. Inspirational & fascinating.
Least favorites were Lightening Thief & Sea of Monsters. I got these from the young adult fiction setting and they turned out to be written for…maybe 11 year olds? I was kind of having fun brushing up on greek gods & mythology for awhile but then I snapped out of it and couldn’t get past the terribly weak storylines. I have almost no memory of reading A Good Year, so that must have been bad too.
I had planned to finish Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, as you may remember from my Books of 2010 post. I made it a little more than 1/2 way through and then just decided that I didn’t like it at all and didn’t want to finish it. I disliked the characters – they were either perfect, good, sickly sweet and annoying…or ultra evil and horrible. It was also a bleak and depressing scene of poverty, starvation, and badness in general with no moments of humor or interest to save it.
Brothers Karamazov was lost in the move and so I haven’t seen it in quite some time. So I didn’t read it. Maybe in 2012?
PS Next year I’ll start keeping track of the authors, but there is no way I’m going back through to look them all up right now. One of my resolutions will have to be to be more like my book-idol, Erin. Check out her list!
NC for Xmas!
We’re headed to North Carolina tomorrow to celebrate Christmas with mom! This is her hat, she left it at our house in November. Isaac found it and was walking around saying “I’m grandma! I’m grandma!” I asked him to do it again for a picture, and he did!
We will be returning it during our visit.
El Dorado Canyon
Yesterday it hit 40 degrees so we headed down just south of Boulder to visit El Dorado Canyon State Park.
It is very popular with rock climbers. We had fun spotting the teeny tiny climbers far above us on the canyon walls:
Can you see them? I tried to help you out…
We hiked on a snowy trail and looked for eagles. We did not see any. Isaac was certain that snakes lived under every rock. We have a book where there’s a snake living under the rock, and apparently it’s had a big impact.
Watched climbers through binoculars. Here we asked Isaac – “can you see them?” and he said “Yes!” even though his eyes weren’t lined up with the binocs 
Posing for a dramatic show at the edge of a cliff!
This is his little smile for the camera, so cute.
Of course we had to throw some rocks off the cliff. Jamie was keeping a firm hold on the back of Isaac’s jacket and Isaac kept saying “Don’t hold my shirt! Don’t hold my shirt!”
Family Room
I’ve been buying a few things to get our family room set up, pinning things on Pinterest in an attempt to inspire myself, etc, etc.
Here’s what our Family Room was looking like before:
And here’s the current! Sorry about the poor lighting, I took this pic early in the morning or late at night. We got a new light fixture, a white shag rug (hahahaha we have lots of bets on how long it will last), and we moved the TV to the wall opposite the couch. Oh, and don’t mind those wadded up blankets on the couch…
This picture was one of my “inspiration” pictures. I copied her furniture arrangement & rug, and I like her coffee table & big tall lamp. I have the big window she has (well, mine doesn’t go all the way to the floor) , but it’s on the opposite side of my room…off to the right of my couch.
Christmas Parade
Longmont’s Christmas parade was last night! We live just 2 blocks from the parade route, so the Wilcoxes came to hang out at our house until the parade started; we all walked over to the festivities right at the perfect moment!
I love all these pictures because of this outfit Isaac is wearing:
As we were getting the kids all geared up in their winter clothes, Isaac and Sylvie decided they wanted to hold hands and walk upstairs. They kept grabbing each others hands and making a few more steps toward the stairs, then we’d intercept them to put more clothing on them, etc.
Making their way closer to the stairs. Isaac is all suited but, but Sylvie is missing her jacket.
Sylvie is caught and her jacket is put on. Isaac waits patiently in the wings.
We finally get outside and walk to the parade.
The whole crew! I was practicing my nighttime photography skills which seem to need some work. I better go read an online tutorial…
Watching the parade. We saw ponies, trucks, dogs, a marching band. A giant creepy gingerbread man gave me a hug because he noticed I was laughing at him.
Look at these cheeks! I think they’re cute.
We left a little before the parade was over – it was LONG! Isaac strains for one last look…
Sledding
A perfect evening for sledding in Colorado. 40 degrees, setting sun, and a couple of fun friends.
Thanksgiving in Minneapolis
We had so much fun during our Thanksgiving visit to Minneapolis!
Isaac & I, Jenny & Hank, Emily:
Hank in his frog hat
Jenny & Hank
Isaac and Hank spent a lot of time hanging out. They’re lounging on the floor & eating dried mangoes in this picture:
I took Hank’s picture outside one day…he was a little concerned.
We took the boys to Santa’s workshop thingy at Macy’s in downtown Minneapolis. They were fascinated!
We got cookies at the end. Isaac enjoyed feeding Hank bites of his big cookie:
Then we went across the street to the Crystal Court in the IDS Tower. Isaac called this fountain a “big shower”.
Isaac binged on “tiny yogurts” (IE, the yogurts that come in little individual serving size cups) during our visit. Hank isn’t a big yogurt fan, but he would eat a bite or two if Isaac fed it to him. So cute.
Aunt Molly reads Hank & Isaac a book after bath time.
Jamie reads them another book after they get their pajamas on.
Isaac loved running up and down this little hill in Jenny & Brandon’s front yard.
Check out that blue cable knit hat!
Jamie and Mary go for a walk around the lovely Kenwood neighborhood
Dirty yogurt face!
Happy in the red tunnel slide.
Jack, Emily & Georgie, Molly.
My brother James was able to come over for Thanksgiving dinner at the Small’s, too!
Going for a walk through a green space trail near Jenny & Brandon’s house. We spotted a coyote!
Inside our House
I realized the other day that I STILL haven’t taken or posted any pictures of the inside of our new house! Here are some of the living room/dining room, and family room. Most of our furniture was free from friends or found at garage sales after moving to Boulder. We’re slowly acquiring things we like and getting everything set up, but interior decorating/design/whatever you want to call it is not my strong suit. So I’ve been basically paralyzed and have purchased the big dark gray sectional couch so far. That’s it.
Dining room is on the other end of the living room. I like the layout, but I’m looking forward to getting a new dining room table/chairs that we like, along with a light fixture above it so it doesn’t look so much like a table randomly plopped in the middle of a room.
And finally, here’s the family room. This is at the back of the house, between the kitchen and dining room. It has a fireplace, the television, and my desk.
