First Christmas in Colorado

This year we met family in Florida the second week in December to vacation at Disney World. Usually we would have left a festive house behind, but this time our Christmas decorations remained in their plastic storage bins so the cats could not do the annual decorating while we were gone. We moved to Colorado in February, which evidently isn’t a long adjustment period for cats since they still easily revert into nervous a cat’s explore and terrorize mode.

We got back home on the 19th and decorated the 20th before Mauri went back to Idaho. The tree was colorful with multi-color lights, the candle lights bubbled, the red chili pepper lights were bright, and the ornaments took us back through memories of time spent together over a fifteen-year period. Looking at ornaments made our the kids is fun, and ornaments that were gifts bring the face of the giver into immediately into view.

Our neighbor, Mr. Jim, joined us for dinner and helped Tad decorated the deck with multiple color icicle lights. They looked so pretty Tad also ran a string up the staircase inside. Besides being festive the multi-color lights also gave a hint of the atmosphere we enjoy at the local Mexican food restaurant we visit. This thought reinforced my happy feelings with the promise of comfort food to continue in 2010.

Friends from Texas visited one day. We took them for Mexican food and came home to sled in the back yard. The idea of snow and sledding is especially cool since that is one thing Carrollton, Texas could never offer.

As we relax into our first year, and first full winter we open our hearts to all the new things ahead.

Loveland

We rented skiis for the season in November. The kids had 3 or 4 lessons at the end of last season when we first moved here, and we figured with a few more lessons we’d all be on the slopes together.

The week of Christmas we took off for Loveland Ski Area on the recommendation of friends. This is a place the locals hang out; the lift lines aren’t too long, and there are plenty of green runs.


On the drive up traffic periodically slows whenever two cars have decide to temporarily become one. At one extra-large, slow section we joined everyone on our side of the highway looking at the other side of the road to see what had happened. Tad pointed out two long horn sheep standing off the right-hand shoulder of the road watching the traffic activity. For now it is still unique to see wildlife so close.

This slow down gave me enough time to remember I hadn’t been skiing in over 20 years. Suddenly the idea of lessons reminding me how to ski seemed a little optimistic. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to balance well enough to even get to the lesson site. Maybe I’d fall down and get hurt? Eek, my two sons will be watching me!

Two hours later-- hurray, I can ski! Because of the traffic jam my group lesson turned into a private lesson. Repeatedly I went down a green hill; not the prettiest sight, but upright never the less. My legs were tired, my nose had run non-stop; I was proud and hungry. Tad came back from the harder slopes and met me for lunch. After a couple of hours skiing a huge hamburger and a lump of fries was heaven.

At 3:30 the boys’ lessons were over and we all met to fill each other in on the day’s events. Justin likes his new snowboard and is ready to go down the bigger runs. Really he was ready to go down bigger runs today, but the rest of his class wasn’t ready. Grant’s teacher unintentionally took his group down a blue, and they all made it. Now both boys have one step left to be level 4s. With another lesson we can go on the greens together and get our muscles use to this new sport.

Florida in December

Mauri flew from Idaho on the 11th. The next morning we all flew to Orlando. It was a long day of travel, but we didn’t care because we were on our way to Disney and to see family.

At the Orlando airport they is a section for travelers going to Disney, so you step into the world of the mouse immediately. A bus picks you up with Disney movies and information to watch, and the drivers have been trained in joke telling. “Peter Pan was flying around Epcot and the children said come down and he said no….. because he’s from Neverland.”

When the bus dropped us at the Polynesian resort the first night we walked under traditional Christmas wreaths and garlands decorated with tropical flowers—hibiscus, lilies, and orchids. The creamy pastels colors stood up against the green.

Our room was in a building cluster named Tahiti. Our balcony opened onto a beach of white sand and a huge hammock hung from two trees—looking as if this was our private paradise.

The next day we met family at lunch. We hadn’t seen them since we moved 10 months ago. The customary hugging and picture taking was in full swing from the beginning. The difference is now with Facebook we could share pictures immediately.

Cousins Jim and Sandie gave the boys and Mauri trading pins and a lanyard. Within a day the trading was in full force. Justin concentrated on Pluto, and Chip and Dale. Mauri looked for ones that were pink. Grant looked for characters it liked, this year that was Stitch.

This year we surprised the boys by having them dressed as pirates and went on a pirate cruise to see fireworks from the water. In fact Tad joined in and had his face painted. Justin was picked to lead everyone down the dock. Looking back at over a hundred people following my son, Captain Hook, and Mr. Smeed I smiled—he’s a born leader! Then Captain Hook talked to Grant and gave him a big high five. Yep, I have two leaders!

Both boys picked out wonderful hats. Grant got a large black and white Nightmare Before top hat. Justin got Pluto with long dangly ears. Mauri got a couture type purse that combined the traditional Disney design with a dignified shoulder bag.

The day before we left we went to Downtown Disney and Tad bought everyone a t-shirt to commemorate the trip. Everyone stands at a computer terminal and designs their shirt with images and text.

Back at the airport the reality of the world sets in quick. We are no longer in the happiest place on earth. Good thing we’re packing our happiness with us.