Christmas Lights

This season is full of traditions. One of the traditions I recall fondly from my childhood is when myself, my brother and my dad would go to downtown Denver to see the City and County building lit up. I figure that it has been at least 10 years since I have done that. Maybe not that long, but quite possibly that long. We'd always spend a lot of time downtown, not only looking at that building, but also walking over to the Capitol building and various other places. We'd spend what felt like hours walking around, bundled up of course.

This year, unfortunately without my brother, we ventured down to see the building. He was on a plane somewhere between Denver and DC. Wish you could have come Josh! Maybe next year!

When we walked over to the Capitol building as kids we always stood right at the Mile High spot. The location that was supposed to be exactly one mile above sea level. Imagine my dismay when we arrived this year and there were 3 locations that could be mile high...all marked of course!

This is the most recent marker.

Another marker...

And, then the original mile high designation, carved in stone!

Hometown Pictures

There have been a few people that have said that they can't picture my hometown. I tried to capture a few pictures of Casper while I was visiting.

One the snow stopped it was very pretty, partly because the wind wasn't blowing. Thank goodness! I think that is a first in a long time!

Reflections on my hometown

As you may have seen in my previous blog post, I am home in Wyoming for Christmas. I generally do head in this direction for Christmas, and each year I wonder why. It has nothing to do with anything other than the weather. Wow. I freeze whenever I am here. This is the only time of year that my most immediate family all gets together. We are spread across the country, literally. My brother is in the DC area, my uncle is in North Carolina and I am in Portland; while mom and dad are in Wyoming and Colorado, respectively. My grandmother, aunt and her family, and another aunt and uncle also reside in Casper.

The leaning tree in the park across the street from the house (I hijacked this photo from my brothers facebook page-thanks Josh!)

Weather aside, it is a good time spent with family. This year my brother and I both worked on Christmas Eve and flew into Denver as our schedules allowed. We celebrated Christmas on the 26th, which also happened to be Wayne's (my uncle through marriage to my Aunt Jonna) birthday. My Uncle Ron (from NC) arrived into Casper the 22nd and so we were able to spend a day and half-ish with him before he left. We also were able to see one of my dad's brother's and his wife and one of their granddaughters, my second cousin (who I might add is now 20 and I remember the day she was born). I sort of felt old for a moment, then realized I am getting old(er).

It has been nice to be in a place that had for so long been home. Casper is growing and expanding so much that it seems to be a different place each time I return. I wonder if it just started changing after I left, or if I just notice it now since I am gone for such a long time between visits?!

Me and Aunt Jonna (my mom's sister)

Dad and Wayne

Grandma

Hannah and Rebekah (cousins)

Uncle Ron (mom's brother), Mom, Josh (my brother)

Hope you all had a greast Christmas!

PS There is talk of us going to a snow-less place for Christmas next year....maybe!

White Wyoming Christmas

Opposite of Mr. Crosby's dream of a white Christmas, I HAVE ONE! And, truthfully, I am dreaming of a green Christmas. If it hadn't been for the incredibly difficult drive from Denver to Casper, I may be more inclined to appreciate the snow of my hometown today.

I spent Christmas Day flying from from PDX to DIA and then as a passenger in a car that went very slowly from Denver to home. Thank goodness I wasn't the one driving. I was enough of a nervous Nelly just being a passenger. Because of winging/driving on Christmas Day my family decided to wait until the 26th to celebrate. My most immediate family however, opened gifts last night, on Christmas day (night). It was a great time, mellow, which was nice.

This was the view from the front seat of my Dad's car on Interstate 25 between Denver and Casper. This was the "good" part of the drive, before seeing a jack-knifed semi and roll over that we saw the aftermath of.

Waking up today I saw that the snow had continued to fall through the night and was still coming down.

Above: This was the buried grill in my Mom's backyard.

Below: My hand next to the snow built up on the retaining wall surrounding the backyard.

Some snow on the table:

Yes, you are seeing it correctly. Almost 14 inches. Plus, it was really cold...single digits.

I shoveled. I can't remember the last time I shoveled. Heaven forbid, I should forget. I will spare you those pictures as I was most definitely still in my pajamas, bundled up of course. You could only tell by looking at my pajama pants, which fit the occassion- light blue with snow flakes on them! :)

Above: view looking south on the street.

Below: The view out the front window of the house.

I am finishing this post on the 27th and this was the same view out of the same picture window as the picture above.
MERRY CHRISTMAS from Wyoming!

CREDO AT CHRISTMAS

written by Daniel Roselle


At Christmas time I believe the things that children do.

I believe with English children that holly placed in windows will protect our homes from evil.

I believe with Swiss children that the touch of edelweiss will charm a person with love.

I believe with Italian children that La Befana is not an ugly doll but a good fairy who will gladden the heart of all.

I believe with Greek children that coins concealed in freshly baked loaves of bread will bring good luck to anyone who finds them.

I believe with German children that the sight of a Christmas tree will lessen hostility among adults.

I believe with French children that lentils soaked and planted in a bowl will rekindle life in people who have lost hope.

I believe with Dutch children that the horse Sleipner will fly through the sky and fill the earth with joy.

I believe with Swedish children that Jultomte will come and deliver gifts to the poor as well as to the rich.

I believe with Finnish children that parties held on St.Stephen's Day will erase sorrow.

I believe with Danish children that the music of a band playing from a church tower will strengthen humankind.

I believe with Bulgarian children that sparks from a Christmas log will create warmth in human souls.

I believe with American children that the sending of Christmas cards will build friendships.

I believe with all children that there will be peace on earth.

My Birthday in Picture Review

My day began here...

...it was REALLY hard to get out of my nice warm bed.

Alas, I did and I went to spend my day here...

...it no longer looks exactly like this, but this is my place of work.

When I checked my email first thing this morning one of them said I should spend some time here...

...maybe for my birthday next year?!...probably not, but a girl can dream.

While at work:

1) Megan and I won the door decorating contest, and re-presented our door presentation; "The Seventeen Days of an ElderPlace Christmas"- very humorous.

: 2) I opened a few of these... {along with a few cards}


Thanks to gift givers- you will of course get individualized thank-you's in the near future!

: 3) I got lots of these... {was also sung to}

Thanks to the hug givers and the song singers!

I somehow even accomplished getting some work related things done! :)

Then I left this place...

And went to this place...

To see this movie... (which, I thought was super-cute!)
...with these lovely ladies! {Catherine (a volunteer from work, visiting from Paris, France...and yes, someday I will visit her...maybe for my birthday next year?!- probably not, but a girl can dream), me and Liesl} Then I talked on this, a lot...

I also checked messages received on it throughout the day! Thanks to all who called/voicemailed/texted! Your thoughts were greatly appreciated!

Then I ate these for dinner...yummmmm.....

I felt justified in eating french fries for dinner because I ate a salad and an apple for lunch, though I didn't really need to eat fries after eating the dessert from last night!

Now, I am updating my blog, as I am getting ready to get back in this....

...if she lets me in my spot...and I hope I dream of going here...maybe for my 30th birthday?!

Hey, a girl can most definitely dream!

Thanks to all who celebrated my birthday with me in any way, shape, or form! It was a great one!

(credits to the pictures that weren't taken by me will be posted soon...)

"Why is a birthday cake the only food you can blow on and spit on and everybody rushes to get a piece?" ~Bobby Kelton

Good thing I didn't have birthday cake! That is all I have to say about that! Though the dessert I had was AMAZING! The friends I spent the evening with are AMAZING! Though the picture leaves something to be desired. And this was the 3rd time (apparently, for us, the 3rd time is not necessarily the charm).

This year I had sort of wanted to "by-pass" my birthday. Not for any particular reason. Then I had a change of heart and decided to celebrate. I planned (if that is what you call it) a gathering for dessert. It has always been tricky to do a birthday thing for me, with it being so close to Christmas, school breaks occurring, vacations, etc. I was blessed to have 4 of my dearest friends join me, with others that couldn't make it. This was the first time that some of my friends met other friends. In planning stages it was weird for me to think about, in practice-it was a very enjoyable experience.

Thank you to those friends that I was able to spend my pre-birthday dessert shindig with and thanks to all those who could not make it, but sent good thoughts and messages! We'll see what the actual birthday brings!

Stasia, me, Marta, Megan, Holly!

It is finally decorated...

...Christmas tree 2009,

and it's only been set-up 2 weeks and one day!

Now it can officially be Christmas!

"The most wasted of all days...

... is one without laughter."
~e. e. cummings

And how right he was!

Last night was my CU Girls Group Christmas gathering. We were doing good this year to do our gift exchange before Valentine's Day, truly. Last year I decorated my apartment for Valentine's Day a week before we did our gift exchange in my home. Originally, we weren't going to do gifts, then we decided to go for the "white elephant" gift idea. The goal: to get the corniest gift.

I caught a cold, shared it with a few people, then the cold got worse. I felt pretty miserable and wasn't in the mood to go Goodwill shelf searching for a gift, but sucked it up and went, but not without back-up. I wouldn't say I made Megan go with me, I'd say I begged her too, but that isn't even accurate, though I would have considered begging if she hadn't agreed out of the kindness of her heart. Thanks, Megan! We saw a few promising things, then Megan hit the mother load of corny gift. It looked like a baseball cap, but was heavy and plaster-y. She asked me what it was (I had no idea), then I picked it up and there was a hole in it...? Ding, ding, ding...birdhouse. Super corny. I found the "perfect" thing. To the cash registers we went, and only about 10 minutes into the search, thank goodness.

I am still dismayed by this item, check it out youself!

Corny, right?!

Needless to say, I won the corniest gift category. Woohoo! It was deemed the gift that would be passed from person to person, year after year. Rachel was the lucky girl to take that prized possession home for the year. I told her I expect to see it hanging the next time I come to her house. Somehow, I won't be surprised if that is not the case. We laughed and laughed and I cried because I laughed so hard. I hope I laughed off all the calories that I ate, somehow, I don't think it actually worked out that way. It was a good evening with good friends!

2008 Group Picture when we were at Zoo Lights!

Jamie, Liesl, me, Rachel, Rose

2009 Group Picture