Christmas in Colorado

Christmas eve 

Our new dog, Blue

Well, things aren't perfect this Christmas but I'm trying to keep positive and really enjoy the blessings and gifts that I do have. Alana came the day before my birthday (best present ever) and I'm so glad to have her with me this Christmas. Christmas eve Alana and I went to Aaron's parents house. Aaron and his daughters didn't go (it's a long story for those that don't understand) so I was a little worried that it would be awkward. His brother Sam and sister-in-law Lori were there with there two young kids. Alana played great with Conner and Abby and the rest of the family made me feel so welcome and comfortable. I'm really grateful for Aaron's family. They have been tremendously supportive. His father made beautiful wodden rocking horses for all of his small granddaughters and he even made one for Alana! We really felt like part of the family. 

This morning I woke up to a scream. I was hoping it was a happy scream but it wasn't. I dashed out of my room to find Alana crying in her room, standing over a puddle of bright red vomit. What a way to start Christmas morning. I put my poor baby in the bath, cleaned up the mess, and sighed. Unfortunately, the carpet in this house has not been stain treated and if you so much as look at it funny, it stains. 

Finally, we opened presents. She got a lot of cute, small things from Santa and some wonderful presents from family. 

Aaron is out with his girls until tomorrow so it's just me and Alana. She's sleeping now, fell asleep watching a movie. When she gets up we'll go to the movies and out to eat. Some mommy daughter time. 

Merry Christmas!!

Winter Wonderland

It snowed a lot over the past weekend and yesterday and the result is lovely. The houses are covered with snow, icicles are forming, the air is crisp and clean. Just driving down the street makes me happy. And this neighborhood had people putting up lights before Thanksgiving. Talk about Christmas spirit! I love it!

In the neighborhood

My house

Shoveling the driveway

Countdown to Alana

Alana comes home to me on December 18th, arriving at the Denver airport at 8:47 p.m. I couldn't be more excited. She's coming permanently and she is going to love it here. Those who know me well know that I count down to everything I'm excited about. So here is my official countdown clock to the return of my daughter.

Cripple Creek

I'm all moved into Colorado now - I guess I should add a post about the move, my new house, etc. I'll get to that later. I do really like my new house so I'll post some pictures another time. 
Yesterday Aaron and I went to Cripple Creek, an old gold mining town. Gambling's allowed there so the main street consists mostly of casinos and some novelty shops, all of which sold fudge. We've had so much crap going on lately and things have been so tense, so it was nice to finally take a day for just the two of us to relax. We had lunch at one of the casinos then just ambled down the street enjoying the brisk but beautiful day. 
We found a shop that did those old tyme photos and we decided to do it. It was so much fun getting dressed up and playing around. There weren't many people in Cripple Creek (except for all the elderly that were gambling) so we were the only ones getting pictures done and the photographer, Cheryl, spent a lot of time with us. It was a great diversion.

Bike video

My beautiful, funny, darling daughter can ride a two-wheeler. I uploaded a video on YouTube. Check it out. It's heartwarming.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqYe1Ap3mI4

Halloween

I have to give props to Ryan (as painful as it is) and admit he did a good job with Alana's costume this year. According to her, he made it. In case you can't tell, it's Pippi Longstocking. 

More pictures from Alana's visit

Here are some pictures of Alana carving her own pumpkin. She did it all from scooping out the seeds to the carving. (With some help of course.) Afterwards, we baked the seeds for a yummy snack. 

Arches National Park

We went to Arches National Park yesterday and hiked up to Delicate Arch. It was a beautiful day and I'm am so happy I had the opportunity to see those natural wonders. I have seen so much beauty since moving here. 

It was a good uphill hike with so much to see on the way up, but I admit I was quickly out of breath. I kept seeing children and old people making it just fine so I wondered what was wrong with me. I go to the gym regularly. I'm in pretty good shape. Aaron says I don't breathe properly. Says I'm stubborn and won't even try. Well, that's just silly. 

Balancing Rock

Taking a break 

Alana came for a week and we had a great time. Oh my, how I'd missed her. She is so beautiful and sweet. A bit of a pain sometimes, I guess like any other kid, but mostly wonderful. She comes back just before Christmas to live with me for 6 months. We're moving to Colorado soon and I think she'll love it there. Also, she'll get the opportunity to know and become close to Aaron's girls. I'm so excited about that.

In our backyard

On the chairlift high above Park City

At Bridal Veil Falls

My little monkey at the zoo

More pictures

Dressed up for the haunted train ride, the "Heebie Creeper"

First snowfall of the year



Alana and Canyon frolicking in the snow

Have you ever seen a cuter face?

Upper Bridal Veil Falls

Last week we went to Bridal Veil Falls and it was awesome. But we only went where the tourists go - to the lower falls. Today, we climbed the mountain to the base of the upper falls. I almost didn't make it. It was scary and dangerous and I was in fear for my life. I may have even shed a tear or two while hyperventilating. There were a couple of times when I clung to the rocks and didn't want to go up or back. I didn't want to move at all. But Aaron guided me, lent me his arm, and encouraged me until I made it all the way up. And I'm so glad I didn't turn back because it was worth it. 

This is the view from where I almost gave up. See how tiny the cars are? 

Powerful water from the upper Bridal Veil Falls. 

Aaron had to stand under the freezing water. This is him coming back soaking wet and super happy. He's braver than I am!

I was facing the falls here. I am so happy I made it up there. 

Here's a view from the ground that shows where we climbed. See the circle? There is a little ridge there that we climbed - that's where I almost lost it. The climb up to that point was no picnic either. 

Moose sighting

On the way home from Provo early yesterday evening we spotted a moose grazing on the side of the highway. I've never seen a moose outside of a zoo before so I was really excited. We turned the car around and got out and walked pretty close to it - less than 50 feet away. Of course we didn't have a camera with us so these pictures were taken with my phone.
Last night I dreamed that the moose had been brought to the Utah mountains for a Hollywood movie. When they were done filming they just left him there.

Bald Mountain Pass

Last night we took a picnic dinner up to Bald Mountain Pass in the Uinta mountains. It was such a lovely and peaceful evening. The moon was full and the sky was clear and I so thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the night. We got there just before the sun went down and I took a picture of the moon before dark and after. The pictures do not do justice to the scene.

Waterfalls aren't only in Hawaii

This weekend Aaron and I hiked up to Bridal Veil Falls near Provo. The falls are amazing - really beautiful. The water was so cold my feet hurt when I walked in it. After hiking up there in the wrong shoes I was really thirsty, but we didn't bring any water. So I drank from the falls. Just cupped my hands and caught the water as it came streaming down over the rocks. It tasted refreshing and pure. Delicious. It was a beautiful day and this waterfall rivals any that I ever saw in Hawaii.

Priceline Madness

Okay, so I'm an idiot. My beautiful daughter is coming to visit me in Utah during her Fall break from school. Her father is bringing her here on Saturday, October 4th. It's my job to take her back to Hawaii. I found what I thought was a decent deal and booked two round-trip tickets to Hawaii, departing and returning on the same day. Here's where the idiot part comes in. I booked the tickets for Sunday, October 5th. One day after she arrives. Stupid. I've been on the phone with Priceline for three days now trying to fix this. They won't just cancel the itinerary and give me a refund allowing me to start over. I have to make a change to my flight which costs me the difference of the ticket price, $150 airline fee per ticket, and a $30 Priceline fee per ticket. After being on the phone with the airline and Priceline for hours yesterday I finally got it all changed over. The woman told me that there was no difference in ticket price so the cost was going to be $360 for the change. Well, late last night I received a voicemail from Priceline saying they had made a mistake and didn't make the change. I called back, sat on hold for nearly 30 minutes and was then told that I had to call back the next day. Argh! I called this morning, sat on hold for another 30 minutes and finally talked to someone who seemed to work it out. There is a difference in ticket price, so she gave me a new total and itinerary. But before hanging up she said that she was getting an error message. Said she would call me back if there was a problem. I haven't heard from her yet but my itinerary isn't updated yet on Priceline. So I'm not sure where I stand right now. But I do know that I will never use Priceline again for airline tickets. I know the mistake was mine, but their customer service is horrendous and I'm frustrated out of my wits.
And so begins my new life where I only have my daughter half the year. Welcome, Karri, to divorce with children.