New Years - The Fat Bikes

As a gift to each other, Darin and I rented Fat Bikes over New Years.

Because I want to keep this....

This poem means something to me. I want to keep it, and re-read it and remember it.

Problem is that I hate papers laying around.  

I don't ever look at things that get filed, they just stay filed away.

So I will post it here.

Thanks for sharing Fi, and listening....always.

After a While
(You Learn)
© Veronica A. Shoffstall 1971

After a while you learn the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul.

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning,
and company doesn’t always mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses are not contracts,
and present's aren’t promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead...

With the grace of a woman,
not the grief of a child.

And you learn
To build all your roads on today,

Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans,
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns
if you get too much…

So, you plant your own garden,
and decorate your own soul...
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure…
you really are strong,
you really do have worth.

And you learn, and you learn…
with every goodbye,

You Learn…

Miriam Update

Our Little Groundhog turned 9!

While thinking about what to say at her school spotlight, I realized one of Miriam's greatest qualities is her versatility.  She is very feminine, and sweet but also brave and adventurous.  She is a naturalist, loves bugs, reptiles, birds, she would LOVE a pet rat.  She is a great hiker, biker, roller blader, ice skater, swimmer, baker, crafter, reader, and dancer.  

Some of the things Miriam has been up to this school year...

First, she received her Bachelors degree.  This is a program her teacher offers if the students get above a certain level on their work, and do a few extra projects. 

She has earned her Masters Degree as well. The ceremony will be mid-February.

She was an orphan in her school's performance of Annie.

(Thanks to Aunt Julia for the costume!)

She was a Chinese Dancer in the Jazzy Nutcracker.

She is a busy girl but manages to find plenty of time to watch Cupcake Wars, play games on the computer or create some craft or another.

Love That Girl

Hangin' out with Marcus

 Turns out, Goonie-Bird Gene runs throughout the family.

Christmas Day

Grandma and Grandpa made sure this boy's Spiderman dreams came true.

These two made out pretty well too...everyone must have been extra good this year.

Darin and I got spoiled too.  I am totally set to run in the winter...if only the blasted inversion would clear out. The kids gave me the cutest running shoes and multiple bars of fine chocolate. Darin, as always, was super thoughtful and searched out the perfect gifts...not only things I would like but things that improve my life.  He is sweet that way. My parents did too.  I am surrounded by great gift givers and am completely flawed in that area.

My parents hit the jackpot with Darin's gift, a remote control helicopter.  Since the kids all got outdoor toys from Santa my dad took us (my siblings and nieces and nephews) down to the church gym to try everything out!  This was of course after opening all the gifts and snarfing down my dad's traditional Christmas Day ebelskivers.

We played with all the toys everyone received, and then added in some basketball, and general mayhem.  I don't know why we haven't done this before, it was so fun! 

I got Lasik right after Christmas (I know! Totally spoiled.) so I was suppose to wear glasses from Christmas Eve past New Years. I did my best but I really hate glasses.  They squeeze my head and slip off my nose and it's one more thing to keep track of. So far I am LOVING my lasiked (word?) eyes, I would do it again in a heartbeat and I had to do the PRK kind.

A good friend of mine went through the death of her father over Thanksgiving.  She made me promise to take pictures of my parents,  She said I would regret it if I didn't.  So glad I got this shot.  I need to tie my mom down and get some pictures of her with the kids.  She is usually running around providing food, and entertainment she doesn't sit still very long.

Aunt Sarah is a goon. The funniest goonie-bird Aunt you ever met. Soren may have inherited the same goon-genes.

Christmas Eve

I have been really really bad at taking pictures lately. 

Well, it was a lovely Christmas, even if I have no great photo documentation to prove it.

I LOOOOVE when it snows on Christmas Eve.
My parents were hosting Grandpa Young and Uncle Damon and Aunt Gwen so we took the kids sledding to let Grandma cook, and keep the house clean.

The snow was too fluffy to be thrilling sledding, but it was a fun hill.  Our HUGE childhood hill has been taken with a new housing development...so until we find another one Pioneer Park will have to do. Great place to practice snowboarding.

None of the adults had snow clothing so we lasted as long as our toes could handle it.

We took the kids home for quiet time and to help with Christmas Eve Danish dinner prep.  Darin and I were in charge of the carmel potatoes (Brunede Kartofler) which is really hard so we cheated with some karo syrup. No one could tell.
Delish Danish Dinner....as always.
Thanks Mom.

I was in charge of a family Grinch story gift exchange, which in the end provided the dessert (chocolates).
Then on to our talent show.  Miriam and Ali played the piano, Josh the trumpet, Madison and Grandma sang a song, Marcus did karate and then we had all the grandkids sing and/or play bells in a rendition of "Christmas Bells".  It was darling.

Grandpa was in charge of the Christmas devotional this year.  He chose The Living Christ to focus on and then all the grandkiddos got a wooden nativity ornament.

A brief, or not so brief intermission (to dress the kids) then led to the Nativity. 

We each took turns skyping with Unlce Mark and then playing card or video games.

We ended the evening with the cousin gift exchange and then the traditional Christmas Eve jammies.

Why is there no picture of this?? I don't know what I was thinking....actually my head was probably spinning by this time and I was thinking how it was time to get sugar plums dancing in my kids heads.

Cousins left, we put the kids to bed with a Christmas story and then Darin and I laid under the Christmas tree feeling tired, and full, and happy, and content. 

Thanksgiving

Comfort food and cousins, what could be better?

Grandpa giving roll making lessons perhaps...

and then cinnamon roll lessons the next morning maybe,

and then Dad putting together the gift Miriam and I brought the boys from The Met in New York,

Leonardo's catapult.

Yeah that could ratchet up the fun.

We were going to take a family outing to go bowling, or ice skating but the weather was SO GOOD we went to the park instead.

These pictures make me long for warm Fall Days...it hasn't been higher then 20 degrees for sooooo long!  

The Big Apple Day 6- Home Again...

Our last New York city meal was breakfast at Sarabeth's  on Monday morning. It's located right across from Central Park, which put us right by 5th Avenue, which means we were right near FAO Schwartz when they opened their doors.  All the employees lined the entrance and clapped as we walked in...talk about a red carpet experience.  Then we ran into Tiffany's to take in some sparkle. I texted Darin to joke with him about making some big purchases...then I said that I actually prefer jewelry made by Darin & Co. (he has made me jewelry before...including my engagement and wedding rings).

Then off to pack and get to the airport.

That was stressful, getting that many people anywhere always is, but we made it.

We all had a sweet moment in the Colorado airport taking turns telling our favorite moments from the trip.  My favorite part about the whole thing is that it happened! I have been thinking lately about how many of my dreams spoken aloud have come true.  It really does speak to the goodness of life and of the people around you...when you say what you want, and work hard, sometimes things just fall into place.  I forget this too often. Life is beautiful.  

My OTHER favorite part is that both Miriam and I were surrounded by unique, inspiring women. I loved the example we were showing our girls....that life doesn't end when you grow up and become a wife and or mother.  We showed them how to be brave, to be yourself, to take a time-out when you need it, to appreciate art, to be patient, to remember our past, to be excited for the future...I could go on.  

My OTHER OTHER favorite part of the trip was coming home to Darin and the boys. I had missed them so much! I loved hearing how much fun the boys had spending time with Dad and Grandma and Grandpa. They had just as much fun and adventure as we did, and they were overjoyed with their gifts from the big city.  

And guess what? 

Darin had been working on some Darin & Co stuff all weekend, so I came home to some shiny!

The Big Apple Day 5- Sunday our last full day

Chocolate croissants and hot chocolate at The Met.

Chocolate croissants were one of Miriam's top memories of the trip.
(Notice the pashmina scarf)

Miriam and I did our sightseeing solo a this museum.  We are both fans of the book The Mixed-up Files of Basil E. Frankwieler so we were on a mission to see things mentioned in the book.  Mission accomplished, AND we saw all the suggested artwork from the artwork book Cristin and Rachel made. We took the above photo for the boys...thought they would like the armor room.

I loved the Met. I would go again and again and again....

Walked right through Central Park,

and then to Dylan's Candy Bar.

It was so fun picking out candy to fill buckets for Bub and Soren...the choices were unbelievable. We got them gummie everything...army men, taxis, bugs, you name it and it was probably made into gummie.  Fun sour candies, and licorice wheels it was such a fun treat to give because the boys were delighted. Who wouldn't be delighted with a bucket full of candy?
(We bought Darin chocolate at Chelsea Market...a bit more cultured)

Our group then broke off into smaller groups, some of the girls wanted to do more shopping, a few went to the Natural History Museum.  Miriam and I went back to Central Park for one more treat from the Waffles & Dinges cart.  The pedicab drives were parked right by the cart and they sweet talked us into a tour.  It was so fun...but a bit guilt inducing to be peddled around while eating a spekuloos covered waffle (Miriam had another ice cream cone, this time spekuloos flavored ice cream with nutella inside the cone). It was especially wince inducing when the guy had to shift down to an easier gear....yikes! He was hilarious, he pointed out all the sights, mansions, TV spots and offered to let us in and out to take pictures but I just wanted to enjoy the ride and people watch.
Such a relaxing way to experience New York.

This is the only picture I took...so although Miriam is doing something funny with her lips it had to go in.

We met up with our group back at the hotel and ran (literally) to make it to Mary Poppins on time. It was enchanting, Miriam especially loved it since she has been a Poppin's fan for so long.  After much anguished deliberation, Miriam bought a Marry Poppin's charm bracelete to remember the show.  

The Big Apple Day 4

I'm back!!

Right as we were in the process of setting up a new gmail account so I could load more pictures, blogger increased the picture allowance. 

Saturday we hit the MOMA...actually we ate breakfast at Pret A Manger first and then went to the MOMA.  "Pret" is a European natural fast food restaurant which is not pronounced the way it reads in English.  It's like "prey awe man-jaw" or something like that, I speak zero French so I sound like a hick when I try to pronounce it. 

Rachel and Cristin had put together this fantastic guide to some of the "must see" art in the MOMA and The Met which made this experience for me.  I enjoy dance, music, and literature but I have never been exposed to much visual, wall type art. I have never taken an art, or art history class.  I know what I like but I don't know why and don't always agree with what the masses like. I wasn't moved by the paintings as others at the museum were, but I appreciated it so much more with some background.  Knowing a the historical context, a bit about the painter's life, and the emotions around the painting helped me enjoy this experience much more that I would have.  That being said, I enjoyed The Met leaps and bounds more so I think I am more of a "functional" art appreciator (like furniture, clothing, jewelry...that kind of stuff). 

Some of the girls taking a break from the art.

Then on to lunch.
Chelsea Market is an enclosed urban food court, shopping mall, office building and television production facility located in the Chelsea neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan, in New York City. 
(I just copied that sentence from Wikipedia)
The television studio mentioned is the FOOD NETWORK! (how is that for shouty capitals). The food was divine, but we weren't allowed up to the network.

 We indulged in crepes, and some chocolates from Jacques Torres ("Mr. Chocolate").  

Half of our group went shopping, the other half went to the Tenement Museum.

This is one of my most cherished experiences of the whole trip. Miriam and I had done some reading about immigration into New York so seeing the actual apartments and hearing stories about real people who lived there was amazing. We are very blessed my friends...very blessed.
I thought a lot about A Tree Grows in Brooklyn durring this tour.  Our guide was wonderful.

This is also when I realized that Miriam needed a break.  The rest of the group went out to dinner and then to a show but we took a breather.  We grabbed sandwiches on our way back to the hotel and Miriam watched some episodes of cupcake wars.

By the evening we were rested and feeling brave so we walked all the way up 5th Avenue to FAO Swartz.  We searched for the perfect toys for the boys and of course played on the piano.  One couple did a perfect rendition of chopsticks, just like the movie Big.  We found a couple of squish penny machines...... score!
We stopped to buy a street vendor to buy $5 Pashminas, and went back to our hotel to share a slice of chocolate cake.