Aunty Marty's Big Day

My Aunt Martha Bullock Lamm turns 80 on February 2nd - Groundhog Day! I think the whole family is getting together. That means husband Bill and sons Richard, David and daughter Amy will be holding a party. Their families will be there - Dave is married to Lisa and they have two children. Lauren is a high school junior and John is in eighth grade. They live in Walnut Creek, CA. Amy (yep I named my kid the same name) lives in Denver and is married to Tom Brownlee. Their children are Kate, a HS senior and Matthew, who is a freshman. We got to see them at Christmas - nice kids! Richard is super uncle to all.

Marty and Bill with grandkids  - Hawaii

Besides being named after my grandfather (Mom's dad) Herbert Leslie, I was named after Marty (Leslie Martha). Marty is my Dad's younger sister, and boy does she have a good memory (plus she is good at embellishing!Hmm maybe I got all that along with her name.) My kids love to hear her tell stories about "back in the day". Dad and Marty's youngest sister is my Aunt Jean (my sis Cindo was named after her - Cynthia Jean).

I don't think I'm making this up. Marty attended the same place my grandma (her mom) Momo did for some of her college - Ferry Hall, in Chicago. She said they found a a liquor still in the woods on campus during her break one day. Sounds exciting, no? She spent summers in Colorado at Grand Lake, and headed back that way when she got her teaching degree. She got a got teaching job in Denver, which was a much smaller town back then - and there was no I-80 between there and Atlantic, Iowa.

Marty lived with a bunch of other teachers, and she was considering going abroad to teach when she met a certain attorney named William Lamm. Marty said when they came back to Atlantic to get married, none of the family had met Bill - and my dad was so nervous that Bill wouldn't like us. Awww - what's not to like? And we sure love Bill!

Paul and I have been fortunate to stay with Marty and Bill these past few years while Amy has lived in Denver. It's been a special time for us to spend time with the two of them by ourselves. (Plus we have our own little room in the basement of their great home). And I'm glad my children have gotten to know the two of them so well. Along with Jean and Bruce who we love hanging with too - but since they live in Arizona, we don't get to see them as often. They are all important people in our lives.

I've spent some time researching genealogy and really got a kick out of it when Marty recalled her great aunts stopping down at Bullock's Store in Atlantic. It was cool to hear about people who had only been names and dates before that. She also told us that during the war her parents didn't heat the upstairs in their home at 909 Poplar in Atlantic - they hung a blanket at the top of the stairs to keep the heat downstairs. I remember the coal chute in the basement at the lovely home. Of course by the time I was visiting there it had been converted to natural gas heat. Marty told us that Dad would make her peanut butter sandwiches during those cold nights to bribe her to sleep in his bed to warm it up. That sounds like Dad...always thinking! That must be where I got my cold feet.

Photo from Hawaii - 50th Anniversary

Here's to you Aunt Martha - have a great birthday. We love you. Watch for a package - coming from love from Iowa from all your nieces.

It's like he's on vacation

We survived Christmas without Bolder. It was weird. I'm still in denial. I'm pretending he's just away - that it's temporary. Boldie was such a larger than life guy. Dammit - why does death have to be so permanent?

Anyway, Christmas was very nice. We started out last Saturday on some dark roads that were a bit icy to start with. Des Moines had that giant storm - 12+ inches on Thursday. Some of it melted right away and melted, before freezing solid when the temp dropped. Then all that snow fell on top. Great for city and state crews to battle - NOT. Paul drove, and he just took it easy until we got past it, about Adair.

Wish I would have gotten a better pic of the Brownlees...

Odie was with us - we got to Denver about 4 PM. Jud and Kara were already at Amy's. That girl travels to the airport quite frequently thanks to our family and her friends! I am so happy all of us were able to be together for Christmas again this year. Kara's family had celebrated a couple weekends prior when Kara's brothers were able to attend.

We headed to Aunt Marty and Uncle Bill's later that evening for a family gathering. My cousins came over - Richard, and Amy with husband Tom and their children Matt and Kate with bf Garrett. Marty has a bad ankle and is in a wheelchair (She had surgery yesterday to fuse her ankle, cousin Amy reports it went well.)

Amy perches in Marty's wheelchair. Richard chuckles behind Marty

Uncle Bill and Tom

It was such fun to be together! Marty was telling stories from her childhood. Tom Brownlee (Cousin Amy's husband) and Jud are so similar - they get along great. Kara fit in nicely. Amy (daughter) and Marty love to talk travel. There is nothing like family. Marty and Bill were delighted with the pheasants Paul brought them from his South Dakota trip.

The next day, we picked the kids up from Amy's apartment for the trip to Vail. First we ate at Jelly - the yummy restaurant close by Amy's place. Amy and I split egg hash with beets. Isn't it beautiful? I love the old cereal boxes around the joint! I remember Quisp. They had a Quake box too.

After breakfast, Paul packed like a surgeon (it was filled to the brim) and we headed up the mountain to Vail/Edwards, arriving at about 2 p.m. It was good to hug my sis.

Our Colorado Trip

Paul and Amy at Udi's at lunchtime

I was ready for a road trip. And some time away from work. I know...it's not been that long since our April Florida vacation. But a girl my age needs some breaks, ya know. Especially when her hubby lives in a different town from her some of the week.

We took off Thursday after work and reached Kearney, Nebraska (it's pronounced Car nee for those of you who aren't familiar). We stay at a Microtel there for around $60 with a AAA discount. It's a short drive from there into Denver - we arrived in time to take Amy (hugs welcome since we hadn't seen her since Christmas) to lunch at Udi's - a deli-like place near her work.

After lunch we met John, Matt, and the other Matt - all co-worker/supervisors at Custom Made Meals. In Amy's office, we got to see some projects Amy has been working on.

Amy had to work that afternoon, so Paul and I decided to head to REI - a huge outdoor activity store. We both salivate when we see the wares there...

I got a chuckle out of this shot from their shoe area. The salesman said I'd get extra credit for knowing who this referred to...are you kidding man? She's my idol, except for the being corrupt part...

I didn't end up buying any shoes there - just socks - Smart Wool on sale. Paul got a solar charger for his cell phone for when he goes elk hunting. Beam me up, Scotty! Then we sat on the deck at my Aunt Marty and Uncle Bill's deck. Yep, we're staying at their lovely abode again. We could spring for a crappy hotel, but choose to stay free at their place - and they're not even there. (I used all forms of there in that sentence you language peeps) They have a great second home in Estes Park where they are this weekend.

Next episode...our evening with our girl.

Without words...

For the first time since I started this blog, I haven't felt wordy. Plus we've been traveling. And we'll be traveling again soon. So I apologize in advance for my lack of production in the blog department. I hope my two trips will rejuvenate my wordlyness. Yes, I know that's not really a word.

Christmas. The holiday that brings fear and dread to the hearts of many. I suppose I'm one of those people. Then I grit my teeth and dig into the season. I get through it by being gone. Thank goodness my sister Cindo invites us (or allows us to invite ourselves) to their Christmas, ever since Amy moved to Colorado. This year it was extra special since my brother-in-law Bolder is fighting cancer.

We headed out from our place about 8:30 a.m. on Thursday a.m. - a bit later than planned because a storm had hit in parts of Nebraska, eastern Colorado and Denver. We wanted to let the damn thing clear out. Jud was flying in to Denver early that morning. We were glad we waited as we spied a few vehicles in the ditches of central Nebraska. Then, as we approached Denver, the roads got a bit icy.

The Mile High City itself received ten inches of the white stuff. White Christmas! Denver doesn't believe in wasting money clearing side streets - like the one Amy lives on, when snow is going to melt in a couple days. How thrifty! Des Moines Public Works guru Bill Stowe wouldn't approve. We were glad our trusty Subaru was all wheel drive.

We headed straight to Amy's and took the kids and our niece Jordan (sis Susi's daughter) out for burgers. Walking in a winter wonderland! So fun to see everyone, and good to catch up with Jordie - she's now working for the Girl Scouts of Colorado. Amy described her exciting drive to pick Jud up at DIA, and Jud told how he drove Amy's car back to her place after dropping her off back at her office. Paul and I headed to Aunt Marty and Uncle Bill's after supper, for our Denver home away from home. It's always fun chatting with my dad's sister and spouse.

The next morning, Bill picked up Duffy Rolls - special rolls you can only get in Denver. So very good. We enjoyed trading stories with Marty and Bill. Then we were off to pick up Jud (taking him several Duffy's) for some errands. We stopped at Amy's former employer for some cheese for gifts. Then we went to my fave liquor store near her apartment - Argonaut. I loved this beer that I spied there.

After that it was lunch and a movie - "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo". Very good - of course I loved the book too. Jud and Paul enjoyed the movie without having read the book.

That night, our family and Jordie, Marty and Bill all went to their daughter (my cousin) Amy's (yes we use names over and over again in my fam) house for supper. Amy's husband Tom and children Kate and Matt (they loved the deer sausage Paul brought) were there too. We had a wonderful time. I love having a chance to hang with my fam. Since I'm the only remaining Bullock living in Iowa, I don't get enough family time like that! All too soon it was time to retire for the night - after all we needed to head to Vail the next day. I hope we'll get to see them all again soon!