Colorado Christmas

Seven states in a week - celebrating Christmas and an ISU bowl game win. Jet-lagged with no jet. 100% worth it. Car time gave Paul and me time to discuss our plans for 2018. I'm not big on resolutions but do like to think about how I can be a better person in the coming year.

What a whirlwind of family love and Cyclone family (with family) love. As we sing when Neil Diamond sings Sweet Caroline - "So Good, So Good, So Good". We too off the Thursday before Christmas with Odie - heading south to Kansas City to avoid the icy rain and snow heading this way.

We arrived in Denver late Friday afternoon. My cousin, Amy Brownlee had us all over for a wonderful family meal including our Amy (Corey was picking his fam up at the airport), our niece Jordan and wife Jill, Aunt Marty and cousin Richard Lamm. Plus the hosts the Brownlee family - Tom, Amy and their children Kate and Matt. We had such a great time sharing a meal and chatting into the evening. 

New Address - coming up!

Saturday morning we got to see Amy and Corey's future home, a townhome they purchased in LoHi with a view of downtown. They will start moving in later this week - so exciting! Amy can't wait to begin decorating her first home. Corey's folks Jeff and Shirl were there too - as it was there turn to be with the kids for this holiday.

After the townhouse viewing, Paul and I took off for Vail. The mountain drive didn't disappoint. Vail Pass was closed not long after we drove through, as snow fell and driving conditions deteriorated. Paul was wise to deny my request to stop at the outlet mall along the route.

Our time at Cindy's was great as usual. It was our tenth Christmas in Colorado - we've been going since Amy moved there after graduating from college. We take our jobs as Kitchenettes at the annual Lefebvre Christmas Eve Party very seriously. We bake the wiener wraps, and sing Christmas Carols. Each year at the party, Bolder Lefebvre's memory and absence are so apparent. He used to do such a good Lawrence Welk show impersonation, MCing the party. In his honor, the next generation does a good job of leading the singing. Boldie taught them well! Somewhere he is proud.

On Christmas Day, we were joined by Colby's girlfriend Gretchen. The five enjoyed a wonderful morning of gift sharing. Beaver Creek and Vail depend on snow for their livelihoods. They were glad to get several inches of the white stuff while we were there. Even so, the valley needs lots more to get all the workers fully employed - running lifts and working at sites on the mountain. Paul usually skis, but opted not to this year. Gretchen and Colby went out for a few hours. Cindy and I worked on our annual jigsaw puzzle while watching Christmas movies. Perfect. Peace on Earth and family. 

That night we shared a delicious meal with our friends the Pottorffs, the Sanders and their children. It's been such fun to watch the young people grow up over the last ten years. Fine people. Our friend Frank was there. He's battling oral cancer - and as a wine rep, can't even drink wine. We were glad he could join us! Thinking of him as he continues his fight.

Our drive home through eastern Colorado and Nebraska was long, cold and fairly uneventful. One and a half days of work - and we were off again! 

  

Day 2 - Christmas

Jelly, Jelly, Jelly. Jelly stays on my mind! Jelly roll killed my pappy. No, not really. It's an Allman Brothers song - and we went to our favorite joint for breakfast. Jelly Cafe. It's near Amy's place and close to Capitol Hill in Denver. Jelly - yum

I didn't take any photos of the place this year, because I've taken pics before. It's very hipster. We had donut bites whilst we awaited our real breakfast. Then we did a bit 'o shopping. A new Cabela's opened south of town. Paul has a "black" card and earned points. Let's not let them go to waste! He found a most awesome backpack for hunting. Then we hit the Outlet Mall a bit farther south. Odie found some nice hard candies in the cubbie hole of the car. She spit the red hot jaw breaker out on Paul's seat. Her breath was minty fresh though!

That evening we had a date with the Lamms at a Chinese place. We picked up our niece Jordan on the way - such a cutie! My Aunt Marty got there early (along with Uncle Bill) and ordered food for hundreds from Tony (a Chinese guy whose name was really something unpronounceable). Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Bruce were there too. they had just rolled in via Santa Fe, a stop on their way from Green Valley, AZ. They are my Dad's sisters and husbands.

Cousin Amy Brownlee came with husband Tom and kids Kate - who is a college frosh at CSU and Matt who is a HS sophomore. Kate's boyfriend came along too. My cousin Richard was last but not least. Tony kept the food coming. Eggrolls, chicken, shrimp, rice - we didn't have enough room on the table! Amy scored big in the leftover department! All of us scored big in the family department - we have a great one!

2 Generations of Bullock women

On Monday Paul and I drove (in rush hour) to Centennial, Colorado to see Marty and Bill's new place at Holly Creek Retirement Community. It's a gorgeous place. I'm jealous of their indoor/outdoor lap pool. We had a great breakfast (it's not quite as hipster as Jelly) and afterwards sat a Marty's and chatted a while. Made plans to see all of them in 2014. Yay! Then we headed back to Amy's to await her arrival home from work so we could head up the mountain to Edwards - just past Vail.

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.