December 2012

 We are going to ski in Breckridge this weekend! My uncle is in Colorado, and will ski with us and instruct the kids for 2 days! I don't think there's too much snow, but it will still be fun, and great to have his help.

 

 Christmas: 

I am so relieved to have Mark home on Christmas!

Steve and Cathy stayed with us and are bringing their lab dog, Trigger! Nancy and Garry are also here, so that brings the group to 15. Camille and I suggested we go out to dinner. We made reservations at the Chart House on the way up I-70. It was decorated really nicely and feels like it's in the mountains.

Thanksgiving 2012

In November, Mark bid reserve again so he could get Thanksgiving off. Knowing that he was off, we were excited to host this year. My brother, Krista and their 3 kids came for appetizers and then we had 11 for dinner.

From the time everyone arrived....we never saw the kids again! The cousins all played really well together. Sami and Carson are exactly the same age,10, a year older than Ryan, and Lauren loves having 2 girl cousins to hang with.

These are all of Ryan and Lauren's first cousins....the Bonniwell cousins and the Saabye cousins!

 

 



Shep, Carson and Foster with Grandma, with their new Nutcrackers

 

Tae Kwon Do

We found an amazing TKD instructor for Ryan, affiliated with the same Tiger Rock Martial Arts national program he was in in Houston. That means that the forms are the same, and he's not starting from scratch. He's been attending classes with Mr. Asay since July, and had his first testing at the new school in October. Ryan passed, and earned his Level 3 blue belt!  You can see the stress on his face in this first picture. Testing is a tense time, and we are so proud of him for working hard and believing in himself and continuing despite nervousness.

Ryan breaking a board

October 2012: Lauren finishes her Marathon

 

The kids were part of a running club at school, Kids Running America. They ran 2 days a week before or after school to accumulate 25.2 miles. Then on Oct. 21, there was a Marathon Finish at Washington Park, where kids participating from all over Denver finished their last mile to complete the marathon.

 

Ryan completed 14 miles and decided he was done. Lauren completed all of her miles and was very excited about running. Below are pictures from before the race and the starting line, when she took off! What I don't have is pictures of her after. She was not very happy! Part way through the mile, she realized it wasn't a race and she wasn't going to "win," and she was not happy about that! She wanted to compete.

 

The talk about "finishing a marathon is what counts, not winning it" was lost on her! She would not pose for a picture with her finisher medal. But, in the end, she was proud of running, and we were proud of her for sticking with it.

 

 

Ryan sporting his Halloween costume.

Lauren and Mark at the start line.

 

 

October 2012: Happy Halloween

Our first Halloween in Colorado was remarkably warm and mild. I remember Halloweens being cold, and sometimes snowy! I know we lucked out! We trick or treated in the neighborhood with friends and attended a party up the street. Earlier in the day, both kids had parties at school which Mark and I helped with.

Ryan's 4th grade class. Ryan is in the middle...skeleton sweatshirt.