Winter Park, Colorado

Momma and Frank came to visit our not so snow covered city last week. We all hopped in a rented Tahoe and headed for the mountains in Winter Park. As most of us are very novice winter activity people, we rented gear and headed up the bunny slopes for a few hours of fun, and sore muscle activity.

As darkness fell, we headed back to our beautiful town home rental in Fraser. Frank bbq'ed some yummy steaks, Momma made us hot chocolate with yummy homemade irish cream, we played Apples to Apples in which Tiffany was the definite winner and I, the total loser. Adam and Shawn messed around with the panoramic photo option on Ad's phone. We sat by the fire and laughed, drank Blue Moon's and slept like rocks.

 In the morning, we headed out to the adventure park to go tubing. I think the people in China were able to hear our high pitched screams as we flew down the double black diamond hills.

This was Adam and my first real weekend out on the slopes of Colorado. We are so happy that we were able to experience them with our family. We can't wait for our next trip together!

Food

Ad and I are huge fans of food....as most people are. Mostly we cook and eat in, but we do have two new favorite places that we frequent more and more.

Pinkberry

We love pink berry. For a little more than $2 we get mini cups. You pick your flavor yogurt (1 of 5) and then top it with as much goodness that will fit onto without falling out of the cup. Adam usually gets chocolate yogurt topped with granola, blueberries, yogurt chips, and peanut butter. This time, I got their seasonal mint yogurt and topped it with peanut butter, chocolate mini chips and captain crunch cereal!

Garbanzos
Garbanzos is a Colorado based Mediterranean restaurant. It has a similar feel to Moe's! mexican. You walk in and order in line. Everything is calorie labeled and healthy and fresh (they also give you a sample of falafel when you come in) I usually get a plate. This is loaded with onions, red cabbage, pickles, babaganoush, pickled eggplant, hummus, tabouleh and lettuce. Then, you can get falafel, schwarma, or portabella mushrooms. Top it all with tzaziki or tahini, or red chili, or mediterranean garlic LOVE IT!

Adam gets everything in a pita like a big ole sandwich. We belong to their members club and get tons of specials in our email.

Christmas LIghts

Since 1935, Downtown Denver has lit up its courthouse using more than 600,000 lights. Traffic stops, people look on at all there is to see. There is a nativity scene out front along with very large angels with trumpets hanging off either side of the building.

In addition, there is a parade on both Friday and Saturday nights early in December.

The 16th Street mall is also decked out with tons of lights!

Flash Back

One of my favorite funny videos :)

Snow

The snow and winter are here. Adam still takes the scooter since he works two miles down the road on a very well paved, well scooped road. I have resorted to the bus.
The temperature gets up into the 40s during the day and down to the teens at night. We haven't had a snow fall in about two weeks, but the stuff on the ground just never seems to disappear.
Olive isn't quite sure if she loves it or not. We have tossed her in it numerous times...but I think it is too cold for her.
There is something about the way the white snow makes everything feel cheery...and cold.
I am still getting used to the christmas lights though. Those of you who have never lived in the south may not know it, but the leaves don't really fall of the trees the same in Florida. So, when Christmas lights are strung, you can't see but the part you are looking at. Here, at night, all the trees look like pretty spirals because you can see the lights wrapped all the way around. Pretty neat observation from this Florida girl.

Dumpster Dive...America style

The other day...most like a month ago, Adam found a treasure...a brand new bed frame. We are finally adults, no more mattress on the floor. The bed is a bit high though and we have had to teach O-town to jump on the end tables first then up on the bed so she can make it.

Bad Bloggers

Ever since our move here to denver, we have been so incredibly bad at sharing our memories from this great city. As our year is quickly coming to an end, we are promising to catch up and do a much better job.
excuses
#1 Internet is way slow
#2 Blogger interface is just not so user friendly any more
#3 Our daily activities are just not as incredibly exciting as they were when we were overseas
#4 Lazy.
:(

1 year anniversary

Adam and I very rarely spend lazy days together and decided that Dec. 11  was the perfect day to do it. We have been officially married 1 year. 

We spend the morning lazy in Pj's drinking coffee and well, sleeping until 10...which is pretty late for us We then walked across the street to Snooze. Adam is totally in love with their silverware. Had some amazing mimosas and breakfast. We split the yummy granola and yogurt with grapefruit. I had the Chilaquiles Benedict and Adam had the scramble.

We headed back home for a champagne nap and woke up around 3 to get ready for our night out. We jumped on the bus and headed downtown with no exact location in mind. We strolled the streets and ended up at D'Corazon. We drank maybe 4 margaritas a piece...I had the Pomegranate and Adam had the original. We shared faijitas and had super yummy sopapillas for dessert.

We ended our night out looking at the Christmas lights downtown. I think so many things made this night perfect. The idea that we had no plans and just did is something rare for us. We spent the day reminiscing about the past year and dreaming about our next year and where on earth it may take us.

I know we are really lucky to have each other and share similar dreams and actually having the gumption and support of each other to chase them. I never in a million years would have thought that this was in my cards. I never realized that when you are with the right person, the one person who truly balances you, anything is possible and and those possibilities truly develop into your life.

Our Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas! This year we decided to purchase a fake tree even though we live in the land of Colorado where tall greenery is all around us. Adam wanted to have a traditional tree, so we strung popcorn and cranberries. We had no idea how long it took to string enough yardage to go around the whole tree.

 Four hours later, we had our tree decorated, laced and lit in the living room.

Here is the completed tree with all of our fabulous wrapped gifts from the family!

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving! We were lucky this year to be able to spend it with the Ramirez's, Shawn and Tiffany and of course Olive and Chloe. Tiffany's parents took a trip to Denver and we definitely reaped the benefits with an amazing home cooked meal.

We had tons of Champagne and wine...which led to...

 

DANCING and Salt Shaker Maracas and an Adam who was  very curious of his family.

 

Our last three thanksgivings have been so incredibly different and each so special.

2011...In Denver with Shawn and Tiff

2010...In Jacksonville for lunch and Orlando for Dinner

2009...In Bali, Indonesia

I wonder where we will be in 2012...