back to work in colorado

happy new year everyone! i am taking a break from work this morning, to say hello. we have had a great xmas break--actually pretty quiet. tavis and rebecca came from boise on wednesday night 12/19 with Shea, a large 2 year old labradoodle, and otis, tavis's cowdog. the dogs were a hott the whole time theyw were here--and actually got along quite well. link and shea played a lot together, while otis and ruby look on. ruby is intimidated by these other larger dogs, so she just watches a lot of thetime.
tavis's new girlfriend is a cutie--is a firefighter with the BLM, and we did learn while he was here that he got a job in boise as a firefighter on the boise nf. so, he has moved out there, and is living with rebecca.
they were here thursday. i had to work that day so they just hung out at the house. we had shelly over for dinner that night, so they got some sibling time in. friday we went to REI, and had pizza.
saturday, i did a 20 lb. turkey with all the trimmings, and we had a great day of taking the dogs for a good run, and shelly and her boyfriend chris came over for the evening. we opened presents and we had a very nice xmas celebration.
T and R left sunday morning for lincoln nebraska and her mom and dad (also divorced, also both remarried--so 2 families there) and then were going to drive home via the black hills to see karen. talk about meet the parents!
christmas day it snowed here about 7", and we didn't do much of anything. jay had david sorensen--and he sent him a practice golf club and a 6 iron with special grips. david was thrilled! maura had my name, and she sent a generous gift certificate to coldwater creek (which i had used the day before on a beautiful purple/orange/turquoise velour jacket. thanks you thank you.
we talked to many of you either on or before christmas day, and thought of you often that day, as we watched the snow fall, and thought about all of you in sheboygan.
i went back to work on thursday, for the morning. and we got more snow. the afternoon, i spent in the dentist's chair getting fitted for a crown. friday, i again spent most of the day at work, then saw our financial advisor in the afternoon.
and then another 4 day weekend! we started painting on saturday morning. with the newly painted halls, and family room, the pale yellow i had painted the upstairs hallway and loft area had to go. i never liked it anyway. so, with david's reluctant "permission", HA! i headed to lowes at the crack of dawn with a pillow from our living room and a bowl from pottery barn, with one color in mind--PURPLE! i picked one color out of about 40, and lived dangerously by getting a gallon right off the bat. so, we started saturday morning in the loft, and both love it. we finished on sunday, because we had to stop on saturday. our neighbor friends had called and invited us to go to the greyhound track on saturday afternoon, so 6 of us ended up going. what a hoot! it was a first for both david and i, and we had a great time drinking rolling rock and watching those beautiful dogs run. we ended up eating with our neighbors also, and then they made us stay and sing kareokee with them. that is a whole nother story and experience, i'm still not sure about!
then sunday, we finished painting and hung out. we have watched the 3rd schrek film--hilarious--amazing grace--an excellent movie about the british slave trade-and freedom writers--another excellent move about a LA teacher after the rodney king incident.
new years eve day, we watched the wind continue--up to about 50 mph in town. closed i-70 for almost 24 hours on sunday and monday. we went to our neighbors NYEve party, and had a great time. lots of dancing and champagne.
NYday we did a pork tenderloin, and wrote thank you cards, and watched the dogs play with their new fleece pheasant that tavis gave them.
i am back to work today, and it is quiet here in our office, as people continue to finish using their annual leave.
we had a nice, quiet break, with lots of thoughts of all of you and david's family celebrating across the usa.
perhaps my new years resolution should be to learn to post pictures on the blog! i'll try to figure that out........
take care everyone--we love you--and thanks for all the great news, and wonderful presents.
love--michele and david, link and ruby