Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ...

As it is for most, December was a very full month and it was difficult to choose just a few highlights from the many that we were fortunate to experience this Christmas season. T.'s mum and dad, his brother R., and his sister M. & her fam joined us in FoCo for a beautiful Christmas celebration, replete with neighborhood caroling, GTT & M.'s Christmas Eve clam chowder, loads of cribbage-playing and cousin-time, & of course, the requisite readings from Dicken's Christmas Carol!

My stand-out memory for Christmas morning was the way little L.'s face lit up when she discovered that Santa had indeed brought her the bike she had been wishing and hoping for all month long. Her joy was infectious and irrepressible and it made my heart sing. Even though there was 4 inches of freshly fallen snow (a white Christmas this year!) on the driveway, she insisted on riding her bike through it. Not an easy task! She was able to push about one pedal's length through the snow & then the bike would stall and tip over. She'd immediately hop back up on the bike and do it all over again. This went on for about 20 minutes in the frigid air before I insisted she come in and take a break. She is an incredibly determined little girl and she'd get frostbite before she'd give up on mastering the art of snow-biking! :)

The day after Christmas, T., the girls and I went up to Vail for a 2 day ski getaway. It was A.'s very first ski experience and, unfortunately, it was less than stellar. The first morning in Vail, we awoke to discover that she had vomited the previous night's hot dog dinner all over the bed and in C.'s hair. What a great start to a full day of ski school! Between that and the sub-zero temps, A. had had enough of ski school by noon that day so we pulled her out early and T. and I took turns hanging out with her while the other person got in a little skiing. It was by far the COLDEST day of skiing I've ever experienced, but I lived to tell the tale so it's all good. :) The second day, all five of us skiied together on the bunny hill and that was a real kick because it was the first time we were all on the mountain at the same time. It is fun to reach those little 'family milestones'. Hopefully, next year A. will actually be happy about being out on the mountain with the rest of us!

My heart is full as I reflect on the many wonderful memories we carry with us from this season and into the new year. We are richly blessed with beautiful, healthy children and loving family and friends, all of whom are a daily reminder of the workings of God's love in our lives. Many thanks to each and every one of you ... you know who you are! :)