2013 Comes to an End

Heavy sigh.  Should I even try to blog tonight?  It's kinda been a crappy day, and yet, they can't all be fabulous, fluffy rainbow unicorn days, can they?  And I do feel I am able to appreciate that we are very very lucky to have the choices we have, and be in the situation we are in.

But - to sum it up.  Mom had a tough day.  I had a tough day.

She's lost.  She feels displaced.  She's not at home at our home, she's not home at her house (and usually says herself that it's too lonely there, and that she just couldn't do it any more), and,  she not at home in her apartment. And that sucks.  And no matter what I do for her, it will be a long time until she get's use to it, and it feels even a little bit like home.  Alot of ups and downs, and apparently I still have alot to learn about patience!  I'll keep working on it.  Should I tell the story of writing the 3 checks?  Nope. Just let it go.

BJ the dog is with us for the moment, and mom has sort of given up on him.  I guess she thinks it's overwhelming to even think about, and just doesn't feel capable of dealing with it.  BJ, BJ, BJ.  His predicament sort of sums the whole thing up.  I don't know how to get her out of this funk.  She's been very positive about the move for the most part, and luckily, can sure continue to improve.  So I should go to bed, I'm tired, grumpy, didn't get my New Years Eve Party, my small family get together, or even my fondue dinner.

20 minutes until 2014. and - what a fitting end - ewh - Miley Cyrus is the New Years Rockin Eve highlight, and she has a Midget on stage? For no apparent reason - and now she's singing Wrecking Ball. So, obviously, 2014, there is plenty of room for improvement!  Let's suck it up buttercup, and get on with it!
HNYEVE!


  

YES!!

With 2 whole days to spare, I found the fondue pots and the Chocolate Fountain of Joy.  New Years Eve family fondue is a go!

Not a Very Photogenic Holiday this Year

Not a Very Photogenic Holiday this Year - I did actually have a moment to stop and think yesterday, "I should take a picture of the kids in front of the Christmas tree" before stuffing it back in it's box.  I didn't. (We have some pictures of Xmas 2013, it's o.k.) But, it's a year to appreciate that less is more.

One thing i wanted to start doing was a family fondue night Complete with the chocolate fountain that I believe we still have.  I was hoping for Boxing day, but now that I can't get far enough into the storage room to find it. . .  I'm shooting for New Years Eve now.  We skipped planning a party, because we thought that the bathroom wouldn't be done yet.  And, this year, we will probably go hang out with Grandma Roberta at her new apartment at least part of the time.  

There is still hope for that family tradition.  There may not be any actual pictures though.  Too much pressure, so no promises! 

Happily Taking Down the Ornaments

Yes, I am Happily Taking Down the Ornaments on December 27th.  The pictures of family and friends are going to be what I remember this year.  Lots to do, (get grandma's internet working, find out if the dog can stay yet, get mom to go to the "computer skills" class - and that's just the list under the subheading "Nana" ) - but  really a very good year.  So much to be thankful for, and 2 weeks off to enjoy the family.  The feeling is peaceful, relaxed, alittle nostalgic, but hopeful for a better year next year.

Merry Christmas, 

Happy New Year 2014!

and save space for Tanner/Roxy, Girls, selfie, and ???

Christmas 2013

What to say about Christmas 2013. . .   It's been an eventful year.  The short answer is that my mom Roberta is doing an excellent job recovering from a broken hip.  It's been a life changing even however, but mostly for the better!  (Maybe I'll blog about it some day.)  Above is a picture of Nana with her 5 grand kids and one of the grand dogs.  We spent Christmas day at my brother Bruce's house.

It's been a minimalist kind of Christmas.  We never did quite get the decorations up, or the gifts bought.  A few of he gifts were wrapped by the girls.  Cut out cookies - skipped, and YIKES - we didn't even make a gingerbread house!  But, the silver lining was the focus on just being together and appreciating what we have.  Caitlin, Abigail and Kevin are all off this Christmas week. 

So Christmas 2013 will be a memorable one for me.   I love this picture of Zorro in the tree.  There's a little Norman Rockwell-ness to it.  He's going to be heart broken when we take it down.      

DAY 24 - Nana's gonna be OK!

Thankful.

Wow.  I'm thankful for many things today, (and I've taken a half month break from my thankful postings).

That things weren't ALOT worse!  I have lots of feelings swishing around lately, and one of them is guilt!  Guilt at how relieved I feel having my mom safe and sound at a rehab center.

So although mom fell and broke her hip, needing hip surgery, and now having to go through rehab for around 6 weeks, I am very thankful that my mom is OK.  She's in a great place for her recovery journey.  She's starting to settle in and meet people.  The wheels of change are now turning because of this game changing incident, and most of those changes will be for the better.

I realize I've been sort of holding my breath, waiting for something to happen, oh, for about 3 years now! Now we can move from the intellectual approach of wouldn't you have a better quality of life if you were to be in a retirement, residential setting; to, an emotional, that can never happen again!

     

DAY 12 - I am thankful for the Big Bang Theory!

There are still many many episodes I haven't seen before.  Tonight I found 2!  It's good to lighten up and have a laugh, so yes, thank you Big Bang Theory, for being you.

Thankful, day 10!?! DAY 10!!!! Wow!

This Sunday, I am thankful for Eastern Hills Community Church!

Caitlin is all about youth group, and it's spilling over into her mother's life making C a force for good in the family.  I went to church for the first time in ages today; heard a good message, saw a few friends and neighbors, and had an inspiring talk with Caity on the way home.  Eastern Hills

TGIF!

hahaha - I'm not sure what I was thankful for yesterday, but today, I am completely and totally thankful that it is FRIDAY!

TGIF!

Day 5 - I am thankful for TECHNOLOGY!

My daughter C is sharing her "what freedom means to me" document with me on google docs, and we are working on it together, (I'm helping edit from across the room while watching the Last Samuri).  I just checked in with Nana and Brother Bruce via email on my phone,  after calling Bob to confirm the family get together, and texting this way and that, about this and that.  I worked on some school stuff for about an hour, and messed with my personal photos, all from the living room where I was "with" my family!

Ah, I was in MULTI-TASKER HEAVEN!  

YIKES! - Already playing catch-up! Nov. 4th

November 4th - geez, what did I do November 4th!?!

It was a teacher work day - professional development.   OK - I got this!   I am thankful for my job.  I love teaching at Vista Peak Prep.  I honestly can't think of any place else I would rather be.  (Sure, I may have been grumbling about having to go back after fall break, but it was a hollow, momentary whine.)

We were talking Equity (right up my alley), and I got to go to lunch, collaborate,  and connect with those other favorite teachers/staff members.  

November 3rd

I am Thankful for;  and extra hour this morning!  

It seems like I got an extra hour of sleep, and an extra hour to read a book, and an extra hour to start crock-pot cooking!   

Day 2

God bless my funny little family!  

Ooh, I'll have to come back and add my today picture of the 4 of us at CRAVE;  the burger joint we HAVE to go to when in Castle Rock, (because most of us are obsessed with the food channel, and appreciate the search for perfect burgers), where they are ignoring, avoiding and goofing off for the camera that I am always wielding.  So it was a perfect fall day, the family out and about for Abi's soccer game - and to sum it up, I can't think of any 3 people I would rather have spent the day with.  They are uniquely, wonderfully, hilariously, all mine!

30 Days of THANKFUL FOR: day 1

I am thankful for all of my fellow MOMs who inspire me to be a better person!  

I should start off with a thankful for creative, inspiring people like.Martha who is a regular blogger, and put out the challenge to blog 30 days of thankful!  I could call it inspirational moms, who remind me that it is possible to forget the drudgery part of parenting, and remember to focus on and cultivate the good stuff!  A little effort can change my whole outlook around, making the recording moments of my life a more memorable, positive experience, rather than a groundhog day, overwhelming, blur!  (Yes, this morning, I am mostly seeing overwhelming blur.  But, I'm working on it.)

Everyday things these moms do that make my world a better place:

• Group call outs to get together - I love this!
• ride sharing
• coffee loving
• book reading 
• Moral lifting phone calls
• Even better moral lifting face to face
• Sharing the holidays with my family
• Getting together to make anything more fun
• shopping
• fund raising - sure!  even selling me stuff, and buying my kids stuff
• "The exchanging of the philosophy" - as my Auntie Fran would call it
• networking, on every level imaginable 
• listening
• advising
• getting me off my butt to go do something
• sharing 
• good deals
• stories
• positive thoughts
• struggles
• food
• ideas
• and time

And your right Martha!  I am leaving this 30 days of thankful assignment feeling like a very lucky person, who indeed, has so many of these moms/friends in my life that I don't dare try to list them all!

Happy November 1st!  

Power Session Cooking Class

So I have been blogging - kinda.  For cooking class.  Cooking at Dojo Dobson

Now I'm on fall break, and I'm needing a picture sharing option - for Caitlin's Wash D C trip - AND because it's basement organizing week.  Hmm.

What I did on my summer vacation

Sedona
Season Pass (Elitches)

Swim Team (Penguins)
Sewing!  (Quilting)

Quilting Class!

I signed up to learn how to run a long arm quilting machine so that I might finish my own quilts!
Thread Loft - at the aurora Thread Loft, that doesn't yet have a real website.  Ah, it's been a good summer!

What else.  I'm avoiding work because the cat is sleeping in the laundry basket, Abi and Isaac are watching a movie in the basement so I can't be on the computer down there.  Already took a nap, read my book for a while . . .  and am starting to dread returning to work.  I need to keep reminding myself, appreciate, appreciate appreciate what you have!

to do:

YIKES!

is what my paper says - haha.  I'll try to get a little better handle on it today.  BUT FIRST - my No Dinner Tonight quilt. . .   

Look! I found my new blog!

Look!  I found my new blog!  And reading it,  realize that I need to quit being so whiny!  (I must have really needed something to talk about there on that spring break post!)  I liked cousin Leslie's facebook post today - remember to look up, It's not all about me.  Words to live by.

I'm just getting my ducks in a row because school will start before I know what hits me - and I feel like I'm swimming in passwords and email accounts and useful stuff that I'm not using because there is too much of it!  Step 1 - new blog, new email to use for personal communication that is NOT overrun with junkmail.
Step 2 - remember which one you picked !  Sheeesh.

Are there negative stars?

So, mostly tongue in cheek, because we had a perfectly lovely spring break despite all of this, I want to review/rate our RCI vacation just for the fun of it!  I haven't decided yet if I should get on the website and rate them, I probably will (as I checked out, I didn't get the usual did you enjoy your stay, how was everything? - so i think they already know).

A little old, a little odd, but we had stopped by last summer to use their pool, (which is fabulous), and thought it was worth a try.  Also, it was the only thing RCI had available in all of Colorado for Spring Break.

The day before we go, I called to see if they had WIFI - they do - wonderful!

1. Granby Ranch Ski Area closes that Sunday, so we will have to instead ski at Winter Park.  Not the end of the world, just a complete change in how we will approach skiing.  My foot is bothering, so I'm not skiing - hmm.  We'll figure it out, no worries.
2. Check- in.  It's deserted.  Probably because the ski area is closed.  No problem.
3. Open the door.  It's not the renovated type unit we saw last summer.  It's from the 70's.  No problem, cute, I love the 70's.
4. TV is VHS ONLY!  Crap!  It didn't even occur to me that a condo that has WiFi might have no DVD player.  My bad; should have brought the XBOX; it will build character.
5. Envelope on the coffee table from the sheriffs office and Condo.  There is a sexual predator living there who has just been released.  He is considered a dangerous violent offender.  There is nothing they can do about it but inform us.  Don't unpack - let's just turn around and go home!  Are you freaking kidding me!
6. Arcade.  Almost half of the games have Out of Order signs on them.  I know this because I am with them, because of the pedophile.  
7. Lobby.  Creepy, dusty, musty.  I try to read for 5 minutes before I can stand it no longer. I know this because I am with them, because of the pedophile.  
8. Swimming pool.  Both indoor hot tubs are out of commission most of the time.  There is still an outdoor one available, but 1 out of 3 at best.  I know this because I am with them, because of the pedophile.
9. Athletic Club.  There are 3 machines.  The elliptical  my first choice, goes kachunka kachunka kachunka on the right side.  Oh look, there is a stack of magazines holding it up on that side.  Treadmill.  The buttons eventually work, if you press them just so.  Once you get it set up, you dare not stop because you'll have to reset it.  It's like this the whole time.  Probably been that way for years.    I know this because I am with them, because of the pedophile. 
10. Restaurant.  Harry Lemons.  Well, it was snowing one night, so we decided to try the hairy lemon, how bad could it be?  My French Dip tasted like fish.  Caitlin's fried chicken tasted like fish.  Although the Fettuccine Alfredo didn't seem to taste like fish, it was more of a watery butter noodles thing - just not good.  

I'm done.  All and all it wasn't that bad, but I'm not sure why!  Oh, I almost forgot.  The decor:  There wasn't any cork to go with the strips of mirror, And I neglected to take a picture of the sofa picture over the bed that was turned sideways because it probably fit better that way.  So, no, we will not be staying there again.

   
. If this was David Letterman, and the top ten reasons not to stay at the Inn at Silvercreek, #1 would be
There's a recently release violently dangerous sexual predator living here.

Remembering Papa

How about a picture? 1st we were going to ski Ski Papa to remember Papa on what would have been his birthday, but decided he would feel equally honored if we went snowmobiling for the first time.
Papa, you would have loved it!
 We miss you!

Today in Dobson history

So it's Tuesday of family spring break and we are up near Winter Park.  Tonight we were able to visit with Nana and Lilly (who is staying with Nana) - which is a very cool thing to be able to do.  Thank you Skype!

Kevin skied, I vowed to get in shape and rid myself of the cursed plantar fasitis that is making me not even want to try to ski this year.   The girls swan, I made snowmobiling reservations and thought of future vacation possibilities   It's a good vacation.  I love my girls, and the hub - and it's nice to just be with them.  Later, I will indulge myself in a little comedic recollection of the shortcomings of this trip, but really - we had everything we needed and more.  Time to spend together.  Sheesh - sappy sappy sappy!! 

Hmmm

Olay

Pictures?

Movie Marathon or Skiing?

 This trip has been a wake up call.  I have to go get in shape in order to enjoy all the things I like to do.  My heel pain is keeping me from skiing, so the agenda is movie/book marathon - which is a much cheaper wonderful thing.  I'm trying to embrace the alternate vacation from the one I had planned.  Looking ahead, can I change my course by summer?  We have a Sedona vacation planned.  I chose it for the bike riding!

Spring Break 2013

Winter Park Colorado!

and Grandby Ranch Colorado!  Closed yesterday - so we didn't actually get there for skiing. 

It is Monday, and we are thinking of going tubing, shopping and shopping.