Crummies in our tummies

Since Tuesday night, a GI virus started running its way through out the house. As of this morning,  it has gone through all three children. We’ve tried to continue with some of the Christmas festivities we had planned, because we love Christmas and we live on the edge. Last night before the eldest child was showing symptoms, we loaded the van with children and bowls. We covered the children with blankets, turned on the Christmas tunes, and drove around looking at the beautiful lights. Thankfully no one had to use their bowl during our festive drive. And we’ve seen the best Christmas lights ever!

Because of the swine flu before Thanksgiving and this new virus, our Christmas cards and gifts will be mailed late. The packages have been sitting, since Tuesday. I had planned to mail them the day the vomit started. Unfortunately this virus coincided with a full week of work in Denver for RockyDaddy, so I didn’t ask him to mail them. I stayed busy cleaning carpets, towels, bedsheets, and teaching two four year olds “how to use a bowl”.

So if you are one of the people expecting a card from us, it will be in the mail soon!

Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May you know the love and joy that comes from knowing Jesus!

Warm Hearts, Frozen Creek

Warm Hearts, Frozen Creek

After several days of VERY cold weather, the kid-kinetic energy (extra energy kids have due to their motion inside the house day after day) was hard to contain. So we invited our friends (that we met at the creek back in summer) for another hike to the creek. Imagine our surprise and excitement to find the creek FROZEN?! I mean, I do know that water freezes in freezing temperatures. I just hadn’t thought about the creek freezing. Did you know that you can ice skate in tennis shoes? And with the Colorado sun, we enjoyed the creek and park for a couple hours. Another beautiful Colorado day!

Sunny Summer Days

The weather is still a bit chilly here in Colorado. But I have been thinking about warmer days as I’ve gone through some pictures of the past year. We were so busy during summer, that I posted very few entries or pictures. So I thought I would share a few sunny memories today.

One of our favorite family activities is horse backriding in the Rockies. We have gone three times. Our girls are trying to earn another ride (in the snow) by “Speaking the Truth in Love”.  It is actually quite a workout for RockyDaddy and I, since RockyK and RockyE must be led by an adult. We hike up and down trails in the foothills while leading their horses. RockyA independently leads the way. So although I do hope they win a reward for speaking the truth in love, I’m not sure if I am ready for that workout in the snow! (As I am typing, a bit of sibling rivalry has resulted in three stones being moved from the “speak the truth in love” jar to the “unwholesome talk” jar. So maybe I don’t have to worry.)

On the bikes are RockyDaddy and my brother Nathan. RockyDaddy says that mountain biking Copper Mountain was one of his most memorable experiences in Colorado. He ranks it high on his list of things to do in Colorado.

The first pictures are of my brothers, my expecting sister-in-law, and my dad in the sunflower fields. To be honest, I don’t know if Colorado is more beautiful in the winter or the summer. Both are amazing. God was truly creative in His creation.

Let it snow!

We went to church on Saturday night, even though it meant missing the end of the most exciting football game of the year. (We Tivo’d Tebow). Which turned out to be a good thing for several reasons. First of all, it might have been hard to worship after the end of that game…just kidding.

We did just spend 9 months learning about worship, so I do know better than that. “Worship is an all of life response to the worth of who God is and what He has done”. It has little to do with winning or losing. But thankfully, Tebow has made it something to do with football. So as sad as it was to see Timmy in tears, it was comforting to know that he was still likely worshiping God. And so can we.

The news report late Saturday night gave us a second reason it was good that we went to the Saturday night service. Lows in the single digits with snow. And three more days of the same. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Maybe it is because I am from Florida, but I think that it is just beautiful. When I was out driving Sunday night, I thought it was exciting (especially when a fox crossed the street right in front of me- and my brakes made crunching noises -and I had four lanes to glide across by myself because everyone else was off the roads. All to the tune of “Joy to the World” on the radio.). And the cold is invigorating….as long as you can get into a warm house when you have the need.

The crunch of the snow beneath your feet! The smell of a fireplace burning oak. Hot cocoa steaming. Children wrapped so warmly that their arms float up from their sides. A new sweater that can be worn more than 3 times in a year. Snuggling under a blanket to watch Christmas movies as a family. Watching your 14 year old dog prance in the snow, making fresh tracks like a puppy. Finding the perfect pair of gently used snow blades to call your own. The hopes of a few more rides down a mountain, trailing behind your daughter…dare I make that plural? Thinking how adorable your husband looks after coming in from a run in the snow, with snowflakes on his hat. These are a few of my favorite things.

Egg and Squash Breakfast

For this recipe, I have to give a shout out to FiddleDeeDee. She uses very similar ingredients for fluffy scrambled eggs. But I turned it into a crustless quiche. It is great for someone looking for a high protein, low carb, relatively low calorie breakfast or brunch. It can be made ahead and then reheated and is great for guests. And you don’t have to tell the kids that there is squash in it! It looks pretty if you use two colors of cheese too. I puree my ingredients using an immersion blender. But a regular blender works well too.

Egg and Squash Breakfast
Nutritional Info

* Fat: 5.0g
* Carbohydrates: 2.8g
* Calories: 83.1
* Protein: 6.8g
(* Only an estimation. Please make your own calculations for dietary needs)

Ingredients
1.5 cup cut raw yellow squash (also can be frozen, raw)
8 large eggs
1 cup cottage cheese (2%)
.5 cup chopped onion (I prefer Vidalia onions to Colorado onions. If I use a CO onion I only use 1/4 cup.)
.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
Preheat oven 375 degrees. Use butter to grease glass bake wear. Puree squash, eggs, cottage cheese, and onion. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour egg mixture into glass dish. Cover and bake in oven at 375 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until knife dipped in center of dish comes out clean. Uncover and sprinkle cheddar over top and bake until melted (about 5 min.). Remember, I am at high altitude. So your bake time may vary.

Number of Servings: 6-8

Give Thanks

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever!”

Life on earth is always changing. Changes can bring joy and sorrow. Even when life is going along perfectly, the knowledge that things will change can bring a tinge of sadness. No matter what phase of life we are in, we can always celebrate God’s love. His love endures forever. It never changes. He is good. So let us give thanks to Him.

“

Chocolate Festival

After over a week of what might have been swine flu, we needed to get out of the house. What better way to lift your spirits than the Chocolate Festival. During a coughing fit I was offered a sample of Pomegranate Wine- for medicinal purposes of course! Worked like a charm.  Also offered were more than  you could eat chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate covered marshmallows. Of course we had to wait in line for quite some time to get the chocolate roses by the pastry chef from the Broadmore Hotel, but my girls were happy to wait…as long as RockyDaddy kept bringing the chocolate covered strawberries to us in line. These three RockyMountain Strawberries don’t fall too far from strawberry bush. Chocolate is for whatever is ailing you.

Lost in a Corn Maze

Looks like more cocoa in the rockies

Hello. Where have we been? Well, waiting on a contract. And having fun. Over a span of about 6 weeks, we had 4 weeks of company. It was wonderful. I wish I had blogged over that time to record the memories, but I was too busy making the memories to record them.

Thankfully, my wonderful friend Kim made me a memory book of part of that time. Not only was her family the model of perfect guests, but she met my heart’s desire of a beautiful picture book of memories! I could give you a list of why they were perfect guests. But lets just start with the fact that there are 5 males in their family and they left the bathroom cleaner than when they arrived. Their family models the verse Proverbs 27:17 (As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another). And their children are the kind that make your children all better behaved for the time spent with them. So of course they are welcomed in our home any time, wherever it is…

Which leads me to the next announcement: after much waiting and prayer, we have another contract to stay in CO for 4 more months. Whew Hoo! We are excited. Not only will we get the chance for a few more ski escapades, but we will also get to be here for the birth of our new niece. Uncle L and Aunt J are having their first child in the beginning of February. It made me sad to think about missing her birth, so I am thrilled that we will be here.

What’s to come after February? We plan to be back in Florida after our adventures in Colorado come to an end. But we are leaving the possibility open to staying another few months after the current contract ends, if RockyDaddy is still needed for the work that he is doing. After all, it would be a shame to leave right before peak ski season! (Have you SEEN the weather reports!?!)

There are so many things that I will miss in Colorado. Just as there are so many things I miss about Florida. So Darling, it looks like “More Cocoa in the Rockies” for now.

Rockie Girls Celbrating our continued stay in CO

while visitting Aunt J and Uncle L

Art Gallery

“Octopi”

Poster Paint on Canvas by RockyK

“Colorado Collage”

Original photography and collage by RockyA

“Coyote”

Acrylic Paint by RockyA