Merry Christmas - Straight No Chaser

I just heard of this group last night on the radio heading home from work. I hope you enjoy the Holiday melody as much as we do! Rebecca

Merry Christmas!

Mexico Christmas Party

So, we just returned from our brief trip to Mexico over the weekend. And it was a rude awakening... coming home to 10 degrees and snow compared to the 80 degrees with tropical breezes yesterday. We had a wonderful time hanging with some work mates and their friends. It's gotta be the best Christmas Party ever!!!



The first night was a blast, letting lose. Getting tacos before the buffet at the Taco Shack, which is always crowded. Though I think they should add fish tacos to their menu. We then had a group dinner and hit "The Galaxy" discotheque afterwards. It's a Star Wars themed club and we all had fun cutting up the dance floor. Lindsay and Javi especially had fun busting a move or two.
Most of us stayed out till about 1:30 or 2am.



We spent most of our time lounging poolside with great drinks and conversation, and then moved to the beach in the afternoon. Larry played beach volleyball each afternoon and met many fellow tourist in the process.

Here are some pictures from the Resort and the fun we had.


Fun in the Sun:

6 degrees of separation

So today, I was talking to two clients who now live in Georgia and North Carolina, but both grew up in Schenectady, NY. Just on the other side of the river from my grandmother's family in Scotia, NY. And one of my clients knew of the Lansing Dairy in Scotia, which was run by my great grandfather. Small world...

2008 First Winter Storm

Last night on the drive home from TSO - Trans Siberian Orchestra, it was snowing and getting us in the mood for the holidays. This morning, we awoke to 4 inches of snow on the ground and our commutes to work this morning were much longer than normal. The ground was white and there is definitely a crispness in the air as it only reached 20 degrees today.

We leave for Mexico in two days will experience 80 degrees there, and Denver expects 50's this weekend. Go figure...

Kit Loving Thanksgiving!

Kit licking and eating a Turkey leg bone. Unfortunately, he ate part of the end of the bone, so we had to take the treat away. But he also got to have fresh turkey meat with mashed potatoes.

Kit Attacking a Stuff Animal

In the Open Space next to our house, we walk Kit daily. Recently a bunch of neighborhood kids brought an old, and quite large Polar Bear stuffed animal to space. Here's a picture of Kitt attacking it. He's such a great guard dog!

Sunset in November

Lillian & Mimi's visit to Colorado

Both Lillian, Larry's mom, and Mimi, Larry's sister, had the chance to visit our new home in October. They arrive the day after I returned from visiting my Matthew.

We had a great time catching up with them both and reminiscing the family's past. Needless to say, since Larry's heritage is French, we did a lot of drinking of great red wines, aperitifs, and after dinner drinks too. We had enjoyable meals too.

One night we had Tom and Katie over for dinner - which was the perfect fall meal I must admit. Pork tenderloin in mustard/pepper rub with homemade sweet potato fries, and acorn squash stuffed with applesauce. Yummy! And Katie brought her mom's apple pudding dessert. A perfect evening!

We went into Boulder one day. Mimi traded one of her kimonos (a wedding kimono) for two kimonos that went better with her home decor and one for her to wear. Thank you to Janene for doing the trade with her.

We also strolled along the Pearl Street Pedestrian Mall in Boulder. And we happened to come across President Elect Obama. Nice photo opp....

And Kit always found an opportunity to be on Lillian's lap. When Larry was growing up, they had a dog similar to Kit, but back then they were called German Spitz's. So Lillian was familiar with the breed and absolutely fell in love with Kit.

Two Little Pumpkins

I just received this photo from my brother. Matthew is too cute!

Fall Colors in Portland, OR

Checkout the fall colors in Portland OR -
http://picasaweb.google.com/craig.henry/FallColors#slideshow/5262445229318567762

My visit with Matthew

The day after I arrived, we went shopping at IKEA. Craig wanted to pick up a few things and I had my heart on getting a few more jars for my homemade hot cocoa mix.

This picture was taken after we entered into IKEA. Matthew was asleep in the Mobi on Craig's chest. His poor neck is twisted in this picture.

Matthew you getting his evening feeding and wide awake.

Below... Matthew hanging out with dad in the office, having the hick-ups.

The Ride - new music in Colorado

Larry and I attended small group training at Grace Church over last weekend, and were introduced to a new local band, The Ride. They have a creative funk sound and their guitar work is incredible.

Friday night they performed acoustically with only microphones for vocals.

Drive to Grand Junction, CO - and fall colors

Click the title (a link) to our web album through Picassa to see our photos.

The aspens were at their best on the drive through the mountain passes and I couldn't resist being the shutterbug that I am.
I also took pictures along I-70 going through Glenwood Springs Canyon, and Greys and Torey's (both fourteeners).
~Rebecca

Royal Arch Hike - Labor Day

While we were waiting for our friends to arrive, Larry and I walked around Chataqua Park and stumbled across this adorable black lab puppy tied to a tree waiting for his owners. Rebecca enjoyed playing with him and receiving his kisses. When we arrived, he had a blade of grass in his mouth. Check out his paws, he'll be a big dog someday.

On Labor Day we hiked with friends, Tim and Seema, to Royal Arch in Chataqua Park, Boulder. It's a smaller hike, 3+ miles rounds trip, but the elevation gain is intense. You begin at the base of the Flatirons in Chataqua Park, and continue on the Blue Belle trail until you connect with the Royal Arch trailhead. That's where the serious elevation gain begins, almost a stairmaster climb for 40 minutes. Straight up!

Aunt Becca & Uncle Larry to baby Matthew Clark Henry

Well, we got the call at noon today that we're aunt and uncle now... Craig and Kristin have a healthy baby boy - Matthew Clark Henry. He weighed in at 7 pounds 5 ounces. Kristin had a somewhat short natural labor, and was up walking around by the afternoon and eager to return home.

Aunt Becca will be able to visit her nephew in October and can't wait to meet him!

Celebrating September Birthdays - girls day!

My dear friend Sherrie and I decided to spend the day together to celebrate our birthdays this year. We began the day with coffee to go as we drove up Left hand canyon to Ward, CO and then picked up the Peak to Peak Highway t get to Brainard Lake State Park. We decided to go somewhat near to town instead of Summit County; where we knew the crowds would be for the holiday weekend.

We chose the hike that starts at Mitchell Lake parking lot. We passed Mitchell Lake on the first mile of trail, and then ascended to Blue Lake at 11,600 ft. It was a perfect Colorado day - sunny, close to 90 degrees, and not a cloud in the sky. It was quite cool at our destination due to the elevation and wind, but what a place to have lunch.

We mt several dogs on the trail, but our favorites were two Golden Retriever brothers, a Whippet puppy, and a Veishla. All were friendly and eager to sniff you. There was one family as we neared the end of the trail that had a complaining teenager wit the. They jokingly asked us if we would take their daughter. I had to laugh, cause I used to complain as a child. I told her the view was spectacular and to enjoy the time with her family. Just suck it up and have fun!

We both came home and rested before continuing girls day with dinner. We tried a wonderful restaurant in the posh, and popular Highland District of Denver. We ate outside on the small patio at Bang. Which was odd, cause the kitchen was exposed in the front of the building so passer bys could watch what was cooking, and the restaurant was in the back of the old house, including patio. Sherrie and I split a spinach salad with bacon, hard boiled egg, and buttermilk dressing. And also had a homemade fried mozzerella served on arugala and served with hot pepper jelly for an appetizer. Both were Yummy!
I decide to have the Grilled salmon for my entree, and it was out of this world delicious! So, the entree arrives with a wasabe cream suce on the bottom of the plate, with jasmine rice topped with the grilled salmon and cucumber salad as the garnish atop the salmon. Perfect with a Frech glass of Sauvignon Blanc!
Sherrie decide to have the penne pasta dish, and clearly noticed that she chose incorrectly- longing for the salmon dish.

We ended our day by touring the neighborhood nd capping the evening with a glass of wine at a wine bar called TASTES. It was small and uncrowded when we arrived. I decided to have a late harvet white wine and Sherrie had champagne. Again, she wished she had ordered the Late Harest. Though we did find out that they serve Naspresso - which Sherrie fell in loe with on her trip to Switzerland to visit her sister this past spring.

It was a perfect evening too! Not too cold nor too warm. We even stopped at the local ballroom dance studio to checkout the open dance. One of these days, I hope Larry and I can get back into dancing. We decided to have a hiatus this summer due to his teching schedule.

So You Think You Can Dance - Top 4

Click on the title to view the Top 4 dancers - dancing to a string quartet of Hallelujah

So You Think You Can Dance - Jashua and Twitch

Click on the title to see the video of Joshua and Twitch dancing the Russian's Dance of the Nutcracker. I love this series and hope that Katie and/or Joshua wins.
~Rebecca

21 day of over 90 degree temperatures - no air either

Well, we're experiencing our 21st day of 90+ degrees. Actually, the past three days have been closer to 100. Needless to say, Larry and I are highly contemplating purchasing an air conditioner for next summer. we thought we would see how this summer is coming along, before making the investment. These subsequent days of this heat has sold us on the idea. We're hoping we can get a discount by purchasing it off season. We'll see...

Fall is being wished for by many, and I look forward to cooler breezes and the crispness of fall.

Four Wheeling near Camp

Campsite - May Queen - Turquoise Lake, CO

Timberline Lake, CO - Trail

Timberine Lake, CO - Leadville Camping

We took last Friday July 25 off from work and traveled in one car with friends Tim and Seema to our campsite just south west of Leadville, CO. (elevation 10K+) We stayed at MayQueen Campsite with a scenic rating of 9 out of 10 and we were at campsite #19 out of 25. Great spot for two tents. After we established camp we decided to take a hike to Timberline Lake, roughly 4 miles round trip with another 800 ft of elevation gain. The guys were thrilled to finally fish, unfortunately they needed to throw back anything they caught.

Thunder threatened us along the trail but it didn't stop us. Rain finally decided to dampen our hike at 5:30pm but we kept hiking to the Lake so the guys could fish. Seema and Rebecca hiked around the lake in the rain while the guys caught fish. Tim caught three and tossed them all back. Larry got a few nibbles. Needless to say our hike back to camp was wet.

We encountered three stream beds during our hike and one was too large for Rebecca to cross with her summer hiking boots. So she took hers off and crossed the stream barefoot. It was refreshing considering Denver has had 18 days of 90+ degree days on the front rage.

Best Secret in Colorado - Piney River Ranch

Larry and I were invited to one of his previous co-workers surprise 60th birthday party. It was held at Piney River Ranch located 17 miles east of Vail on a forest, dirt road. Needless to say it was a bumpy road in, but the view was spectacularly worth it.

Will was surprised and we had a fabulous BBQ dinner and a great time to catch up with everyone Larry used to work with. Piney River Ranch has camp site, rental cabins and yurts to spend the night. You can go horse back riding, rent canoes, or hike up to the mountain pass.

This has to be the best kept secret in Colorado. I long to return to spend the night and take part in all the fun activities!