Snowshoeing with my Valentine

A few years ago, Armando and I tried out snow-shoeing and we really liked it. We've been wanting to go again and finally made it to celebrate Valentine's day this year.

 We've done this hike a few times--with friends, with the girls, and just the two of us and I have never made it to see the actual donut...most times I had the kids as an excuse why I couldn't climb the rocks to see inside, but the truth is I'm just a chicken. If it weren't such a popular hike and we lived somewhere (like Wyoming) where you can hike to these wonderful places and be THE ONLY people there, I would most likely climb up to see it knowing I could take my time. But it's always so crowded that I feel too much pressure to move quicker than a comfortable pace.

This time though, I was so excited that all of the rocks were covered in snow and I just climbed the snowy hillside and was able to crawl across and climb in to see this geological wonder. It was so awesome!

Sliver of the Moon at Sunrise

There was a time when almost everything I looked at inspired me to capture it through a photograph. And I would constantly reach for my camera to capture those moments. I'm wanting to be in that place again...to find joy in the little things. And thankfully, the other morning as I opened the girls' bedroom blinds to wake them, this was what I saw. And I had to grab the camera. 

“There's a sunset and a sunrise every day. You can choose to be there for it, you can choose to put yourself in the way of beauty.” Cheryl Strayed - Wild

Surviving the Winter

Thanks to Gram and a little mechanical work, Armando is surviving the winter storms with a little more ease this year. The poor thing practically freezes to death every time he has to shovel the snow so this snow-blower comes in very handy!

Seventeen [Below ZERO]

We got snowed-in in Wyoming over the Christmas Holiday and ended up leaving early one morning after the storms had cleared and left the high plains freezing. The skies were clear and the sunlight barely kissed the peaks of the Wind River Range. 

 Anyone from Fremont County will notice this small-town Wyoming Main Street. It's usually filled with cars that line the street in the evenings for dinner at Svilar's - "the world's best steakhouse". Classic.

 This is what the inside of the car windows will do when it's seventeen below zero.

 A sea of fog awaited us on top of South Pass.

 And unlike Moses, we weren't able to part the sea. . .

Koki's Oso Polar

Ceci likes to be called by her newest favorite nickname lately, Koki. (Thus the title). I like down days with my girls when we can enjoy creative projects together. This such project happened sometime over the Christmas Holiday and Ceci and I had some one-on-one time while Armando ran errands with Marcela. We followed my favorite artist school-teacher's website (artprojectsforkids.org) and I drew one and then Ceci mimicked what I drew. Then I helped her choose colors and outline the areas and she filled in the rest. She was so proud to show big sister what she had done when she got home. Marcela did one as well, but for some reason I didn't get a picture of her with the finished product. Sometimes I wonder if I would have found my joy in painting if I would have tried it sooner. I guess it's never too late to try, right Lilly? Lance?

Buried in the Snow

Marcela and Armando were itching to build a snow fort, but the snow was too dry so they opted to pretend they were on the beach and they buried Marcela in the snow.

Only her little face was sticking through.

I love that first grade look with her two front teeth starting to come in and the big smile in her eyes as she looks up at her Papi. And I'm thankful that my girls have a Papi that takes the time to play with them.

"Good Fences Make Good Neighbors"

That's what our realtor said when we bought the house and we had to repair the 5 fences that we share with surrounding neighbors. To date, we have repaired four of them . . . and when I say we have I mean Armando has. He's done a great job and the best part to-date is the new gate he added so that we can have a closed-off back yard for the girls to play in. He finished right in time for the snow to fall. For never having had any practice or training, I'd say he did an amazing job! His to-scale schematic looked just as awesome!

Snowman After Dark

A couple of days after Halloween, we got our first great storm of the year. I worked until after the sun went down, but that didn't stop the girls from wanting to head out and build a snowman with the fresh powder. They invited our neighbor friend over for some creative fun and hot chocolate [all before dinner] that night. There's nothing better than the first storm of the year and the excitement that comes with it!

It kept snowing for a couple of days and Cecilia was checking out the drifts that stuck to the front door of the house.



Sledding in February

For my brothers, who have been giving me a really hard time lately about how behind I am in everything . . . in blogging . . . in what's hot on the web . . . and the list goes on (actually it doesn't, but I'm feeling a little dramatic!) So three months ago on a Saturday we put on our sledding attire and headed up the canyon (Big Cottonwood if I remember correctly). Lance, Chepe, and the Torres Family came along. I bet you can't guess which one is Lance.

My first run down the hill with Cecilia . . . it was a little rough to say the least.

I think the dead sled can attest to that.

Marcela and Armando had a blast and we had to beg them off the hill before the sun went down and it got really cold.

When you get bored of sledding, there are other fun tricks you can do with a sled. Just ask Lance.

Cecilia hung out at the top a lot and played in the snow.

Lance - el guapo. Love his snowsuit. He has never been able to refrain from standing out. Love you Lance!

Hey Ceci, wanna make a snow angel?

Putting Up the Tree

Putting up the tree this year involved a few practical jokes between Armando and I. We were headed to Honduras for Christmas and New Years and so Armando suggested we not put up the tree because we weren't going to be here to enjoy it. The thought of not putting up a tree saddened me greatly. For me, Christmas is not just December 25th, the excitement and joy it brings me begins by putting up the tree around Thanksgiving and enjoying it's glow through the new year. I know that Armando just didn't want to spend all of the time putting it up and getting everything out. So one night when the girls should have been getting in bed, I went to the storage room and pulled out everything we needed. The girls and I put out all of the Christmas decor around the house and I placed the tree box in the living room. I thought if Armando could just help me put the base up, I could do the rest. So the next day on my way home from work, I called him and asked if he was able to put it up. He said, "Dais, It looks like we're not going to have a tree this year. I spent the entire day trying to fix a light problem because only one part of the tree lights up and we're just going to have to get a new tree next year." Ugh. My heart hurt. No tree? Oh well. I was trying to get myself to just accept the fact that we didn't have the money to buy a brand new tree right now nor could I justify such a thing when in fact we were going to be spending Christmas in Honduras. So, the girls and I drove slowly home on that dark, cold wintry night. And as we turned the corner to our driveway, there was an extra glow coming from the living room. Marcela shouted, "Papi put up the tree!!!" I immediately dialed Armando's office. Sounding as if I were in a panic, I gasped, "Armando, the house is full of smoke! Did you leave the tree plugged in when you tried to fix it?" He freaked. I laughed. We were both even. And the girls and I spent the evening decorating the tree and listening to Christmas music. 

The last picture reminds me of one I took when Marcela was just one. She loved to look at her reflection in the Christmas ornaments. Click here to see it. My how time flies.