Christmas Ice Skating!

Just after Christmas I went to California to visit my family. It was just Hadley and I, and the first night I was there my brother invited us to go ice skating. I haven't been ice skating since Chris and I were dating, and that was with my brother, too. I was tired and wasn't so sure about leaving Hadley my first night, but we went and I was SO glad we did. It was so much FUN! Below: My brother, Jeff, and I on the rink. Below: my sister, Erin and I with our brother.

Erin and I before Jeffrey threw shaved ice all over us.

Jeffrey and his girlfriend, who we met for the first time this trip.This last picture is of my sister and her husband and their oldest, Keiya. It was Keiya's first time, and I think it was Harold's too.

Petroglyph Monument

We discovered that the Petroglyhph Monument is actually quite close to where we live. One weekend we decided to do the little hike that allows you to see all sorts of neat petroglyphs. They are mostly from the Pueblo, Apache and Navajo Native Americans, but a few come from early Spanish settlers as well. Most are of animals, but there are some cultural symbols and people as well. Most of the petroglyphs are between 300-700 years old, but the more recent ones, made by Spanish settlers/explorers are 200-300 years old. With the wind and dust of New Mexico how have the petroglyphs remained so well visible and not eroded away? The stones are basalt, which are volcanic, and super strong and durable. I had a geology teacher in college who said he wanted his headstone when he dies made from basalt because it wouldn't erode and wear.

This area had a lot. Can you see a few of them?

Hadley and I with the view of the neighborhoods behind the petroglyph park.

This rock had a ton of them! It was really fun and interesting. This is now a place we will take visitors who come to see us.

Christmas Post

The holidays are gone, but I have yet to post about them. Our Christmas was a bit different this year. Plans were to go to Denver and spend it with Chris' side of the family. But circumstances with his grandparents made it so that his folks were called away to Phoenix for a while. So we got to see them as they drove through on their way, but we decided to stay put for Christmas. Chris' brother, Nick came here to spend it with us. Hadley can't stop asking for Nick, and he was just here for 3 days. She really liked him. Can you believe it, but he hadn't met Hadley yet!?

I was sick right before Christmas, so I didn't get to enjoy all the yummy holiday foods. I had plans to bake all sorts of goodies when Nick was here, but I guess on the upside I didn't get the chance to put on holiday pounds.

Chris and Nick got to see a couple of movies together, and Chris and I even got a date night when Nick volunteered to watch Hadley for an evening. We had a little Christmas tree with some presents, and it was nice and intimate. It was the most low-key Christmas ever, but nice and comfortable in a way too. I will admit, though, that I still look forward to Christmas with lots of family around next year.

Chris and I decided to do an ornament exchange with one another this year. We agreed not to spend more than I think 10 dollars. I stuck to this. I got Chris a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Ornament, which he and his brother promptly identified and Michaelangelo. Chris did not stick to the agreed amount, but I am not complaining. He got me a lovely pewter heart and rose ornament with an engraving of the year, my name and under my name is read, "The Love of My Life." So thoughtful! Hadley loves her doggy pillow pet, and she liked her "Le Corelle" doll with pink hair for a bit but hasn't seemed to care again. She still mostly wants to play with this little fat, mostly nude, and somewhat ugly doll someone gave me for her when she was born.

Nick left, I ditched Chris and took Hadley to go see family in California, and Chris went back to work. And that was our little family Christmas!

Bathroom Remodel

While I was away visiting family in California just after Christmas Chris took on a project. He never told me about it, so when I got home it was such a plesant surprise! He remodeled our bathroom. It now has a lovely spa-like feel. I think he has such great taste, and it looks really classy! Our bathroom was definitely not a selling feature when we bought the house. It has a double vanity, which is nice, but it is small. It has a combined bath/shower, and we were hoping for a nice soaker tub. The size hasn't changed, but it feels so much nicer now! I also love that I have a place to hang my bathrobe now.

The BEFORE picture. Fine, but nothing special, right?

The AFTER pictures...

The other bathroom upstairs will have to wait awhile to be completed, as we still have our bedroom to do and a kitchen table to purchase. But it's slowly looking more like a home!