Ice skating

Ice skating with the Forsbergs in Louisville was a blast. Mason started very tentative, holding on to the sides and to us, but ended the day going around on his own multiple times around the rink. He got into much more than roller skating.

Audrey didn't go far without us, but also had fun. We can't wait to go again. Next time we will checkout the rink in downtown Denver which costs only $2 for rentals and has classes on Saturday mornings.

The kids and Bill also went on a carriage ride.

Movie and Zoo Lights

We met the Prices to see Rise of the Guardians (great movie), had dinner at CPK and went to see the Zoo lights. A great time!

Merry Christmas

Days off

We are off until January 2nd. I started a day early, taking Friday Dec 21st, 2012 (end of the world) off as well. But Friday was busier than most of my work days. Starting with a dentist appointment after dropping off the kids, followed by volunteering at Mason's gingerbread building at his school, picking up and setting up Christmas lunch for the basement crew back at home, Audrey's Christmas party at her school, after which it was time to pick up Mason from school. I was so tired, I was almost hoping for the end of the world.

Field trip

Mason's school had a winter festivities field trip Monday. He was thrilled to ride the school bus, see Santa, get his face painted and more. Santa, his second visit this season, told him he could have the Hot wheels track and cars in addition to the LEGO castle set. Really Santa? Didn't he think that tracking down the sold out and discontinued LEGO castle set was enough? I guess his elves are really magic. I digress...
School wanted all the kids dressed up for the event and suggested "Sunday's best". I can tell you that the middle schoolers interpreted Sunday's best very differently. As I dropped off Mason Monday morning, I saw a wide range of proper dresses and shirt/ties and on the other side of the spectrum, mini skirts and Friday night's best.

Roller skating

Mason went to his friend Blake's birthday party this weekend at Skate City.

Plan A was Bill would take Mason to Blake's party on Saturday and I would take Audrey to her friend Addy's party on Sunday (during the Broncos game). But Bill was very tired on Saturday and ended up napping with Audrey.

Plan B became I would take Mason to the party, but would not get on skates. I rented Mason a "helper" for him to skate with. Perfect plan until he kept falling even with his helper and was looking frustrated.

I had to go to Plan C which involved me getting on skates, which I haven't done in many years (my rollerblades are still in good condition in the basement). I was able to go around and help, but did fall on my behind once, and that still hurts!

Although Mason never really felt comfortable on skates, he had a great time. He even said to Bill he wanted to go back. I will for sure make Bill take him.

High white

Mason earned his new belt in Tae Kwon Do - high white. Yay! He tested a couple of weeks ago and had his oral test today. Da Vinci Center teaches Tae Kwon Do more traditionally and really makes the kids work hard to move up. Mason has been going weekly for more than a year. He had moved up a class a few months ago, but this was his first test.

Tuesday at Old Chicago

Tuesday nights at Old Chicago are perfect for kids. They let the kids assemble their own pizzas and they have a balloon lady that comes to every table.

Basement week 3

The basement is coming along. Every weekday and some Saturdays we hear the work being done in the basement. Once the noise stops, we go down to take a peak. Here are some updated pictures with the rooms pretty much defined, insulated, and metal frame up.

Visit from Shef

We haven't seen Shef (Bill's brother who lives in New Zealand) for over 3 years. He stopped by Denver on his way to the East Coast and we got to visit a few hours on Saturday. He brought the kids a bag of candy (a.k.a. Instant friendship).

We hope to one day visit him in New Zealand.

Santa Fly In

We went to the Rocky Mountain Airport near us for their annual Santa Fly In event. Unlike previous years, they had the event during the day instead of the evening. The weather was beautiful in the mid 60s, which is amazing for December. Santa flew in in a helicopter, told stories, sang songs and saw every child. They had games, a sleigh/tractor ride, face painting and a giant obstacle inflatable. All free, which is even better.

Making Christmas cookies

Lots of fun. Lots of work between making the cookies, icing and decorating. May not be a yearly tradition, but I'm glad we did it.

Basement work starts

The basement has been cleared in the areas we plan to finish and all boxes are stored in the future unfinished storage portion. Here are the pictures of the cleared basement (before pictures).

Thanksgiving

Yaya and Mimi came to visit over Thanksgiving. We avoided cooking by having a lovely brunch at the Brown Palace (2nd oldest hotel in Colorado). The food was delicious and the service superb.

We cooked a half turkey breast Thanksgiving evening so we could have left overs. I made a yummy turkey pot pie a couple of days later.

The kids decorated the gingerbread house with Yaya and Mimi. The prebuilt gingerbread house is the way to go!

We also met up with Bill's sister Heather for some bowling and saw the Christmas lights at the Hudson Gardens. What a great long weekend.

Finishing the basement

We have decided to finish the basement. The kids toys overtaking the main level and our living spaces have been driving me crazy. We have talked about it finishing the basement for a white now, and after going to a friend's house last month who had a finished basement, it pushed us to commit to it. It was so nice to have the kids playing downstairs while we visited with our friends in the main level.

I came back and researched 3 reputable BBB contractors to give us a bid. We found one with great ratings, never a complaint in 15 years and saw 2 of his basements around our area. Sold! He was also the most affordable by a couple of thousand.

We've signed a contract and he has submitted for a permit. We hope construction will start the week after thanksgiving and finished by end of January, although holidays may delay it a bit.

We are adding another guest bedroom, a media room (Bill is already researching projectors), a playroom for the kids, a small office for me and a bathroom. We will still have a good amount unfinished for storage.

The project this week is to clear out the basement. A lot is being donated, a lot thrown out and other stuff reorganized to make room for the construction. Stay tuned for before, during and after pictures.

The other side of the pond

I spent the last week in the UK on a work trip. It was almost exactly a year from my trip last year. It may sound like a fun trip, but it is honestly a lot of work and exhausting. Since I don't want to be gone for any longer than I have to, I left on Saturday afternoon, giving myself only half a day to adjust to the 7 hour difference and caught the first flight back Saturday morning. We visited all our clients, including a day trip 15-hour day trip to Edinburgh to see RBS and Sainsbury banks and a day in Cardiff for Lloyds. I've never sat so close to a propeller as in our flight to Edinburgh from London city airport. I looked up the plane afterwards to find the company is bankrupt and only 250 were ever made - great!

I did squeeze in some personal time. By coincidence, my friend Julia who lives in NYC was also in London. We got to meet for dinner on Sunday night. Julia and I have known each other since we were 11 and haven't seen each other for a year and half. It was great to catch up.

Also found out during the trip that my friend Christi and her husband Alan were in London for a 6-month gig through her employer Apple. Her offices being around the corner from my hotel. We got to meet up twice during my trip.

I also got to tour the Westminster Abbey one of the afternoons. Lots of dead people in there! Saw the marble bust of Robert Burns in he poet's corner.

I was also introduced to Hamleys toy store. I got he kids some cool new toys which required the bag to be repacked.

I love London! I wish Bill could come with me next time.

Tae Kwon Do

Mason had his Tae Kwon Do testing for a high white belt 2 weeks ago. He knew all his forms and did well, although we won't know if he "passed" since the instructor said we can't ask. They will give him his new belt when ready. Whatever that means...