it's the little things ...

finding this picture ... not a pro but definitely a fav.

... family.

... thinking about green grass and BBQs. if our tiny grill has survived the winter.

... a full tank of gas.

... finding old pictures.

... planning our weekend anniversary trip.

... FRIENDS.

... our new quilt.

... my sick kitty getting better.

... wearing sneakers to work.

... late-start wednesdays.

... finding colored paper in the copy room.

... free coffee at lunch time.

... amy's burritos.

... chicken noodle soup. my everyday weeknight dinner.

... and my dogs. as always.

so.over.winter.

seriously, i'm so done with winter.

normally i start feeling like this in march, but this year as soon as the holidays were over i was ready for some spring.

although, if colorado decides to provide me with a huge snowstorm. (one that actually closes schools) i might be able to change my mind for a bit. ;)

ever since winter started i've been trying to convince charlie that he needs to go snowshoeing with me. i've never been and always wanted to go. and since we're REI members we get pretty sweet rental rates.

when my parents were here over the holidays they went cross country skiing at Devils Thumb Ranch. they pretty much couldn't stop talking about it and the "ranch" has both skiing and snowshoeing trails. it's also a pretty easy day trip for us, although i was thinking it might be pretty nice to head there for the weekend.

they have the cutest dog-friendly cabins. that i've been thinking would be perfect to share with some friends for a weekend.

i also wanted to try skijoring with henry. i realize this might be a death sentance. henry LOVES to pull, which is pretty useful when we're backpacking, but i haven't been crosscountry skiing in 20 years. i'm betting my skills aren't that good. and if he happens to see a rabbit, or a bird, or a deer, or a coyote .... well, it could get ugly. but it could also be pretty fun.

i've got spring break coming up at the end of march ... hopefully i can convince charlie to give up a day of downhill skiing. if not, i might have to check this out on my own.

"and after a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul.

you learn that love doesn't mean leaning,

and company doesn't mean security.

and you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts

and presents aren't promises.

and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up

and your eyes open.

with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child.

and you learn to build all your roads on today

because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans.

after a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.

so plant your own garden, and decorate your own soul,

instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

and you learn that you really can endure... that you really are strong... and you really do have worth."

~veronica shoffstall

(photo)

i am not capable of more than copying and pasting quotes at the moment.

ps. did you hear what happened at deer creek middle school?! awful. what is with the schools out here?!

"we can't always be happy.

we can't all be rich.

we can't always be lucky.

and it would be so much less fun if we were.

there must be the dark background

to show up our bright colors"

happy friday!!

i'm celebrating the end of a trimester with charlie at a japanese steakhouse. yum!

it's the little things ...

... a good book + a cup of tea + henry.

... notes from strangers.

... the husband picking up the house before leaving on a work trip.

... pop tarts.

... leaders of the student variety.

... ending a day listening to a band play instead of teaching science.

... holiday weekends.

... cupcakes baked by my students.

... rediscovering old mix cds.

... texty texts.

... flowers around the apartment.

... discovering diy "art".

... houseguests replenishing the beer in our fridge. thanks!

... dreaming of summertime.

... melting snow.

... planning a weekend hut trip {hopefully}.

... sweet dreams.

dear nice stranger,

thank you. times a million.

i feel like i've been bitching about life a lot lately.

i've kept most of it off this blog, but i feel bad for the people i come home to every day.

i came to work on tuesday and found the sweetest thing.

the substitute who had been there before me had bought me a book.

i've never met her. and am really sorry i missed her when she dropped by on friday.

she wrote me a note, thanking me for taking the job, and left her contact info in case i needed any help.

but seriously, she took the time to buy me (someone she's never met) something she thought would help me. she even left the receipt in it, in case it wasn't something i could use.

it was such a sweet gesture and a great reminder for me that people can be nice, they can think about people other than themselves, and take time from their own busy lives to help out others.

4 day weekend ...

so technically it was only supposed to be a 3 day weekend but i took friday off.

i was (am) sick & we had friends coming to stay the weekend with us. can you blame me?

the plan was to ski like crazy this weekend. although, i knew that i wouldn't be skiing nearly as much as my husband and his buddy.

on saturday we drove up to the mountain & had a pretty good day skiing. although, one of our friends had some problems with the altitude and had to hang out in the lodge for a bit.

when we went to leave (it had been snowing all day) we found out that the road was closed because of an accident. we were told that it wouldn't reopen for a few hours. so we called some friends and asked them to take care of the dogs and then spend the next few hours in a bar. on a couch. it wasn't too bad. :)

comfy couch.

the beads were because the mountain was celebrating mardi gras that night.

mmm ... beer.

after getting home at 10 on saturday there was no way that i was getting up at 5 to ski again. us girls spent the day hanging out and drinking coffee while the boys skied (again).

when they got back we went out to pasta jay's in boulder. and waited 2 hours for a table. but my buffalo ravioli was definitely worth it!

it snowed in denver, too!

these flowers weren't for me, but they were too pretty not to take a picture of.

charlie got me some lilies (my favorite).

i spent monday doing homework (or trying to) while everyone else skied (again). since i still don't feel that well i wasn't too sad that i missed out on skiing. i was much happier to sleep until 8.