Thankful Day 15 - Mountains

One thing that Chris and I have realized is that we are not lake people. We don't really look forward to a Saturday where we can spend the whole day playing on the lake. 

We have realized that we are mountain people. We love the mountains. We spend lots of our weekends hiking in the mountains. We dream often of having a mountain home in Estes Park or somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. 

Now that we have plans to move to Monument, we will have mountains so close with new hikes and vistas to explore. It will almost seem as though we ARE living in the mountains.

I am grateful for mountains.

Thankful Day 14 - Hearing

I am grateful for the blessing of being able to hear. I know I don't hear as well as I once did, but life would be pretty empty without the sounds of my family, the sounds of nature, music, and even the sound of quiet at home.

Thankful Day 13 - My Garden

I love my garden. I love having a fenced and gated area that keeps the bunnies and deer out. It is my own little space in the yard that does magical things.

I think I inherited my green thumb from my dad, and seeing plants grow and create edible food is just amazing to me. 

Thankful Day 12 - Technology

I remember life without technology and 3 to 5 channels on the tv. 

I remember when computers began to be introduced when I was attending college and getting our first computer with Chris once we were married. I remember my first flip phone and feeling so cool to have one.

I remember loading film into a camera and picking up film from the store once it was developed. I remember the first digital camera and how cool that was.

Technology, while it may have it downfalls, has improved my life immensely.

Institute and Elder Christofferson

Kristen attended a fireside at the U of U institute on Sunday with Elder Christofferson.

This is the picture she sent us of her view of the tv with a view of the podium.

Thankful Day 11 - Quotes

I have always collected quotes. I have a book of quotes that I have kept for probably 30 years and which I refer to every so often.

I also have collected quotes for travel that I use in posts on simplyjolayne.com

• 300+ Instagram Content and Travel Caption Ideas for Bloggers
• 103 Romantic Instagram Quotes for Couples Who Love to Travel
• 100 Inspiring Instagram Travel Captions
• 101 Best Travel Quotes for Instagram to Inspire Wanderlust
• Best New Year Captions for Instagram to Inspire Travel

 I am thankful for quotes that concisely say exactly what I am thinking.

Thankful Day 10 - Air Travel

I know I am spoiled, but I would rather travel by air over taking a road trip any day. 

I am grateful for airplanes that take me to marvelous places and that also bring my husband home from his many business trips. 

Amy as a Bridesmaid

Amy's old roommate, Kayleigh, got married over the weekend. 

Over the past couple of weeks, Amy has attended the bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner and finally the wedding day and reception. The group has had fun celebrating together.

Kristen has been friends with Amy's roommates as well and drove down for the wedding with her friend TJ.

Thankful Day 9 - Massage

I love a good massage. I love our massage therapist. I am thankful for people who have a healing touch. I will miss having her magic hands close by when we move.

I love when Chris arranges for massages when we are traveling. After schlepping my backpack and camera around for hours on end, my back and neck are usually aching.

Thankful Day 8 - Exercise

I am grateful for a body that allows me to do strength training and cardio. While it may not always be my favorite thing to do and sometimes I lack motivation, I am always glad when a workout is done. 

I am grateful for a home gym AND that it is a priority for Chris as well.

Thankful Day 7 - A Good View

While I may not have the river and lake view to enjoy past next spring, I am enjoying it as much as I can right now.

I am excited for the different mountain view that we will have of the Rocky Mountains. We hope to have a clear view of Pikes Peak and the Rampart Range.

This is the house of our new next door neighbors.

Our house, they tell us, should sit high enough that we can see over the top off their house.

We love the mountain view.

Thankful Day 6 - Soft Sheets

I am a sucker for soft sheets. I am willing to spend a little extra money on quality sheets that are not only soft but also keep my cool in the summer months and warm in the winter.

Thankful Day 5 - Spring

Right up there with fall is my love of spring. I love that the days are longer, the flowers are beginning to peak through and the trees are blossoming. After a long winter, it is always wonderful to put away the winter jackets, snow shovels, and boots and begin working in my garden!

 Tulips are always awesome in the spring!

I Love Roses

I bought myself some roses while Chris was gone because they were only $7 for a dozen at the grocery store and I like flowers.

Gotta love it when my husband brings home another dozen after he has been gone for a trip. Can one really have too many roses?

Thankful Day 4 - Autumn

Right along with the amazing autumn pictures from yesterday's post, I love the amazing colors of fall. While much of Colorado is yellow in the fall from the aspens and cottonwoods, I made sure to plant maples, burning bushes, and ornamental pear trees in my front yard to add a boost of color out my office window.

My neighbor, Mike, planted sumac which I will have to add to my list of plants to plant more of.

I just wish the color lasted longer!

Air Force Game

Misha and Chris attended the Air Force vs Army game in Denver held at Mile High Stadium.

As per usual tradition with an Air Force game, there was a flyover before the game started. However, because they were in downtown Denver, the afterburners or whatever it is that makes the heart shaking sound were silenced.  Plus, there was another flyover at half time.

It was a perfect day at 65° (compared to snow and freezing one week ago).

Air Force was slated to win, but played so poorly they ended up losing.

Thankful Day 3 - Adventures

While Chris and I probably haven't traveled internationally quite as much this year as in previous years, we have enjoyed exploring more of Colorado this year. We loved visiting Salida and Buena Vista and having adventures there. We visited hot springs, hiked, rafted the Numbers section of the Arkansas River, and returned for some amazing fall color. 

Thankful Day 2 - My Girls

I have loved being a girl mom. I love that my girls are good to each other, show lots of enthusiasm, and are doing great things. 

Having all of my girls off to college has certainly made for a quiet home; I love that we can chat, Facetime, and still have lots of fun together.

Thankful Day 1 - Chris

One of the amazing things about Chris is that being a cheerleader is his superpower. He has always been a great cheerleader for all of the girls in his life.

First Snow

I remember back a couple of years ago when our first snow of the season didn't happen until December 31st. I liked that year!

We had our first snow of the season on October 27 and 28th. Noooooo, I'm not ready!

Design and Concept Meeting

Chris and I had our first Design and Concept Meeting with Alliance Homes. We met with Linsey and Kelly to go over ideas, wish lists, and the look at the lot again.

We started first at one of the Alliance completed homes that is a model similar to what we might choose. The homeowners were not home but graciously allowed us to tour through their home, peek in closets and cupboards, and take pictures.

Alliance is a great builder and anytime we mention them, others who have worked with them previously give glowing reviews.

Since I have had the time, I came armed with ideas and pictures of features that we like from our Pelican Shores home, ideas from the website Houzz.com, and ideas from other home builders we have toured in the past.

Who knew that the model homes Chris, Kristen and I toured in Arizona would end up on our favorite list?

PS This is just an idea. Chris and I love the look but will consider two tones on the cabinets.

I also reworked some spaces on the Alliance Pinehaven plan and Linsey loved my ideas. They are using that plan to work from and create a price list.

Now that we have given them ideas, we wait and plan to meet back on November 27 for a meeting to discuss price.

Lemon Tree Fall 2023

You might think I post a lot about my lemon tree on here, but I love seeing it grow. I love that I haven't killed it!

I brought it back into the house earlier this month when the nights started to get too cold for it.

It has two lemons on it right now that probably won't be ready until the first of next year, BUT there are a bunch of new leaves and blossoms coming. It makes me excited!

Grandma and Grandpa Rice

My parents have been visiting in Utah for the past week or so after a fun trip to the coast with my brothers.

Susan hosted a dinner on Sunday afternoon and Amy and Kristen drove to Orem to spend time with family, mostly to get to see Grandma and Grandpa Rice.

Kristen brought her "boyfriend" and apparently he was given a thumbs up! Kristen and TJ had a bit of challenge getting to Orem. I'll post pics once Kristen sends them to me.

Flat Top Mountain Hike in RMNP

Chris and I were a little late getting into the park on Saturday morning. We got behind a huge truck that had us going 10 mph at times on highway 36 between Lyons and Estes Park. The truck probably had a line of 30 cars following it. After at least ten miles of this, the truck finally pulled over.

Fortunately we were still able to get into the Bear Lake section of Rocky Mountain even though were a half hour late on our timed entry reservation.

We parked at the Park n Ride, got on the bus and rode up to the Bear Lake Trailhead.

We hadn't planned to hike to Flat Top, but Chris wanted to see the views. So, off we went. It was pretty much a constant incline. 

We stopped for lunch at the Dream Lake Overlook and then continued on past the Emerald Lake Overlook, above tree line.

The clouds were pretty awesome.

We were starting to get into snow that was kind of slick.

We decided to turn around.

Saw this huge herd of elk as we were leaving Estes Park.

Amy's Pic from Misha

Amy asked Misha if she could draw her a picture of a fighter plane.

Amy was able to have the pic enlarged and printed on a canvas. Looks pretty cool.