James and Grace Come to Visit

This weekend Annie's brother Christopher and his family came to visit us in Steamboat. It was so fun for them to come. Hill was able to teach his 7th and 8th Austin family member to ski. Grace liked it...but James loved it. I think he would still be out on the slopes if we would have let him.

We had a great time playing in the snow! We can't wait for Chris, Julie, James and Grace to come back again!


Cuddling up together to watch A Christmas Story. I think it is only fitting that the first time Emery met Ralphie and heard about the official red ryder bb gun he was with his uncle Chris.


James reading to Emery before bedtime.


Emery and Gracie brushing their teeth.


Everyone went sledding on the hill behind our house Sunday morning. It was a treat!


James and the Giant Icicle.

It's begining to look alot like Christmas...

As most of you know, I'm a bit of a nut for holiday decor. At last count, I have 119 snowmen in my collection. Hill was a bit surprised when he married me that I came all this merriment. But, when you are the goddaughter of an owner of a gift shop who sells Department 56 Snow Villages and the niece of an Aunt who got you a very special Christmas ornament each year...you have lots of good stuff!


But, I am happy to say that my excitement for decorating the inside of the house has finally been met with my husbands excitement for decorating the outside of the house.

And Emery got in the spirit this year, too. He put FIVE ornaments on this one branch. He was very, very proud of himself!

Oh Tannenbaum, Oh Tannenbaum

For the last two years we have hiked into the forest to cut our own Christmas tree. It is beautiful to be out in the trees and nature...but there are no packed paths to the perfect tree. And after post-holing in hip deep snow for an hour, we looked at each other and asked why we just didn't pay the $75 for the one in the grocery store parking lot. Fa, la, la, la, la.


All ready to head in!


Emery thought that eating the snow was the best part.


Here comes Hill with the tree over his shoulder. Such a good guy.


And we've got it! Not really sure what we were thinking taking the VW and not the Land Rover to get the tree. Oh well...more Clark Griswold this way.

Parade of Lights

To celebrate Annie's mom's birthday, much of her family was able to gather in Denver for a yummy Italian meal at at Pagliacci's and then head downtown for the Parade of Lights. It was so fun to be together. And even though the birthday girl was in a foot cast, she was able to keep up with her of grandchildren.


The grandkids perched on top of the newspaper boxes to get a better view.


James was in awe of the Rudolph and his big red nose!


Emery, Hill, Mom and Dad watching Dennis the Menace round the corner towards the Daniels and Fisher tower. When we asked Emery later what his favorite part of the parade was, he said the great big Uncle Dennis balloon.

Happy Thanksgiving

There is so much to be thankful for this year. In such uncertain times, the love of family means so much.
We were fortunate to be able to celebrate the holiday with Hill's family in Denver. His mother and Hugh have just moved into their beautiful new home and opened it to each of us. Lauren is home safe and sound from a semester in South Africa. Bryson and Kathryn came from Portland with their new baby girl. And Amy was had an amazing year with the first graduating class from her first high school in May and the opening of her second high school in August.


We are so blessed.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.- Melody Beattie


(Thanks, Jenelle, for the quote...it is beautiful.)

Show and Tell

After our trip to Portland, Annie and Emery headed to Holyoke to help Trudy with her kids while Dennis is in India for work. Emery simply adores Austin, Josie and Lauren...so it will be a fun week.

Josie had show and tell today and wanted to bring in Emery. He was a big hit and gave everyone in the classroom a high five.

Addilyn and Portland

We were so lucky to be able to travel to Portland this week to meet Addilyn and spend some time with Hill's brother Bryson and his wife Kathryn. They have a beautiful home in a beautiful location. We will treasure the time spent with them. It was so special to see the three of them as a new family. Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of this very intimate time.

Addilyn with her Uncle Hill and cousin Emery.


Hill putting Addilyn in the magic sideways hold to calm her. And Bryson putting Emery in the magical upsidedown hold to un-calm him.


The Slothower ladies.


Emery listening to a secret from Addi. What do you think she is telling him?


Emery, Hill and Kathryn at the water crank in the Portland Children's Museum


Emery brushing the alligator's teeth at the museum. (This one is for you, Russ and Julie.)


Emery and the St. John's Bridge.