Fun Times with Laura

Cookie Decorating 101

We had to make some cookies for Christmas.

We also went sledding in the desert near our house.

These look like gentle hills but they are not! There are rocks hiding under all that snow.

This was the nicest of all the hills with only a few rocks to avoid.

Here comes Bob.  The snow sure does sparkle here in the sunshine.

The view from the top of the sledding hill.

Thirsty?

Mad Bomber Travis

Wipe out!

We had a great time. Rocks ate up three of our plastic sleds. I jammed my ankle when trying to avoid a rock while sledding down a crazy fast hill. I think sledding in the Rocky Mountains can be considered an Extreme Sport. Did I mention the shooting ranges on the other side of the hill? Or the hidden holes, covered by snow? Good memories.

Hiking in the Winter

No Thoroughfare Canyon, Just off the Devil's Kitchen Trail

Last time Laura and Michelle were in town, we hiked on Mt. Garfield. That was a difficult hike that left Laura saying that she didn't need to do it again. We decided to go on an easier trail that for the most part is pretty flat. I had heard that one of the hikes we have done in the past is really pretty in the winter because all the waterfalls freeze. We decided to try it out. It wasn't too cold, maybe in the 40's. We started out in the sunny desert of the Colorado National Monument and started walking. Thankfully, the rivers we waded through last spring were frozen so crossing it numerous times wasn't a problem. There were a few snowball fights along the way.

 

  This was the first waterfall. It is very pretty and we skated around on the ice a bit. It is funny to me how the water freezes. I would think that because it is flowing that it wouldn't freeze but as you can see, I am wrong.

 Meleah and Bob stopped to remove snow from a shoe or just take a break at this perfect picture spot.

 This was the first view we saw of the second waterfall.

 Notice that the sunlight has disappeared. It started to feel like winter once we got closer to the second waterfall.

This is really an impressive waterfall. I have heard that there is a way up and over but it involves "scrambling" up a steep incline, then "thrashing" through some bushes. I didn't feel the need to make it to the third waterfall.




We sat down and had lunch on some freezing rocks. We started to get cold and after taking pictures and some videos we decided to head back to the sunshine.



Meleah took this group photo. This was back when we felt warm. It was a great way to spend a winter day with a dear friend.

Random Photos

Chipmunks and Snowballs

 We planned on going to Grand Mesa to see fall colors while Michelle and Laura were here but all we saw were bare trees and many hunters. The kids and Laura all made friends with the chipmunks and had them eating out of their hands and were even able to pet them. Meleah was sure that she would be able to catch a girl and take it home so it could have babies. She did catch one but it squeaked and scratched so that Laura convinced her it would be far better to let it sit in your hand and pet it.

 We did find some snow and were able to have a quick snowball fight. Michelle and Laura were thrilled, I guess I was too when I didn't always see it every year. I can wait as long as possible to see any more. We can put off winter as long as possible.

Uh-oh. This looks dangerous for the photographer.

Ahh! Nice and cold.