Picture Post

Something a little lighter is in order. Something non-flood-related, I think.

How about a picture post?

Here’s Ryley practicing her Christmas recital piece a few days before Thanksgiving (read: pre-flood). We never did end up having a recital, so I’m posting it here:

Ever the performer, Ryley played Hermia in her class’s production of Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

She was also narrator in the church Christmas production a few days later:

We spent a few wonderful days in Nebraska for Christmas, at my grandma’s house:

Then, Saturday, December 28, was Ryan’s and my 15th anniversary!! Someone had given us a Marriott gift card a couple of years ago, and we’ve never had the opportunity to use it! What better time than on our anniversary??

We booked a room down on Denver’s 16th Street Mall, and we had a lovely time. The gift card had enough money for dinner via room service and a delicious breakfast at the hotel downstairs the next morning. It even snowed for us!! Very romantic.

In January, we delved into Broncos mania. The city was alive with excitement and team spirit. Everyone wore their jerseys and team shirts as much as possible, and after every win, our fellow Denverites greeted each other in the streets, all united in Broncos Frenzy. After we won the AFC championship, vendors selling team paraphernalia set up their tents in parking lots all over town. People flew Broncos flags from the cars. It was super insane and super fun. We heard that they dyed the downtown skating rink orange, but we never made it down there to see it for ourselves.

Our own AFC Championship celebration:

Orange French bread?

The day before the SuperBowl, our grocery store was all decked out:

Even the doughnuts:

On Super Bowl Sunday, we taught Sunday School, and all our kids were decked out in their Broncos gear!

Ryan spent the afternoon making special foods:

These wings he made were divine!!!

And stuffed mushrooms! Yay!

It was a good thing we had such good food to eat while we watched our team get pounded by a much better team. It’s just a game, and it was certainly fun while it lasted!!

Later in the week, the Olympics started, and Ryley got such a kick out of Olympic figure skating! She made me pause it so she could recreate the routine herself.

And I know this isn’t the most flattering of pictures, but I love it all the same….Ryley and I fell asleep on our super comfy new couch on Valentine’s Day.

Actually, this is pretty much where I want to stay all the time these days. This sofa is my happy place.

And now I’m off. It is a cold, foggy, drizzly, kinda-snowy Saturday. Ryan took his little girl out for some Ry Time, and I am left to my own devices, which is actually pretty exciting.

xoxo