This is the Life We Live

So it’s been a little while since I updated our blog (it’s going to take me some time to get used to doing this regularly). A lot has happened. The last thing I told you all about was our ski trip for Christmas, since then we went to Aspen for New Year’s to ski with Aaron’s parents and Lauren (his sister), I took the fourth section of the CPA exam, we got to spend a weekend in Breckenridge with Brian Tapp and Jennifer soon-to-be-Tapp (yep, they are finally engaged and I was there to witness it all), Aaron skied in Utah, I initiated some Chi Omega's, we took a trip to Steamboat, and we made a second trip to Aspen to ski with Aaron’s parents, Neil, his new girlfriend, and the Hendricksons. It’s been quite a full schedule! So here’s the play-by-play….

After our Christmas ski trip we worked for a few days and then took off again to head to Aspen for some skiing with Aaron’s parents, Lauren, and the Hendricksons. It was the first time Aaron’s family got to see him on his telemark skis and me on my snowboard. We enjoyed some great snow and some definite good company. I’m pretty sure we set a world record for the most people and luggage ever to fit in a Toyota Tacoma. On Thursday we skied Copper and then we picked Doug & Beth (Aaron’s parents) up at the airport in Eagle. We then drove to the Aspen airport where we picked up Lauren. Yes, we actually fit Lauren, Aaron, Doug, Beth, and me – including luggage – into the Tacoma. It was quite a crammed ride! We skied Aspen Snowmass on Friday and Aspen Highlands on Saturday. Then Aaron and I headed home on Sunday – our pups needed some quality time.

In January, work was crazy busy for me with end of the year financials and tax forms – fun stuff!! Not to mention that I was studying for the CPA exam every day after work. Aaron was a huge help. He totally took over managing the house and cooking – I definitely appreciated it. The second weekend in January was a dead weekend because I was studying – my test was on the 12^th. Aaron worked on our fireplace. We tore down some columns and he had to patch some drywall. I am super impressed with his work. Once again he amazes me!

Aaron flew out on Wednesday for Utah and worked Wed.-Fri. and then skied Snowbird on Saturday and Solitude on Sunday. Meanwhile, I skied Copper with Pam (a great girlfriend) on Saturday and then met up with Brian Tapp and Jennifer in Breckenridge. We skied Beaver Creek on Sunday and then all headed to Hearthstone for a great dinner AND for the BIG question!! Yep, Brian finally took the plunge and Jennifer said YES!!! It was such a great night and I’m so glad I got to be there. Aaron didn’t get in from Utah until late Sunday night, so he drove over and met us and we skied Monday with the newly engaged couple. It was great! Another great weekend on the snow with good friends!

The next weekend, we had some friends up on Saturday and I had initiation for the Chi Omega chapter here in Fort Collins. We skied Winter Park/Mary Jane on Sunday. It was packed. I don’t know the last time we’d seen so many people, but the snow was incredible and we quickly understood why the crowd had come. We met up with some friends on the mountain and spent the day playing in white fluffy powder! It was the first time I had tried my snowboard in deep powder and I learned quickly that I wasn’t quite ready for it. I kept getting the tip of my board stuck and then flailing to try and get out of knee deep powder. Aaron had a blast on his telemarks and kept taking pictures of me getting un-stuck (or at least attempting to). It was quite the workout.

For Super Bowl weekend we seem to have developed a tradition of going to Steamboat. This year was our second annual Super Bowl Steamboat ski trip. Chad (one of Aaron’s co-workers and a great friend) has a college friend who lives in Steamboat, so we always try to get up to visit her at least once. It’s always a blast and the snow is amazing!

This trip was no different. Steamboat had gotten about 30 inches in the past two days, so we were stoked to be hitting it up! Aaron and I skied half a day on Friday, a full-day on Saturday, and half a day on Sunday before heading back to catch the Super Bowl. On Sunday, we actually got to meet up with Patrick (one of the principles of Aaron’s company) and his wife Pam. It was such a nice surprise to run into them and pretty lucky too as we had no idea they were going to be there. The weekend was quite fun and we got to meet some more great Steamboat folks….always a great time. We actually spent over 4 hours in the hot tub with friends on Saturday night….good times! My fingernails and skin are still suffering!

Once we got home from Steamboat, Aaron buckled down and started studying for his Professional Engineering (PE) exam. The tables have suddenly been turned on me. Now it is my turn to take over the house and the cooking while he studies. I do have to admit that he may have done better than me….but not for long. It’s just taken me a while to get back in the swing of things!

Right now we are in the car on the way back from Aspen, yet again!! Ha ha! I guess you guys get the picture….we’re definitely weekend warriors!

We left Friday afternoon to head to Aspen to meet Aaron’s parents and his brother and the new girlfriend. We skied Saturday at Aspen Highlands and quickly learned that we probably shouldn’t take beginners there to learn. So today we took Courtni to Buttermilk where the terrain was MUCH friendlier to the new skier. It was the first time Aaron and I had skied there, so we enjoyed skiing new terrain. Aaron and Neil had a good time hitting the terrain parks. They gradually progressed through the small, medium, and large terrain parks without any injuries which was a total relief!! They definitely gave all the twelve year olds a run for their money….ha ha! It’s crazy to see the little kids hitting the terrain parks in the jackets that come down to their knees and the pants that I swear would fit Aaron. It’s a LOT different than when we were kids. Not to mention the tricks….outrageous to see these little kids flying through the air….UNREAL!! Anyway -

So now…we’re home and tired….and ready to get this work week over with so we can do it all over again…..

This is the life we live…..

Love you guys!