Gines Family Adventure: 2016

"I feel like a farmer" my seven year old son, Mason, said after we just got done setting up our new baby chicks' brooder (baby chick house). And he got me thinking this place is like a farm -- a funny farm for sure -- our own little Suburban Funny Farm.

As some of you know, we recently have relocated back to beautiful Colorado after living overseas for two plus years. Living overseas was a wonderful adventure that concluded with an amazing end to that chapter of our lives. So that is why I have decided to start a new blog and say farewell to my Gines Family Adventure blog so that I can journal and chronicle this new chapter.

The Gines Family Adventure blog has been an amazing outlet to my thoughts, feelings, fears, hopes and dreams! It has kept me sane, been my best friend and always listened; all the while documenting our greatest adventures. I would love for you to continue to follow our run-of-the-mill yet unique life as we move on to the next chapter.

My new blog can be found at: http://suburbanfunnyfarm.blogspot.com/

Farewell, au reviour, adios, g'day mate, totsiens, sampai jumpa!!!!

(And as always, to be continued!!!)

Wow!! The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of family, friends, food and adventure. Our 1^st Christmas since moving back was absolutely precious! Santa spoiled us and we enjoyed our time spent in our new home. Our adventures were also amazingly memorable and we got to share them with a dear Canadian friend who lives and traveled from Indonesia to Canada then to Denver just to see us!

The day after Christmas Hannah, Mason and I drove to DIA to pick up our dear friend. We waited anxiously, however, it is extremely heartwarming to watch people picking up their loved ones in the arrivals area – I always cry! We finally spied our friend and the kiddos and I immediately jumped up and down and gave her big hugs! I missed her more than I realized and seeing her beautiful face also reminded me of the faces we left behind in Tembagapura. Such a bittersweet meet!

That next morning, bright and early, we all loaded up in the car and drove to go skiing at Loveland ski resort. I know some of my fellow Coloradans might be balking at the decision to go to Loveland but it is just two days after Christmas during the highest peak of the skiing season and we wanted to ski more than wait in line amongst hundreds of other tourists at a bigger ski resort. The drive up could not have represented Colorado’s beauty more. The mountains were glistening with fresh powder, all the pine trees were perfectly white-capped and the traffic was wonderful.

Now, it has been roughly six years since Mike and I last skied and I was nervous. My nervousness was slightly dulled by Hannah and Mason’s nervousness to ski for the very first time. I was so excited for them though as Mike and I both grew up skiing and we both really treasured that time. Now it’s their turn to partake in what Colorado is most known for!

It took us all a while to get suited and sorted and we were happy to have another amazing friend join us who lived in Tembagapura and has also recently moved back to Colorado. She was happy to take our Canadian friend to hit the slopes while Mike and I got the kiddos signed into ski school.

After we got them into the school Mike and I got to do a few runs. The weather was gorgeously clear but it was cold, especially above tree line. The slopes were nice and powdery and pleasantly uncrowded. A few hours went on and we then headed back to watch Hannah and Mason.

They did absolutely wonderful. It was so cute and, I must admit, very entertaining. They look so little but fearless as they zoomed by stumbling tourists who have never seen snow much less consciously put two slipped-up sticks to their feet. It was even more adorable in Mason’s group all the little newbies would get so close together one would fall then all of them would gracefully go down – too stinkin’ cute! We all had a great day and a quiet, peaceful ride home.

Another early morning came and the next day we purposefully braved the cold Rocky Mountains again but this time drove up to Winter Park (one of my favorites) to go snowmobiling. Snowmobiling is one of the things that made me fall in love with Mike for many reasons but the way he looks… never mind sorry, back to snowmobiling.

This morning was especially cold -- a balmy 1 degree Fahrenheit. We suited up again and then sat in the shade (even colder) as we listened to the instructor instruct us on our machines. During the, seemingly FOREVER speech in the shade, in 1 degree weather, I started losing feeling in my finger tips and toes.

Finally we were off on our machines through country Mike and I have ridden through many, many times. It was like a winter wonderland and I was so excited that our friend got to see even more of Colorado’s elegance. However, I was quickly becoming more and more near-tears due to the excruciating pain in my fingers and toes from Jack Frost’s bite.

Mike suddenly stopped on the trail and I wasn’t the only one in tears, Hannah was sobbing in pain. We got out the hand and feet warms stuffed them in her gloves and shoes. We drove off to a sunny spot to stop and Mason was next, balling and immobile due to the cold. Finally we finally got everyone warmed up and happy and we sped off.

On our way up to Corona Pass we rode by the Rollins Pass Ghost Depot. An abandoned depot from old railroad that was the primary travel route from Denver until Berthoud Pass (a very (scary) twisty road with tight, tight curves) was constructed. (http://www.ghostdepot.com/rg/mainline/moffat%20route/rollins%20pass.htm) The train’s trestle still eerily stands and is a stunning site that exudes Colorado’s colorful history.

We drive up to Corona Pass and there everything opens up to a steep hill that goes way up above the tree line. There you can drive to a spot that overlooks the entire Grand County valley and it is just that and breathtaking – literally and figuratively. She and Mike drove up to the spot and she got to see the brilliant view.

We drove around a little bit more but the sun was going down and the temperature was doing the same. It was time to call it a day. Two days of playing in the Rocky Mountains called for a lazy next morning and sleeping in and that is just what we did! Once we were completely rested it was now time to show off our downtown Denver also known as the Mile High City (because it is a mile above sea level).

We walked, shopped, rode the 16^th Street Mall buses and ate at a fantastic restaurant called Lucky Pie. We also visited Union Station. Union Station – Denver’s original train station was originally built in 1881 (rebuilt after a fire in 1894) and has recently been completely remolded to preserve its history but also includes modern flare. Inside the station are locally owned shops, a bar, shuffle board table, a hotel and most importantly the old-school train benches. It is a cool piece of Denver nostalgia.

That night we had to say goodbye to our dear friend as she had a warm beach waiting for her. I was bummed but we had such an amazing time and I know it’s not a forever goodbye.

New Year’s Eve quickly came and we had even more Tembagapura guests to visit us. YAY!!!!!!!!!! Again, I didn’t realize how much I missed them. We are so blessed to have a group from Colorado that lived/lives in Indonesia that we get to see!!! We all caught up with each other and successfully rang in the New Year! We had a great time!!

As it is a New Year, most people do New Year’s resolutions but I typically don’t, because I am a walking, breathing resolution to better every day. However, this year I am going to continue to make it my plan to discover and share where we live together as a family.

As always, to be continued...