2012 - Good Times

As the year ends, one looks back and takes note of the events that shaped our lives during the year.  For us, as with many families across the country, our lives centered primarily around our nuclear family, our church, our work/school, and our special activities.

Jackson with his "Myga"

At the beginning of the calendar year, Jackson's 2nd grade (he's now in the 3rd grade) class had a small school production called "The Cheese Stands Alone."  Jackson loves to sing and act so we were not surprised when he came home and announced that he had won the role of "Cheesy" which had quite a bit of solo singing in it.  We were thrilled that Evelyn (Charee's mom who lives next door to us) was able to attend the play.

We have a "new" female cat whom we've named Coco.  She just showed up at our door one day and decided to stay.

Rockies Spring Training in Arizona

Isotopes Game in Albuquerque

At Petco Field in San Diego

At The Ballpark in Arlington to watch the Rockies play the Rangers

We are a baseball family.  This year we were fortunate enough to attend many AAA minor league games and caught the Rockies at Spring Training as well as in Dallas and in San Diego.

Jackson's First Broncos Game!

2012 was the year that Jackson was able to attend his first Broncos game at Mile High Stadium.  Although the Broncos lost to the Houston Texans, we had a lot of fun seeing Peyton Manning.

With his Pro Challenge jersey

For the second year, Colorado hosts a world class professional bicycle race in which many of the world's top teams and riders compete.  This year, Colorado Springs was the end of the 5th stage with the riders ending the day with a circuit sprint through downtown.  I pulled Jackson from school at noon so that he and I could get a great vantage point to watch the racers zooming down Tejon Street.

Bradford and Mel at the zoo

Since moving to Anchorage in 2008, Bradford is able to "come home" only once a year.  We usually see him and Mel in the summer for one week.  This year, Brad and Mel were able to be home around the time of Jackson's birthday party.   Brad learned (from being around 20 eight and nine-year olds) that he's a long way from wanting to be a parent.

View of the Springs on fire driving home on I-25

In June, a wildfire that started west of the Springs exploded over the mountains and into the city.  About 350 homes were destroyed by the fire.  We were packed and ready to move out if the evacuation call came.  Thankfully, we were spared.

Family - During the year, we were fortunate to be able to see family.  We met with Charee's uncle and aunt who live in the Los Angeles area during our Disneyland trip.  We met with our niece Jillian when we were at San Diego.  My mom visited once or twice and Charee's brothers both came to the Springs to visit with their mom, Evelyn.

With Uncle Harry, Aunt Cho, Cliff, Liz after dinner
during our vacation to Southern California

Jackson with Jillian at Seaworld.  Met her and her
Aunt Leslie there during our vacation.

Jackson with his Myga on Christmas

Jackson with Aunt Billie

Charee and my mom during a walk

Ryan with Evelyn.  Ryan and Kiva visit two to
three times per year.

Jackson with his Country Club of Colorado teammates


Jackson has been playing more and more tennis each summer.  This year he was able to play on his first team tennis.  The team qualified for "state" and they played in Denver.  Although they were eliminated during the first round, it was a fun experience for him.

Holidays and Family

We went to see my Uncle Ben and Aunt Billie right before Thanksgiving.  Like us, they live in Colorado Springs (on the Northeast side of town).  They met in Kansas at a ice skating rink.  My Uncle Ben was in the navy during WWII and was one of eleven children (my mom being the last).  We have so enjoyed living in the same city as they since we moved to the Springs in 1994.  They first watched Bradford grow up (from the age of three) and now they have watched our Jackson grow!  They lived in California (bay area) when I was growing up so I've known them all of my life as well.

My mom was here that week before Thanksgiving (she went with us to Uncle Ben and Aunt Billie's house).  The weather has been unseasonably warm so my mom was able to get all of her training runs in easily.  One afternoon, the four of us took a walk in the neighborhood (Jackson rode his bike).  I had my new camera so I had to snap a bunch of pictures (I'm sure that I was a little annoying - but they were all good sports).  I really like this photo.  I call it "Two Moms."  They are both incredible mothers to their sons and, in my mom's case, daughter.  My mom has an amazing family story and I hope that she will write it in a blog.    My wife, Charee, is also a wonderful spouse and teacher.  Her mom, Evelyn, has lived next door to us for about five years now.

Jackson is now an acolyte at our church.  His brother was also one and was honored to carry the Christ Candle during one Christmas.  Jackson takes his responsibility seriously.

Our city is blessed with many sculptures.  Most of them are downtown.  This one, called "The Dance', is in front of the building in which I work.  I typically don't go for "Western Art" but I really like this one.  The sculptor (James Muir) really captured the joy that this couple has in dancing.

Initial Posting for the SpringsHiker twitter account

Today I took a short round-trip hike of six miles. Three miles up the High Drive and Bear Creek Canyon to Josephine Falls. I've started a new Twitter account for myself (SpringsHiker). I'm hoping to be able to follow (and be followed) folks across America who share their hiking experiences. No politics, no selling supplies or products, just sharing their experiences in our great outdoors! I use the iPhone app "iMapMyHike." I believe that it has the ability to share and I hope to be able to use it to tweet the specifics of my hikes.

The picture on the left was taken from the Bear Creek trail in Colorado Springs. It is accessed off of the High Drive (closed to traffic beginning in November). I made it to the ice patch - which is really Josephine Falls. Beautiful hike of six miles round trip.

The picture on the right is that of the Tenny Crags. From most places in the Springs, when you look to the mountains, you'll see them towering about 2/3rd of the way up. I've read that there is a faint trail that goes to the top. That will be my goal in the near future! This picture was taken with me on one side of the canyon and the Crags directly opposite me.

I'm really interested in hearing from others who hike in all parts of North America.

Going through the Cub-O-Matic to become a Wolf Scout

Today, with dreary weather, we headed twenty miles south down Highway 115 to Fort Carson's Turkey Creek Recreational Area. It's for the military but they allow scouting activities. The boys had loads of fun: flying kites, three-legged races, egg tosses, water balloon tosses, and just running around, tackling each other, etc. After the meal, it was time for the graduation ceremony. Each Tiger Scout entered the Cub-O-Matic as a Tiger Scout. After a few seconds, they emerge with the yellow neckerchief of the Wolf Scout! Jackson loves scouting and loves his scouting friends.

Traveling

As part of my job, I sometimes have to travel. Not to exotic places like Paris, London, Berlin, Tokyo, etc., but to places like Amarillo, Texas, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., Chicago, etc. I love my work and believe that I've been extremely blessed in my occupation; but, I don't like to travel. I don't like being away from my family, I don't like eating at restaurants all of the time, etc. I am pretty good about "making the most" of my travels: when I'm in NYC I'll go to the museums, same for D.C., etc. If baseball's in season I'll try and catch a game. But, I miss being home.

This Thursday, I leave for a couple of days in Scottsdale, AZ, then I'm home for a week, and then I'm gone to Los Angeles for an entire week. Quick driving trips to Amarillo and Albuquerque follow that. Hopefully, that'll be it for a while!!

Having a MacBook is great for traveling; Charee has one too so we can Ichat at night. It's like using Skype, but better and easier.

Snowy Sunday in early January

Today, we finally got a little bit of snow. I love the Colorado snow and enjoy taking a walk or hiking when it's snowy outside. Today, after church, I bundled up and walked to Cheyenne Canyon Park. When you're by yourself, walking in the snow, it's amazing how many thoughts go through your head. I like to think of the people who lived in my neighborhood about one hundred years ago walking along the same roads/paths. I noted, with a little envy, one home with a large stack of wood on the porch. There is nothing like a nice fire on a day like today. When I got home, I did something that people 100 years ago would not have done - I watched a football game on TV with Jackson. Jack is hoping for a snow day tomorrow - We'll see! Finished up the day drinking tea and playing Yahtzee with Jack and Charee. Still snowing as I go to bed.

Trip to Anchorage, Alaska

Last Wednesday, Jackson and I drove to Denver International Airport to catch a plane to Salt Lake City. Our ultimate destination was Anchorage, Alaska where Bradford lives, works, and goes to school. Jackson was excited for a number of reasons: he had not seen his big brother since Christmas 2009, he was going to Alaska (where no one in his class had visited), and he was taking his first airplane ride. I made sure that he had a window seat for all three (that's right - three) legs from Denver to Anchorage. His excitement level was pretty high as we barreled down the runway and then lifted off. He enjoyed the view of the Rockies below us until they were obscured by the clouds. A seven-year old's point-of-view of flying is different than an adult's: i.e., he think that it's pretty amazing that you get a "free" coke and peanuts on the flight.

When we finally landed in Anchorage at 8:40pm local time, he was pretty wiped out. However, he was excited to finally see Bradford. Brad and his girlfriend, Mel, were waiting for us and Jack rushed to his brother to be picked up. We then all proceeded to Moose's Tooth to have some of the best pizza in town, to catch up and to get to know Mel. Jack and I then drove to our motel (a big disappointment - stay away from Spendard Ave) where we pretty much collapsed on the bed and fell asleep.

The next day was filled with just hanging out with Brad and Mel...Jack and I started the day by driving to the Starbucks in downtown for coffee, hot chocolate, and bagels. Being winter in Alaska, it was still dark at 8:30 as we drove downtown but Anchorage is a pretty easy town to navigate. At Starbucks we were able to iChat with Charee (same as Skype but with Macs..). We then met Brad and Mel at a Denny's (Brad's choice....). Then some shopping, a quick trip to Earthquake Park, and finally ended up at the Anchorage Museum in downtown. The museum has a fantastic area for children - the "Imaginarium" - which is very hands-on for kids. Jack had a blast and Brad and mel had a chance to catch the Andy Warhol exhibit. The museum also had some really cool jellyfish!

We left around 6:00 when it was dark. The winter night colors in Anchorage are pretty cool. I took this picture of Jack in the parking garage - no computer enhancements...

To end the day, we had dinner at Brad and Mel's work. Brad has worked at Kinley's - a very fine restaurant in midtown - for a while now. If you are ever in Anchorage, I highly recommend going there. It's fine dining but one can either dress up or dress down (we chose the latter). Order the scallops and you won't be disappointed. Said our goodnights and Jack and I headed back to our "dumpy" motel.

The last day we spent in Anchorage was New Year's Eve day. Started off at Starbucks again (for their coffee and wi-fi). Jack really wanted to sled so after meeting Brad and his good friend Luke at IHOP for breakfast (again, Brad's choice) we spent some time looking to buy a sled. After finding one we drove to a high school on the south side of town that had a great hill. Brad, Luke, and Jack had a lot of fun playing in the snow together.

Afterwards, we drove up to Flat Top Mountain. The view of the Anchorage area was truly amazing!

Our visit with Brad and Mel ended with some miniture golf and one last meal at Moose's Tooth. We said our goodbyes, went back to pack, and then headed to the airport. Our plane left Anchorage at 12:40 in the morning for Seattle and then home to Denver. We arrived in Denver at 11:15am and then drove home to Charee.

As is always the case, the trip was awesome but it was also nice to be home! We look forward to Bradford visiting us in Colorado - hopefully soon.