Nativity

We woke up to a beautifully white Christmas. We were quite lucky to get up our driveway and out to church. The birth of Christ is very sacred to us and we all gather together for a Christmas service and then a huge meal together. I know for some families that may seem to interrupt family Christmas, but we are all family. It's especially nice for people who don't otherwise have family and children to brighten their holiday celebration.
St Andrew's backs up on the city cemetery, which is a beautiful place to walk any time of the year.

pre-Christmas

Joachim got to open some blocks before Christmas and we've been going block building crazy. I'm realizing we will never have enough blocks.

We also got in the Christmas spirit by going to the kindergarten Christmas concert in Bank of the West. We all packed into the bank's foyer and the kids lined up the stairs. I thought it was nice that we could crowd into the bank and not have metal detectors and security officers everywhere, they just don't have to worry about that stuff here. Apparently this is a 35 year standing tradition.
This was also my only attempt with Santa, Joachim ran right away, but at least with a smile on his face. Below is Nectaria in her concert, she had an outsanding solo (she is farthest left on the riser)

'tis a tree

I know I was vastly proud of last year's tree, but this year's is even better. We got our $8 permit again and returned to the Uncompaghre in search of the perfect Pinion Pine. This year there was no snow, it was mild and beautiful. As is usually the case with most of my decision making, we came back to the tree I liked first and chopped it down, but not until I'd seen every other tree in a reasonable (and unreasonable) walking distance from the car. I don't know what I'm going to do when I have to share the Christmas tree picking with kids, Ben generously left it up to me again this year.
Joachim playing hide and seek in the sagebrush and chase in the gullies.(and stick and rock collecting)
Here we are, the grateful recipients of a wild tree who gave it's life for our holiday cheer. I think this is the closest I will ever get to hunting.
The best surprise of all was that while we were loading our tree on the car, our brother and sister-in-law and nieces and nephews passed by. We knew they were up for a tree too, but didn't expect to run into them on the mesa. This picture's for Baba because it was his birthday.
Here's the perfect tree, full from the front and a flat from the side so it doesn't take up much space in our tiny apartment. This year we hung hotpeppers from our garden to fill in the gaps between our ornaments.

Parades of Lights

This year we went to Delta's parade of lights on Friday and Montrose's on Saturday. We have now lived here long enough that we are continuing traditions, in this case attending the parade. On the Delta sidewalks, they give out hot apple cider and homemade cookies for free (which we savored while watching the festivities). Had we been feeling ambitious, we could have attended 4 different parades all within 30 minutes, but after just 2 we realized there's no parade like your home parade.
It's difficult to capture a light parade on camera, so I'll spare you my dozen "you should've been there" blurry photos. It was relatively captivating, even as an adult, (although, maybe not so much if Joachim hadn't been there.)

The parades are partly a chance for local businesses to advertise, but still it's nice to see them light up for the city. There was everything from Whitey's home repair to Clubb's furniture store. Even Walmart had a float, which I know is scandalous to people who boycott them, but in a town of this kind, Walmart is part of the community, and a pretty good place to be employed.
Above Joachim is warming his hands in his pockets, below he's presenting a piece of lint.
Part of the fun of Delta was having all the cousins and Auntie Mary there too. Montrose, on the other hand, had bigger city attractions like the giant reindeer at the popcorn wagon and a nice coffeeshop with a bedazzling Christmas tree.I also remembered Joachim's mittens the night of Montrose. These are the mittens I mentioned earlier that I knit from my grandmommie's pattern.

St Andrew's events

Sunday December 1st the Orthodox church celebrated St Andrew, which is significant for us in Delta because our church is named for him. The Bishop came for the event and a friend of ours from the Springs, Andreas (Andrew), came over to be tonsured a reader on his name's day. It's a very celebratory event and I was thrilled to have friends from Colorado Springs visit. Below is Andreas being tonsured, and below that is Bishop Benjamin blessing the parish.
After church everyone met for the meal and I insisted I would keep an eye on the half dozen boys 3 and under who had gathered in the playroom. Ben came down to find me and I left him to watch them while I went to get my camera. What a good sport, he maintained the room expertly. Below Joachim, Seraphim and Tristen are working the beads.

Thanksgiving in the Springs

art in the doghouse

Almost 9 months ago a very sweet retired gentleman sketched out a picture of Joachim and I while I worked on the computer at our local coffee shop. I used to go during Joachim's naps and he would sleep in the sling.

It was a rough sketch and I didn't think much of it. As the months went by, Fred would always greet us at the coffee shop and tell me he liked our image of mother, son and computer.
The beginning of November I was surprised and flattered to see our picture, along with his landscapes, on the walls at The Doghouse. It was positioned over the table where we always sit. I think he did a beautiful job colorfully bringing the sketch to life unfortunately, I haven't crossed paths with Fred all month, but I look forward to visiting with him again.

fall festival

A few weeks ago Ben's mom hosted a fun-filled fall festival and chili cook off. The whole church was invited and we had a really joyful time. I hope it's the first of a long tradition.
Jacob and Joshua playing to the soon to be fire pit. Below is Shelby, a living image of the West.There were hay rides and pots of chili (my contribution was mulled cider, I was too intimidated by the chili competition).
It looks ominous, but it was actually quite nice, Ben and I had bought glow sticks for all the kids (post Halloween discount) and people brought their guitars and banjos. "Froggie went acourtin'" was the refrain of the evening.

the jumping place

My nieces and nephews have dubbed this ditch at grandma's house "the jumping place" for obvious reasons. I took this video and the end of a long jumping session so they weren't getting the air they were in the beginning, but you get the idea.

more fun with cousins

Recently Grandma watched all the grandkids and these are some additional pictures at "the jumping place". That box in the background is where we live. The bottom is a garage and the top is our apartment.

halloween

We had no Halloween plans until the day before when Sari called up and asked if we wanted to trick-or-treat on Main street. I put this costume together for Joachim.
and he totally hammed it up with some great scowls.and smiles.
Kelti bear wearing a fabulous homemade and reusable costume including a knit hat, socks, and mittens (not pictured).Here are masses of Deltoids trick-or treating down 5 blocks of Main St. I was surprised by and enjoyed the camaraderie I felt with all these families.And best of all, daddy showed up halfway through the event.
Cousin Nectaria, the piratess.