Catch up...

I am tired and sleepy from all the fun...

 

So Sunday morning after a sleepless night, I got up early for Confirmation class and a few extra hours of work to make up for taking a snow day the Friday before.  I was hoping to get home sooner than later, as Thomas and I were packing and readying ourselves to drive Monday to Denver to fly out to Portland.  Everything came together just fine, and though we stayed up later than I would have liked, we embarked on our Christmas vacation about 10:15 am on Monday. 

 

We talked and talked on the drive.  Gratefully Thomas did all the driving.  He said I could sleep, but there wasn't much chance of that.  The wind was brutal.  We were grateful there was no snow in the forecast for our drive, but there were high wind advisories.  At one point in southern Colorado, we saw the semi trucks, a few campers, and trucks with trailers pulled off on the exit ramps and under the overpass tacking shelter from the wind.  We kept navigating our way north, taking a beating from the wind and appreciating all the extra pounds of recycling materials I had boxed in the bed of the truck adding some extra weight.  Out of nowhere we saw a semi on its side!  It was southbound and had rolled into the grassy median.  The driver side of the windshield had been broken out.  Further north we saw another semi on its side and a trailer on its side without the truck cab.  It was THAT windy!  Scary!

 

I was pretty paranoid about missing our flight due to long waits for parking, checking luggage, and security.  We probably could have been more social before we left, but I was pressuring Thomas not to underestimate the power of chaos at DIA.  We were extraordinarily early, found parking and a shuttle quickly, walked into a nearly empty airport and checked our luggage without having to wait, and buzzed through security with no hiccups.  Good thing we stopped at the bookstore in Pueblo for reading materials!  We left half an hour late from DIA because of delayed connecting flights for other passengers.  It made for a long day, and we were pooped despite sleeping in on Tuesday morning.

 

After a fantastic family dinner on Tuesday night, Thomas and I repacked our bags for a mini-vacation in a vacation.  Wednesday morning we left for a suite at the Oregon Coast!  We enjoyed sightseeing along the way (mostly seeing the Spruce Goose), ate delicious seafood, drank great local beer, hot-tubbed, walked on the beach and collected rocks, enjoyed our ocean view in front of the fireplace in the room, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. 

 

So here it is Thursday night, and we are tired.  Thomas is working with Dad and Marty on a batch of Porter...boys brewing beer, what fun!  I wrapped a few presents and am dreaming of my pillow.  Away I go...