Snow Trip!

By -
Dear Diary,
The ski resorts in Vail, Aspen, Copper Mountain and others opened today for the new ski season but we didn't go skiing, instead we spent the day driving through the mountains looking at the snow from the comfort and heat of the van. The first snow storm of the season came earlier this week so there was still some nice white stuff further into the mountains. Denver, unfortunately, is snow free albeit the temperature is noticeably falling. The drive along I-70 is lovely and relaxing. It travels right through the valleys and the ruins of old silver and gold mines dot the mountain sides in the little towns of Idaho Springs and Georgetown.
Georgetown was our first stop, again. We made a previous visit on July 4th when it was about 100 degrees warmer! Today the lake was frozen over although I don't think the ice was very thick so no ice skating or games of shinny.
After a break we travelled through the Eisenhower Tunnel where it was like another world from Denver ~ it was snowy and icy! Brrrrr..... Colin got some good winter weather driving practice and quite frankly I enjoyed sitting back and letting him navigate through it.
Before heading back home we stopped at Silverthorn and Dillon Lake. Both locations are stunningly beautiful and these photos don't do either place justice.
Dillon Lake:
Silverthorn (there is a snowstorm at the top of the mountain):
Little one needed to get home, she was hungry and I was running out of cereal and fruit not to mention a "potty" break was required. Colin took care of the dirty diaper by jumping in the back seat and giving her a bottle. Check out the photo below, she has the craziest hair - it's sticks up straight (another trait she inherited from Colin)!
Isla will be ready for a steak dinner anyday now. I noticed TWO more upper teeth have cut their way through. She now has SEVEN teeth and she's been soooo good about it but they are sharp, just ask Colin. My baby is getting so big, so many teeth, crawling and next week she'll be 9 months old! She is loads of fun and has a great sense of humour. Colin gave her a bath yesterday and each time he took the wash cloth and gently dragged it over her forehead, she would giggle and kick her arms and legs like crazy!!
I wish more family and friends could see her and get to know her better. Yeah, I'm getting a bit homesick and after spending 3 months at home, I miss having the opportunity to "show her off", not literally, but you know what I mean. Isla loved and craved the attention she got because she is such a social child and loves family from both sides of the Atlantic. I joke with Colin that if she developes a Larne accent, she'll get beat up on the playground and I dare not think of her marrying a Larne boy (haha, just a joke, I married a nice Larne boy!). It is not our intention to stay in the USA permanently, maybe another 2-3 years and then hopefully move to Canada (D.V.) but in the meantime we hope to be able to host many of you. Drop us a line and let us know when you're coming to visit, our door is always open!
We got a bit of bad news today, our tenants have given us their 60 days notice. Anybody want to buy a house in Larne?
With christian greetings,
Heather, Colin and Isla