Here's my little Aspen Roo. She looks harmless enough, right?
Sometimes I let her play on the bathroom counter while I'm standing there, getting ready.
Yesterday she was up there and she saw something she wanted. So she went for it.
She climbed into the sink, and it was a perfect fit!
Then she proceeded to turn the faucet on and drown her pants with water. I could have stopped her, but she was so entertaining to watch! She loved getting all wet.
Maybe it's the sandy beach, the mysterious cast or the scary noises in the forest. Something about this show has me hooked! It's not like I'm going to pass out if I don't watch at least one episode every day, but it's just so much fun to watch it. It's this wonderful new way that Eric and I have found to bond with one another (wink wink). We watch the show, we give each other surprised glances throughout the episode, and then talk about possible interpretations afterward. It's sort of like being in a book club with just your spouse, only you're watching t.v. instead of reading a book. And that's way more scholarly....not!
I always get melancholy when I have to leave my family. My brother Ian always says, "family's the most important thing," and boy is he right! It's been a lot of fun being out here in the east, seeing new places and having fun adventures, but nothing compares to being close to home, which I've discovered always seems to be where my family is. See that item in my mom's hand there? That's a tube of Blistex, which she always has on hand, and we all tease her about it. See how Demri (the one in the blue dress) is posing? She's the quirkiest little thing I've ever seen, and just wants everyone to be happy and laughing. Over Christmas break my sister-in-law Tia (in the glasses) sent hilariously mysterious texts to a guy Demri works with (and likes), telling him in the end that she (Tia) was Demri's sister-in-law, and asking him if he was interested in Demri. What did Demri do? Laugh it off! 
When my dad and step mom Lisa were here in November we drove to Concord one day and had chili at the Main Street Market Cafe (shown above; just pretend that suv isn't there for a moment!). We sat inside for hours while rain poured down outside, just talking. It was a moment I'll always remember! Yesterday Eric, Aspen and I headed out there for some chili and sandwiches, and had a great time (the food is delicious!). It was a much needed outing for all of us.
On our way home we found this quaint little church without any sign or name. We thought it was pretty, and loved how the stone stood out between the snow and the darkness of the trees.
(Poor Aspen couldn't move with all her snow clothes on! She was a trooper, though.)
I've always thought there were several things a thirty-year-old woman should have. Now that my time has come and this blessed day is about to arrive, I've made a list:
When Eric and I were dating, I was aware of the fact that he was a ski addict. If he were to be able to spend the rest of his life being a ski instructor (which he was at one point), living off of ketchup and saltines (which he did at one point) he would be tickled. I, on the other hand, am as coordinated as a wet noodle. A very wet noodle. Before we met I had been skiing once, and it was a very bad experience. However, like all relationships I knew some sacrifices were going to be required, and one of my sacrifices was going to be learning how to ski.
We took shifts watching Aspen. I tried to get her to play in the snow, but she wasn't interested, as her expression shows!
We played in the cafeteria for a while.
You can't beat these views, that's for sure!
