The little lady is quite a talker. We have decided perhaps the time has come to cease all cursing within earshot. I'll tell you one story...Fearing that I might leave her with the light specialist at IKEA, Mahalia reached out for me from the cart and muttered, "MAMA." My God.

My heart melted. No big deal.

Aaarrrggh! It's so lame that I'm just now posting these Christmas photos. If only we could always lie around in our sock monkey PJ's. Denver seems like ages ago–a warm memory full of all things we love including favorite foods, friends, gifts, sleep. We barely took any pictures but here are a few.
















Mahalia, check out your new toys!!


Meet the Shaklees, two of the nicest people you'll ever have the pleasure to know.























How 'bout some chocolate? Feel the sugar crash.
Mahalia with Heather O. Mahalia, these are the mountains.


Cuddles galore with Grandma and Grandpa.
Like father, like son.


Mahalia, looking cute as a button in one of Grandma's new outfits–perfect for pool and nachos at the Wynkoop Brewery.





Mahalia, meet Darren. Darren, this is Mahalia

Georgetown–the CUTEST mountain town ever!

Our complete lack of schedule allowed us to drive around and look at Georgetown, this teeny little canyon town. Shane fondly recalls childhood visits on the 4th of July to this town with his beloved friends, Bob and Barb Shaklee.

Thursday nights are the hardest of all weekday nights. Mahalia is asleep and I pass the time looking up strange things on the internet. I look at the clock and realize that I've spent over one hour checking out ticket prices to far flung locales--Palermo, the Amalfi Coast, Greece. Did you know that you can fly from Munich to Athens for $77?

I spend some time staring at villas for rent on Patmos, the Greek Isle where I spent 5 weeks. I sigh. It is cold and wet here in New York City.

Returning to work was like jumping into a cold pool. It's been a bit of a shock returning to reality after days of leisure in snowy Denver. We're slowly readjusting and even more slowly returning to blog posts. I still haven't downloaded our photos and am ever so lazy! I did get some photos from Heather O. out in Colorado with whom we spent New Year's Eve. Her parents very kindly allowed us to stay at their beautiful condo in the mountains and we celebrated the New Year playing cards and eating triple cream cheese. It was calm and mellow excepting Shane's wild ride on a mini bison. I've spent a few minutes and have worked up a frustration sweat trying to get the mini bison ride photo to rotate. I think you'll get the idea even if you have to crank your head to see it. Before the weekend is through, I'll add more details and photos of Mahalia's first Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..............................

We had the most jolly and relaxing of holidays. We spent much of the time nearly comatose out in snowy Coloradoland and were fortunate to have made all of our flights without a hitch-- it seems that many travelling to Denver were not as fortunate. Our dear friend, Anna, had to drive out to the Rockies from LaGuardia. We took many photos of Mahalia's first christmas and as I'm busy organizing these photos have none to share with you now.

We are all well, back at home and Shane went right back to work. Mahalia and I are holding down the fort, patiently waiting for his return from a short little tour in Pennsylvania.