My Husband. Back at school

drumroll please.

The husband, oka (otherwise known as) Kevin Pula is going back to school and when I say school, I mean he's is taking a graduate class!! Wahoo people isn't this news so exciting!

I don't know why I get to thrilled about him going back to school. Maybe because he gets to go to a big university (unlike Anderson University which was a small, christian school). Maybe because it's one step closer towards him discovering his wants in a career. Maybe it's because I get to come down here with him (on some days) and act like I am a student.

I cannot tell a lie. I love school. I am jealous. I want to study. I want to walk around on a beautiful campus and learn. Did I mention this school is in Boulder? So the view of the mountains isn't too shabby either.

Anyways. I thought I would inform the world. He is taking an environmental econmonis course to test out the waters. FYI

And we are busy house sitting on a farm. We are lucky kids for sure! But have no internet.. Holy cow it's difficult to live without it!

I tried to convince him to turn around and smile but he said no thanks. Big Kid!

Christmas 2012 and before.

Wow everyone. I really left you all there for a while. We've been busy. I've been picking up extra shifts at work or researching things online. Any computer time I had went to that. Since December 19, a lot has happened! I've been wanting to share. So sorry. 

We did end up going to Hidden Valley(backcountry style) and I'm embarrassed to say that I seriously stunk at snowboarding. Imagine two feet of fresh pow and a beginner snowboarder who's used to groomed runs. It was so cold my camera wouldn't even work. Sure, a little powder is awesome but two feet. I was miserable and then to add to that embarrassment, I was sick for the next four days! And of course, those next days I was scheduled to work so I missed a lot of work too. BOO. But luckily, I was healthy just in time for Christmas eve! 

We celebrated Christmas Eve at our dear friends, the Bangs. We had the most fun white elephant exchange ever! I made a pumpkin pie and kev made brushetta. Nom Nom. And of course, if you know me, I brought a veggie tray. Side note. I always bring veggie trays because I know the type of food they have at these events. Delicious JUNK! So I like to reassure myself that there will be healthy options there. Plus, I get to eat all the left over veggies for the next week. Win Win. All I am saying is don't be surprised if I always bring a veggie tray to a party. 

So where were we? Oh yes. Christmas Eve was spent at the Bangs cozy home. We had hot chocolate and Bailys, a warm fire and snow dumping outside. It was beautiful. Last christmas was our first Christmas in Estes but we stayed in since I had to work on Christmas Day. Not this year folks! I had off  the 3 days around Christmas and New Years off! WOW. I have no pictures from Christmas Eve except this one. Carlie Bangs gifted it to us. It was from our Longs Peak adventure and I think it's my new favorite. It reminds me of us. Simply put. 

Christmas Day was wonderful. We woke up and played with our pups. We went outside to see the bountiful snow and decided snowshoeing was a must. Plus, we gifted each other with fancy snowshoes for Christmas! We went up to Little Valley which is this beautiful neighborhood full of unique houses on the mountain side and it was there I decided why live anywhere else in Estes Park except this neighborhood. If you drive up and up to the very top, there is a forest service road with amazing views and the perfect place to bring your dogs! We snowshoed around but mainly just encouraged the dogs to run. They are so fun in the snow. Especially when Neela is nearly as tall as the snow is deep. After playing we went home and prepared a roast and then off to the Hobbit. Couldn't have asked for a better day. 

[Warning... Lots of snowshoeing pictures ahead]

Driving up the road to our destination. 

see what I mean. nice view and remember, this is from the camera.

husband. and dog.

action

Neela is such a chunk. 

serious sibling love-playing-what is going on here?  

action shot. 

action shot. 

MSR's are the bomb. 

SubaruLOVE. Best Car ever! 

Snowbeard!

All in all, Chritsmas 2012 was a success! We got to see our families and some friends. We kept it simple but sweet. It is such a wonderful life. 

Snow Day.

Today was our first official SNOW DAY here in Estes. We arrived home yesterday afternoon, just in time to get excited for all the snow that was already here. And then to find out we were getting inches more. Ecstatic. We woke up to inches and inches. YAY! Which can only mean one thing when you don't have to work and it's the first decent POW (short for snow powder FYI). GO SNOWBOARDING. This will be our first time this season in backcountry!

I am overjoyed! We've been praying and hoping, even dressing for snow in hopes that it would appear. And it did. I'm sure pictures will follow but if you wonder what we will be doing today, imagine us up on the mountain side snowshoeing all the way to the top (Split boards would be nice but way to expensive for us folks) and then taking that sweet little ride to the bottom. In company of good friends. Cheers!

A refresher last from last year.

Indiana

I just listened to "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas"  -Frank Sinatra style. Talk about putting me over the edge. Lately, as I currently have my own home (or rental, however you call it), I can't stop thinking about home. My home in Indiana. My mom was the best Christmas decorator. She went all out and we have boxes and boxes of unique things. I used to think she was crazy for this. I mean seriously, the decor is only up for a few weeks. Now I am wishing I had a million boxes so I could decorate too. 

Listening to this song, it took me back to my home with cookies baking and snow falling. The fire in the living room and watching christmas movies. Waking up to my dad playing the very best Christmas music on the piano (He's really talented) every Christmas Day and eating cinnamon rolls. Lounging in our pajamas all morning, opening gifts and just enjoying the company and season. 

Hanging out with my best friends and shopping with them. The mall is so magical this time of year. Every store has Christmas music. 

Getting to see my very favorite extended family. I am really looking forward to at least seeing one side of my family this year. And hopefully seeing a few from the other :)

Now I have two families (lucky girl! I know!) and I know it will never be the same as it was but that's okay cause I have those wonderful memories and some day I will have my own little family. As much as I don't want to admit this, I am hoping I have boxes and boxes of Christmas decor. 

Winter 2009- before Kev went to Breck

mom and me... baking

snow playing at home.

Home

House House... It's a home!

Well folks, this is a little late. Don't they say something about all in due time...right? Anyways, I finally got a hosue picture for all to see! I know my family is super stoked about that one:) 

We moved into our house and waited two weeks for our furniture which my gracious in-laws kindly drove to us. (Thank you). You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get organized without your furtniture. Needless to say things might still be sitting on our kitchen table in boxes. It's a process. I am waiting to find the perfect piece to sit next to the door so we can store hat and gloves and dog leashes, sunglasses and chapsticks. Until we get that those boxes will just have to wait although I think Ikea might have what we are looking for!!

I think it's true what they say, when you get a bigger house, you get things to fill it. I never was a beleiver but after moving from a 500 square foot house to a 1400 foot one, we had a lot of filling. Oh my goodness I've never bought so many chairs at once! Of course, we have a lot of friends over frequently so they were needed. The best thing about our house is the dog room/work room. Don't worry, if you plan on visiting, we have the best rated air mattress and will gladly clean it up. We like company!!  But I love this space. I couldn't complete any of my little projects if it weren't for that room. 

Don't get me started on that gear room. Oh my. Finally, a living area where snowboards aren't hanging on the walls and climbing gear doesn't hit my head when I open the door. YAY

So originally I only took one picture because every where else is a mess. That's what traveling and puppies will do to a couple. But I changed my mind.

ENJOY!

Living room. Windows look out to mountains

Our deck. off the living room

View off the deck

I love you laundry machines!

Kitchen. Not what I would prefer but it works! 

odd window off the kitchen. what do you even do with this space? 

some of the chairs I was talking about.. off the kitchen. and those curtains are horrendous. but at least they are free and functional. 

off the kitchen, with the room full of chairs. At our old house we have lots of storage for all this, but not anymore. The kitchen actually has less cabinet space then our old house.

Stairway off the living room. We love all the windows!

Spare Bedroom/ current work room. Latest project. Twin bed and night stand!! can't wait to sell them and reap in my hard work :)

Our gear room!! sure it has a little leak but we just avoid that spot. 

We have a jecket/coat problem. Entrance

From the outside. 

is it really already November 10th

Oh my goodness friends and families, time passed by. I mean, is it really already this late in the year. I am so so very excited for the holidays coming up! We will be visiting both of our families! The snow will be falling and tis the baking season!

Let me update you! We've officially moved, we have all our furniture and kitchen utensils. We are set and it feels great to have your own "stuff". I know, I know, you people need pictures and I haven't taken any and right now isn't a good time cause the place is a mess! But next time.

Plus, it's really hard taking pictures of your house when you can't stop taking pictures of little pup-girl, Neela. She is adorable and wild, growing everyday! Her and Callahan play nonstop.

I've found a new hobby and it's so fun and relaxing. It's refinishing furniture!! Now that I can take a picture of. This was an old, ugly end table. Now it's pretty and stores our blankets! Trying to decide between the blue lamp and the aspen tree lamp that the hubs made. Any opinions?

I hope everyone is doing wonderful. I feel like I'm over worked and exhausted but that's what working overtime and having a puppy in the house will do to a girl. 

Cheers! Meg

JONES BOARDS

A few weekends ago we went down to Ft. Collins for a showing of a snowboarding movie. It's one of those "big deal, awesome people are in it, lots of cool stuff given away" movies. Do you remember the old school ski videos where they jumped off rocks. I remember my parents would get them and we would just sit down in the basement and watch them with amazement. Well, things have come a long way.

Jeremy Jones, creator of JONES snowbaords, made a movie. He's actually made two so far and I believe the third one is probably already in the works. These movies are awesome, especially for us rural mountain folk who actually board backcountry and use split boards (I really want one. HintHint parents).His first movie was Deeper, second is Further. 

I just had to share the trailer. I want people to get it. To understand why we do what we do and why we are so in love with snow and mountains. Anyways, it's an awesome little trailer none the less, whether you snowboard or not. Check it out!

He also started this cool nonprofit called Protect our Winters (POW). "We represent the global snow sports community – there are 21 million of us in the US alone. Clearly, it’s time for us all to step up and take responsibility to save a season that fuels our passions but is also the foundation for our livelihoods, our jobs and the economic vitality of our mountain regions."

Jeremy Jones' Further Trailer - Teton Gravity Research's 2012 HD Snowboard Film from Teton Gravity Research on Vimeo.

JONES BOARDS