So anyway, I think our last blog was Steph talking about Bob and Jo's visit, but I never wrote anything about it, so here goes. It was SUCH a fun surprise to have out of town friends waiting on me when I got home from school on my birthday. I've got such an awesome wife who loves to plan big fun stuff for me, and such great friends to want to visit me, and such great in-laws to help fund the whole deal! In addition to just the hangin' out and talking with old friends, which was super-fun, we all drove up to Breckenridge when I took the day off on Thursday. It was great that Jo and Bob didn't really have any designs on what they wanted to do, so we decided to at least try something "mountainish" while they were here. Breckenridge is a cute little mountain town, and we got to enjoy a nice drive in the mountains, though the only hiking we ended up doing was up and down Breck's main drag.
After Jo had to leave, I really enjoyed just hanging with Bob and doing some of our old stuff. We ate Taco Bell, watched 30 Rock and Office, saw a movie (Live Free or Die Hard is definitely the coolest guy-movie I've seen all year!), and talked critically about pop/rock music that we like. It was just such a nice slice of home, brought to me in a convenient Colorado-birthday-surprise package. How great!
When Bob's trip had to come to an end, we didn't have much 'regular' life before Steph and Avery got ready for their trip to Indy the next weekend. I'm speaking from my perspective, of course, but I could tell that Steph really enjoyed her trip to visit old friends and family, and of course attend the annual Taylor Alumni Softball Extravaganza! She got to hang with lots of folks in Muncie, which she loved. She got to see lots of old players and co-workers at TU, and her old team as well. And I was sooooooooooooooooooo jealous of her when she got to hang with other Colts fans and watch the game on Sunday. I know it might seem silly, but having relaxed Sundays with friends in the fall was one of my favorite things each week, and it's just not the same watching the games at home without a full house of pizza-roll-munching Colts fanatics, making it personal! So anyway, Steph had a great time being back in Indiana, and I can't necessarily give a play-by-play of everything she did, but she loved seeing everybody, and I wish I could have been there too. Avery also loved it, coming home talking about friends and family and Daisy-dog (Adam and Stacey's pooch), and what a great time she had.
While Steph was out of town, I was having a bachelor's weekend in Colorado, and I had a nice time. In addition to just some quiet time at home, I also got to hang with a couple new friends from Arapahoe. Jeff, who's also a new teacher at AHS in the foreign language department, took me for a tour of some spots in the mountains, which was great. He's a big outdoors guy, and he loved having the opportunity to share his love of the great outdoors with a new guy to the area. I enjoyed getting to spend some time with a new friend, and also getting some insight into some outdoor things to do on weekends that really aren't that far away from my house. I also just loved getting out in nature for a short hike- it's been far too long since I've really been in nature. Praise God for what a beautiful world he's made for us- and especially in Colorado! My goodness is this place pretty! I also had the chance to hang out with other new friends on Sunday. I met Jon, another new guy at AHS, and his wife Ann(e?) at a sports bar to watch football and grade papers. It was a fun time. By the way, if I haven't mentioned it in the blog lately, I'm enjoying people at AHS a lot in general, and I'm really optimistic about those relationships. It's so much different than it was at Pendleton- not because the people are nicer or anything, but because I live so much closer and I'm really in dire need of new friends. Everybody's been so welcoming to me- I had two other offers for hanging out over the weekend that I didn't even have time for. I think Arapahoe's going to be a good fit.
So that's what's been going on with trips lately. As far as regular everyday life, Avery's still doing her tumbling class which she loves. Steph and I have decided on a church to invest ourselves in a little more. (It's not necessarily our long-term decision yet, but we like Mountain View well enough to try getting involved a little more and see what happens.) I got a bike yesterday- literally only the 3rd bike of my life, and I haven't owned one since middle school- and we went on a fun family ride. I've been tutoring a few students for some extra cash, and it's fun (and lucrative!), and it's freeing Steph up to request a few more days off work. Oh yeah, and Steph's suddenly become a coffe drinker! Weekend mornings are somehow more cozy because of that, believe it or not. And we're gearing up for more visits in the next month, as Erin (Steph's friend and former assistant coach) comes next week, and as Adam and Stacey get to come out over Thanksgiving!
So I hope that catches you all up to date on the lives of the Smiths, and we'll try to blog again soon with some pics and not so many words. (Congratulations if you actually made it all the way through this. Whew! That Jeff can sure be wordy sometimes!)
thanks for the congrats because i truly read every word ... a book without pictures isn't all that bad :o)
Nice to catch up
Although your daughter IS super cute, I really did enjoy hearing what's happening in your lives. It's great to hear that you're connecting with people...my biggest hope/prayer for you guys out there.