Great weekend

Tam was working this weekend... that's not why it was great.

Grandpa Tom and grandma Judy got here by Friday dinner time. We had a nice time with them hanging out by the fireplace and chatting. Max was real excited to see them. He stayed awake until 9 and I got him to bed just before Tam got home. whew.

Dad and I went on some errands and then cut down some dying oaks and cut up them and some left overs from the tree pruning. It was great to get help. Judy and Max made some valentines for all the kids. Then we hung out by the fireplace again and played some cards later. I turned them on to 'An Inconvenient Truth'. Dad said he liked it. Todd is the one that gave me it for Christmas... nice. Dad also made a comment about how he really liked the house and the knotty pine ceiling in the big room. He's said that before. Yeah, it is pretty nice. He is thinking he wants to hang here for a week at a time once he retires. That would be cool.

So Sunday am, dad and Judy left after breakfast. And it finally was forecast to be 'warm'. Last 2 weeks have been below zero every night with lowest low of -26. Sunday got to 24 degrees in bright sun! It was very nice. Max and I walked up the river [which has frozen over almost everywhere this year due to low current] and checked out the neighborhood from a different perspective. I've been on the river when everything is greeen, but you can see a lot more now. We walked up the river to the bend and then walked one of the animal trails. Tons of tracks. A super-highway. Max was saying he was a little scared because I told him about all the animal tracks. Of course, they are "more scared of you" so no worries. We walked back and sat on the shore in the dry long grass in the sun. Beautiful. I told Max that this was feeling awesome and that I love him. We hung there for a few minutes and then Max wanted to walk back. I reluctantly agreed. Then we played on the ridge knocking down some small brush with Max sliding down the snow trying to climb the down brush and logged pine. He was having such a great time. To be 4 1/2 half again.... :)

Tam got home and since she had the skates in my car that she took to work, Max and I knew we could skate for a hour before sunset. A nice large section of the river right in front of the house is smooth as a fresh zamboni track. Max skated for the first time with my cut down hockey stick and the infamous tape ball. I got some good video. It's great to have that river. I don't ever want to leave here!

Aside:
Tam has talked about not totally liking her job. No details will be noted here. She has a fantasy of working in Denver at the BOP training center. I'd love the skiing there, but I just can't think now about parting from this place. It's just too nice.