When I started writing this two weeks ago, I was talking about a much more mild Christmas this year than last year's blizzards. However, it turned out that the 2007 Christmas had the most snow of any Christmas Day on record for Denver. We missed it as we were in Minnesota with Britta's family for an equally white and much more blustery Christmas. This year all of Britta's siblings made it in for Christmas in Lake Crystal.
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Britta's hair continued its growing trend. She's had to reintroduce herself to people she's known for years, including a cousin. It took 3 girlfriends and 2 glasses of wine to learn how to put her hair up in a ponytail this summer.
Ryan is now in his 5th year at CSS. He took a larger role participating in a six-month internal tool upgrade. He also has started to work with some newer programming technologies.
Britta is enjoying her role at Wheat Ridge 2020. This year she has learned more about lending as she distributes and manages low-interest loans for home rehabs and business improvements. She also enjoys creating neighborhood programs and handling the communications for the non-profit organization.
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Wyoming
- Montana
- Idaho
- Utah
- Minnesota (x3)
Colorado trips:
- Camping by Como
- Crested Butte
- Vail
- Keystone
- Breckenridge
- Gunnison
- Creede
- Dinosaur National Monument
- Shelf Lake
- Rocky Mtn National Park
-Steamboat Springs
We made the trek to MN three times this year (Feb to see Garrett play basketball and June for his high school graduation and Christmas). It was great to celebrate with family and finally play Guitar Hero. The Feb ice storm and Christmas chill and whiteout weather made us appreciate our more temperate Colorado.
Our big trip was to Germany and Switzerland in celebration of our 5th Anniversary. We spent 16 days exploring all over Germany and soaking up the Alps in Switzerland. We flew in and out of Munich and some highlights include: exploring Berlin which had changed so much since Britta was last there in the early 90s, visiting great aunt Inge in Kassel and exploring nearby 15th century village Hann Münden, two days on the Rhein River and tasting wine all along the way, visiting great uncle Peter in Frankfurt and dining in an old time pub, taking in the beauty of Lucerne, staying 6 days in Mürren in the Lauterbrünnen Valley of the Alps, exploring the top of the Jungfrau and shopping in Swiss mountain villages, exploring a gorge filled with waterfalls by Garmisch- Partenkirchen, visiting 3 Olympic sites, and enjoying being together. View a slideshow with some of our favorite pictures.
We went to four states over the Labor Day weekend and visited friends we grew up with while we were in Billings, MT - Kristi (Pettis) Osterlund and Esther (Burgdorf) Yunkin. We were based out of Red Lodge and enjoyed the beautiful drive on the Beartooth Highway.
We also enjoy living in a beautiful state. We spent many weekends exploring new towns, mountain passes and trails. In particular, we've enjoyed a John Fielder book that shows us exactly where all the hidden treasures are as well as a 4x4 trail book for our Jeep.
Recommended Reading Ryan:
"Dreaming in Code: Two Dozen Programmers, Three Years, 4,732 Bugs, and One Quest for Transcendent Software"- This is an interesting read for non-programmers if you want to understand what I do.
Not only did we get out and about to visit family and friends, we had lots of visitors here in Colorado.
The family made a steady stream through the Denver area. Sister Krista came for a snowboarding spring break as did Cousin Denise's family. Aunts and Uncles were plentiful as Wally and Joanne (Britta's), John (Ryan's), Mary Kay and John (Ryan's) and Tom and Cheryl (Britta's) all stopped by. Britta's long-time 4-H friend Jeni and her husband Lucius came through town as did college suitemate Emily Dalen and family as well as a brief visit from college friend Jen Afdahl Rice. Childhood friend and neighbor Nicole Peterson has moved to Vail and we are enjoying catching up and playing in the snow.
Colorado is a great place to visit. We're pretty familiar with all parts of the state now and are happy to assist in making recommendations for sites and experiences. We'd love to see you.
Reading from Britta:
"Lamb: The Gospel According to
Biff Christ's Childhood Pal" by Christopher Moore
"Kindred" by Octavia Butler
Britta is very passionate about finding ways to help communities provide affordable housing. Since coming to Colorado, Britta has had first-hand experience seeing how a stable roof over one's head can help families have the capacity to deal with their family's needs and create stability. Britta has volunteered for several years and served as Chair of the Colorado Housing Investment Fund Coalition. For the next 11 months she will be helping lead the effort to secure a dedicated source of funding for affordable housing investment in Colorado. This will involve putting bills through the legislature and referring something to the voters of Colorado in November 2008. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to help this effort. Britta looks forward to the challenges and ultimately to crossing "help create a housing fund for Colorado" off her to-do list. :)
In 2007, the Urban Servant Corps celebrated 20 years of servanthood. Britta worked hard on the 20th Anniversary Committee and had a great time seeing her housemates and other volunteers at the big event, "ServantStock," in June.
- Psych
- Monk
- Survivor: China
- Studio 60
- Chuck
- How I Met Your Mother
- Big Bang Theory
Ryan had a good time biking and hiking this year. Last year he was given some Road Biking books with route and ride ideas for Christmas. He is putting the books to good use this year and finding lot's of fun mountain roads to go on. You can read about his favorite hike of the year on the blog.
Ryan and Britta both did some golfing this summer. Britta cites her top achievement in 2007 as winning the women's longest drive and women's best foursome at the West Chamber Tournament in August.
No glasses or contacts, Britta is a free woman! She took the plunge and got lasik in April. She loves it and is thankful for uncle (and eye surgeon) Jim's help in the process. Ryan watched the 5-minute procedure and can tell you exactly what is involved if you like. Britta tried not to think about it and is happy to see clearly.
For fun, Britta keeps busy with the Drinking Club with a Book Problem and her women's discussion group. Ryan and Britta both participate in a great small group at Hope Community Church. And of course, there is lots of hiking with our friend, Bobbie Jo.
After almost 5 years, Ryan's Subaru broke down for good. After looking around we decided to buy a new 2007 Jeep Liberty. The Jeep handles the snow, it has room for a bike in back, and it can get us to some fun trailheads. We have already taken it on several fun backcountry trails.
The Colorado Rockies had a great run at the end of the season and kept us entertained. We were fortunate to get tickets to an NLCS game and endured the cold rain and sleet with a packed Coors Field. It was exciting to watch them win the NLCS, but it was a disappointingly short World Series. In the summer we attended an outdoor lacrosse game which broke a record for the highest attendance for lacrosse in the US. And we are excited to watch the Vikings play the Broncos in person at Mile High Dec 30.
- Arapahoe Basin
- Beaver Creek
- Breckenridge
- Keystone
- Vail
We feel blessed with health, family, friends and new experiences. We hope that this season finds you enjoying many blessings as well.
Merry Christmas!
Britta & Ryan