4.0

Ever since he started middle school, James has wanted to have a 4.0 GPA.  Last year, he got close, but this year he did it! 

Proof.

The awards ceremony was last night.  All the 4.0 students were called to the stage...

where they received a sticker and a certificate. 

Smart kids.  

Lots of smart kids.   James is in the back row and completely invisible!

Hurray for James! 

January 2015

Snake charmer

Emma is hard on her toys, but this giant, squeaky snake has survived several months of play mostly intact.

Even more surprising, some of the squeakers still work! 

Running and squeaking. 

Twirling. 

Breaking its neck. 

Emma means business.

If this was a mouse, it would be dead. 

S is for snake. 

Squashed S is for squashed snake. 

 This can go on all day.

January 2015

More snow

We were only supposed to get a little snow today, but it's really coming down.

Darcy is in her element. 

Snow beast. 

Snow beard. 

Emma is less of a fan. 

She says, "Can it be Spring now?" 

January 2015

Candyland

While we were waiting to be seated at Beau Jo's, we visited the candy store on the corner.

James... 

and Carol are always happy to pose for my camera. 

Grumpy cats. 

Ryan is not as cooperative.

 Yay!  He gave me a photo op for my birthday!

January 2015

Birthday dinner

Yesterday was my birthday so I got to pick where we ate dinner.  I chose Beau Jo's Pizza...

in Idaho Springs.

This is a popular destination for the after-ski crowd. 

While we were waiting for our food, we explored the building.   Idaho Springs is an old mining town, so a lot of the decor reflects that.

The miner in the mineshaft.

Old time cash register.

Upstairs, the ceilings are low and pretty.

James wants this for his room. 

We managed to not write on the walls, but there may have been an incident with the marinara sauce.  Shhhh.  Don't tell.

I could look at that building all day, but eventually we did get served.  

The pizza was delicious.

So was the beer.

I even got a free "Birthday Bundt"!

Carol and the boys. 

All the Buxtons. 

January 2015

Gamers

January 2015

Slackers

These dogs are world champion sleepers.

 Conjoined again.

January 2015

Rubik's cube

Last month, James, Carol and I went to Parker to watch the Christmas Carriage Parade.  We stood behind a child playing with a Rubik's cube.  Within the first few minutes of the parade, the child had solved the cube.  Then he did it again and again.

This awoke James' competitive side.  Before I knew it, he had downloaded a Rubik's cube ap...

and this is how he spent most of the parade.

"Come on, James!  Look at the horses!" 

Since then James has become a Rubik's cube master.  Last night Carol came over for dinner, and we decided to test him. 

 On your marks, get set, GO!

The race is on. 

Flying fingers. 

Concentration. 

Done.  Two minutes, thirty four seconds. 

The champion. 

December 2014 & January 2015