The 'couv

A girls weekend in Vancounver is always a good idea, especially when friends let you use their free flight benefits! Spring has actually arrived in Vancouver (as opposed to Denver) so perhaps the most welcome sights were green trees and flowers. Finally!!

More to come, of course. :)

Much love from the 'couv!

A picnic and peanut sauce. Good combo.

I've been blaming Kim Jong-Un for all of my problems this past week, so I'm blaming him for my blog post slacking, too. With 33 students currently in south Korea and 20 in Japan (where his missile may fly over), that is a lot of concerned parents. Eeek.

Anyhoo, it was great to relax this weekend and to make it even better, Phil was in town! Saturday was a great day for a picnic in the park followed by ridiculous amounts of sushi Yum.

Also, this past week I came across this delish recipe for Thai chicken enchiladas. The enchiladas in their own right are delicious, but I have become slightly, okay, mildly, okay ridiculously obsessed with the peanut sauce. http://www.closetcooking.com/2010/07/thai-spicy-peanut-chicken-enchiladas.html

Not only did I devour the enchiladas, I mixed the sauce with some tuna, avocado, and tomatoes for some awesome lettuce wraps, and most recently, used this recipe from Pioneer Woman and ditched her sauce recipe (which she claims "makes the dish") in lieu of my peanut sauce dressing. And I'm not the least bit sorry! http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/03/my_most_favorite_salad_ever_ever_ever_ever/

More snow in the forecast this week. Snow and a (projected) missile launch... Bring on the week! Much love from the Rockies!

#rockiesopeningweekend

The season has begun!

To the parent who called the emergency phone at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday...

I understand that you are worried about your daughter currently studying abroad in South Korea. Yes, I have been following the news (you think I could ignore it?), and yes, I see the ever-increasing threats from North Korea.

I also follow the statements released by the US Department of State advising that US citizens in South Korea are in no greater danger than they have been in since 1953, when the war technically began between the north and the south.

No, I do not have a daughter in South Korea.

No, I can't predict what will happen in the coming weeks.

No, I cannot tell you how long it will take to get a flight out if it is deemed necessary.

No, I can't tell you if the area will be deemed a No Flight Zone.

No, I have not dealt with this particular situation before. (Have you?)

No, I cannot tell you our detailed plan if things escalate. (Do you have a crystal ball?) Do we have an emergency response plan? Absolutely. Do we have a documented Kim Jong Un plan that changes daily, no, hourly, based on the current speculations? I will ask again, do YOU?

No, I am not telling your daughter to come home.

No, am not putting my 33 "kids" intentionally in the line of missile fire, so please do not accuse me of doing so.

Yes, I get that you're worried. Yes, I get that the news is scary and no, I do not wish to diminish your concerns. But contrary to what you may believe, I did not make the decision to send your daughter to South Korea. I helped her to get there, yes, but I did not put the idea in her head nor did I pay her program fees nor did I force her to get on a plane. I am by no means saying that these were poor decisions, because they were not, but please do not blame me for these current instabilities and accuse me of not doing anything to keep your daughter safe.

You can buy plane tickets online these days and believe it or not, i am not keeping you from doing so. I would never intentionally put anyone in harms way and if you feel it has come to that, it is your decision to get her out. I will not judge you for doing so; it is not my place. Yes, I am human. Yes, the news disturbs me. But no, I am not making this decision for you.

So I ask you to kindly refrain from calling this emergency number for "updates" - I am not the State Department. And my answers will not change.

I appreciate your understanding in this matter, and I must keep this line open for student emergencies.

Good day.

Easter in Estes

I think Easter is my favorite holiday. It is getting warmer... there is lots of chocolate involved... the decorations are colorful (and filled with bunnies and chicks)... what's not to love? 

This year was even better because the fam came to ME! Easter in Estes Park = one of the best in the books :)

We rented a cabin (okay, it was more of a large house) at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park and it turned out to be a great place for us. (Who knew the YMCA was so well-equipped for large groups and children??)

Commence ridiculously-long photo montage... 

A hiking we will goooo

In case you missed it, yes, Alex is 8 going on 17 :)

Who needs a backpack?

Ella is pretty sure we should be heading back already

Of ALL the rocks on the hike, the boulders near the parking lot were the most fun. Go figure.

They were roaring like the lions like in The Lion King! Adorable.

We made a trip to Denver on Saturday!

E, you might be too big for that wagon...

Time to dye Easter eggs!

 The sunrise on Easter morning was pretty spectacular

Time to hunt!

In the mountains an Easter egg hunt requires a hiking stick, of course.

We made time for some other fun things too...

If you made it all the way to the bottom of this... congrats! You are quite dedicated. (Or just bored.)

Much love from the Rockies!