Welcome 2014.

Downtown Denver fireworks

First Week Back in Denver

I spent Christmas day with a great group of people volunteering at the women's homeless shelter.  The amount of food and goodies that were donated for the ladies absolutely amazed me!

Lunch Buffet

On Friday evening, I visited the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder, CO.  After having a very lazy few days, I am happy I convinced myself to head to Boulder because the Dairy Center was definitely worth it!  First, I walked through the art gallery and saw the Bike Art exhibit that was on display.  Bike art!!!  It couldn't get much cooler than that!  I then bought a ticket for an evening movie that was showing in the Center's cinema.  The movie, Desert Runners, was a documentary about a group of non-professional runners that decided to compete in 4 ultra marathons in 4 different deserts around the world in a one year time span.  In total, the runners raced 600 miles in temperatures up to 115*F!!  Very inspiring film but definitely not something I would ever dream of participating in!

Yay!!  And (of course) the bike gallery would not
be complete without a section devoted to my favorite
place in the world--Copenhagen, Denmark! 

Happy!

Happy to be home!  Thank you Denver for welcoming me back with cold weather and snow!

SURPRISE!

Back in September, I booked a flight to California for Christmas.  

Best thing was my mom had NO idea.  It was a complete surprise!! 

My uncle was in on the secret.  He picked me up from
the airport and drove me to my mom's house.  My mom
thought she was spending the day with her favorite brother...
she would really be spending it with me! 

We had lunch at Chicago Fire with good friends Dana, Margaret, Kerri & Brian.

I then spent time with some of my favorite kids-
Tom....

Julie...

...and Zane! 

Ended my trip by spending some time with Grandpa. 

Blossoms of Light

After missing my bus home that only runs once every hour, I decided to walk a few blocks and visit the Botanic Gardens.  During the holiday season, the Gardens has an event called the Blossoms of Light.  I usually do not get excited about celebrating the holidays but the snow on the ground has definitely put me in the Christmas spirit.  Here are a few pictures.

Another FREE Museum Saturday

For free museum Saturday this morning I visited the Denver Art Museum. From the photos I took, I think I liked the modern art area the best, but there were some other fun areas as well! 

The "red room"

A wall of used erasers.

Furniture Gallery

Textiles 

Denver Weather

Here is a picture of a news article from this evening. Minus 13 degree here in Denver!!  Wind chill is minus 31!!!  Everytime I think it's cold, it manages to get even colder!

Grand Illumination

Tonight was the Grand Illumination of Union Station in Denver. The website said "Following a countdown shortly after 6:30p.m., Denver Union Station will be ablaze with brightly colored lights illuminating the historic structure in the heart of Lower Downtown and its lighted tree in front."  The picture below shows Union Station....such a disappointment.  When the station lit up, the crowd went silent for a second, then erupted in laughter.  We left when the booing began.  There were ZERO Christmas lights and NO tree at the so-called Grand Illumination.   

We then walked down 16th Street to see some actual Christmas lights & decorations before ending up at a German Christmas Market in downtown.  I was excited to see a Danish bakery stand, but after eating Danish pastries in Denmark for 6 months, I wasn't impressed with what they had to offer. Instead I settled on a mug of warm gluhwein. 

16 St. Mall 

Clock Tower 

 German Glühwein

Finally found a Christmas tree
down by the outdoor ice-skating rink in the
middle of town.

Happy Thanksgiving

My first Colorado Thanksgiving was great!  I started my morning with a 4-mike Turkey Trot around Wash Park, had dinner at the twins house and am now volunteering overnight at a women's homeless shelter.

The First Snow

20 degrees below freezing.
I knew it got cold in CO but this is crazy....

Walking to breakfast 

Riding my bike to babysitting

Blanket of snow

Colorado Supreme Court

My friend Diana got me in touch with Justice Monica Marquez 

from the Colorado Supreme Court.  I met Justice Marquez this morning

for a tour of the new courthouse & a cup of coffee.  

The floor of the building represents Colorado's state flower. 

The ceiling and most walls of the building are windows, symbolizing the transparency of the court. 

Inside of the Supreme Court

Interactive learning center

It's Official

You can follow this link, type in my name & see that I really am an attorney!
http://www.coloradosupremecourt.com/search/attsearch.asp

The following pictures are from my swearing in ceremony Monday, November 4.  One of the little girls I babysat for in Boulder has grandparents out here in Denver--Diana & Marty Flahive.  They were happy to join me at the ceremony and be my "grandparents-for-a-day."

Celebration Lunch with Diana & Marty