Colorado Christmas

 The plan was to be in Castle Rock for Christmas day.  The weather didn't cooperate, so we opted to delay the trip until we were sure the roads were clear.  The drive over was uneventful, but we had to stay in Grand Junction the first night to avoid going over Vail and Loveland Passes at night.
We went to church Sunday morning at the Pear Valley Ward in Grand Junction.  The building was obviously built in the 60's.  The Sacrament bread trays didn't even have handles!  They looked like Catholic collection plates.  Three missionaries spoke with the obligatory rest hymn.
We hit the road and arrived in Castle Rock by 4:00.

 
Once at the Johnson's we had Christmas number two.  Stephanie had kept the presents we had sent so we could see the kids open them.  Zoe's gift to her (Zoe and I had shopped when they were here in November) was Elf Legos that we had stuffed to mute and covered with a blanket so she couldn't guess what was inside.  Steph has always been a master at guessing the contents! Zoe's only clue was that it was "soft."  I love the picture I captured when she opened Zoe's gift.  Steph had gifts for us as well and stockings even! She is pretty incredible.  Our kids had shared their favorite Christmas stories, and Stephanie put the memories in a scroll we will cherish.

Swimming at the hotel pool was on the agenda while Matt and Charlie picked up supplies to finish the floor molding.  Steph had ripped up the carpet in the living room and laid down new flooring.  She had painted the red brick fireplace and it looks fantastic!
Charlie, Steph and I took an afternoon to go downtown Castle Rock.  We ate in the B and B Cafe.  It had the same bar with Italian marble when it was built in the early 1900's. There is a bullet hole in the tin tile ceiling (just over my head by the light) from an altercation on February 14, 1946.  The town marshal, Ray Lewis, was shot and killed by a 17 year old Denver fugitive who was fleeing from killing 2 policemen in Denver the week before.  Ray didn't even have a gun because Castle Rock, at the time, only had a population of 400 and everyone knew each other.  It is said that the only crime in 1946 was knocking over outhouses on Halloween.  Sad. Ray Lewis left a wife and young family.

We had a great time with the Johnsons.  I love how Zoe is so good with Miles.  She is such a super sister!!

 We headed home on the 29th.  The sun balls in the forecast somehow disappeared when we hit the Loveland Pass. Treacherous roads!  We even came upon a single car rollover that had just barely happened!!  The police had just gotten there and were walking to the car.  Creepy to think that the jeep had just passed us.  As dangerous as it was, it was sure pretty.  At one stop Charlie bought me a Snickers.  (I wasn't really cranky.  Just scared to death.)  We made it out of the Denver mountains and found dry ground until we got to Richfield.  Snowed all the way to past Beaver!  We were so glad to be home!!