2009 Christmas Card

We (or I) decided that I just couldn't bring myself to get our holiday card ready to mail.  We decided it would be ok and a good idea to just post our photo on the blog and then email out. It doesn't mean we think any less of any one of you!!  We are thinking of all our family and friends this holday season.  We hope you have a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year.

I don't do the traditional holiday letter, but I figure if you want to see what we have been up to this year--just keep reading the blog!!  It will get you caught up.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.

Hoke Holiday Party

Last Saturday we hosted a small gathering of friends at our house.  We simply asked them to bring a side dish/appetizer and a bottle of wine.  We had a wonderful turnout and an even better time.  It will so nice to have the house filled with laughter, music and even some little ones running around.  I know I had a great time (maybe too much wine) and I hope everyone else did also.

We have only been here a short time, but we have really made some great friends!!

Jess and Lisa being silly in the kitchen.

Hi Joe!! 

Mike wouldn't look at the camera.

Still....I got nothing, but we were really glad and he and Susan joined us.

Barbara and Adrienne chillin in the living room.

Group photo of the girls (minus Babs--sorry Babs). We couldn't have been happier to have Kendal and her family with us.  Kendal is a former USA Volleyball employee and we miss her so much!!  She is standing next to me.

I guess it just got too late for Joe, he decided to take a nap.

To all our wonderful friends--thanks again and I hope you all have a very Happy Holiday.

Pikes Peak Volleyball MS Run/Walk

Saturday morning, December 12, the Pikes Peak Volleyball Club that Layne plays for (and I coach) had a fundraising run/walk for Multiple Sclerosis.  I thought it was a wonderful opportunity for Layne to raise money for a good cause and then also participate in a mini-marathon.  I did have good intentions to join her; however, the sinus infection I got after Thanksgiving kinda prevented me from running.

Layne was able to raise over $350 and I thought that was pretty great!!  We also want to thank all of you who helped her raise so much money.

Layne with some girls from the club--getting ready for the run.

In my absence, Heath was a good sport and went with Layne.

A blurry photo of the three of us--who took that photo??

Layne and Morgan, one of her teammates.

Heath and Layne during the race.

It was actually a very nice morning--a little chilly at the beginning.

They made it!!

Good job Heath and Layne and way to support a great cause.

Happy Holidays

Please click on the link below to view are super great holiday greeting.

Happy Holidays from the Hokes

The Hoke Family Tree

Heath has been somewhat overcome by the urge to hike--like all the time.  He has gone on 3 significant hikes in the last month and even in the snow!!  He has another planned for next weekend that includes camping overnight.  Now, the thought of camping in the winter has zero interest to me, but he is super excited.  I really wish he would take the time to get on here and document his adventures for all of you.  I will try to encourage him.  He has some great pictures.  This would lead me to the subject of this blog--our family Christmas tree 2009.  Normally we have a real tree; we just go to Lowe's and pick a nicely shaped tree.  We received information that, here in Colorado Springs, you can purchase a permit and travel into the mountains a bit and cut down your own tree.  Since Heath has become quite the mountain man, this option was very appealing to him.

I was reluctant to go, only because I was sick (and because they had some beautiful trees at Whole Foods!!) and I just wanted to rest, but I braved the elements and it was actually a wonderfully amazing time.  I also must remind myself of an earlier blog about creating memories, etc....  So, shame on me for even thinking that I was too sick to venture out into the forest with my family and pick our tree.  I will let Heath have this one, it was a great idea and I believe a tradition we will keep for some years to come.  I also think it gets better with experience--ya know, where the better trees can be found.  We also took this great opportunity to take our holiday photo.  Let me just tell you that is turned out great, but will not be viewed in this blog--you will have to wait a little longer for that.  Now, let me get on with our Hoke Family Tree adventure and photos.

We found a nice place to park and immediately had to decide to go North or South (that might be wrong, it is hard to know my directions when I am IN the mountains).  We trudged up the first hill and came across millions of pine cones and I decided that I wanted some for decorations--made Heath go back to the car to get a bag!!  While he was gone, Layne and I took some silly photos.  Here she is trying to get the cover off the ax so that she can pretend to chop this dead tree.

Can't get it off, no problem, we are just pretending anyway--right!!

The walking really wasn't too bad, just enough snow to make it pretty but not too much that it was difficult to maneuver.  I did have to stop occasionally to catch my breath and wipe my nose--but I kept going.  This is just a photo that Layne and I took on one of our stops.

And here is another of Heath and I.

So, we got our Christmas photo, collected pine cones and then finally decided on a tree.  I know I didn't expect to just look out the car and find the perfect tree.  We had already been warned that these trees would be more sparse than your average tree from a store or lot and they obviously wouldn't have been pruned and trimmed to be perfect.  So, with all that, we did decide on one that would work--actually Layne is the one who found this tree.  I did have a few requests and mostly that it was a fir--with short needles.  So, it qualified and Layne was very happy with what she found.  It is hard to tell in the photo, especially with the larger tree trunk in the background.

She also decided that she would be the one to chop it down.  She wanted no help and was determined to do it herself.  Besides chopping the tree, she also did a bit of chopping on the ground--but she did it!

And she was so proud of herself when it came down--it was wonderful to watch.

She likes this photo because she thought it was so funny.  We could see other stumps from those that had gotten their trees before us and most used a nice saw and had a straight cut--she liked hers because it was so chopped up and nubby.  We have cut that end off the tree to save!!

I do love this photo, but I must tell you that right after it was taken Heath proceeded to throw Layne down in the snow.  She was just upset that she didn't see it coming.

While Heath was getting the car, Layne and I once again took some silly photos.  Although, I really like how this one turned out.  It is hard for me to believe how big she is getting, but we still get along so well.  She is a great kid and seems to enjoy her time with us--so there isn't much more I could possibly ask for.

The final task was to get that tree on the car.  We learned, once we got home, that she was 18 feet!!  They just don't seem that big out there in the forest. 

We got the tree home safely and Heath and Layne decided to cut her down to 12 feet.  That is a little taller than I had planned but we do have very high ceilings that can accommodate a tree that size.  Layne really wanted to keep it big and we just made sure it didn't hit the ceiling fan.  We are still in the process of finishing the decorations and will get up pictures of the final product.

I hope all of you are making some wonderful holiday memories for you and your family.  Thanks for sharing in ours.  This is a wonderfully magical time of year, no matter how old you are--enjoy and don't let the stress or busyness ruin it for you.  Take the time to stop and enjoy what is really important.

I have this quote on the front page of this blog and I also have it as a gift from Layne on a photo she took and had framed for me--but I will put it up again because it seems appropriate.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

USAV Holiday Party

The 2009 USAV Holiday party was, once again, great.  This year we had a room at UCCS.  The food was yummy, our annual fundraiser was fun and I had a wonderful time.  It was very cold and snowy and I opted for pants this year.  I was also sick and didn't fell like getting all dressed up.  Next year.

Heath and I being really stupid.  There was a piano and this seemed reasonable??

A picture of Bill taking a picture of me--funny.

Heath and the boys chatting--this one makes me laugh also.

We were the last ones there--again!!

Great fun and great people that I work with!!

Happy Holidays

November

I am not going to say it again--you know, I am so sorry it has taken me so long........it just has and it isn't like I haven't tried.  I have tried to post this 4 times now--blogger is getting really frustrating lately.  I will keep at it because I know this is a great way to keep everyone connected to our family.  This is going to be a long one, so get a drink and a comfortable chair.

At some point in the last month (it is just a blur), Layne got to get her four braces off.  She was very excited; I am just hoping they don't decide they need to put them back on at some point.  Her teeth look great, for now, and she is happy.

Also, at some point in the last month, I won a sandwich tray from Safeway!!  It was a very weird thing--I got a call at work that I had won.  I didn't even know I had entered, so it was a super surprise.  I guess at some point I had put my business card in the drawing!!  It was really good.

This is just a photo of the mountains from our house.  We have gotten much more snow this year--well, the mountains just west of us have and they are so beautiful when all the trees have snow on them.

Shortly before our Thanksgiving trip to Iowa we had another day of snow and went for a drive up Cheyenne Canyon.  For those of you who have visited, this would be Helen Hunt Falls.  It is such a beautiful drive this time of year and here are just a few photos that Layne took--it is hard to capture just how pretty it really is.

This next photo I took one Saturday morning--actually the Saturday morning before Thanksgiving.  Layne was still sick and Heath was asleep.  I was in the kitchen making coffee with my back to the window.  As I was standing there, this crazy huge shadow passed by the house.  It was almost like an alien movie; it was just so big and passed by the sun so slowly, it was creepy.  When I looked out to see what the heck it was, I saw this hot air balloon passing super close to our house.  By the time I got Heath and Layne out of bed and took this photo, it was kinda far away--still very cool with the mountains in the background.

Now begins our Thanksgiving adventure to Iowa.  We left CO on Tuesday morning and had great driving all the way out.  We were fortunate enough this time to have some great friends watch our two big dogs--so our stops were much faster with just Pedro and Baly. 

On Wednesday we met all 4 ladies from the Iowa Region office (my old job before we moved to CO).  We had a great lunch with them in Des Moines and it was so wonderful to see them and catch up, but I have no photos.

  We also got to see their new and super cool office.

  We left them to met Jessica, Zach, Hayes and Camrin (my sister's family) at the mall in Des Moines for some cousin pictures.  It was a very entertaining activity--Camrin was very upset and cried a lot and Hayes was just a goof ball, 4 year old boy!!  We laughed a lot and the pictures were great.

Just before all those photos, the kids got to see Santa and ride the Christmas train.  This is my sister Jessica with Layne.  I think Layne looks so old in this photo--it is a great photo of both of them.

We headed to Jordan Creek after the photo session and met my mom so that she could do some shopping with Layne. Below is my brother-in-law and niece at Jordan Creek Mall.

While at Jordan Creek, Hayes was able to make his Christmas moose (Henry) at Build-A-Bear.  He really had a lot of fun filling him up and giving him a "bath"--serious business.

Camrin wasn't so hip on the Hoke's at first, but really took a liking to Heath.  Or she was just super tired after pictures and shopping that she didn't really care who was holding her??  But it sure was cute.

We are still on Wednesday--Heath and I left the family at the and headed to Oskaloosa, IA to watch our dear friend Darren and his band.  This was his really old band from the 80's, so we got to hear some classics.  It was so much fun to be there and hear him sing again.  We always loved going to the shows--really miss that.

Darren the rock star.

Heath and Darren.

Thursday started just how it should, cooking and baking in Joyce's kitchen.  Here is my mom and grandma Joyce.

My mom's oldest brother and his family were also there and it is always great to see them.  This is my cousins Erica and Dana with Layne.

A lovely snap shot of Jessica and Zach.  Maybe this is why Hayes makes funny faces in pictures??

These would be the four grandkids together.  Yes, it is a little blurry and that would be Heath taking the photo.

I took a picture of Gordy carving the turkey--I think he looks irritated with me.

It was a really great day with the family.  It was great to have Grandma Joyce's famous favorites and to just relax a little bit at the farm--I also really miss those days.

On Friday morning we headed to Pella, IA and our usual spot at Smokey Row to have a Fusion reunion.  We did a very poor job of giving notice, but we got to see many and it was wonderful.

After that great morning, we then were scheduled to head to the Smith family Thanksgiving at my Uncle Jay and Aunt Laura's house.  I didn't take enough photos there, sorry.

This is my aunt Amy and her youngest son, Charlie.  He is getting so big!!

You would think that the day might be over, but no!!  Jessica and I packed a bag and headed to Iowa City for a girls night out with my best friend from school--Kari.  It has been several years since we have seen each other and it was really great.  It was great to see her and great to go out--we had a blast.  I also have many more photos that I will not be posting here.

This is a photo with me and Jessica and I thought it was a great one.  We don't have many of these.

Kari and I--the night is young and we are just getting started.  Kari looked fabulous, her kids are adorable and she has a sweet house!!  Thanks again for the wonderful memories--I hope we can do it again soon.

I also wanted to include this photo that Kari posted on Facebook a few months ago.  This photo is Kari and I in 1994ish?  She was visiting me at college.  Just thought everyone might enjoy the reference.

Another great photo of the three of us together.  There was plenty of laughing that night.  We did stay the night at Kari's house and enjoyed coffee with her Saturday morning.

Saturday was another low-key day.  I took Jessica home to Newton and then we all met at the Mexican restaurant in Knoxville before heading to the farm for left-overs and some much needed down-time.

I was just trying to get a cute photo of Hayes and I, but he would not have it.  I suppose this one is much better anyway.

Later that evening we had our Christmas, since we will be unable to travel back to Iowa for Christmas this year.  I will explain all of that later.  Here is Layne and my mom just before we begin to open gifts.

Layne got the new Converse she really wanted--she was super happy.  She keeps them in the box and wipes them off when she takes them off.  They are zebra print with sequins.

That would mean that it is Sunday and time to pack up to travel back home.  There is never enough time to do everything, but we were fortunate to see so many family and friends.  It seemed like a super fast trip, I am sure since we were so busy, but it really was a great trip back.  Thanks to all we got to see and made time for us and put up with our crazy schedule.  We wish all of you a happy holiday season.

Before I finish, we did have one last stop before really getting on the road.  My dad is living in Des Moines and we were able to meet him for breakfast Sunday morning.  It was last minute and we didn't get nearly enough time with him, but it was a great and memorable breakfast.  He took us to the Machine Shed (which we had never been) and they have excellent food and a cool gift shop.  Layne decided to order the cinnamon roll--no harm, just a simple cinnamon roll.  The very nice waiter brought it to her early, I guess they were running out--must be a favorite of many.  Well, to our surprise--it was kinda big.......

She was unable to finish it, even with all three of us taking a bite.  She had a snack on the way home and breakfast Monday morning.  Thanks again, dad, great breakfast!!

I am trying to capture the spirit of the season and change our thinking--at our house.  I just don't think the most important thing about this holiday season is gifts--I can probably only name a dozen gifts I have receive in the last 34 years--don't get me wrong, I appreciate every single one of them.  I just feel like it is such the focus but it is the memories that stay with us.  I am trying really hard to make those memories and to make the gifts fall further down the list of priorities.  I came across this silly simple quote that I will leave you with.

The Best Things in Life are Free.