Life With A Teen

I am going to disclose something here.  Thought's that came to me 17 years ago while I was pregnant:  I was down right terrified of what the teenage years would look like with my child. At the time I knew I could confidently handle the infancy years through to the 'tween' years. I realized there would be struggles and questions and second guessing along the way but I had confidence I'd do alright as a parent for the first 13 or so years and also felt (mostly) confident that my child would turn out OK.  

It was the "breaking away" years that terrified me...the discovering yourself years...the experimenting years...the "your free to be in the world now" years...the years that I truly fucked up years.  The adults in my life were doing the best they could at the time, but there was little to no parental guidance during those years.  And left to my own devices, well, lets just say I didn't make the best choices.  I was a terrible teen. I did everything my way which almost always proved to be the wrong way.   And truth be told I was certain these years with Trax would be my karma, my payback for all the grey hairs I caused way back when.

Well here we are.  Nearly 17 years together now.  A full on teenager in our house.  Do I dare say this? Do I dare breathe into this?  Will I somehow jinx it? Here it goes: It's not that bad living with and parenting a teen.  In fact, it's pretty awesome the majority of the time. Yes, we have our struggles but they are minor compared to the debauchery I was involved in at 16.   The struggles we encounter are things like the recycling spilling out onto the kitchen floor for 2 days (how is it he doesn't see this?  it is his job after-all to keep that emptied!) And that room!  Seriously, I love science but what kind of experimental lab are you running in there?  

I have to admit there are major differences in the way I was brought up and the way I am raising Trax.  Differences that I have consciously chosen to make as a parent and experiences I have made a priority to provide him with.
So, what does all of this mean?  Mostly it means that once again, anticipating the worst was truly unnecessary. I should have known Trax was Trax regardless of his age.  Trax has always been thoughtful and compassionate and he still is.  He is trust worthy and responsible. You can have a lengthy, meaningful conversation with him.  I sincerely look forward to hanging out with him, going on mountain bike rides, camping and fishing with him and taking in an occasional movie together.  Don't get me wrong, there are days I call Alex telling him I'm going to run away.  Then Alex firmly reminds me: "Those are white people problems, Nell".
And besides, he's becoming a young man right before my eyes.  He contributes to the family in so many ways and he does the grocery shopping and cooks once a week, how could I ever complain again!

This was our kitchen at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday before we all left for school and work. Trax prepared Teriyaki Chicken Wings to put in the crock pot so we'd have a great meal when we all reconvened at 7:00 p.m.

This was our meal that evening. Served with steamed broccoli and rice. Delicious!
Pretty impressive! Especially when I think back to what I was eating at his age.

American Kestrel

The American Kestrel is a great beginner bird for Falconry.  I've been seeing them hunting perched high up on telephone posts  all over the Front Range the past several weeks and decided it was time to get a closer look and draw one while I had my coffee.

Falco sparverius
Habitat: Deserts and grasslands to alpine meadows.
Nesting: Cavity.
Food: Insects, small mammals, small birds.
Conservation: Abundant except in Florida where it is listed as threatened due to habitat loss.

Georgia Pass, Breckenridge, CO

 We spent the weekend in Breckenridge. Although they haven't had much snow there this winter we had fun exploring some new trails. Its amazing when you ride for miles through the trees and get to the top of the pass. You feel like you are on top of the world. Each peak is spectacular!

 Eliza is a long time friend. We have nearly 19 years of history together. She is here from Upstate New York for college. She's been enjoying the Colorado winter and has been skiing almost every weekend but this was her first experience on a snow mobile. I think she really liked it! I saw a lot of thumbs up from her.

The sky was unbelievably blue and clear. When we were on top of the pass we could see 100 miles.

 I'll never get tired of standing anywhere on the Continental Divide!

This is the kind of fun I need more of in my life. Somehow I gotta figure out how to balance all this school work...and get more of this again!

Mountain Snow Dog

Calving Season

I was out on a walk and happened to see this taking place in a field. Absolutely made my day!

I Carry Your Heart

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

- e. e. cummings ~

Sunday Morning Walk

An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. Henry David Thoreau

Saturday Morning Coffee

Learning to Fly!

Alex had the opportunity to fly with a friend in a Cessna Thursday afternoon. Lucky dog! 

14 Years

Have passed since my Pop's passing. There's a lot I would have loved to have shared with him during those years.

Here he is with my sister Terri to his right, my brother Timmy and my Mom, who is holding my sister Shelly so this was taken in 1964. Three more children would come in the 5 years that followed.

Busy guy!

UpSlope

Today it's back to school and work for all of us. The upslope storm that unloaded 3-4' on the foothills of the Front Range has long moved out and dissipated. Our snowiest month, March, is yet to come. We have that to look forward to!

Playing on the hill.

Skies clearing to blue and a blanket of white across the land.

Thankful for incredible mountain neighbors! Brad and Hitch came over and helped us clear the driveway.  Think we need to get one of these, soon!

Day 2: 36"

“A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship.” 

― Markus Zusak

Lots of snow play in the plans for today!

Snow Day: Coal Creek Canyon

We went to bed with the flakes gently falling and woke to 18". We currently have 24"+ and it's still coming. That makes for a snow day from school and work= many happy people+1 stoked Brown Dog.

What happened to the Rav? 

No snow day is complete without hot massage rocks and bath water heated on the wood stove.

 A sweet, relaxing tub and a delicious "Nellarita".

Ok, that's our snow day!