Today was the annual Hiram Alumni day at Polar Blast snow tubing (I have no idea how it has been a year already!) and once again, we truly had a "blast" enjoying winter with our friends.
It's been cloudy all week, but while we were there this afternoon, the sun broke through and the skies cleared and by sunset it was Colorado-blue heaven up at the top of the little hill.
Of course-- because the weather always cooperates with Hiram.
Our little gang all came out to play and it was so wonderful to see all these children I love, loving their time together.
They are happy and easy with one another and with their village of grown ups, trading off into different tubing groups, heading off into the world in pairs and threes...For quite a while Naomi and Lillian took me under their wing, while Ivy went off with Jeff, and all by herself...
This boy of mine-- there was a rather long period of time when I truly did not know where he was, when he and Greg went off to do a few runs together.
Those two big boys, running and jumping onto tubes and wrestling and walking off together, side by side, into adventure. It is unbelievable that they are so grown up, so fast.
Unbelievable- and just right.
And this big girl-- after being clingy and a little whiny for the first half of the day, she found her stride at 5pm, finally trying a solo run. Here she is at the bottom, declaring the run to be "awesome!" and begging to go again...
Snack time! We gathered with 180 other alums and profs and their families to enjoy some really stellar brownies and cocoa and company as Nat and Scott rebuilt a fire. Friendly faces everywhere but not much networking for us because we were an island unto ourselves, our little group. No need for anyone else.
Scott and Tiffany left for a date and we took over their boys for the night. At one point I found myself holding 4 tubes as I shepherded an entire passel of children up the conveyor. I'm not quite sure how many I was actually in charge of at that moment, but we all did seem to make it to the top. At the bottom, shuttling children amongst our group, watching them run off to join one another... their confidence and joy contagious... Our communal kids. I could not love them more, every one.
We let the day linger as long as we could, watching a huge full moon rise over the slopes as we cleaned up the last of the hot chocolate ("mom, I think there are some pastries left. Can I have another pastry?"--Ivy) and sitting around the remains of a bonfire until everyone had finished their last run. Then, off to M and W's new house for pizza and the entirety of The Lego Movie because we were too darn tired to move and take the children home.
A beautiful day with beautiful people. SO grateful for my family of friends.
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