Joan Ellen Cornell

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Redwings, and it's always awesome to go see them beat the Avs ;)

After the game, some of us went to see BlueTech at Cervantes.

We took Porter to visit the Denver Zoo for the first time ever yesterday.

I haven't even been there in almost 5 years!

There are so many new things!

We packed a lunch and ate in the sunshine,

saw tons of animals, and rode the carousel and the train.

It was an amazing, beautiful day :)

This is what a two year old looks like after 5 hours of sunshine and animals :)

Exhausted!

We've finally gotten some snow here!

Not that I am excited about it...

my car has been parked in the same space since Saturday afternoon.

It's kind of annoying to not be able to go run errands if I need to,

but P is enjoying it :)

Last weekend, I was super stressed out about a lot of stuff, and all I could think about was just getting away from everything- just me and P, away.

So, I went on Craigslist in the "vacation rentals" section and started looking for a cabin.

I came across a post for Tomichi Lodge.

Perfection I tell you.

I emailed the owners explaining my situation, that I don't have a ton of extra money but wanted to get away for a couple days with my kiddo.

They totally hooked it up you guys, I mean, above and beyond.

They made this possible and I will never be able to thank them enough.

So more about the place.

Tomichi Lodge is located about 15 miles over Monarch Pass in Colorado.

(It was about a 3 hour drive for us)

In the winter, you drive to a trailhead and the caretakers of the lodge come pick you up with snowmobiles. It's about a 7 mile trip by snowmobile to the lodge.

The Lodge has running water and hydro electricity (from the creek running next to it).

About 150 yards from the lodge is the cabin, which has no running water or electricity.

The first night we stayed in the cabin, and the second night we slept in the lodge.

There's no cell reception, but there is a phone at the lodge for emergencies.

We got there around 1pm Monday and left about 10:30am Wednesday.

This was seriously some of the best days of my life.

Me and P snuggled by the fire, read books, played games- just spent time together.

I can't wait to go back :)

the cabin

the outhouse

the door/heart on tree

watching me get wood

inside

coloring

hanging out in the loft

insect flashcards

crayons

cooking breakfast

reading books

disco party

getting ready for the "hot tub"

hot tubbin'