12-3-25 Kittens, Closings, and Colorado Foothills Chaos

Life Lately in the Foothills

It has been two full weeks since my last real update, which in mountain time feels like about four months. The blessing baskets were the big event, and they were a complete success. We ended up with fourteen baskets thanks to generous neighbors, families who made them, and others who donated money so I could build the baskets myself. The families were so happy, and I already feel certain that this will be a yearly tradition. Next year, I might partner with our local schools and the Peace Shelter in Conifer so we can reach even more families in need.

Since I usually deliver pies to clients at Thanksgiving and did not get to it this year, I am shifting that tradition to Christmas. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I will be making my pie rounds across Evergreen, Conifer, Pine, Morrison, Bailey, and beyond. I may even add a pickup option to save a little windshield time, although let’s be honest, I will probably still hand-deliver most of them because I love seeing everyone. Fingers crossed that Safeway runs a good sale.

Thanksgiving itself was cozy and small this year. My mom flew in, which was wonderful, and she just headed home again. My mother-in-law broke her ankle, and great-grandma tires easily, so it ended up being a very quiet holiday with plenty of leftovers that I am still trying to work through a week later.

We also celebrated Bridger’s birthday on December 2. Instead of cake, he requested pie, which feels on brand at this point. We took the family to Beat the Bomb in RiNo, and it was unbelievably fun. You move through challenge rooms, and then either beat the final level or get sprayed with slime or foam. Thankfully, my brother Adam saved us all with his video game skills, and the bomb was defeated with one minute left. Serious hero moment.

Speaking of Adam, he, my mom, and I made a trip to Black Hawk for some poker after all the Thanksgiving chaos. I was down pretty significantly at one point, then the cards turned, and I somehow walked out two hundred dollars ahead. A small Thanksgiving miracle.

Back at home, we rearranged almost everything. We purged what felt like twenty years of toys and moved furniture around. I even redid my office, which instantly made my whole brain feel clearer.

The kittens also doubled in number. We now have Silvie, who is wild and hilarious, and Teton, who we call Teets, the ultimate cuddler. They eat as if they are trying to triple their size in one week, and they wrestle constantly. They already feel like part of the family.

Our ladies hiking group continues to be one of my favorite weekly rituals. Even with our first truly cold morning last weekend, two incredible ladies showed up, and we had a great time. The snow is falling now, so we will see how committed we all are in the coming weeks, but I am planning to push through every Sunday unless it becomes unsafe.

Sterling also had his final cotillion, and it was adorable. The kids taught the parents the dances, so Sterling and I got to twirl around together. Some of the steps were similar to the moves Tag and I have been learning in our own dance class, which made the whole thing even sweeter.

There is also a lot of travel coming up. I bought tickets to Sweden for my sister’s PhD graduation in January. The flights were unbelievably cheap, and we surprised Sterling with a ticket as well, although he does not know that yet. We keep telling him he has to behave if he wants to go, but the ticket is already purchased. I am excited to see my dad and the rest of that side of the family. Not as excited to be in Sweden in January, but that is fine.

Last big update in personal life, I got off the waitlist for a very exclusive real estate convention in London in April. This is the same small, high-impact group that ran the event I attended in Tampa, and it is full of incredible speakers. I am thrilled to be going.

We also ended up getting ski passes again this year, only for Keystone, and the boys are ready for the slopes.

Real Estate in the Colorado Foothills This Week

Real estate in the foothills is never boring, and this week was full again.

I had a closing today for clients I have been working with for a couple of years. They purchased a home in Conifer that is a bit of a fixer, but absolutely livable. Helping buyers navigate homes in the foothills, especially when they want something they can improve over time, is one of my favorite things. It is always exciting to hand over keys to a home that holds both potential and comfort right away.

I also have a neighbor with an off-market property in Pine that I am helping with. The home sits on eight acres and has a solid original structure, new flooring in many of the rooms, and all of the old carpet has been removed. A few rooms still need demolition, and it needs a lot of finishing work inside. The seller plans to list with the agent he purchased the home from if we cannot get it sold off-market. I always respect loyalty, and honestly, it gives me hope for humanity. In the meantime, I am doing everything I can to help him find the right buyer. Mountain properties like this, especially with acreage, draw a very specific type of buyer who loves privacy, trees, and elbow room, so we will see what happens.

With the snow arriving and the holidays here, the Colorado real estate market enters its interesting yearly phase. Showings dip slightly, sellers get reflective, and buyers who are still out shopping are usually very serious. If you are thinking about buying a mountain home in Evergreen, Conifer, Pine, Bailey, or Morrison, the next few weeks often bring opportunities. Sellers who want to be under contract before year's end tend to price competitively, and homes that might have felt out of reach earlier in the fall can become more accessible.

If you are thinking about selling, this is a great time to start preparing for January and February. I can help with staging, strategy, pricing, and timing so your home enters the market looking like the clear choice. Colorado foothills buyers are both savvy and emotionally driven. They want mountain views, privacy, good driveway access, reliable wells and septic systems, and a home that feels warm and grounded. I love helping sellers position their property to shine in that niche.

As always, if you want to talk about buying or selling in Evergreen, Conifer, Pine, Morrison, Bailey, Golden, Lakewood, or Arvada, I am here. Mountain real estate requires local knowledge and a strategic approach, and it is a joy to help people find the right home or the right next step.