Merry Christmas 2009 and greetings for 2010

Christmas Morning came and the reindeer visited each one of us. Impressive...who knew? :-) Whitney got a kitchen... sooo fun!

We spent from 815a-4p opening gifts. We opened the stockings, then took a break for our breakfast tradition of German Eggnog Pancakes!! AMAZING!!! We then started into tree gifts. We took another break for lunch around 2pm. It's always fun opening gifts with a kid around. Their wonder and awe at each gift and then how quickly they are ready to move onto the next gift. And how in the end...a box is the best toy ever!! :-)



Thank you so much to Holly and Chris for letting us come spend Christmas with you. I enjoyed spending the holiday with my family.

Wow....what a way to end 2009. This is my 100th post. It has sure been an interesting year. Full of ups and downs....good points and bad points. And yet, every experience can provide a valuable lesson. As 2009 comes to a close I would like to say how thankful I am for the gospel in my life. Without this amazing blessing I would be completely lost. I'm thankful for my family, both related and surrogate, without whom....life just wouldn't be possible!!

And as 2010 begins to peek its head around the corner (5 hrs and 15 mins MST...3 hrs 15 mins EST) I look forward to what adventures this new year will bring. May you all have a safe and happy New Years Eve and a wonderful 2010!!!

So...until next year!!! Lots of Love!!! XOXOXOXOXOX

Christmas Eve

For whatever reason, Whitney didn't want Santa to come. She wrote Santa and asked him to send his reindeer instead. So on Christmas eve, instead of placing a plate of cookies by the door (because reindeer don't come down the chimney) we prepared reindeer food. Oranges, carrots, and oats with glitter!!

Also, the bottom right photo is Whitney's birthday gift from my amazing sister. She painted the hippo for Whitney's bathroom. Pretty impressive, huh?

The final Day

The last full day in Solvang we took a trip to Lake Cachuma (Dad...let me know if thats wrong and I'll fix it!), the Santa Inez Mission, and a really yummy steak place. I climbed a tree, Whitney enjoyed a Root Beer Float (ok...only a few sips...don't worry Holly!), and we got our picture taken by the rolar bear and buffalo.



I had a blast with the family. Unfortunately, Mom had been sick Monday and guess who woke up sick Wedneday. DAD! Oh no!!! Needless to say... On Wednesday (the 23rd) we headed back to LA. I got some sympathy sickness but it never hit me the same way it hit Dad or Mom. THANKS GOODNESS!!! I hate getting sick!! Since we were sick we missed getting to see my cousins so I guess I'll need to make another trip out west.... someday!!

Did you know?

You can feed Emus and Ostrichs as well??

Solvang

What to do in Solvang:

-sightsee...check.
- sit in the dutch shoe...check.
- bake cookies ....check
- enjoy ebelskivers...double check!!



For those who've never had an ebelskiver...I'm sorry! You're missing out!!! However, you know that commercial for the pancake puff pan? Thats an ebelskiver...well...the modernized American version. But hey....DELICIOUS!!!!

Also...notice the cute hat Whit and baby Beeda are wearing. Yours truely made those. Cute huh? I'm still pretty proud that Beeda's hat fits her. :-) Way to go ME!!!

an Evening in Solvang

I tried to take pictures of Whit and me....and this is my favorite one!!
Oma, Tante, Whitney
(complete with Whitney checking her email!!)
And a worn out little girl!! We had a fun first day!!

Opa....Are we THERE yet???

After a wonderful visit to AZ, Mom and I headed to LA. California here we come!!!

Friday, Mom, Dad, Whitney, and I headed to the Danish town of Solvang...


Growing up I learned a valuable lesson from my dear father....never tell him you're bored. I practiced many math facts, presidents, and state capitals that way. So, we entertained outselves. Now, how do you entertain yourself in the car when enjoying the scenery just isn't enough?? Well, Mom crochets....and since I'm becoming my mother...so do I. And so...Whitney had to as well!! When that isn't enough entertain us...we take pictures!!

Welcome to Phoenix

Mom and I left bright and early Tuesday morning (the 15th) and hit the road for a very long drive!!! Being the brilliant person I am, I thought to myself...lets leave Colorado Springs and drive straight through to Phoenix. Ignoring the wisdom of my mother and father....(I'm a kid...its in my job description right??)...I figured it wouldn't be that bad. After something like 14 hours on the road, almost hitting a few elk, and 60 miles of black ice (anyone else know AZ gets to 7000 feet in elevation? Yeah...me neither!!) Mom and I arrived in the welcoming arms of the Burgoynes. Family friends we've known for over 22 years. From Left to Right: Top: Big Eric, Becca, baby Emery (new grandbaby). Bottom: Sally (the prettiest songbird I know), Jill (new daughter in law), Peter, Little Eric (Emery's dad) and Grandma.

Those who know me, know I was super excited to get to meet baby Emery. She is soooooooo adorable!!! Love it!!!



While in AZ I met the two Burgoyne cows (Bahama (pictured below) and Jamba), picked fresh oranges and grapefruits, ate each meal in the french cafe in the kitchen, and met some chickens. Who knew? :-) I got seriously spolied with fresh oranges whenever I wanted them and am sure missing that fresh citrus!!!! Thanks Becca for picking oranges for me!!


And a trip with mom wouldn't be complete without a project. :-) Oh no...not one of the many projects Mom and I brought with us on the trip. But one that Ellen wanted to complete for her star baby...and what would be better than a Star Baby Bunting. Mom and Ellen took the picture and created a pattern from a picture. Told you my mom was AMAZING, huh? Enjoy the pictures below and their success!! Too cute!!!!

Auf Wiedersehen 2009

But before I can say goodbye to 2009...I have a lot of blogging to do. I just spent the last 15 days on vacation and have plenty of pictures to show for it. I refuse to start a new year with old news...so sit down and get ready for 2 weeks a fun...all within the next 7 hours and 20 mins of course!!

The Best Lessons in Life…

Are Learned from Children!! I know, most of you with children of your own, have realized this long ago. However, this kids here in FoCo that I baby-sit teach my new things all the time!! Here are some things I've recently learned:

...I've learned that there is no private place. I've come to enjoy being in my own apartment where I can go to the bathroom on my own (except when Shep comes to visit). But I've learned that with kids...even in the loo...if they have a question the door seems to fly open.

... I've learned that children don't know how to hold a grudge. Oh how I wish people could figure out how to retain this attribute. Unfortunately, it seems about the age of 7...kids just don't forget as easily.

...I've been reminded just how much flexiblity I've lost over the years (and I'm not that old)

...I learned that sometimes asking Mom won't get you the answer you were hoping for.

This last one deserves the story of how I learned it. I was visiting M&D back around the beginning of November and Buffy and family came over for a visit and went to dinner with us. I'm in love with her baby and would willingly take Molly home with me. As we were leaving the restaurant, I asked Ryan (who is 5) if I could take Molly back to FoCo with me. He told me I'd have to ask his mom. (Smart kiddo!!) So I ask Buffy and she says yes. Ryan quickly responded with..."hey...you can't take my sister..." I laughed any enjoyed the fact that Ryan learned he wasn't safe relying on his mom to keep his sister around. Moms…full of surprises!!

My new found hobby

My mom is an amazing crocheter (is that even a word?? who knows) Give her a few skeins of yarn (ok, more like 7 skeins) and I swear in a day she can have the most gorgeous afghan you have EVER seen!!!! Since before I can remember, I've always wanted to be just like my mom. A couple years ago I made afghans for my mom, sister, and sister in law. It took FOREVER and I swore I would never crochet again. I have a very short attention span, and way too many other things going on in my life to take the time to crochet. I'd all but given up until April when Mom came up for Easter. She inspired me to crochet again. In May we went to Utah for a friend's wedding and I worked on an afghan for my friend who is graduating from BYU this year. (unfortunately I shipped it off without so much as a glance and forgot to take a picture. I'll try to get her to email me one...) I was sooooo glad to have it finally done. I finished off the 2nd to last skein about 4 months ago and never got around to buying the last skein. I finally got around to it. YEA...one more thing off my "to-do" pile.

So, Spencer and I started talking and I realized my best friend here in Ft Collins is graduating from CSU this month. hmmmmm...my first thought...an afghan... hmmmmm...lets rethink that. My friend is always cold, so that will keep her warm. right?? True...but so will a hat. BRILLIANT!! And so...I have given up on the idea of afghans. Too much time and patience, and have taken up crocheting hats. I found a pattern online I liked and then tried one my sister in law does as well and I love it!!!! And so....I have a new hobby...

The Craziness that is Black Friday

Yes...I am the same Carrie who 5 years ago would've told you I HATE SHOPPING!!! Unlike most teenage girls, I was much like my mom. Stupid stores turn around on me, costs too much money, and on and on and on. I especially hated shopping for clothes (still not my favorite thing). You don't nee to try on pj pants and sweatshirts. :-) Since meeting Spencer I have been introduced to the wonders of shopping..and now I'm kinda hooked. Some of you will remember my blog from last year about my first time venturing out into the world that is Black Friday shopping. As you can tell from the photo this year, I was WAY more excited than a year ago.

We started out at 430am, game plan in hand and headed to the car. We started at Target (to get Dad's bday gift...we thought). Last year the Target we went to wasn't busy at all so we figured it would be the same...no such luck. We got there 445am (15 mins before the store opened) and there was atleast a 1/4 mile line of people waiting. YIKES!!! Sorry Dad...they were out of your gift... too many people wanted big and expensive I guess :-)

Next we headed to Kohls...in and out...love it!! Got Chris' christmas gift, Mom's bday gift (which isn't til March...I'm ahead of the game!!), and some other stuffs.

I went into a Burlington Coat Factory for the first time since I was 16... $10.34 later and I have a new pair of boots with fur. :-) WARM!!!

Then came what I was most excited for. Mom and Channing will be proud... Flannel was $1.49/yard SWEET DEAL!!! Spencer and I walk into Joanns at 834am, get a couple bolts of fabric to get cut and go take a number. D21...they were on B4... uhoh... so we keep shopping. Okay, so I keep shopping. By the time all was said and done, something like 15 bolts of fabric, a cutting board set, 6 blankets, and a crochet hook had found their way into my basket. How in the world did that happen?? We continued to stand around and socialize with the people in the store. My basket (top right of the picture below) was small potatos compared to some of the baskets I saw. Ladies had flannel piled higher than they could see (over 6 feet tall). One lady had 2 baskets that full...so I had to ask her what in the world she was doing with all that flannel...because she wasn't just getting a yard here and there...she was buying the entire bolt. She simply responded that she makes her family gifts (blankets, jammies, etc) WOW!!! Anyways, 5 hrs later Spencer and I walked out of Joanns. I spent $106...saved $213. Good deal? I'd say so.

Now some may be asking what I'm planning to do with my stash...well, I will tell you. PJ pants for Spencer and me and baby blankets. Check back with me in January to see how its coming...



And so...that was my Black Friday... will I go out again next year? Most Likely...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

So, at one point about 2 weeks ago I wrote a blog while babysitting. However, I was on my netbook and have yet to get it onto my blog. I will work on that this next week...

I do want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope you can all take a moment to remember just how many blessings you have. Sometimes I forget what the holiday is really about. I get so excited when I think about the turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, pies, and so much more that I sometime for get for a while to take a step back and thank our Heavenly Father for all the things he has blessed me with in my life.

It's been a tradition in my family that before dinner starts everyone write one thing they're thankful for on a piece of paper and puts it in a box. Then, after dinner (while the tryptophan sets in) the box gets passed around the table and the papers get pulled at random and then read. It's always fun to hear what people are thankful for.

Spencer and I are spending Thanksgiving with his family again this year. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so I may borrow Steve's to take some pictures.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day and enjoys spending time with your friends and family.

Gobble Gobble!!!

Do you know what I love....

About Sunday Football??

versus

If given the choice...most people would pick the sunshine. Depending on the day... I'd pick both. But what I love... is sitting in my apartment in shorts and a short sleeve tshirt because it's 80 degrees outside while watching the Patriots kill the Titans in lots of slushy, very cold looking snow!!

Welcome to Colorado...where the sun always shines...and if it isn't...wait 5 minutes and it will. :-)

A&P Exam 2

Enough said...

:-) :-) Love you! :-) :-)

Physiology Update

Hey Friends and Family....

I need to take a moment to brag... For my A&P class we have to write 3 responses to articles within the health field that relates to what we are currently learning. The catch is once someone has used a specific article it can't be reused. UGH! Below is the response and the article I chose to write about. I will admit I had some concern that my professor wouldn't see the correlation between the article I chose...and I didn't spend a whole lot of time on the response. LAZY!!! I know...but it was late and due and my brain hurt. Anyways... We got our grades. 50/50... 100%. YIPEE!! My professor also made an announcement to the class in which she said "Real Life Articles Graded

October 8, 2009 3:10 PM

One of the things I like about the Real Life assignments is that I learn things too. A couple articles that stand out are the One about HIV transmission in Vit. D deficient pregnant women, and the link between pattern baldness and coronary disease (testosterone link). The quality of assignments turned in was very high, good job!"

Please notice that my article is the one about VIT D deficient pregnant women and HIV transmission. YEA!!! I feel soooooo excited...and a bit like the teacher's favorite right now. :-)

Thought you all would be proud of me....

Ok...now back to studying I go. Test 2 tomorrow.

The ARTICLE:

From Reuters Health Information

Low Maternal Vitamin D Increases Risk of HIV Transmission to Offspring

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Sep 08 - In HIV-infected pregnant women, low levels of vitamin D are linked with a higher risk of virus transmission during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and also with an increase in infant mortality.

These findings are from a study in Tanzania that appears in the October issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

"Vitamin D has been shown to improve cell-mediated immunity, phagocytic capacity of macrophages, and the cytolytic activity of natural killer cells," Dr. Saurabh Mehta from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston told Reuters Health by email.

As a part of a clinical trial on the role of multivitamin supplements during pregnancy, Dr. Mehta and colleagues in Dar es Salaam evaluated outcomes of 855 offspring of HIV-infected women. Maternal 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels were estimated during pregnancy, and HIV tests were done in offspring at regular intervals. Vitamin D levels below 32 ng/ml were considered to be low.

Among babies born to the women with low vitamin D levels, HIV infection rates were 10.7% at birth, 21.7% at 6 weeks, and 35.2% at 2 years, Dr. Mehta and colleagues report. Corresponding infection rates in offspring of women with adequate vitamin D were 6.5% at birth, 16.3% at 6 weeks, and 27% at 2 years.

On multivariate analysis, low maternal vitamin D was linked with a 50% higher risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV at 6 weeks, a 200% higher risk of transmission during breastfeeding to babies who were uninfected at 6 weeks, and a 46% higher overall risk of acquiring HIV infection.

Furthermore, the investigators found, the children born to the HIV-infected women had "a 61% higher risk of dying during follow-up."

"By virtue of its ability to improve both innate and adaptive immunity in the mother and by helping in the development of the fetal immune system, vitamin D may help lower the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV," Dr. Mehta postulates.

While recommending further studies, Dr. Mehta concluded that "vitamin D supplementation may represent a low-cost method to reduce child mortality and to help decrease mother-to-child transmission of HIV as an adjunct to anti-retroviral therapy."

J Infect Dis 2009;200:1022-1030.

MY RESPONSE:

This article, originally written in September 2008, talks about pregnant women infected with HIV and how their vitamin D levels can affect whether or not they have a high risk of transmitting HIV to their babies. The article references a study done in Tanzania that looked at pregnant women with both low vitamin D levels and normal vitamin D levels. Those with a low vitamin D level had an almost 50% higher risk or transmitting HIV to their babies, which increased greatly to a 200% increase when they breastfed. The article concludes that vitamin D supplementation may help to decrease the risk of HIV transmission in pregnant women.

This article applies to the last unit because we talked about how skin produces a vitamin D precursor. This occurs when the skin cells are exposed to natural sunlight. Vitamin D can also be found in pill forms, as mentioned in the article, and can be a substitute to natural vitamin D production when people do not get into the sun enough to get the vitamin D necessary to prevent HIV transmission.

Personally I think if people would relax on the skin cancer panic and spend some time outside in the natural sunlight, before applying sunscreen there wouldn’t be such a high risk of Vitamin D deficiency. I do think it’s interesting that vitamin D can decrease the risk of transmitting HIV to offspring and wonder what causes this to happen. I will admit I do not know much about HIV, but if increasing vitamin D would decrease the chance of giving it to your children I think it is a great solution to be considered. I would be interested in researching more information on HIV and why it is that vitamin D levels can affect transmission from pregnant women to their children.

Another Month Gone By...

Ok...seriously....its October.... Things have been going well here in Northern Colorado. Its been cool the last few days (some might even consider it cold!!) I don't buy it... I am enjoying the fall like weather and the changing colors. :-) 2 or so weeks ago I went to Colorado Springs for my best friend's wedding.... Congrats Dana and Family!!

School is going well... I have a test this Friday so need to get busy studying this week. I'm starting to realize just how much my two D's in Physiology at CSU are REALLY due to me not being able to understand the concepts. I have to tell you....I don't expect a lot out of those in my class but I do think you should be able to look at a picture and know which bones you're looking at on the skeleton. I mean, seriously.... Pretty Girl can do that! (granted all my nieces and nephews are brilliant kids). Oh, I realize I have more experience than most of the people in my class but I have a hard time not getting frustrated with my classmates when they can't name the basic bones in the skeleton, let alone all the bones in your skull. YIKES!!

Aaron and his girlfriend of almost 5 months, Megan, came up last night. We played games, ate pizza, and the boys played Tiger Woods golf. It was a fun date night... Thanks guys! (even tho neither of you read my blog)

Work is....well, busy as usual. It's not that any one job is extremely difficult...but... running a business, watching 3 boys, training high school rugby games, and additional babysitting jobs...keeps a girl busy. Especially when you're sick... :-(

Rugby is currently the easiest job. I've been hired by the Fort Collins Youth Rugby Club to train their home games. Usually about 4 a season. I trained the boys in the Spring and am currently training the girls. They had a game yesterday....pretty easy, mostly because girls injuries aren't as intense or bloody as the boys can be. I have been asked to train the state qualifying day on October 31st.... :-) Fun fun fun!!!

Have you ever heard of Zumba?

I blogged about it a while ago but thought I'd give another shout out. It's become my newest workout and its a total BLAST!!! Friday night I went to the first (hopefully annual) Zumba Jam. FOUR HOURS of dancing!! And being the girl who likes a challenge I wanted to do all 4 hours. And was successful except the 2 songs (water break and to get some cool air). It was soooooo much fun. And for a great cause... the proceeds were divided between Livestrong and the Cure. Check out gwendahansen.com for photos... Especially photos 9, 10, 14, 28, 29, 31, 32, and 34. And if anyone wants to come with me to a Zumba class let me know... or if you want to join in the awesome-ness that was the Zumba Jam...let me know and I'll let you know when it's going to happen again.

So thats the update for the month of September. Who knows what this next month will bring... Love to you all!!

Labor Day 2009

Spencer, Shep and I went on a picnic up towards CSU's Pingree Park for Labor Day. We got KFC and went on a drive. The colors are just starting to change... SOOOO PRETTY!!!! Shep was facisnated with all the smells...quite the adventuring dog. :-)



Ok....I think that catches me up. Right? Oh I forgot...school....I'm taking Anatomy and Physiology at the JC here in Ft Collins. I took my first test this past Friday and got an A!!! YEA!!! So exciting.... I'm glad to know it really was the professors at CSU that were making it difficult to pass BMS 300 at CSU and not me... So my current thoughts are... finish A&P at front range, go back to CSU Fall 2010...graduate August 2011... Sounds like a good plan to me.

Maybe I will be better about blogging from here on out. Just keep in mind....school isn't picture worthy. :-)

Amy and Jeff

On August 28th I went back down to Colorado Springs for one of my best friend's wedding. Miss Amy got married on Saturday the 29th. She was one of my best friend's at CMHS... She went to college in Missouri and met Jeff... They are moving to Boston for Jeff's work. I'm going to miss her..but the wedding was GORGEOUS!! My friend Dana was one of the bridesmaids. We've know eachother since first grade...She gets married this Friday. Wow....everyone is getting married. When did I get this old??

July in a Nutshell

Wow....is it really already the middle of September?? Where in the world did August go? Well...here are some fun pictures from our family reunion in July. So when you have over 500 photos from 14 days...its REALLY hard to decide which ones get posted. Dad's sister and her family came out from Southern California. My cousin Tori is a budding photographer so she was always taking photos. Thanks to her...I have tons of photos to enjoy...

Enjoy the little morsel of family fun...



One day we went to Garden of the Gods....sooooo pretty. If you haven't been, definitely go. Such a wonderful place to realize how much our Heavenly Father loves us. :-)



Family Picnic at Soda Springs Park in Manitou Springs. This was no normal picnic...this was a Dad picnic. For those who don't know what Dad's version of a picnic is where every person is supposed to bring one item for the picnic (enough to feed the whole group). The catch is that what you're bringing is a SECRET!! No one knows what everyone else is bringing... Its fun. Kinda worrysome when you don't know if you'll end up with all drinks and desserts...or no drinks and all fruits. We must be one smart family because we had a pretty good assortment of food. Lots of fruit, but thats never a bad thing...

Yikes....August already?

So....I've been reading everyone else's blogs the last 2 1/2 weeks and recently realized I have pictures to blog. We had a wonderful family reunion...and after getting everyone's pictures...I now have 600 pictures to go through and decide which ones to blog. Oh bother.... better get on that.

Also...starting the 8th I'm the temporary mother of Sophie, Nadia, and Grizzly. But..I'll have to get out the camera tomorrow for that. I'm house-sitting until Aug 21st....I have a HUGE house to myself...and the other 3 of course. I'll try and remember to take pictures tomorrow.

For now...I'll go see if I can work some Picasa magic...

Oh the Places You'll Go

Wow....so sitting on my bed in Colorado Springs at 330am on Tuesday morning is DEFINITELY not what I saw happening. It's been a pretty eventful week...and EVERYTHING has changed.

First, I would like to thank all of my family. For coming out here. For being here. And for loving me. Families are FOREVER!!

Secondly, for those that missed the memo Spencer and I didn't get married on the 17th. There are some things that need to get figured out before we could get married. But better to find out now than later...right? If you have questions, let me know.

But for now...know that I'm ok and am fully relying on our Heavenly Father to tell me what to do. Thanks to all those who have supported me in all this. Everything Happens for a Reason.

On a better note...I have been having an ABSOLUTE blast with my family. Gone to the lake twice (Thanks Grays! and Walkers!), spent quality time with nieces and nephews, and just enjoyed family. I've got pictures however I left my adapter in Ft Collins so hopefully this weekend I will get lots of photos posted. :-)

Ok...maybe it's time to get some sleep....MAYBE?

9 days...

Really? 9 days?? Where did the time go? It doesn't seem that long ago I was excited about 100 days...and now I'm down to 9 days??? Thats ok...I'm soooo excited.

Sorry there are no pictures of recent happenings. Spencer and I came down from FoCo on Friday the 3rd. We went to Grandpa's Curtis' house for dinner and to watch fireworks. Gpa Curtis lives over by SkySox stadium and its seriously the best show ever. Could have something to do with the fact we spend the evening inside playing games and such til the game is over. Then head outside to watch fireworks. When its over we can go back inside. No traffic...no crowds... see..PERFECT! Spencer's Dad took a few on July 3rd so I'll have to see if I can get them.

So on the 4th...what would be more patriotic and American then doing house work. Just ask Dad. We mowed and edged and almost got poured on. Spent a few hours cleaning up the garage under the house...it looks amazing now by the way. And doing other chores for Dad...

The first part of this week has been spent doing more house and yard work. Want to see our progress...come to the reception.

Unfortuantely....yard work means no pictures. Of course...I did just think of something. My super cool new camera (and Olympus Stylus) uses a micro sd card...and the adapter got left in FoCo so it wouldn't get lost. hmmm...maybe I will find mom's camera to take some pictures.

That's all for now...I probably should get to sleep. More later...MAYBE!!

26 days to go....

...and what a whirlwind it's going to be....

The RS pres today at church asked me if the pieces were falling into place preparing for the wedding. I have to admit that while, YES the pieces are falling....they may not be falling "into place". I'm still searching for some of those pieces. ;-)

When you get engaged and are planning a wedding...no one ever tells you how much work goes into it. Oh...and nothing goes smoothly... :-( Needless to say the poolside chairs in sunny Florida are sounding more and more inviting!!! Can't WAIT!!!!!

Well that's it for now..... work all this week...Wheee!!!

Steamboat Springs

Spencer and I took a little trip up into the mountains to help relax from the stress that is our lives!!

Who knew..... Pretty huh? Somewhere in the middle of nowhere is a park. And in Yuma CO is Penny's Diner (top right) which is a real live diner. It's just amazing!! So think of the movie The Kid, you remember the diner that Bruce Willis goes into? Yeah...just like that!! It was soooo adorable!!!!!!!!

An American Treasure!!

Last week on the 13th Spencer and I went to my First ever Rockies Game. They played the Seattle Mariners, and having been born in Seattle I have to admit I don't know if I was more excited about the Rockies game or the fact that they were playing the Mariners. :-) Ok Ok...I know I know....Seattle Mariners aren't a great team but I had a blast. Other than the fact we had a rian delay and I seriously thought they would postpone the game!! DRAMATIC!!!




Needless to say I had a BLAST!!!!!! Rockies won 6-4 (I think...sorry I forgot the score....) Thanks Spencer for taking me! Love you!!!

A Drive in the Mountains!!

KISSES!!! COOTIES!!! :-O



Love that Spencer!! 26 days!!!


Pretty isn't it?? And to think this is just 30 or so minutes from the north side of Fort Collins!!! Tho I don't know exactly where...ask Spencer...he drove!

The Lovely Month of May....????

Ok...so SERIOUSLY...where in the world did the month of May go?? Oooh...pick me pick me!!! I know!!!! No really...I know!!!

2 trips to Utah
New Calling
253 invitations in 2 weekends
and LOTS of RAIN!!!!!

The very first weekend of May mom and I went to Utah to celebrate the marriage of one of my best friends Debra Robbins to Kellen DeAlba. It was a wonderful weekend...and the reception was absolutely B-E-A-U-TIFUL!!! I've known Deb since I was like 4...her Mom was my primary teacher when we were in Colorado Springs the first time around.....

Then...two weeks later Spencer had finished Spring Semester of school...so we decided to take a trip to Utah..

On Friday, his cousin Sparky (real name....ummmm...Dave? I think!) was getting married to Holly...a girl from his mission. It was great to finally meet Sparky and spend time with that side of the family. The TULIPS were in full bloom and absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Its obvious there are no deer on Temple Square... :-D

Then on Saturday, 2nd ward friend Matt Nimer got married. It was great to see them and be able to get to see the entire Nimer Family again...That hasn't happened since Natalie got married in 2007. I also got to see my best friend from high school Brad Carr's sister Cory and her family. Cory was a senior my freshman year and was an absolutely wonderful friend. She has 2 kids now...Addi is 2 and Cade is 6 months old. Addi was adorable...and flirting with Spencer across the table....pretty sure she was trying to compete! ;-) Good thing we get married in 33 days!!

So I love being in a family ward. I have a calling!! I'm the lead nursery leader for the junior nursery. I've got the kids 18 months and older. Those born in 2007 and 2008. They are a blast and so much fun. We have a great time every Sunday!! LOVE IT!!

Also...the last two weekends of May were spent in Colorado Springs making wedding invitations with my Mom. We had a wonderful time and are both glad its over and done!!

So...that's May in a nutshell. It was seriously a busy month!! So far June is just as busy..... been having fun and getting ready for a wedding. Who knows....maybe I'll update again sooner. But don't hold your breath!!