Someday I'll catch up...

but until then, I will just do what I can. I have tons of pictures on my flash card from the past weeks but haven't uploaded them. Someday, there is going to be one really long post and updated photos. I still intend on posting "photo a day" but am not pressuring myself to do it in any sort of order (which is something I don't usually do, but it's good to mix it up, right?)

Tomorrow, I'm headed up to Ft. Collins to say goodbye to the Theta house and see lots of old friends. Looking so forward to it. It will be so nice to see friends that I haven't seen in years and catch up with everyone. Cameras are ready and starting to get packed. Still can't believe the house is going to be sold. My mom was one of the first to live in that house and I always thought it was so neat that we lived in the same house in college...many years apart. It's been fun to go through old pictures from college and remember funny times and happy memories.

I'm posting a picture of Bucky, Caroline, Nootz and myself taken this year...and I'll have many more to come after this weekend.

photo a day 7/14/09...ON OUR WAY

These are the same swings that were here when we were "kids"...some things never change. I still love to swing and get that crazy feeling in my stomach when I go high. Nick gets that too and gets a little freaked out sometimes, but how can you not love to swing so high that you can almost touch the sky. :)

Yay! We are here...just had to document that in the picture of Zach and me!

We officially hit the road at 7:07 am...heading for Ruidoso, New Mexico. Everyone was excited to get going on our 9 hour drive. With IPODS, portable DVD's and comfy seats, the boys were set to travel in luxury. We stopped at Village Inn for breakfast and then made little stops along the way until we got to Carrizozo where we ate an early dinner at "4 Winds". It is the same place we used to stop when we came when I was young.

By about 5:15, we were entering in to Ruidoso and I have to admit, I was a little giddy with excitement as I started to see familiar places. We made the grand tour of all the important places, #57 Grenoble (which I will always consider my grandparents), the duck pond, the fishing lake, pool, tennis courts and around the golf course and last, but certainly NOT least, the playground and clubhouse area. I went to bed that nighta very happy, relaxed person .

PHOTO A DAY-7/13/09

Another photo from Elk Creek and the "boys weekend". They came home early Monday morning to start getting ready for our trip. One last bit of mountain goodness before heading home to mow the lawn, pack the car, drop the dogs off at Granny's. We were so thankful that they could go over there and stay with Granny and Ellie. It was very nice to know that they were in good hand and we wouldn't worry about them.

Nick played a really good doubles match today. They lost 4-6, 4-6, but could've easily won with a few less shots in to the net. Fun to see good tennis being played.

EXCITING NEWS FOR ME

While this isn't "earth shattering" I received an e-mail from Creating Keepsakes magazine yesterday asking if a layout I had submitted for "Becky's sketch" article was still available. It will be published in the December issue. What is really cool is that this two page layout is about my grandmother and her Christmas decorating. Can't post the layout, but it's a huge compliment to have it chosen and very cool to have two layouts published in two national magazines within a year...especially because I really don't "submit" very often. Now, off to get it ready to send to the magazine :)

PHOTO from 7/12/09--Elk Creek boys weekend

For Joshua's birthday in March, instead of a party, he wanted a "boys weekend" with Zach, Joel, Grandaddy and Todd, at the cabin. Finally, we found a time and it would work. Zach went up withmy dad, Joel and Josh on Saturday morning and they spent the day doing work around the cabin and enjoying the "great outdoors." Todd came up to join them on Sunday and Grandaddy came home in the afternoon. Josh and Zach built a "trap door" as you can see in the photo and worked very hard to do this. Shooting bb guns and just spending time together were additional highlights.

Nick, Chris and myself spent time together and went to lunch at Schlotzskys and ran a couple errands for our trip to Ruidoso the next week. My mom and I went to Megan's baby shower at Sues on Sunday night so the boys went to hang out with Grandaddy while I was there. We then came home and stayed up until 11 so we could watch "The Next Food Network Star" as we are hooked on this show for the past two summers.

Photo from 7/11/09--Day with Grammama

Today, Grammama and I had planned a day to spend together after trying to schedule a "date". I had looked forward to this time for a long time. After we took our pictures together on their front porch, we headed to Pine Creek Clothing, a very nice clothing store on Gaylord Street. Grammama had heard about it and wanted to check it out. I loved how they divided their clothing by color. They also had very fun accessories so I think I will have to go there again when I need something special. Gaylord Street is a very fun place to be. We then went to lunch at Washington Park Grille and we both had chicken salad sandwiches on croissants and sweet potato salad (really good). Afterwards, we went back to watch my 40th b-day video and pictures on a DVD from her 87th birthday picnic. How fortunate I am to be able to do this with my Grammama. I am just smiling as I type this. I love this picture below of her. She's out working with her flowers every day in the summer and it sure shows. We have a lot of fun spending time together and I cherish that.

photo from 7/10/09--Rockies game

We went to the Rockies game vs. Atlanta. Our next door neighbors had 5 tickets and offered them to us and we couldn't pass it up. The weather started out a little cloudy and lightening started. By the end of the 5th inning, we were sure the storm was coming so we headed to our car. They soon called the game for an hour due to the weather. What we didn't know was the worst of the weather was to come. We drove home in the most horrendous rain, wind and low visibility I think I had ever been in. There were huge puddles and we were very grateful to be home.

Before the weather started, we shared nachos and enjoyed the start of the game (which they got scored on right away :( and ended up losing the game was play resumed). I just love being at a baseball game in the summer. The atmosphere at a ball field is like no other sporting event I have gone to. The good news is that I am taking my dad to another game this Friday. Todd won "Club level seats" at work and gave them to me for my b-day and thought that I should take my dad, so, after losing them and finding them again, we are going to head to Coors Field to watch the Rockies play the SF Giants. They (Rockies) are ahead of them by 1/2 game for the wildcard place, so hopefully, we will we gain a bigger lead in this series.

One last thing, I took a picture of the scoreboard/Chris Ianetta, because I always think he looks a little like my Chris :)

PHOTOS FROM 7/9/09-HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZACHY

Here's a few photos of Zach's big day...turning double digits. After swimming first thing in the morning and Nick's tennis practice, we picked up Subway and headed over to GG and GD for lunch. The guy at Subway heard it was his b-day and called him a "Double Digit Midget" :). Zach hung out with GG and GD until dinner time when they came over for dinner along with Granny. His choice for dinner was shrimp and chicken along with sauteed mushrooms/onions, fruit salad and wild rice...a menu I will definitely choose to redo.

After dinner, the Bertelsen's came to join us for dessert: lemon meringue pie and a cake decorated as a rainbow trout. The inside of the cake was "rainbow"...thus really being the rainbow :). Todd was an expert at carving out and decorating the cake like he has done many times through the years for the boys.

His big gift from us and my parents was an IPOD Nano which he had been wanting for a long time. Being a persistent person, I don't think there was a day that he didn't remind me that it was the "only thing that I want" and it had to be either grey or black. He was not disappointed and was very pleased. Since it got it, he has added quite a lot of "tunes" to it and loves it. He also enjoyed and appreciated his other gifts from family.

Although we have offered it many times, Z does not ever want a big birthday party. There is not a bigger "ham" in the world than Zach, but when it comes down to a party for him, he doesn't like the single focus on him and is uncomfortable with it, so he chooses his special day to be just the way he likes it. Can't believe he is already 10 years old. I really don't like how quickly time goes. HAPPY BIRTHDAY...DOUBLE DIGIT MIDGET!

PHOTO FROM 7/8/09

This is just an early morning photo of the boys hanging out in the family room watching TV. It is always nice to have the "hang out mornings" in the summertime.

Home again

(this picture is taken in the back of my grandparents townhome...#57)

WOW! I am going to have to spend a lot of time catching this up with my photos. I definitely have one (or many) I can use for my photo a day since I stopped posting so it will be fun updating this a little at a time. We had a great time in Ruidoso and it brought back a flood of old memories from the summers I spent down there with my family/grandparents. It is a little bittersweet, but it would be sad if I didn't have those feelings. I have decided there is no place in this world that I feel more calm, happy and peaceful. That means it's a good place to be and keep in my heart all year long. Can't wait to go back again. I'm very fortunate I have the memories of the past and the fun times and memories created in the present. I'm also so glad that my kids and Todd find this place pretty special, too.

STILL DOING THIS....

I haven't updated my photos for a while, but am still taking them and will post them when we get back from Ruidoso. I am having so much fun doing this and will love looking back on this next year. If I was up to date on my photos, today, i would probably decide to post the photo of Zach holding his latest toad, Ribbit. Chris also found one hanging out in our back yard, but I'm not sure if he figured out a name he liked yet. I suggested Harold, but he nixed that one pretty quick.

Can't wait to go to my favorite place in the whole world...Ruidoso. So many summers spent there with my family. I still picture it in my mind and the happy times there. Tomorrow night, I will be able to revisit all those special places live and in person. I am quite sure there will be many photos to capture this amazing place and our adventures. I plan to hit the playground and swing on the swings, but if they still have that old, metal slide, I think I'm going to pass. I'm quite sure it would not meet safety standards anymore. Of course, I hope the merry go round is there. We would beg my dad repeatedly to spin us around, and, he did it over and over again. Last time we were there, five years ago, he got to spin my kids around like he did for us.

Sure wish my parents were going with us again. It was so much fun to have them with us last time we went. My mom and I even peeked in Grammama and GrandadDell's townhome and were careful not to set up off the alarm. Still looked very much the same. This time, I won't have my partner in crime and I'm not sure I'll be as daring without her with me :).

PHOTO FROM 7/7/09

I just got done taking Zach's 10 year old pictures...double digits in 2 days. I have done a similar photo shoot for both Nick and Chris so it is finally his turn (whata lucky guy). He actually does a really good job cooperating (for the most part) and I probably got 50 plus pictures I have to work with. While we were outside tonight, Zach visited his toad, Jamal, that lives near our pond and then he found a new, huge frog that he quickly named Trilo. Lawrence the toad lives in our front yard. I think we are acquiring a new natural, menagerie. I'm glad they dont' freak me out, but I certainly wouldn't want to accidentally step on one or have one jump in front of me when I wasn't expecting it.

Sad day in that Michael Jackson was memorialized. He is such an icon of my time, and probably the biggest entertainer of all time. His songs are a timestamp of my life and it's amazing what an impact his music has made on my kids even when they didn't know it. What came out of the whole thing is that he was a human being who lived a superhuman existence. Because of that he was hounded by the press, accused and assaulted, but at the end of the day, when his daughter stood up and said that he was the best daddy and she loved him, it shows that he is a lot like all of us...just trying to survive, doing our best to help others and making some kind of difference in the world (which he definitely did). Ultimately, he was "daddy" to 3 young children and they have lost that most important person as well as his mom lost her son...what a tragedy. His music and legacy will live on and for that, I am grateful.

PHOTOS FROM 7/6/09

Zach and I have noticed this donkey (ass) hanging out with these horses so today, we took a little detour and checked them out. Zach thought the jack ass' name should be "Ned". I had my camera in the back so we shot these two photos. I wanted to get a picture of these two pretty horses, and would've preferred it wasn't their "backside", but Zach and I were both laughing and he suggested this "rear" photo just as I was about to take it. I'm thinking our personalities and warped sense of humor is similar (poor Zachy!!)

Nick played a great match today. Although he didn't win, he played a really good match and had almost game within a single point so it definitely was good playing all the way around. Think he's still adapting to his new racket and he's not convinced he likes it yet. He really is a good player and it's amazing to think that he just started playing tennis again only a year ago. He played a kid from Cherry Creek and it is almost impossible to compete with a school like that, but he gave that kid a run for his money and they definitely were competitive against eachother.

PHOTOS FROM 7/5/09

A cherry pie cooling in an open window. It reminds me of old cartoons with the pie cooling in the window and a dog or some character steals it from the window as the lady in the house turns her back. Of course, the "lady in the house" in this case did not bake this pie. What would we do without Todd and his amazing baking skills? (maybe lose a few pounds ;) ). I have to say that this may have been the first pie ever that the five of us have finished off in one evening. It obviously tasted as good as it looks in these photos.

PHOTOS FROM 7/4/09

HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA! It makes me really proud when I see our flag waving outside our front window. We spent the day up at the cabin with my parents and sister and her family. It was kinda a last minute get-together and those sometimes work out better than too much planning. It was a great day and the weather was so nice. That night, we hung out in the front yard with neighbors lighting fireworks and watching them from our block. It was a really fun day. Zach was very exited to get these poppers like we had last year.

PHOTO FROM 7/3/09

Adding two pictures from 7/3/09... Todd and Zach were at the mailbox and then started walking home while I was in my car. I looked in the mirror and saw this photo op and just happened to have my mini camera in my purse. I pulled it out and got this photo. Love knowing that I'm the one taking it from the mirror and seeing them walk down the street together...not knowing what I'm doing.

Here's a snapshot in to our lives. This is a cart full of stuff from our trip to Sams Club yesterday. Todd goes there at least once a week to pick up our 4-5 gallons of milk we got through every week. As you can see, we got more than milk this time ;).

PHOTOS FROM 7/2/09

In between rainstorms yesterday, the boys got out to play with my birthday gift, Speedminton. It is a combo of tennis, badminton and raquetball and we have had so much fun playing it the past couple of days. I love looking out and seeing all 3 of the boys playing together. They really are eachother's best friends and that is becoming more apparent as they get older. Of course, there are the arguments, teaming up on eachother and yelling, but that doesn't last for too long and it is so nice to know that they always have someone on their side in the world (other than their parents ;) ).

This ball basket has always been in the garage, but with Nick's new car, it has found a new temporary location...the living room. It actually is a great place to have it because whether we are heading out to the front or back yard, we can grab what we need and go out and put it away afterwards. Quite convenient, actually :). This picture cracks me up with the lovely rainbow sheet (from my childhood) covering up the loveseat in the entry room (lovingly called, Mocha's couch). I can even see the "baby gate" that keeps the dogs from heading upstairs. Quite a kid family, family friendly and pet family home.

DAY 2...PHOTO A DAY

Yesterday, my brother came up for the day from Colorado Springs and surprised me on my birthday. When we were leaving Village Inn, he went to his car and brought back this rose. He had one for my mom, Tami and myself. What a thoughtful thing for him to do and I appreciate it so much. It is such a pretty color and I wanted to photograph it and remember this really kind gesture. He's a pretty awesome "little brother". Thanks Todd!