I will be caught up...

Todd, if you are reading this...I do have all the Project 365 pictures taken and up to date and a list of what I need to blog. I got a little overwhelemed in September and got behind, but I am going to post these pics I have taken on the blog along with their writeups...and I'm starting this week so STAY TUNED! This blog will be updated before you know it.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/15/11

While we watched TR Boys tennis into the early evening, we had a beautiful view of the sky and the sunset. To me, it looks like a tennis ball in motion (going the wrong way, but you get the effect). It didn't last for long, but the sky was so beautiful and we had a great view. This was taken right as Nick was playing his 4 doubles match which they won 6-3, 6-2. Sure hope they keep the energy they have together because they are a good team together. Thankful for being able to be there to watch him.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/14/11

Today, mom had her second knee replacement. She just had the first one in May so this was a quick turn around. We waited in the waiting room longer than usual because she stayed in recovery as they got a room ready for her. In this photo, I think we are all getting a little wiped out, loopy and very relieved the surgery had gone well. Now, it's on to the recovery and getting comfortable and back on her feet. The courage, grace and faith she has within is such a gift to us all.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/12/11

Always good to see Pam when she comes out. In the past, she brought her sweet cocker spaniel, Corkie, with her and the dogs would play, hangout, eat cheese while we caught up. This past year, Corkie died at the age of 8 (waaaay too young) but Pam was out to surprise her mom. Shari, Pam and I met up in Morrison and ate at Tony Rigatoni's on the back patio and then took a walk along the river and took some photos. It was fun to learn a new way to take photos of water and hopefully, I captured it (still haven't uploaded all of them so I'll have to do that soon.) Pam gave me a gift certificate to Liquid Spa which is by our house just for being a friend and helping others...so not necessary and I was a bit overwhelmed by the kindness of that and very appreciated. Can't wait to use it...thinking a really nice pedicure would be perfect.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/11/11

Ten years...ten years since that horrendous day where our lives changed forever. My heart is filled with so much emotion today and sometimes, it's almost impossible to bear. Everybody has the "where was I when this happend" story and then there are the families, those directly affected, those whose actions impacted the day...so many facets to this story than will always need to be told...but for today, it's time to REMEMBER and never never forget.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/10/11

#1 is on the field for the start of another fall soccer season. Back with a group of friends he has played with for many years and new players, he hit the field with Zach Triplett as captains. For the best couple of seasons, we weren't sure if this would be the last, but he keeps coming back. Somehow, I really do think this will be it, but who knows. Todd is coaching again. When Zach got to choose a number for his uniform, he said #1...when I asked him why 1? He said, why wouldn't I want to be #1. Good point.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/9/11

As I sat on the couch today, this is the view I see on the ottomon...lots of electronics including two tv clickers, Wii controller, Zach's X- box controllers, my IPad and my ever present cell phone.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/8/11

Looking out the front door this morning, I noticed these amazing clouds. I called everyone out to check them out. The picture doesn't quite do it justice, but those top clouds looked like ocean waves crashing into the beach...Colorado's version of the ocean over the mountains, I guess.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/7/11

I hadn't been to Snooze before but had always looked forward to checking it out. Whata great name for a breakfast spot. I met Pat Potter, our next door neighbor from English Sparrow Trail, for breakfast. We try to get together when we can, but hadn't for over a year. It was a great time to catch up and my hashbrowns with carmelized onions, spinach and avacado was very good. Looking forward to meeting her there again in October.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/6/11

Nick and his tennis partner, Cole (at least his partner for now as the roster is not completely set) get ready to play their doubles match with some hints from Coach Hanson. They played really well and WON! Up until they won, the team was 3-3 and their match would either win or lose the entire team match. They played well and pulled it out with some great moves. 7-5, 6-2.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/5/11

Happy Labor Day! Todd and Chris headed out on the backcountry trails behind our house, and 8 miles later, they feel they had explored quite a lot of the "road less traveled." They found 3 horned toad (I keep calling them horny toads and it drives Chris crazy ;) ) . Can't believe the summer is coming to an end, however, we have broken the record of hottest August ever. Ready for some cooler temps...like 75 degrees and sunshine...I would be happy with that weather way into November.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/4/11

Today, we, with more than 30 other "Carlson Connection" family members joined together at Grammama and Harvey's new "home" at Sunrise for a family gathering. She hadn't seen the boys in a while so she could hardly believe how much they had grown and in fact, didn't recognize Zach at first. What I did notice is that a lot of Grammama's spunk had returned and she was so so happy to have everyone there. So glad it was such a special time for her. She told me "I'm not going to forget this day" and I'm glad she has something to reflect back onto. I think she and Harvey have made a graceful adjustment to this new life...especially Grammama. Love that my boys really know their great grandmother.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/3/11

Lots of outside home improvements on our house this including the back patio, new paint, fresh coat of red paint on the doors and new black shutters...really love it.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/3/11

Very fun to meet up with Annie, Nelson and Greg for our Farmer friend lunch. Ever since we started planning our first mini-reunion it has been fun to meet for lunch when we can and catch up and talk about "old times." This time, there were some funny stories and I was laughing so hard, I was crying. That's what I'm talkin' about...fun times.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/1/11

Making lunches has not always been my favorite morning task, however, this year, I have realized that doing this is something that I'm glad I can do for the boys and something I will miss when I don't make them anymore. Also, it will be a lot different without Nick here next year so I will appreciate making those 3 sandwiches, fruit, a nutrigrain bar or chips and juice with sometimes, an extra treat mixed in.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/31/11

So glad to have a good Mexican restaurant nearby. I went here with Daileen Loving for lunch and the food was good and company, even better. Nick and Andrew have been friends since their freshman year when they were low on the ladder for tennis...they worked their way up and up until a few weeks ago, they were both playing. Andrew decided not to play this year as he is hoping to go into golf management and has to get his handicap down. Anyways, his mom and I have been friends since then also and it was nice to be able to just sit down and chat for a while outside of a tennis match.

This building is where the first Highlands Ranch library was. Nick and I spent many hours in this place that was transformed into restaurant space (Dewey's) when the new, big library was built up near SAfeway. Now, it is Salsa Brava and I have to think it will be here to stay for a while. When I think of how life was when NIck and I would go every week for story hour, I can hardly imagine it has been 16 plus years. We would listen to story hour (and Chris joined us once he was born) and then head out to the non-fiction book area and get all the dinosaur books he could find. Many hours were spent browsing through those books and he knew every single kind of dino that ever walked the earth. Between that and trucks (ucks) and coloring, those were his early passions. It has been interesting and somewhat sad to think back on this while I write this post. So much has changed and gone on in Highlands Ranch...huge amount of buildings, grocery stores that you don't have to drive across County Line Road to get to and just a busier pace of life for us and the community. I will always reflect with tears and happy memories of those days spent with my little Nicky T and shortly after, Christopher and Zachary.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/27/11

Way to go TRHS Boys Tennis. This weekend they came in 2nd or 3rd (depending how you look at it) in the Air Academy Invitational Tournament. Nick and Trevor won 3 out of 4 of their matches and figured out how to play together. When Coach Hanson was handing out the ribbons at the end, he specifically said that Nick was a "leader" and that word means as much to me (and hopefully, to him) as it means to be a good player (which he also said they were). I hope this season, for Nick, is fun, without drama, successful and just a good final summation of 4 years of tennis at TR. He has definitely worked hard, never given up and did his best and is an amazing player...much better than he should be for the time he has spent on the courts in lessons and off season play. I am very proud of him, but more than anything, he should be proud of himself as he is a class act on and off the court (I may have written this same thing in an earlier post, but it is true).

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/29/11

Outside our back window, there sat a Swainson's hawk surveying the wildlife situation, I am sure. There are lots of bunnies back there so I'm betting that was what he was watching for. I'm all for this guy going after the mice so if that is the case, I hope he caught something. It just fascinates me to see wildlife within our daily life. (at least most kind of wildlife not including mice, packrats or any other type of creepy rodent/bug/snake) Almost every day, I look up in the sky and see hawks flying around and often hear the coyotes howling at night. There are bunnies that find refuge in our trees and under our patio and butterflies that fly right in front of me. These are bits of life that I am so grateful to appreciate and enjoy ...right outside my window.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/28/11

Dad had a book signing at "Mountain Books" on Saturday. I was down in the Springs with Nick so Todd, Chris and Zach headed up there with him and mom to be there. It was a small gathering (which you would expect in a mountain town) with Betty Long (talked about in the book) and her family and Norm Meyer as guests. I hated to have to miss it because this whole thing with dads book has just been pretty incredible...the entire process and I love to hear when there are more sales of books. This next week, Tattered Cover is going to start carrying the books and I will be the first on there to check it out (and I may have to buy a copy just to say I did :) ). Todd did a great job taking this photo...I had asked him to take one of him autographing the books and it is exactly what I wanted.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/26/11

Fun photo of me and Heather...

Nick ran over for this photo right before he started his match..

Aidan and Andrew sitting on those hot bleachers. When Nick was playing, Aidan had his fingers crossed and said, "I'm crossing them for good luck...I'm going to cross them until Nick wins"

Cute Emma with her missing teeth...

Nick and his team played in the Air Academy Invitational tournament this weekend in Colorado Springs. Heather, Aidan, Emma and Andrew came to see him play in his first match and it was very special to have them come. I know it meant a lot to Nick and, me too. As a kid, it's nice to know that you've got family support in all you do. The match went into a tie breaker and the rain came so they had to finish that match the next morning, but Uncle Todd went over to the courts as soon as he could hoping to catch Nick playing. It didn't work out, but he did talk to him when Nick was at the hotel. It was nice to spend the evening at Todd and Heather's and hang out with my little brother. Their house is very comfortable to stay in and I even crashed out on their couch before Todd got back. We went out to get something to eat, took Shiner on a walk and watched tv. Just a nice relaxing, fun day all the way around. BTW...Nick and Trevor DID finish their tiebreaker on Saturday morning and WON! I think Aidan crossing his fingers the day before made the difference.