There's no place like home?? ~part 1

Initially my trip was to include a side trip to Salt Lake City. I was bummed when plans changed, due to my friend's ever-changing schedule (she is a pilot with the Air Force and just got a job as a pilot for the airlines), but that means we got to see more of Colorado, which is awesome. Next time, we vow to take a longer road trip (Grand Canyon perhaps!), even though we did put on 400 miles in one day! We saw SO much. I am so grateful to both of my friends for taking time to take me all over to see as much as possible in such little time. We had a GREAT time, and I can't wait to go back! I texted Mike while I was there that I would be sending a moving truck to collect them and all of our stuff...I love it that much. At least Maddie said she'd move out there with me.

(This isn't quite the order I did things...but nevermind that!)

Standing in front of my future home (I wish)





my friend, Sarah, being silly!

The Chapel at the Air Force Academy (last time I was out here, 12 years ago, my photo of the Chapel is awful because there was dense fog...couldn't even see the top half of the chapel! This time, the weather was PEREFCT every day!

I love this next picture, one of my favorites from the trip. We were 1000ft from the summit of Pike's Peak...but we couldn't go further due to 80mph winds! So we drove up 13 miles (out of 19). Next time we'll make it to the summit!!

That's Pike's Peak at dusk. Oh, and I'm looking out my friend's back door!!










We drove through Garden of the Gods. We thought we'd walk it the next day, but ended up doing some other things instead. So that is on the list of things to do next time I go!



Instead we made the hour+ trip to the Royal Gorge Bridge in Canyon City. It is referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas River. Not the greatest photo, I couldn't get the camera to work just right for whatever reason. The gorge is 1000 ft deep, and at the bottom is the Arkansas River, where we could see rafts flying down the river (uh, you would never find me there. It's amazing enough I didn't pass out on the bridge. I am not so good with heights out in the open air like that. And it was super windy so the bridge was swaying. Yikes! Anyhow, it was very cool to see. And the fact I walked across is super amazing.)







so my friend flies planes and has mad photo taking skills!



Part 2...coming soon!!

In 20 hours...

I will be here! My first vacation without the kids and hubby (scrapbook weekends don't count!)

I'm rather nervous--about flying (something I'm not usually nervous about) and about what to pack (who cares?!?!). But if you want real proof that I'm a scrapbooker...the clothes I'm packing coordinate with my destination/travel mini album : )

before and after

A fun before and after for you. This sure would be a fun segment to do regularly. If I could just have someone come over and do the after part and organizing for me ; )

This before and after involves about 2 1/2 hours and oodles of ribbon.

From this (ribbon hoarders anonymous)

To this (so pretty I don't want to use it!!)

Thanks to the brilliant Stephanie for the idea on how to store ribbon. Auf wiedersehen to my ribbon bag with all the little holes!!!!

new shoes

My new tennis shoes are getting a lot of love, as in I've been wearing them a whole lot.

I am taking a bootcamp workout class once a week with my sister, and I just finished my fourth class. It is really tough (especially since I really have never taken a workout class!) but I feel pretty good (though my abs are really suffering today!!). I can tell I'm stronger than I was 4 weeks ago when it started. I'm not in it to lose weight, just to get in shape. I'm considering a family membership to the Y so the kids and I can take classes (Mike has a membership elsewhere near his work). Anyone else have a Y membership??

So yes, my new shoes are seeing lots of squats, lots of running, and lots of work with a resistance band. I am trying to eat healthier; I quit buying some of the tasty cereals I love, partially because I know they are loaded with sugar, but mostly because I noticed the last quarter or so of the box was pretty much sitting in the pantry getting stale. So now we have Life, Rice Krispies, Corn Chex, yogurt Cheerios, Frosted Flakes, and we do still have Fruit Loops and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I also spent $50 on just fruit the other day at the grocery store. But that doesn't mean I'm giving up everything that's "bad" : )

"lots of pictures!" post

Sadie blew bubbles for the first time a couple weeks ago.


Easter morning


Cal in full uniform

Cal's class went to a Brewer game at the beginning of April and our group got to move down to field level seats!! Awesome!! I took this picture, we were pretty much right behind the dugout.

Kaycey, a couple days before her birthday

Yep, that's me, circa 1987! All decked out in Huey Lewis and the News...that was my first concert ever!

Sadie at Stonefire Pizza for the first time. I don't think this needs any other words.

My main reason for not posting pictures for quite some time is that my old laptop has no room left for me to upload pictures. And I don't like the way my new laptop is organizing pictures. So I gave up. The pictures sit on my camera. It is very sad but true. In all honesty, I have been very lax in even taking pictures this year altogether. But I vow to to take more pictures, I mean, come on!! I have a camera, I should use it!!

My insanely busy week at a glance:

Monday--visit Grandma after school (my Grandma broke her hip a week ago; she fell off of a ladder) but get home in time for swim lessons at 7pm.

Tuesday--work at the store, eye appointment immediately after work, then meet my friend for dinner celebrating a marathon finish (uh, her not me!!)

Wednesday--dance class for M, baseball practice for C 5-8pm, my bootcamp workout class from 7:15-8:15.

Thursday--soccer practice for K, and I teach my Destinations album class that night (guess I need to squeeze in finishing cutting everything for it sometime this week!! I did cut all the chipboard for it and most of the paper--phew! What a workout!)

Friday--Entertainment Night at School.

Sat/Sun--K has a soccer game, C's first baseball tournament

Guess we have a busy week.