2011 Picture Recap

Finally I am able to get he new collage for the front of the blog done. It is so hard picking out my favorite pictures for the year. I am still working on the 2011 final year in recap in photos and will get that up soon!!

Colorado Rockies Fan Fair

We had a blast at the Rockies fan fair last weekend. There are lots of activities and clinics for the fans to participate in. Fun activities included Autograph sessions, photo opportunities with the players, player q and a sessions and Rockies Family Feud. They also had lots of collectors items that were available to purchase. Brad bought two stars and stripes hats that were game worn, and one was Ryan Spilborghs. The hats were only $5 each, Brad was excited about his purchase. Between all of the clinics there were activities to participate in and a self guided tour of the field.

Brad standing by the Mickey in the Club Level

It was a great way to meet the players and tour the field.  It was so fun to see all the behind the scenes areas that we usually don't get to see.  It defiantly put me in the mood for baseball to start.  We love the Colorado Rockies and nothing beats a great day at Coors Field.

Handing out near the locker room

Sitting in Tulo spot in the Rockies dugout

View from the dugout

In the opening of the famous humidor

Rockies Locker Room

With some of the players and my favorite EYJ (Eric Young Jr.)

New Year's Resolutions

I think it is important to set goals each year or things that you think are important to change. I really try to keep my self in check through out the year and make sure I am staying on track with all of my goals. I love that with iPhone and iPad now you can look at the note section frequently to always remember notes and goals.

I started my improvement/resolution list over a month ago and I am happy with all of my goals. I hope to stick to all of them this year and can't wait to look back at the end of the year and see where I am at. I try not to be too critical of certain characteristics that I posses but I feel it is very important to call some issues as the truly are.So with out further ado,here is my 2012 improvement and resolution list...

1. Be more organized at home
2. Try to make a real hard effort to be on time.
3. Don't take things too personal
4. Relax more and not get worked up about things or work, just roll with things
5. Blog more often
6. Do special things with just Brad at least once a week
7. Be healthy and lose weight
8. Organize my clothes and closet
9. Try at least 1 craft/ home improvement item every month
10. Save more money and don't shop as much
11. Buy a house
12. Go to bed no later then midnight
13. Be positive
14. Watch less TV
15. Try a new Restaurant and activity each month

I will check back each quarter to see where I am at with my goals. What New Years resolutions did you have?

Winter Break Fun List update

Well break is officially over.  As I was driving to work today I thought about all the fun things and memories Brad and I will have from the 10 days we had off.  It always surprises me how quickly the time you have off goes, it seems like just yesterday I was so excited for Christmas and the rest of the break and now I am back at work.  O'well we have to work to have fun.  At the beginning of the break I posted a fun list of activities I wanted to do during the break, if you didn't catch that blog post click here. Here is the update on what we did and didn't get done...

1. Go somewhere warm 

We sure did go somewhere that was much warmer then Colorado, Arizona.  The temperature there was great, usually in the 70's during the day and lower 50's at night.  Brad and I were so excited we could wear shorts. 



2. Surprise Brad

Mission accomplished.  He was super surprised about the trip to Arizona.  He thought we were going to Alabama the whole time so was surprised to see Arizona on the envelope/folder that I gave him.  See the video below, it is not the best quality but still fun to see his face and reaction when he found out.



3. Ice Skate: Bummer still on the list.  There wasn't ice skating in AZ, so we need to go in the next couple of weeks here.

4. Go sledding: Bummer still on the list.  The issue with this was that when we got back from Arizona all the snow we got had melted.  We have to wait for more snow and then we can go sledding.  I did buy an excellent sled from Costco and there is a great hill by our house so all we need in SNOW.



5. Go to the movies and get pop-corn and candy: Bummer still on the list.  I really hope to go to a movie soon as it has been way to long.



6. Spend time in a hot tub

We spent lots of time in different hot tubs.  We had a great view from resort hot tub in Arizona.  Also we went to Black Hawk with friends and enjoyed the outdoor hot tub there as well.  The one is Black Hawk is great as it is on the 27th floor and there are great views of all the pretty mountain starts.  We had a blast in both hot tub settings!!



7. Receive a massage

Not only did I receive a great message in Tuscon at our resort but I got an awesome gift card from my mother-in-law to use at another spa.  Life is good!!





8. Go shopping and get a calendar

We did go and get Brad his famous fishing calendar that he must have every year.  Unfortunately I didn't get a calender yet and I really need one.  Tomorrow I will make a trip to Celestial Seasonings to get my favorite calender that they make.  I also need to stop by Barnes and Nobel and get a small one there and one for work.  Jeez can't believe Brad was the only one to get a calender!!



9. Cheer on the Bronco's and Tim Tebow

Well lets just say the Bronco's were 6-0 and in the middle of the season and they have ended the season 0-3. By a pure miracle and the rest of our league being horrible we were still able to make the playoffs and have home field advantage the first game.  We will see what happens in the first game against Pittsburgh, should be very interesting!!
(1/22/2012 Update: The Broncos ROCKED the game with Pittsburgh, it was amazing to watch. I was so proud of Tim Tebow and the Broncos. The following week was a different story with New England but all GREAT seasons must come to an end.)



10. Drive around and look at Christmas lights

We drove around on a super cold night before Christmas with Frankie.  We say lots of great lights and then the house that we always go to that is Christmas lights on "crack".  Frankie was even memorized which says a lot for a CRAZY, A.D.D. dachshund.



11. Eat anything and everything Peppermint

Did my fair share of peppermint flavored eating.  I just love Peppermint, almost as much a Pumpkin.



12. HAVE FUN!!!

We had so much fun the whole time off.  My favorite part was getting to spend so much time with Brad.  He is my best friend and I can't think of anything better to do then being with him for Christmas and always, xoxo to the best husband ever!!

November/December phone Rewind

I have a lot of photos for the last two months on my phone. So this year I think I will do a phone rewind each month so I don't have so many. I always enjoy looking back as I take lots of different pictures on my phone that I don't take on the camera. Here is our month in rewind.... (these are in no particular order)

From my office window of the large snow storm we got before Christmas (18 inches)

Bronco's vs. Jets game on Thursday night, we had so much fun

First picture of our Christmas tree right after we decorated it

Pretty poinsettia's when we got our tree, thought they looked like Candy Canes

My two favorite boys, puts a big smile on my face :)

November snow storm shot on my way into work, the mountains looked so pretty

Christmas lights on "crack", lots of decorations, Frankie was mesmerized

Pretty multi-color light tree with snow on it

Fox we saw in Arizona

Brad handing out at the pool in Arizona

Brad's red velvet cupcakes I made him for his Birthday

Brad after eating the best Mexican food ever in Phoenix

Pablano pepper stuffed with cheese and meat, so good!!

Frankie actually looking calm with his favorite ball.  He had his sweater on since it was cold.

Mel the Pig that Brad's family sponsors, what a "ham"

In the Arizona desert

At the greenery where we get our tree every year

Tucson, AZ

Brad and I just got back from a wonderful, relaxing trip to the AZ desert.  We stayed in Tucson and headed up to Phoenix one day.  The weather was absolutely beautiful, it was only a little chilly in the morning otherwise it was a nice 70 degrees with no clouds or wind the whole time.  I decided to surprise Brad with a Christmas get away about 8 weeks ago.  Southwest was running a great deal on airfare and I got an amazing deal at the wonderful resort Hacienda Del Sol. It about killed me to keep the surprise but I was able to hold out for the full 2 months and hold to the surprise.  We really took it easy this trip which for me was hard but worth just relaxing and doing what ever, when ever.  I did have a couple must do's on the list but other wise we would plan the night before for the next days activities.

View from the hot tub and Restaurant at the resort

Roadrunner

Since we flew in so late on Monday we stayed at a hotel right by the airport.  The next morning we slept in  before hitting the road.  We started out in the morning with going to a cave called Colossal Cave. It was a pretty neat tour except for most of the cave formation's were dead due to the cave being so dry and people not taking care of it.  I am a cave connoisseur of sorts so on my cave list it was just ok, It would have been really neat if the formations hadn't been ruined.  But it was still exploring a new cave in a different area and both Brad and I really enjoyed it.  There was great views of the desert from the cave entrance and we saw 3 road runners on the drive.

At the top of the canyon before the cave Tour

Inside the Cave

After the cave tour we headed over to Sabino Canyon to take the tram to the top of the Canyon and enjoy some desert hiking.  It was a beautiful area where we saw lots of wildlife and enjoyed the views of the canyon.  The sun bursts were awesome as the sun was going down, we got some great photos.

View at looking west into the Canyon

Pretty waterfall

Sun setting behind us

The colors with the sun set were so vibrant

Saguaro cactus, blooms in the spring with the Arizona state flower

Wednesday we shopped around town some and picked up some small gifts and an ornament to add to our collection (we always get an ornament from every place that we travel to, this way it always brings memories back when we hang it on our Christmas tree each year). We visited Biosphere 2 and did the tour of the building.  It is very interesting and seems as if they are learning a lot scientifically.  In the early 90's a group of people were shut inside for 2 years to see if they could live off of everything inside, they made it but it was a long, hard road.  It was a very interesting tour to see all the different items growing inside and how things work.

Getting ready to go on the tour

Biosphere 2 in the middle of the desert

Thursday was our marathon day that we squeezed in all we could.  Brad's dad and step mom Julie sponsor a pot belly pig named Mel. Ironwood Pig Sanctuary is a place were all unwanted/abandoned potbelly's can go to live out the rest of their pig life.  Most of the pigs live to be 17 plus years old.  The owner Mary does an amazing job with all of the pigs, Brad and I were so impressed with the facilities and how happy all the pigs were.  She has rescued over 600 pigs that are at the sanctuary.  The have tons of land to roam around and there lots of volunteers that take amazing care of them.  Since Warren and Julie sponsor Mel it was only natural that we had to make a visit.  If you are looking to give money to an animal rescue that does an amazing job please click on the link above and sponsor a pig in need, get on their mailing list or email me for more details.  

Mel was such a "ham" in all of his photos

Their faces just crack me up

Twinkie

Best Buddies, all the pigs have a "pair" that they do best with

Happy Piggies getting a sun tan

After spending all morning with the Pigs we headed to the Ostrich farm to go on the big wheel truck tour.  While waiting for the big wheel we were able to feed lots of animals including Donkeys, White tail deer, goats, ostrich and birds.  All of the birds were crazy!!!  I thought we would have large bites from them that is how crazy there were.  Brad took photos of me that I dare not post where I look horrified, screaming with my eyes closed.  I LOVE animals but these birds were CRAZY!!! The monster truck ride was lots of fun and we learned a lot about the desert around us and Ostrich's.  

Nice Donkeys, they were so gentile

Don't get too close Brad they will bite you!!

Brad's looking much calmer then I was with the crazy birds

Feeding the Ostrich Grapefruits

White Tail Deer

We then got on the road to finally get into Phoenix. Brad found out there was a Bass Pro there so we of coarse had to check it out!!  (I have only been to 20+ other stores around the US). We then went to a recommending Mexican Restaurant named Aunt Chiladas.  It was the best Mexican food I have ever had any where!  I know my Mexican food as we have it EVERYWHERE and let me tell you this place trumped them all. I had the Pepper and Quaso which was a Pablano Pepper stuffed with chorizo and cream cheese and topped with a savory red pepper sauce, all I can say is YUMMY!! They also had Amazing margaritas which was a great way to end a great, fun filled day.

Brad in front of his "homeland"

Friday we took it easy and just went to some small museums around town.  We went to the Miniature Museum, postal and stamp museum (I want to volunteer there when I retire) and San Xavior Mission.  The weather was great so we decided to go back to the hotel to get some pool time, hit up happy hour at the hotel restaurant which had amazing food and margaritas and then watch the sun set over the dessert mountains while in the hot tub. 

Out side of the mission

Beautiful wood carving inside by the alter

Brad and I had a wonderful time and enjoyed relaxing and seeing as much as we could in Tucson.  I am so thankful that we are blessed to be able to travel so much and see all the beauty in America.