Bronco's Season Opener and Estes Park

This weekend was jammed packed with good summer fun.  It started on Saturday with Season opener tickets to watch our beloved Denver Bronco's take on the Buffalo Bills.  Brad and I try to make it to as many Bronco's games a year as we can as they are so much fun.  We were able to find a great deal on Ebay for United Club level seats.  Brad and I are serious football (especially Bronco's) fans!! This is our time of year when our weekends are jammed packed with tail-gating and football. The weather was perfect for our so said "season opener".

In front of the house before leaving for the game

We decided to spice up our game time ritual this year and go to a new BBQ restaurant that was highly recommended instead of our usual Mexican feast.  M and D BBQ lived up to the fabulous reviews that I had heard. The BBQ was very southern served with corn bread and all the other fixins'.  They even had my favorite appetizer, Fried Okra!! Life couldn't get much better then great southern BBQ before a Bronco Game..Bliss. 

Me excited in the car showing off my tatto

After walking through all the tail-gating Bronco's maniac's (my kind of fans) we entered the Mile High Stadium aka Bronco Country.  Lets put it this way... once you go club you don't go back! We entered the glass entrance special gate, showed our tickets no fewer then 10 times and then we officially arrived.  Brad and I were in awe of the greatness of CLUB LEVEL.  After our 2 year old excitement we were able to see multiple bars, free face painting, free merchandise and Autographs from former players.  It was AMAZING.  We partook in all of the activities and lived it up to the fullest.

Us in our wonderful seats

Go Bronco's

The Bronco's played well for it not only being their season home opener but Couch Fox's and the rookies first game in the new Sports Authority Field at Mile High. It was great to see all the new Draft players as well as the ongoing battle of who will be QB 1,2 and 3.  It was a great game full of good hits, touch downs, and fights.  The Bronco's held their lead through out the game and won 24-10.  After the game Brad and I stood and got autograph's from many of the players. We even got to see Von Miller, our number one draft pick (An Autograph post to come soon).  It was a great night and good kick off to all the football to come this year.

Sunday we decided it would be nice to go up to Estes Park for a hike and some shopping.  My mom and I like to make at lease two trips per year.

Lilly Lake

Lilly Lake is my mom's favorite.  It is a short hike around the lake but you can do other harder hikes from the same trailhead.  We walked around the lake one and took pictures and then decided to go off on another trailhead that takes you to the top of the mountain where there are great views of the lake and Long's Peak.  The view from the top was breathtaking.  We say so much wildlife as well including... Black squirrels, chipmunks, baby ducks, rainbow trout, and a muskrat.  The weather started to turn when we were at the top so we tried to hurry down the trail before it got bad but we didn't quite make it before the sky's open and it down poured.  It was crazy it was coming down so fast that all we could really do was run to different dry tree spots rest and then run to the next.  It was defiantly an adventure to say the least.  By the time we go back to the car we were all soaked and laughing from the great adventure.  It was a hike not to forget!

 

At the top of Mountain

View of the Lake

After drying off in the car we heading into Estes Park to walk around and enjoy the shops and festivel that was going on.  It got very warm and the town of Estes was very Charming like it always is.  We were able to get some small gifts and I even scored an ornament. If you know me you know I pick one up where ever I go, it is the one thing that I love to collect and love Christmas when I see all the ornaments from all the different places we have been!! They even had a petting zoo, my favorite!!  There were lots of baby animals including a baby cow and 11 day old goats.  We got some goodies from our favorite candy shop and had a good dinner before heading back into town. It was a great day and a great way to finish the weekend.  I can't wait to go up for the Elk calls next month.

Summer, Summer where have you gone

Wow is it really almost the end of August?!  I was so busy with work all summer I almost couldn't breathe and in all of my busyness Blogging came to a halt.  Now that things are starting to go back to normal I am back to blogging the "Sill Family Adventures".  Brad and I are always up to something new that we would love to document for not only us but all of our family and friends as well.  So raise your glass fellow, current and future followers... I am back to Blogging!!!

Blogs coming soon

Sorry for the ONE MONTH delay in a blog ( I still have Easter as a background!!) .  I have been so busy with work putting in 65+ hours a week!!!  I would like nothing more then to have the time to blog each day but unfortunately I just don't have the time.  I have lots of blog ideas that have been floating around in my head so here is what's to come in the next couple of weeks....

1. Favorite Vacation spots
2. The ABC's of the Sill's
3. Anniversary Timeline and Memories
4. Summer Plans

I hope everyone is doing well and I promise soon I wont be so neglectful with the blog!!!

XOXO

Firsts of the Season

Well as most of you know the weather here in Colorado is so unpredictable.  We had an unusually warm March and nothing but a cold April.  In no other state can you go from 80 degrees to 40 degrees in a matter of hours.  Growing up I don't remember having such bad wind here but let me tell you if the wind picks up, it will pretty much ruin all plans.  Being a native I should remember these things before I decide to...

FISHING IN THE BOAT IN MARCH

Getting ready to launch

I decided it was a great day to sport my new Capri's as I was sure to get lots of sun.  WRONG after about 5 minutes of nice weather the clouds came in and the weather turned cold and windy.  We were on the opposite side of the lake with waves on the boat and me screaming at Brad thinking we were going to cap size.  After a scary trip across the lake I was soaking wet, windblown and cold.  So much for a relaxing fishing trip and sun.

CU SPRING FOOTBALL GAME

Once again it was a beautiful day in Colorado.  I had been running around all day in my Jeans and light jacket with flip flops.  We got a call from our friend to join him at the Spring game.  WOW was I in for a shock when we got there and more then half the stadium was leaving.  Well you guessed it.... It was TOO cold.  So after standing out side and freezing for an hour we got to go on the field and get the coach's autographs.  So an least is wasn't a complete lost cause.

Brad Freezing at the Game

Us on the field before Autographs (Notice the "Spring" light jackets we were sporting

FIRST SUNDAY ROCKIES GAME OF THE YEAR

Baseball in Colorado any time of the year can be iffy but wow this I think took the cake to go down in crazy Rockies weather history.  NOTE: I do think it takes second place to last years April Rockies game tornado scare where we had to hunker down in the breeze ways to wait out the Twister that was looming in the distance.  

Getting colder as they practice

Back to this year... Brad and I leave to 75 degree blue sky weather where we actually had to take off layers as we were driving down to Denver.  I was thinking today is the day I am going to get that tan, WRONG.  We arrive at the stadium where you guessed it the wind was picking up and it was getting cloudy.  I was wearing my Capri's, light jacket and flip flops, luckily I last minute grabbed an umbrella.  John got field passes where we were able to enjoy batting practice up close and personal.  At this point it was getting COLD.  After leaving the field we walked around some and was heading to our seats when...  (See pictures of events as they unfolded)

Getting Colder

Rain is starts to fall as we head to our seats

Full out SNOW

Well I think I may have learned my leasson that anything you do early on in the season you better be ready for any weather that comes your way!!! My tan now is coming from Target's Jergins Tanning Lotion!!!

Happy Birthday to Me

This blog is a little late but as you will see we have been very busy with Birthday festivities and other fun things.  In true birthday fashion not only did I celebrate a day but gosh darn I spread it out to last a whole weekend.  I just love how you can make that work so you can feel special more then just one day!!!

Friday we had a nice quit birthday dinner with Brad's mom and step dad.  I chose to have flank steak, Cesar salad, and twice baked potatoes.  It was so yummy.  We topped it off with my favorite cake from Whole Foods, the Chantilie with fresh fruit.

Saturday Brad scheduled a get together with some friends and family at Centro on Pearl Street.  We hadn't been there before but thought it would be great to try.  The food and the company were great.  I got lots of great gifts and it was fun to celebrate with everyone.

Sunday we headed up to Black Hawk to celebrate with some good friends and Brad's Sister.  We got a great deal on a room so decided to spend the night and hang out all day on my actual birthday.  We had such a great time.  We ate a The White Buffalo in The Lodge Casino and then gambled and hit the pool at Ameristar where we were staying.  We all had a great time, at was a much needed relaxing break.  Too bad it was a Sunday night as no one was able to stay over night with us as they had to work.  Brad and I did enjoy Monday my actual birthday gambling and actually winning!!  We found a new game that was very fun and easy to win lots of money quick.  It was a nice change from my normal the Wizard of Oz game that I like to play.  On our way home we went to one of my all time favorite BBQ Restaurants, Smokies.  My mom used to take me here on my birthday a lot when I was growing up, it was always a good treat. 

 

All in all I had such a great birthday celebration.  I do however feel that I can't possible be 28!!!  I feel like I am getting so old, what happened to my early 20's!!!  O'well I am happy to be blessed with so many great people to share life's happiness with.  Here's to a great year at 28!!!

Denver Restaurant Week

February and March in Colorado can always be pretty darn boring.  Football is over, the weather is bad, Fishing hasn't started, it gets dark early... the list could go on and on.  However isn't it clever that in the middle of the boringness comes Denver Restaurant Week.  Brad and I always try to take advantage of the good $52.80 price for a couple and enjoy at least 1 new restaurant and old favorites.  This year we went to 3 great restaurants and had a good time at all of them and enjoyed some wonderful food.

Cafe Brazil  

Cafe Brazil is a very bright and colorful restaurant in a fun area called the Highlands.  The food here was traditional South American cuisine.  It was very bold and flavorful.  We went for a dear friends birthday party and there were 7 people in our party and all of us had nothing but great things to say about the food and the ambiance.  The 5280 menu they offered was great and featured their most traditional dishes.  I got the...

Haystack Mountain queso de mano browned on the griddle, served with palisade peach chutney, Marinated red beet dressed with grape seed oil and cider vinegar, and 10-ounce Medium Rare dry aged Black Angus Top sirloin with a jalapeno shoyu marinade along side of fresh field greens with tarragon dressing.  

Brad got the...

Prato Rustico (Queso fresco, marinated grilled eggplant and Spanish piquillo peppers), Red cabbage salad with sesame seeds, smoked goat cheese and mango vinaigrette, and Marinated double cut spring lamb chops with yogurt cucumber red onion salsa along side cherub tomato and fennel salad.

Brad's Lamb was AMAZING.  We never really eat lamb but this was the best.  We highly recommend putting this restaurant on your list of new places to try in the Denver area.

Fogo de Chao

Fogo de Chao is every meat lovers dream.  Our great friend Maggie had gone to the same restaurant in Kansas City, MO and insisted we all try it out for restaurant week.  They advertise themselves to be an "Authentic Brazilian Steak House" and offer an excellent salad bar and traditional Brazilian side dishes.  You definitely need to fast before going and plan to spend at least 2-3 hours there as you will want to eat in parts.  We started off at the salad bar which had so many amazing choices including the largest asparagus I have ever seen.   After the salad bar you have a sign for them to stop or go when it comes to the meat.  If your sign is in the go position then they shower you with all the meat you could ever want.  There are over 10 meat choices and they will continue to put them on your plate until you have to be rolled out of the restaurant.  Also they come along and serve delishes side dishes.  We definitely didn't walk out of there with an appetite!!!  It was very good and you can enjoy it in many city's other then Denver.

Rioja

Rioja is Mediterranean ingredients influenced by local products.  The have amazing combinations of platters that always come together to taste amazing.  The atmosphere is very nice and it is located on the famous Larimier Street in Denver.  We even saw local news celebrities while dining.  Brad and I have been here 2 other times for other occasions and had nothing but the greatest experience and food.  I really enjoy their beet salad and their yummy desserts.  The also give you sugared mint leaves when you leave, I love the flavor and how light the mint leaves are.  This is a great place to visit before a show or game.  I HIGHLY recommend Rioja to anyone in the Denver area.  

Thank you to Tammy my sister in law for getting near imposable reservations so we could all enjoy the great experience of great food together.  

Already looking forward to next year an the new Restaurants to try!!!

My Family

Kelly's Korner is hosting Show us your Life: Family Edition today, so I thought this would be my first time to participate.  The concept is that you write about the topic for the week and then link it with other blogs.  Moving on to the important info: MY FAMILY (Excluding the hubby and the dogs)

My Mom

This is one of the very few pictures I have of my mom where she is actually smiling.  Usually she just has a weird stare on her face :)  Brad and I always make fun of her for her non-photogenic behavior.
My mom and and are best friends and I hate to admit it but the older I get the more I am starting to be like her!!! We spend a lot of time together and I have so many great memories growing up as she was the best mom that anyone could have asked for.  She even let me have 3 personal days when I was in school, I didn't have to fake sick I just said I need a personal day.  My mom raised me to be a strong, OPINIONATED adult and pushed me every step along the way to succeed in life.  I appreciate her love and her ability to always push me to be my best.  I am so glad that we live 2 minutes away from each other and am excited to share many more fun moments in life with the best mom ever!!!

Warren and Julie and Grandma

Warren and Julie are my in-laws.  Warren is Brad's Dad and Julie is his step mom.  They live in Boulder and we get to see them quit often.  Brad's Grandma is also included in this photo and is the cutest grandma any one could ask for.  She is so special and I always look forward to visits with her and she has so much knowledge and I love her stories.  Brad and his dad are very similar in many ways and it is funny to see the two of them together.  Julie is fun to be around and can always make us all laugh, the first time I met her she introduced herself and "step-monster".  I am glad to have great in-laws close by.

Bard and Bob

Barb and Bob are also my in-laws.  Barb is Brad's mom and Bob is Brad's Step Dad.  They also live very close to us and we enjoy seeing them when we can and always have great summer BBQ with them.  Barb is a great cook and always makes yummy food for special occasions and holidays.  Bob always blows up balloons for all birthdays and decorates the house with a Happy Birthday sign, it always makes me smile. We also hang out with them a lot for CU games as we both have season tickets and try to get together before of after games. Once again I am so glad to have all of our family so close. 

Tammy

I am so happy that Brad has one sibling, growing up as an only child was hard at times.  I now have a sister and it is fun to have someone to be close with and have secrets :)  Tammy is a couple years older then us and she also lives close.  We try to get together as much as we can and do fun different fun things.  I can't wait to share many more memories with her as there are always fun times when we are together, I am happy to have a Sister-in-law like Tam.

Well that is my inner circle when it comes to family.  Brad also has two step brothers Grant and Evan.  I do have a very big extended family with lots of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.  They are all so special to me and I had the best time growing up with each and everyone of them.  I still see them often now and love them so much and even though I didn't have siblings I felt like I did with them around.  Being an only child at times is challenging as there really is no one but you.  Also I was the youngest of all the cousins so being the baby I still missed out on some things but always had such a great time with the Bethurum Family. The more I think about everyone so many fun memories come to mind and I just LOVE them so much.

I have learned one thing from the post that I have no pictures of us and our families.  This will be something I need to change this year.  We see everyone all the time but just don't have any photos.

I hope you enjoyed learning about my family!!