Freshly Squeezed

The Stanley Hotel - Estes Park

2010-10-17T15:59:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, we drove to about 2 hours outside of Denver to Estes Park to enjoy the autumn mountain air!

There were elk everywhere, including the golf course!

We ate at one of the mom and pop shops for lunch then walked around the main-street shops. There were the usual touristy things to buy, but we invested in better things like fresh salt-water taffy and homemade fudge. :) After overindulging, we made our way to the famous Stanley Hotel for our ghost tour!

This hotel is where Stephen King stayed in room 217 (which is said to be haunted by Ms. Wilson, the chamber-maid) and was inspired to write the "Shining".

Jim Carey spent an entire 3 hours in this room while filming Dumb and Dumber, then he checked out of the hotel and refuses to discuss what happened...dun...dun...dun!

"Race you to the top Harry!"

If you ever have the chance to go to Estes Park, go! It's amazing! And you might even hear the ghost of Mrs. Stanley playing her piano at the Stanley hotel!

We're Alive!!

2010-10-08T14:17:00.000-06:00

I know, I know. It's been a long time since I updated the blog. I would love to say it's because we have been extremely busy doing fun and amazing things like traveling to exotic places, freeing Tibet and saving the whales. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Almost five months have passed and rather than rack my brain trying to remember anything post worthy, I'll just make a better effort in the future about posting in a timely fashion! :)

SURPRISE!

2010-05-25T20:36:00.001-06:00

That's right, last Monday I became part of the thirty and flirty club! Nathan (with a little help from a good friend) threw me a surprise party at Maggiano's! So much fun, food and good company!

SURPRISE! (thanks Steve for being the best surprise party light turner-on-er!)

Left to Right standing: Quin holding baby Emerson, Jordan, Melissa, Nicole, Jason, Lisa, Tony, Alli, Jon, Steve, Brigitte, Maegen
Left to Right sitting: Lowry, Britt, me, Nathan, Will

Ginormous cupcakes which we all concluded should be renamed mini-cakes.

Delicious! I didn't/couldn't finish all that chocolaty goodness. By this point I was slipping into a food coma. I think the look on Nathan's face makes the picture!

30 and mature...right...

Thanks Nathan for making my 30th a great one!

The E-Lemon-ator

2010-04-17T15:48:00.000-06:00

3-0 That's right. He's undefeated.

Disney World

2010-03-14T18:55:00.005-06:00

We recently went to Disney World with some good friends and had a great time. Lisa's parents had rented a house for the week and were nice enough to invite us to tag along. (Warning: Lots of pictures and a long post, if you don't really want to read it - we had a good time. The End.) How could you not have a good time at the happiest place in the world??

This shirt said, This is what Grumpy looks like.

We arrived in style -- after our flight we crammed (and I mean crammed) four adults, 1 kid in a car seat and 4-6 pieces of luggage into a car. We could have given the Clampetts a run for their money!
We spent the evening at Downtown Disney checking out all the shops.

No, we did not rent this kid for the week. She's the daughter of our friends.

That cute little dragon behind us, made entirely of Lego's. So awesome!

The next day, we arrived early to Magic Kingdom to eat breakfast in Cinderella's castle with some of the Disney princesses. (Monte's and Nathan's favorite was Jasmine -- go figure. Half naked girl is always the favorite.)

Walt and Mickey

What's the hustle for Tony?

Always looking for trouble.

We spent the rest of the day on the rides, including all the ones you have to do, not because they're that fun, but you can't go to Disney World without riding things like Dumbo and It's a Small World.

The girls and our cute matching shirts.

I had the pleasure of going on H's first roller coaster ride with her and she loved it!

First time on Goofy's Barnstormer roller coaster.

The next day we spent the morning at Magic Kingdom and the afternoon at Epcot.

Then back to Epcot the following day. We spent the e-n-t-i-r-e day walking around the World showcase. We loved walking through all the little shops. We had a small lunch in China, but that's so I could have something from the pastry shop in France and gelato from Italy :)

Germany France

There was the funniest mime while we were walking around Italy! I wish I would have taken a picture, but I couldn't risk drawing attention to myself and becoming part of his act!

In Japan, I picked out an oyster and got a beautiful pearl that's now a necklace.

We stayed late that night to watch the fireworks. No pictures of that. You'll just have to imagine it.

We spent the next couple of days at Hollywood studios. Loved it there! So many fun things to see and do!

Tower of Terror :)

That would be the Tower of Terror. It takes you up thirteen stories and then drops, then shoots you back to the top and drops again. I think Lisa's exact words afterwords were "You're lucky I didn't loose my bagel!" :)

We saw a stunt show. Very cool, but it kind of ruins movies when you see the tricks they use.

We did have a little rain one day, which means we are the proud owners of two souvenir Disney World ponchos. This is me sporting my new outfit with a Barrel of Monkeys.

We loved the Toy Story area - they even have people dressed as the green army guys running around!

These weren't real people, but there were some running around.

How cute are the flowers and shrubs?

By then end of the day, I was exhausted. I had to be resourceful and use what I could find.

Me taking a break in the stroller. Good thing I'm small.

We stayed that night to watch the Fantasmic show - again no pictures. I think we all were to tired to even take any. Use your imagination - Mickey Mouse, fireworks, other Disney characters and so on.

The next day we went to Animal Kingdom. I was one of the few who went of Mt. Everest. There even was a Yeti that wasn't Nathan. ;)

Our last day was spent at Magic Kingdom doing everything we hadn't had a chance to do. Lisa and I had to get on as many times as we could on Thunder Mountain! So fun!

There's so much I know that I'm leaving out! Like how we ate ice cream at least once every day. And how I saw a bird attack some ladies churro (possibly the funniest thing all week!). I could go on for quite some time about our trip. If you made it through the post this far, I'll spare you from having to read more.

We had a great time. We came home tired and ready for a vacation from our vacation.

"See you real soon!"

To Whom it May Concern.

2010-02-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Winter,
Please leave. You have worn out your welcome. It's time for you to move on.

~~Sincerely~~,
Me

Like Winning the Lottery

2009-12-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I know we sure did! What I love just as much as Christmas morning, are some of the fantastic sales after. I really believe in using coupons and shopping for the best price on something. Nothing like a sale with an additional discount to make your day :) It bothers me that stores can sell something at one price and the next day it can be sold at a different price. Wrong, just wrong I tell ya.
So let me tell you about my latest winning against corporate America. I heard that Bath and Body Works was in the process of changing their packaging which means they have to get rid of what they have now. I went to their website and indeed-y-do, there's a sale. $3 soap, lotions and other things!!! On top of that I found a $10 coupon off of a purchase of $40 (or more). I dragged Nathan into the store, found yummy lotions, a great deal on soaps and even managed to get coconut lotion up the nose in the process. (I had to pick the one bottle that hadn't been opened yet and must of been pressurized during shipping to Denver. Ahh!) All in all it was like taking candy from a baby. I purchased $126 worth of stuff and only paid $35! I felt like jumping up and down and shouting boo-yah to the cashier.

I-ronical! (thanks Grizz)

2009-11-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

I don't think that one could fully understand/appreciate the previous post and how much we love these pumpkin pie shakes. Tonight, we went to get our last one until next year. We were asked if we would like to donate a $1 to help fight Juvenile Diabetes - at the fast food drive through!? We had a good laugh at the irony. (And, yes we did donate our $1)

Autumn deliciousness!

2009-11-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

PUMPKIN PIE FROZEN CUSTARD! If you live by a Good Times I suggest you go get yourself a scoop right now! Right this very minute! (It's so good we had some last weekend and had to go back again last night.) Oh, and it's super yummy if you make it into a spoon bender with cheesecake pieces added in. (drool...)

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T12:01:00.004-07:00

Here's what we did for Halloween - a spooky dinner!

Spooky eyeball tacos

Nathan's impersonation of a spooky eyeball taco

Bat chips and dip

Candycorn cupcakes

All by romantic candlelight of haunted houses.

The "E-Lemon-ator"

2009-10-18T14:55:00.001-06:00

Props to Nathan for winning his fight on Friday by TKO! He's still undefeated and has acquired the new nickname the E-Lemon-ator from my family. (Honey, I'm very proud of you. However, I will not be carrying a "belt" above my head while walking behind you.)

Monday? Already?

2009-09-28T07:00:00.002-06:00

How many times can I hit the snooze button?

Las Vegas

2009-09-24T13:01:00.005-06:00

This is where we were for the last couple of days. It was rough sitting by the pool enjoying the sun, drinking strawberry daiquiris (virgin of course) and thinking how nice it was not to be at home...with the snow.

Barker Day's

2009-09-20T21:28:00.004-06:00

We took Duncan to doggy day at the pool. He loved it as you can see by the pictures.

How's that for retriving?

Diamonds ARE a girls best friend...(thanks to a good husband)

2009-09-13T17:50:00.007-06:00

This is my wedding ring (minus the solitaire stone - I'll explain in a minute). I love it and could not imagine parting with it because of it's significance. :(
Back in April, I was putting on my 7 year itch ring that Nathan had given me (Apparently you're suppose to itch or get a rash or something around year 7!?) and I noticed one of the stones was wobbling. Ahh! So we made a point to head downtown to the jeweler's to have it fixed. We use only this jeweler because 1. His quality of jewelry is amazing! 2. He doesn't mass produce everything assuring that you won't find someone else with the exact same ring or necklace. 3. He was Nathan's seminary teacher so he's gotta be somewhat trustworthy. ;0) Anywho, while we were there I got to browsing and found a ring that I fell in love with. When we went in a few weeks later to pick up my other ring, I was asked if I wanted "visitation" with the other ring. Heck ya I do! So, I tried it on again. At this point Nathan was asking, "What's a good gift for a 10 year anniversary?" Their response, "Diamonds!" (Gotta love that place!) So, they suggested taking my center stone out of the wedding band and adding it to the new ring. So, voile! I still have my original ring that I love and a new fancy shmancy one!

These pictures do not do justice to their sparkley -ness.

Happy 10 years and 1 month Nathan! :)

Mt. Massive

2009-08-23T07:57:00.006-06:00

Last weekend, Duncan and I went up to the mountains with about 15 of my coworkers to climb Mt. Massive. It is one of 60 or so 14ers here in Colorado that I never even considered trying to summit, even though I have grown up here.

The hike was great and very tiring for both dog and human. We didn't quite make it all the way to the top, but it was still a great experience with some great scenic views.

Here is a quick blerb on Mt. Summit, then three pictures for the public viewing pleasure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt_massive

Lemon Choo

2009-08-07T11:35:00.002-06:00

Jimmy ain't got nothin' on my shoe fashion!

Sassy and stylish no?
I get to wear this little number for at least 6 weeks. About a month ago I "bruised" my foot while kickboxing with my trainer. Of course I ignored the pain and have be keeping up with my normal workouts including meeting with the trainer. Today, I finally gave in and saw the Podiatrist - the bruise was indeed a stress fracture. She is optimistic that it will heal in about 6 weeks. Me too, this thing seriously weighs almost as much as me. Good news out of all of this? It makes my other calf look super small!

Lifesavers

2009-07-19T19:07:00.006-06:00

This weekend we went hiking at Castlewood Canyon with the dog. Before we left, Nathan had to stop at a convenience store to grab something to drink. Running inside he asked if I would like anything and I said, "Sure, I would like some Lifesavers." Not a complicated request, but one that was not fulfilled. He came back with a roll of (gasp) Certs!!! This is the conversation that followed:

N: They didn't have any Lifesavers.
D: What? Not even in a big bag?
N: Oh, I didn't think look.
D: Really? You've been in this family for how long and you didn't find any Lifesavers?

Let me explain myself Lucy. My family has a serious love for Wint-o-green Lifesavers. There are a few places that they are expected to be located: candy dish in the kitchen at my parents, a large bag in the storage room and a generous handful in my dad's coat pocket at church. After the sacrament, we are given our "adult cheerios". (same shape and they keep us quite)

So, not getting my Lifesavers was disappointing to say the least. But, it did help me come up with this doozy - I think I could repackage Lifesavers and sell them to church goin' folk. They will be called.....SacraMINTS!

The Netflix Theory

2009-07-12T20:29:00.014-06:00

So I have this theory, that somehow, someday, I am going to make a ton of money doing what everyone else is doing which is taking something someone else already built/created/is selling and make it better. I don't think you have to reinvent the wheel, just make the wheel better. Here are a few examples of how this common business practice is already in place:

They took what Blockbuster was doing and made it easier for all of us to be lazier. Instead of having of going to a store to rent an overpriced movie, you can have three overpriced movies at a subscription price which is more than you ever paid Blockbuster in a month.

See their entire store...the re-sell everyone else's product.

They make it easier for everyone to write down random thoughts and share them with people over the web instead of having to sit through dinner or a date to hear the same random thoughts.

These guys took the most annoying feature of Facebook (which took a page from MySpace) and made a whole new website out of it. Now you can only update one simple question, "What are you doing now"....and that is it...and they make money somehow. I must admit, it is addicting to write 140 characters of random crap every few hours, even though you know nobody is reading it or cares.

To get the brainstorming session going, I will volunteer the first idea. If you choose to re-invent my idea, just know that I am an undefeated boxer...so top that.

A New Modern Toilet Bowl

Think about it. There are a lot of smart engineering people in the world...there has to be a way to build a toilet bowl that doesn't leave streaks or that doesn't create splash back. I mean, this is a problem in every home, office and public restroom. The first person to solve this challenge will be rich I tell you...spiritually rich that is!

Now you must comment with your ideas or be blocked from our blog forever.

Mr. & Mrs. Lemon

2009-07-06T20:09:00.005-06:00

Happy 4th of July from the Lemons! (better late then never)

This picture came from my sister - my family felt the need to have stand-ins for us since we did not venture to Idaho for the weekend. The accommodations weren't that great (a small disposable Tupperware bowl for the two of them/us) but we made it to a pancake breakfast, parade and took a ride in a helicopter!

Mother Nature

2009-06-14T19:18:00.010-06:00

Can you tell what type of flowers these ~~are~~ were?

Thanks to mother nature and her generous helping of this:

My once beautiful flowers are now flower confetti. I guess one could say, "All hail broke loose!" Curses to you Mother Nature.

SYTYCD

2009-05-21T21:08:00.003-06:00

By show of hands, who's excited about the new season starting tonight??

Fight Night

2009-05-10T17:35:00.005-06:00

Last night, Nathan had his first amateur boxing match. Thanks to everyone that came out to support him. There were a lot of friends there for what we like to call "Team Lemon". Thanks to Jordan for taking the pictures so I could nervously watch.

Tap gloves and fight! (Nathan is in the blue)

Nathan landing a good jab.

And the winner, in the blue corner, Nathan Lemon!

Trainers Rolando, Miah, Nathan and me

Nathan, his trophy and trophy wife :)

Mama said knock you out...

2009-05-03T18:07:00.003-06:00

The following people and events are true.
Nathan goes to a sparring class during the week. Basically you get in the ring with another guy and have at it at full steam. Less than a minute into it on Thursday, Nathan knocked Joe* out. Saturday morning, we walk into the gym and the first thing we hear from the front desk guy is "Hey there knockout." Nathan turns to me and says, "See, I wasn't making it up." (I feel that I should interject here, at no point did I doubt the story.) According to the front desk guy, Nathan must have got Joe good because Joe went to a meeting on Friday morning with the store manager and later on in the day asked if he was going to have a meeting with the manager - forgetting that it had already taken place.
Then the instructor came over and said that she heard about sparring class. Apparently, this is the talk of the town!
So, do any of you remember playing the Telephone Game where someone whispers something to one person who whispers to the next and so on until it reaches the last person? Things always ended up different. At this point, I imagine that the story has become more of a tall tale. For that reason, I have been calling Nathan, Wallace, as in William Wallace whose reputation was exaggerated. (I've heard he's seven feet tall! Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds. And if HE were here, he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes, and bolts of lightning from his arse.)

*The name of this person has been changed to protect their identity and minimize jabbing (ha, ha) comments.

Je suis M. Bonhomme de neige.

2009-04-17T18:16:00.004-06:00

This is one way of putting off laundry and cleaning today. I did consider putting one of my swimsuits on it with a beach towel in protest of yet another spring storm, but I wasn't sure how the neighbors would take it.

On a side note, I have been asked twice this week if I'm French. The answer is no, but my snowman is!

Choosy Moms choose JIF!

2009-04-17T13:59:00.005-06:00

Duncan loves peanut butter. He knows what that jar sounds like when I get it out of the cupboard and sits patiently for me to share with him. (He actually has his own jar...I don't need dog slobber on my PB&J.) Today was his lucky day, an empty jar for him to enjoy.

You can call me Al.

2009-03-10T21:43:00.004-06:00

OK, maybe not. I'm not really an Al. Maybe a Dan or Dani or even just "D". So this brings me to today's story. As many of you know, Nathan and I joined a boxing gym back in December. In addition to taking classes, I meet with a trainer to work on kickboxing. (nothing like actually kicking someone to get out some frustration!) He usually calls me D. Not a big deal. We've spent many hours together with him kicking my butt.
~Flash back a week ago~ During my personal training, Nathan and another guy at the gym have a casual conversation. You know, guy stuff, while watching me train. I'm even sure that Nathan told him my name at some point. ~Flash forward to today~ During class tonight, we were asked to grab a partner for some of the warm up. Unfortunately, I was paired up with casual conversation guy. As we are doing push ups, he yells out "Good work D." What the!? I don't even know him! Excuse me sir, you see that line on the floor? Yeah, you just crossed it.

J Dawg and Q.P., please continue to refer to me as D ;) I at least know you guys!

Quack...quack...quack!!!

2009-03-08T17:34:00.008-06:00

(props to any of you who know the name of the movie my title came from)

We have to give a big CONGRATS to my nephew and his hockey team. He called me earlier today to let us know that they just took Second at their hockey tournament. But, what is even better, he called Nathan last night all excited because he scored the winning goal! He gave Nathan the play by play: He was the last one to go, he made a wrist shot, the puck hit the goalie's pads, the goalie tried to stop it with his stick and the puck slid in. He told me today that his team tackled him and his goalie gave him the best hug. (I was told by my sister that this is not necessarily the correct order of events, it's just how one really excited 9 year old told the story.) I was also informed that his friend's dog is named Jose Theodore after the Avs goalie - Jose Theodore!? Way to go Glaciers!

Here he is in action, with two different socks on!

Tag...I'm it!

2009-01-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

Ugh, I've been tagged...again. (I ask that anyone of you who decide to read the following would not judge.)

1. I am a germ-a-phobe when in public. I will not touch door handles with my bare hands. I will use a sleeve if I have to. (besides, that's what men are for, to open doors and stuff) And I won't use public restrooms. I would rather take my chances of peeing in my pants.
2. I have to have toenail polish on ALL the time. My feet feel naked without it.
3. I wish I knew how to play the guitar.
4. Some people are tall, some are super strong, me...I have larger pupils than most people. Aren't you jealous?
5. I've been trying to finish this list for about 2 weeks.
6. I love Pepsi (from a can) in a glass with crushed ice! I really don't drink soda much, I just need a fix sometimes.
7. I'm training to be a cage fighter. Just kidding. But, I am going to do a one-on-one boxing/kickboxing training on Monday :/ I'll let you know if I can move on Tuesday.
8. I like to sleep - yet I have insomnia. How does that work?
9. I've been craving a chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting for about 2 weeks now. (thanks to Lisa)
10. I am redecorating our bedroom (much to Nathan's chagrin)

There you have it. Now get going on your 10 things! :)

My, do we LOVE our Lemons!!!

2009-01-25T14:28:00.005-07:00

I stole this off of my sister's blog. It's just too cute not to share.

These are our Lemons. Meet my little sister (I mean 7 years younger Sister), Danica and her husband, The Infamous Uncle Nathan. Who wouldn't love some lemon's in their family? And we
are the lucky ones to have them!!!

And so I bring you another funny story courtesy of Kyndal.

The other day while in the produce section while at the grocery store, Kyndal sees a large basket of Lemons that happen to be on sale 4/1.00 And the following conversation ensues:

Kyndal: MOM! Can I please have one of those lemons?

Mom: (thinking, Sure I have a recipe I'd like to try with lemon zest) "Sure Honey, how about this nice big lemon?"

Kyndal then begins loving,hugging and rocking her lemon like a baby. And don't forget giving it smooches.

And then she says:"I love my lemon."

Mom: "Who else loves Lemons?"

Kyndal: "Danica. She is a Lemon and so is Uncle Nathan."

Mom: "Yep they are and we love them. They are our Lemons"

Kyndal: "Danica LOVES lemons. She has them in her tummy and in her Heart."

My sister had a good laugh when I told her this story. And assures me the only lemons in her tummy are the lemon juice from her diet Pepsi!! Drats that means we have no little Lemon drops on the way. If every one chipped in and sent them a little 'Lemon-Aide" for the Lemon drop fund, they would probably use it to sit on the beach and sip a cold virgin strawberry daiquiri!!!! What gives? I thought maybe Kyndal knew something we all didn't!!!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

2009-01-19T20:16:00.004-07:00

This past weekend, we were invited to "Poker Night" with some friends. For many of us it was our first time playing Texas Hold 'Em, so it was agreed that we wouldn't play for money. (Which is too bad...see photo below.)

Yes, that's me raking in my winnings off of a pair of Aces. Nathan was out at this point and sitting on the couch with one of the other losing husbands so I had my friend take this picture since Nathan wouldn't even look at me in all of my glory. (Thanks Lisa!) Said husbands were tired and ready to go while I was still playing so it was decided that we would play one last hand and the two of us left would go all in. It wasn't looking good for me until the last card...I won!!!!! (insert visual of me jumping up and down screaming) I'm sure that it will never happen again, so I am milking my victory for all it's worth.

Blogging and Boxing

2009-01-11T08:43:00.004-07:00

As I am tired of being chastised by Danica for not blogging enough (since blogging is meant for stay at home mom's or people who don't work 12 hours a day like some of us), I decided I would blog about our newest workout routine.

About four weeks ago, Danica and I started taking boxing classes at this new gym here in P-town called LA Boxing. They have classes for boxing, kick boxing, MMA and a few other fighting techniques. The first class was a challenge to say the least, as I wanted to puke after the class, but we are starting to get into a good routine now. I have taken a couple of one on one classes (which are extremely tiring but very empowering), plus their class schedule forces me to leave work at a reasonable hour. Maybe we will find some pictures to put up at some point.

Hopefully this post satisfies Danica's anger for at least a day or two (probably shouldn't let her learn how to punch and kick harder with so much anger).

Lemon out.

Terrific Tuesday!

2008-12-02T18:38:00.004-07:00

Why is Tuesday so great you ask? See following picture.

These beauties showed up at work with a note that said "Just because I love you". :) So, there you have it. I love today.

These are a few of my favorite things...

2008-11-22T22:06:00.007-07:00

1. Peppermint bark - yummy!
2. Good old fashion Christmas music. I mean the really good stuff - Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby to name a few.
3. Secret Santa's at work. To funny to see what and where things appear in the office.
4. Goodies from neighbors - so bad, yet so good.
5. Christmas lights!
6. The smell of cinnamon everywhere(even though it makes Nathan sneeze.)
7. Spending time with family and friends. We have a "adopted family" here in Colorado. They expect us for holidays when we don't go to Idaho. It's really quite nice. You know who you are. ;)
8. Corn and noodles. For those of you who don't know what this is, see #7. It's pretty much law that it is at the dinner table for holidays. It consists of corn, noodles, butter, and sugar.
9. Watching Christmas movies for the billionth time. The Grinch, Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf, The Muppet's Christmas Carol...I could go on for ever.
10. Hot chocolate and apple cider - thought not at the same time.
11. White Christmases
12. Pumpkin and apple pie - slice of each on the same plate is acceptable!
13. Christmas carolers
14. Christmas shopping - I mean just shopping for Christmas decor. I think it drives Nathan crazy that I could look at all the stuff at Target every week and never get tired of it.
15. Snowmen
16. After Christmas sales :)
17. Making gingerbread houses.
18. Good naps after a day of serious food indulgences.
19. Leftovers = heart attack sandwiches
20. Good friends coming into town to see family and making time to see us :)
21. Crazy neighbors that try to out do each other's Christmas lights/decor. (There is a house that has a TON of lights and they change color and flash in sync with a local radio station's music.)

Music Junkies

2008-11-16T19:23:00.006-07:00

Nathan and I have been busy. We have been to 10 concerts since mid-August! Many of our favorite artists have been coming through town and we just can't pass up the opportunity to see them perform live. But all good things must come to an end. :( We saw the last concert on Friday (David Ford, Newton Faulkner, and my fav Ingrid Michaelson) and there couldn't have been a better way to end what we call our "concert season". Well, it may be over. We are still looking at the venues to see if maybe we could find another one...or two. We will keep you posted.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T16:10:00.004-06:00

Wishing you all a spooktacular day!

This guy is my candy dish! Isn't he cute?

Deliciousness

2008-10-31T15:24:00.015-06:00

Earlier this week I made some sugar cookies that Nathan took to work to share. Apparently nobody at his company has had a sugar cookie before...they ate them like they were going out of style. Nathan said that he got to work, put the cookies in the break room, sent an e-mail, went back to the break room and they were gone! And the recipe I used makes a TON! I guess that Dan-i-cookies may be starting up.

You know how you end up with a weird piece of dough that you're not sure what to do with? I decided to be creative with it and made my very own bat signal. Hmm...I wonder if Batman does laundry.

New Poll!

2008-10-26T22:16:00.004-06:00

Please take a moment to check out the poll on the right side of the page. The only catch is that if you vote, we would like you to a leave a comment as to why you think the animal you chose fits you best. It can be based off of looks, shape, personality or whatever floats your boat. (And please, let's keep it PG.) Ok, I'll start. I am sooo a tiger because I love a good cat nap! All right, not so hard. Go forth and vote people! (And I promise we won't have any annoying campaign ads)

Castlewood Canyon

2008-10-05T19:53:00.003-06:00

Last week we decided to get out and see some of the leaves changing. (These pictures don't do it justice.) Fortunately for us, we didn't have to go to far. This place is about 10 miles from our house. We had a good time and there were no snake encounters. We're thinking that we may even go back next week - barring that it doesn't get cold and snow. (grumble)

Taking a water break.

Introducing...

2008-10-05T19:36:00.003-06:00

Flat Sally. She will be visiting us until December and then she will return to my nieces 4th grade class where she will share her pictures and adventures. We are planning many fun outings with her that I can't post as to keep it a surprise. What a fun way to learn about other places!!

Here she is in the chair at work. Note the detail of her...holding a flower, bangs, and flip-flops. My niece is quit the artist.

Way to go Idaho?

2008-09-21T21:02:00.007-06:00

(Law and Order "dunt-dunt")

The following events are true. The people are real.

Woman named Bacon wins Idaho hog-calling title

LEWISTON, Idaho - Jolee Bacon really sizzles when it comes to hog-calling.
The northern Idaho woman took first place Saturday in the competition at the Nez Perce County Fair.
She has raised several champion pigs for 4-H contests. Bacon says she calls pigs every morning and night with her 9-year-old daughter, Jacey.
Bacon won the crown over as she started her hog call with a few loud snorts and a long, drawn-out "sooey."

It's no wonder that most people think Idaho =

1. Potato farmers

2. White supremacists (hmmm...I'm blonde/blue eyed married to a bald white guy. Probably doesn't help the stereotype.)

3. Rednecks

I am from Idaho and am not any of the above. But, I will admit, while reading the article to Nathan, I couldn't resist finishing with "sooooooeeey!" :)

Onions, fantasy football, and newspapers

2008-09-12T11:57:00.003-06:00

Here in the great state of Colorado, we are privileged to have a fine news source that goes by the name "The Onion". It is a satirical weekly newspaper poking fun at and culture jamming popular news stories. (It's funny 'cause it's true.) Fortunately for those of you not lucky enough to live in the Rocky Mountain state, they have an online version. I had to add the following headline and link because once again I was sucked into joining Nathan's fantasy football league. (Yeah for team Hootie-McBoobie!) Last week I was up against the guy that had Mr. Brady -- needless to say I won :) Thank you to Bernard Pollard for that tackle that probably ended his career, but helped my fantasy football career.

Female Fans out for Season with Tom Brady's Knee Injury
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/female_fans_out_for_season_with

I have seen it all now!

2008-09-04T12:11:00.002-06:00

I saw the craziest thing today and had to share. As I am driving down the road, I see a couple cycling -- not just riding bikes I'm talking the full racing gear get up. This really is a common thing here so I didn't think much of it. As I am driving past them I did a double take. What the heck?! Yes, he really did have his dog in a baby carrier on his back!!

And the award for best husband goes to...

2008-08-17T20:43:00.004-06:00

NATHAN!!!

Why you ask? What husband arranges for you to meet one of your favorite singers on your anniversary before the concert? Yes, my husband. We were able to meet Joshua Radin - what a cool guy. If you don't know who he is check him out on myspace. (Joshua Radin not my husband)

Looking tough because let's face it, two guys with arms around each other for pictures is not manly.

Nathan and I have agreed that it is going to be really hard to top that next year!

Anniversary and Dan-i-cakes

2008-08-17T20:23:00.005-06:00

Thursday we celebrated our anniversary - 9 years! Nathan brought me flowers and I got him a portable Ipod player/speaker. We went to nice dinner of Italian but did not have dessert. Don't worry, I made a delicious red velvet cake complete white chocolate frosting and raspberries. I have a friend that has told me I should go into the cake business. She even came up with the name Dan-i-cakes. So, there you have it. It has been trademarked. (not that I plan on having a cake business. I just like the name.) I posted a picture of the master piece as requested. It was yummy!

Yes, the raspberry filling is heart shaped :)

Our own private Idaho

2008-08-17T18:59:00.009-06:00

We have been back from Idaho for a week now, but we seem to have a million things going on this month. It was fun trip and I think we did just about everything there is to do and then some. I won't go into minute by minute detail - here are just a few of the highlights.

Nathan getting instructions on how to fish...in the yard.

You have to clean what you catch.

Enjoying a Chuckar's baseball game.

Camping - complete with lots of bugs, dirt, and a good rainstorm.

A little harmonica music around the camp fire provided by our brother-in-law. (He doesn't really know how to play, but it was entertaining)

Four wheeling

Playing with guns?!

Help me!

Youth Jamboree - some didn't not enjoy the fish catching experience.

Kung-Fu fighting

Many intense games of Mexican golf and Bocci.

And good buddies!

Let's go Rockies!!

2008-07-27T14:03:00.006-06:00

Last week we went to the Rockies game with our friends Tony and Lisa courtesy of Nathan's company and their season tickets. What a great way to spend a summer afternoon - baseball, people watching, hot dogs and dippin' dots! And they won!

The picture below is me and Nathan...he has been mistaken for Chris Dingman (who use to play for the Avs, John Elway (you better know who that is), and Aaron Cook (who plays for the Rockies.) Too bad he can't sign checks with those names...

Check out Nathan's new jersey that I let him get at the game. Yeah, I'm the best wife ever!

Why working out is bad for your self esteem!

2008-07-11T10:33:00.004-06:00

Title says it all.
This morning I got up (while the sun was just coming up), got dressed for the gym and headed out the door. I always start with weights, then abs and finish with running. So after working on my manceps (as Nathan likes to call my arms) I start on legs. As I finishing up with my squats, I look down and holy moly...

I was wearing two different shoes!!!

The first thing that I think is, "EH?" Then I tried to make myself feel better by thinking "Oh, yeah, I did that so I could see which shoe feels better when I run." So, I immediately ran out the door.

Zzz...

2008-07-07T18:39:00.004-06:00

On a lighter note, our cat is so fat (15 lbs.) that he snores when he is sleeping. Loud enough that on a few occasions Nathan and I have asked each other "What is that noise?" Oh, it's just fatty snoring.

Don't just stand there, feed me!

My Soap Box

2008-07-07T17:15:00.004-06:00

Today, John McCain is here for a town hall meeting. I was interested to see what he had to say, but did not want to drive downtown, find a place to park, pay an outrageous amount to park, stand in line and hope to be able to get in. Instead, I opted to wait until his full speech was online. (me dancing around singing "I am so smart, I am so smart. SMRT." If any of you know where that line comes from and who said it...kudos for being so cool.) Anywho, it got me thinking, "Do I really know anything about the candidates and their views/ideas?" Uh, no not really. I think the media is to busy showing he said/did this and it is causing mass confusion throughout. I know that if you are reading this you have access to a computer. So I have added the links for both candidates so you can read for yourself and make an informed decision in November. And if you don't vote, doom on you. Thanks for reading my rant.

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

Can You Hear Me Now?

2008-07-01T06:52:00.003-06:00

So I go to the gas station this morning to get gas and some wake-up juice. The guy who walks into the store in front of me is talking on his walkie-talkie phone (forget the fact that he smelt like an ash tray that hasn't showered in a month) on speaker phone. So not only do I get the friendly beeping every time he talks or the beep every time his idiot friend/coworker on the other end responds, I also get his entire conversation in detail.

My thoughts:
1. If you have to hold the phone to talk into the speaker phone, take it off of speaker phone, and put the phone to your ear. You are close enough, might as well do it.
2. Walkie-talkies are cool if you are under 10 or in the military/police.
3. Don't replace the walkie-talkie with a bluetooth (whatever that even means).
4. Bluetooths should only be used when making a call while driving or while talking trash on Call of Duty 4.
5. The word "Dude" is overused. Your overuse of that word leads significant support to the level of job you have.
6. Stop Smoking.
7. Shower.

That is all I have to say about that.

Lemon out.

We're not in France anymore Toto!

2008-06-22T16:47:00.006-06:00

I thought I'd share a funny story from this week. We think it's funny -- I guess it could be a "you had to be there" moment but we'll give a shot anyway.

At the Vet with Duncan (aka. Fozzy)
Front Desk: Could you take him over to the scale and weigh him?
Us: OK
Sign on Scale "Please do not change the settings"
Us: He weighs 34.8 kilograms?! (We look at each other and silently ask one another "Uh, how many kilograms in a pound??)
While waiting for the veterinarian we contemplated many witty comments for using kilograms instead of pounds. The following was our favorite.
Wow! 34.8 kilograms that's great, but our dog isn't French Canadian!

PS. For those of you still trying to convert 34.8 kilograms into pounds, the answer is 76.5 lbs. :)

No Superman

2008-06-21T16:05:00.003-06:00

I've been fortunate to never have to deal with an allergy of any kind. However, this week I have found my kryptonite...Band-Aids. Seriously. No laughing please. It is a very serious allergy (not really -- more annoying than anything) with a red itchy rash and blisters in the exact shape of the Band-Aid. You think ripping off a Band-Aid hurt before...yowsers! I blame it on illegal immigrants.

SLUG BUG!

2008-05-25T20:06:00.004-06:00

My oldest sister and her family have visited twice in the last couple of months. While here, I have been reintroduced to the game of slug bug. However, she plays with some different rules.

1. no slugging (isn't that the point of the game!?) - apparently this causes issues between certain siblings

2. not only do you have to be the first to yell slug bug, you must give an accurate description of the car ie: slug bug blue with spoiler and antenna or slug bug black convertible.

3. and lastly when driving past a VW dealership, one cannot just keep yelling slug bug over and over...they don't count according to her husband. (yeah, whatever. I so would have won!)

I never really thought about the game until they came to visit. Now, I find myself counting VWs to and from work. It has created a competitive rivalry between Nathan and myself (yeah, I always win.) But, more than that, I have realized that there are a lot of them out there. I guess we didn't get the memo that everyone should drive one. Right...could you see 6'4", 230 lbs of Nathan driving one? Perhaps with a daisy in the cup holder? Yeah, me neither.

Happy Birthday Nathan!

2008-05-11T17:47:00.005-06:00

Happy, happy birthday from all of us to you! We're glad it's your birthday, so we can party too! Hey! A few things that I like about you...even if you are getting old and breaking down:

1. your sense of humor

2. you always are willing to rub my feet while we watch Lost

3. you are a hard worker

4. you are smart

5. you will always eat Mexican food when I want it...even if you don't think you can stomach it

6. you are a people person -- everyone loves you

7. you are very outgoing

8. you are willing to do the laundry when I don't want to

9. you make an incredible bowl of cereal

10. you are can be patient...most of the time

Blog Links

2008-05-07T21:49:00.003-06:00

I am still trying to do something better with my blog layout. So, please excuse my ugly page. I tried to add links to every body's blog -- from memory. If yours is not there, don't take offense my memory is...well, I'm blond. That's my excuse and I'm stickin' to it.

Life Guard on Duty

2008-04-28T20:19:00.003-06:00

Now that it is spring and the weather is getting warmer, Nathan and I decided to have a pool put in. Yes, a swimming pool with water. So grab your sunscreen and noodles!

Here is a picture of Duncan enjoying the water.

Note the fancy waterfall feature.

And here is Nathan on duty.

Salsa update

2008-04-28T19:47:00.004-06:00

I have been busy trying out salsa recipes - no ulcers yet. Here are a few that I really liked.

Salsa Mexicana
2 T. finely diced white onion
8 Roma tomatoes, diced
2 serrano chiles, finely diced, with seeds
2 T. finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 t. sugar
1 T. fresh lime juice

Place the onion in a strainer and rinse with hot water and drain. Combine all ingredients. Add more sugar if the tomatoes are to acidic. Refrigerate at least 30 mins. before serving.

Tomatillo-Avocado Salsa
1 lb. tomatillos (about 15) husked, rinsed and chopped
1 avocado roughly chopped
1 serrano chile, with seeds
3/4 c. fresh cilantro leaves
2 T. fresh lime juice
1 t. salt

Place all ingredients in a food processor and puree.

Fire-Roasted Tomato Chipotle Salsa
1/4 cup plus 1 T. virgin olive oil
1/2 onion chopped
2 lbs. Roma tomatoes, blackened
4 t. finely minced roasted garlic
1/2 c. minced fresh cilantro
4 chipotle chiles en adobo, chopped
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 T. salt
1 t. sugar

Heat a T. of olive oil in pan until lightly smoking. Add onion and saute until caramelized. Transfer the onion, half the blackened tomatoes, and garlic to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the cilantro and chipotle chiles and pulse again.
Peel, seed, and chop the remaining tomatoes and fold in together with the remaining 1/4 c. olive oil, vinegar, salt, sugar, and other tomatoe mixture.

Avocado-Serrano Salsa
2 large avocados chopped
1/4 c. fresh lime juice
1 Roma tomato diced
3 T. minced red onion
4 t. minced serrano chile, with seeds
2 t. minced cilantro
1 1/2 t. salt

Carefully fold all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl.

And finally...

Tomatillo Salsa Verde
1 lb. tomatillos husked, rinsed, and roughly chopped
3 serrano chiles, with seeds
3/4 c. fresh cilantro leaves
2 T. fresh lime juice
1 t. sugar
1 t. salt

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and puree.

Ole!

2008-04-20T20:23:00.006-06:00

So I mentioned that we had a pinata - and not just any pinata. A really hideous one that looks, well like a poor Mexican horse. Ha! Why you ask? We had a ward birthday party and each month had it's own table and was suppose to be decorated. My friend and I were in charge of May and decided on a Cinco De Mayo theme. It turned out pretty cute with a fajita bar, sombreros, jalapenos, and of course the coup de grace a huge donkey pinata with a sombrero on! (which I got an awesome deal on! Did you know you can haggle with the checkers at WalMart?! I didn't either until my friend suggested it while I was checking out. But that is another story.) As I was carrying this eye sore around the church, the following conversation took place:

Me: I have no idea what I am going to do with this thing after all of this is over.

Friend: Ha, keep it and we can have a joint birthday party with it.

Bishopric wife: (very casually) Oh, well you can keep it and have naked pinata night with your husband.

Me: What? (not so much a what as in "Oh, what is that? That sounds nice." more of a "Say whaaat?")

Bishopric wife: You know, you, Nathan, no clothes, and the pinata. It could be lots of fun.

Ok, I was not offended by this comment, I thought it to be quite hilarious. However, our friends don't seem to be interested in having game night at our house...

I present to you El Burro, our current center piece in the kitchen.

Happiness does not come from a jar!

2008-04-14T16:43:00.007-06:00

I Y salsa! Yes, I do. Not the nasty Pace stuff in a jar, but homemade with tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and all those good things. If I were to get a paper cut, I would bleed salsa. Nathan can attest to my addiction. (Addiction...such an ugly word. Let's go back to I Ysalsa! Yes, I like that much better.) Today while meandering through the library, I came across a little book called "The Great Salsa Book." Just reading the title had me salivating. I checked it out and have decided that it would be silly of me to try out multiple recipes with just the two of us eating oodles of salsa in one sitting. (Tempting but I think it would kill Nathan) Instead, I think I will have friends over for fajitas and a salsa bar. Perhaps, a joint Cinco de Mayo themed birthday party even though neither of our birthdays are the 5th? I even have a pinata! (I'll tell you all about that in another post.) I'll keep you posted on the details. Until then, happy salsa sampling to me :)

Swimming Lessons

2008-04-10T16:09:00.006-06:00

Last weekend, we took Duncan to Cherry Creek State Park. For those of you not familiar with the area, this park is a HUGE off leash dog park along the Cherry Creek about 15 minutes from our house. We thought that we could exhaust the pooch and enjoy the nice spring weather walking around the park. Up until this day, Duncan had yet to go swimming -- baths don't really count. When we found an area that had other dogs playing in the creek, we told Duncan to go play. He was a little hesitant to run around in the water, but quickly decided that it was doggy heaven. Of course, it wouldn't be a true day at the park without a wet doggy shaking all over you! Eww! After a while of frolicking, we walked a little farther and found a marshy area with a pond. I thought to myself, "I wonder if he would swim if I threw a stick in the deep area where he would have to doggy paddle?" I picked up a stick, threw it in, and and told Duncan to go get it. He looked at me like, "Lady, if you wanted the stick, why did you throw it in to the middle of the pond?" He took a few steps into the water, doggy paddled for about 10 seconds, turned around, grabbed the closest stick to him and promptly got out of the water. He looked so pleased with himself that 1. he swam for the first time 2. he retrieved a stick 3. he thought he had out smarted us and we didn't notice that it wasn't the stick. We got a pretty good laugh out of it. Anyone out there give doggy paddling lessons? :)

Ode to a Fairchild

2008-03-31T19:11:00.005-06:00

The past weekend we were able to see our good friends Mike and Jill. They moved to PA last year and we still are bitter about it. However, seeing them again remind us why we like them so gosh darn much. It felt like the good old days with them here. So, below I have put a slide show together of things that remind us of them. Many of the pictures are inside jokes and not so funny if you don't know the joke. (Thus, being called an inside joke. Clever isn't it?) To Mike and Jill, we miss you and yes we need to and will go on another trip! Grab some popcorn and get ready to cry from laughter. To the rest of you reading this, just skip the pictures and go directly to the next post.

Fess up

2008-03-30T16:17:00.004-06:00

I have come to the conclusion that we all (whether you want to admit it or not) are addicted to the "reality" craze. Some of you already know where I am going with this as you feel that guilty pang inside and the rest will know what that feels like after you finish reading this post.
Yes, I am talking about blurking. (dun, dun, dun...) Over the last couple of weeks while redoing our blog, many of you have asked me where are you links? I need to know what's going on with so and so. I was not aware of how common it is to follow a friends link to their friends link, to their friends and so on. And suddenly, there one is reading a stranger's post about this family's upcoming vacation plans. Of course, you have to check back in a week when they return so you can see the pictures of their trip! There's the pictures of the strangers smiling while eating ice cream, in their bathing suits at the beach, and the family photo - kids crying, weary from the day's activities and the parents trying to wrangle them while smiling. Does anyone else not see the weirdness in this? Yet, it is so addicting!?
I will be the first to admit it. My name is Danica and I am a blurker.

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

2008-03-16T19:28:00.007-06:00

An Old Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days,

and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,

wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world

with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons

bring the best to you and yours!

Your opinion counts...

2008-03-16T19:24:00.004-06:00

So, as you can see I have been playing with our blog trying to come up with a new layout. I would love to hear feedback on the color choices and/or ideas. Being a girl, I am indecisive and need the help of you other bloggers. But please, be gentle. :)

Call Me Susie

2008-02-28T19:52:00.007-07:00

Now that I am not working (hallelujah!), I am enjoying being a house wife. Everyone at my last job kept telling me, "You'll be so bored and want to come back to work." all while I am thinking "I could never be THAT bored that I would go back to work at THAT office." I have to say I have been loving every minute of being at home. I start out my day by going to the gym, then come home to walk Duncan. Then I either clean a little or do some laundry while I bake or scrapbook. The other day I tried out a new recipe that I thought I would share. It is so tasty and goes great with the homemade rolls I made last week -- call me Susie homemaker.

Potato Cheese Soup

3 cups chicken broth

5 cups diced potato

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp salt
3/4 cup margarine

3/4 flour

1 pint half and half

1 pint milk

8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

Combine broth, onion, salt, pepper, celery, and potatoes. Cook until potatoes are tender. Make a white sauce with margarine, flour, 1/2 and 1/2, and milk. Stir into veggies. Add cheese and heat through.

**I like to serve with crumbled bacon on top!**

So...I Am A Jerk

2008-02-16T09:23:00.004-07:00

So, based on the last post Danica made about my recent promotion, I am not going to lie, I have been working a ton and not really paying attention to the world outside of the office. Somewhere in all of my focus on work, Valentines Day* came and went. And I, being the jerk, didn't do anything or get anything for Danica for the holiday.

*Disclaimer - While I understand the commercial reasons for Valentines Day, I am not afraid to admit that I think it is a stupid holiday with no real purpose, other than to give gifts that are forgotten about within a month.

So, my company offered me a couple of Avs tickets for the game on Valentines Day, and although I know it is not necessary the most romantic thing to do, I thought it was a good idea, since we never get to do anything like that together. We went, had a good time and got to see a bunch of sweaty Canadians and Europeans skating around on the ice. What more could a lady want? I don't know.

So, I am now posting here, to confess my jerkness (I know, everyone already knew I was a jerk) and my love for Danica. She is hot, beautiful, patient (most of the time), caring, thoughtful, kind, unemployed (this is actually a good thing), frisky (like a cat), loving, determined, supportive, electric (ask our old thermostat about it) and my best friend (sorry Duncan).

So, in closing, I am just saying...I am a jerk.

The Face of Authority

2008-01-31T20:25:00.001-07:00

We are exicted to tell all of you that Nathan was recently promoted to Director of Business Solutions! (Don't ask me what that means. I'm not sure I really understand it myself!) He seems to be really enjoying his new job and company. Things are going well and we only hope that it continues on! So, I know you are all saying, "What does a face of authority look like?" I will describe it for you. Tall, bald, hmmm....possibly a goatee, very dreamy. I can't quite describe it so why don't I just show you. Yes, even business men need to relax with a little Guitar Hero. Don't we all want to rock out sometime?

Girls Night Out!

2008-01-21T21:04:00.001-07:00

So last Wednesday, I was able to enjoy a Girl's Night Out with one of my BFFs Jordan. We were able to see Ingrid Michealson in concert thanks to my thoughtful husband that bought us tickets for Christmas! We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Pasta Bella's before heading downtown in the freezing cold. (Nothing like sending two blondes downtown on their own.) After finding a parking spot that was legal, we hoofed it to the show in the freezing cold! And what a show! She is an amazingly talented singer in person and hilarious to boot! (Jordan, have you seen any man chicken's lately?) We had a lot of fun. She will be back in Denver in April, so maybe I can convince Nathan and the Parks to go to the Hotel Cafe Tour. I don't have any pictures from the concert, but I found this clip on You Tube and absolutely love it. So, enjoy!

Holiday Fun

2007-12-26T15:43:00.001-07:00

This year, Nathan and I, celebrated Christmas by ourselves. It was a nice change of pace for the holiday. So, since we didn't have much to do, we decided to decorate gingerbread houses. Nathan needed a little help with his as this was his first gingerbread house ever! (His house is the one on the right) We think that they turned out pretty good.

***Note to self. Next time buy more candy. Most of it ended up in Nathan's stomach, not the roof as he claims.***

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-21T21:09:00.002-07:00

Since Danica has taken over the PS3, I thought I would take a second to wish all of our family and friends who actually read our blog a Merry Christmas.

For those who don't read our blog, well they don't get wished a Merry Christmas.

This time of year is great. Everything is so well lit and everyone does such a great job of remembering what this time of year is all about.

Santa's birthday.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Look at me, I'm tonsil free!!

2007-12-17T12:55:00.002-07:00

So, last Thursday, I went under the knife and had a tonsillectomy. They wheeled me into to OR (which if you have never had surgery it is FREEZING) with Prince blasting in the back ground. Apparently that was Dr. Batuello's choice of music for the surgery. Then they wrapped me up like a burrito (how fitting for those who know me) in warm blankets and said think of somewhere tropical.....Zzz. It took only 35 minutes, which is too bad. I was enjoying the nice deep sleep I was in thanks to a fantastic anesthesiologist.

When I woke up in recovery, I had the best nurse. She got me another warm blanket and tucked me in and let me sleep for a while before getting Nathan. I was so relaxed that apparently I kept setting off my heart monitor alarm and she had to check on me multiple times to make sure I was still alive! They gave me some Popsicles and sherbet to enjoy once I woke up, which wasn't so bad since my throat was still numb.

At home, it was back to bed for me. Of course, it is hard to sleep when you are frozen. Imagine eating ice, ice pack on your neck, humidifier blowing in your face, all while it is snowing outside. BRRRR!!! Nathan was thoughtful enough to purchase a heated mattress pad for me so now all I do is sleep. Occasionally, I get up to take my medicine and to try and eat which is quit challenging with a swollen tongue. I sound like Corky (for those who know who that is) when I talk. The poor dog can't understand a thing I say to him and Nathan is man deaf so half the time I have to try and repeat myself. Over all, I think that I am doing better than I thought I would. However, I must say I am really tired of Popsicles, sherbet, and noodles. I guess I should add in the title "And I am starving and will soon look like Kate Moss." So until next time, this super model is out!

What the?

2007-12-11T21:17:00.001-07:00

Seriously, who voted for being buried under 4 ft. of snow? You are truly a sick, sick person.

Did you know...

2007-12-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

I guess since I have a few weeks of free time I will post my "six things most people don't know about me." So, anyone reading this YOU HAVE BEEN TAGGED!!

1. I have a strawberry birthmark on my left butt cheek. It is in the shape of a heart, so go CARE BEARS STARE!!

2. In high school I got a speeding ticket for going 89 in 50 mph zone (I still don't think I was going that fast). I thought my dad was going to kill me, but instead he laughed when I finally told him.....after it appeared on the insurance.

3. In college, my roommates and I use to throw water balloons at people from our balcony. Once, some girls came running into the building to find out who got them all wet so we turned off the apartment lights and acted like no one was home.

4. I still have that childish gag reflex when eating foods like oatmeal, pudding, yogurt, applesauce or eggnog. I know, how mature.

5. I have never broken a bone....knock on wood.

6. When I was little, my family went camping with another family that had 3 girls. All six us were sitting at the picnic table coloring when I looked over and saw a rattle snake. Of course, I start screaming and everyone takes off inside the campers leaving me behind...still screaming. My mom asked my sisters where I was and made them come get me. Still, to this day, I HATE HATE HATE snakes.

Best Wife Ever!!

2007-12-06T17:40:00.002-07:00

The title says it all. I have been pushing Nathan to get a big tv for awhile. I think that I was trying to persuade him to buy at least a 60 inch after watching the Broncos beat the Raiders with a crazy field goal by Jason Elam. The guys working at Best Buy couldn't believe that a wife was trying to get a larger tv because of sports. (I know, it is every man's dream come true.)
This weekend while I was at work, Nathan went to Best Buy to look at laptops since our computer (may it rest in peace) crashed. So, not only did we get a new laptop, but we now have 52 inch LCD tv and playstation 3. I personally would have picked 60 inch because we all know size matters...when watching Lost and Prison Break. But, none the less our set up is awesome! I guess this makes me the best wife ever or as Nathan would like me to be refered to as Sugar Mamma!

Driving Across Wyoming....Blows

2007-11-16T22:12:00.001-07:00

Is it ever not windy in Wyoming? Is it ever not snowing in some part of that state throughout the year?

As Danica and I get ready for our Thanksgiving extravaganza to Idaho, I have thought of my top five reasons as to why I dislike driving across the state of Wyoming.

#1 - Semi Truck Drivers. Is there some sort of law that says the worse the weather, the crappier they drive?

#2 - Rawlins, the left arm pit of the state, always has wind, non-stop, for eternity.

#3 - Rock Springs, the right arm pit of the state, makes me want to take a shower just driving through it.

#4 - If you are driving through Wyoming on I-80, you are either headed to Utah/Idaho (otherwise known as northern Utah) or you are heading home to go back to work. Neither option is worth the risk.

#5 - Aside from Pinedale, north and west, there isn't much in the way of scenery...if you don't count road kill or turned over semi truck drivers (see #1).

Can I get an Amen on this?

Perhaps The Smartest Dog In The World

2007-11-05T21:30:00.001-07:00

As many of you know, Danica and I recently had a new addition to the family. In early October, we adopted a 3 month old Golden Retriever, who we eventually named Duncan. I voted for Elway or Killer, but Danica vetoed both ideas and we eventually decided on Duncan.

Now, I may be a proud parent, but he has to be the smartest dog in the world. He can already sit, lay down, give high fives, shake hands, retrieve and tell us when he needs to go out for a potty break by ringing a bell. Danica also taught him the word football and he now will "get his football". (Still liking the name Elway)He is such a lover, when we take him to the dog park is happier having everyone pet him than playing with the other dogs.

Hopefully, we can impress our Idaho relatives with our super smart dog when we go out for Thanksgiving. If not, we could be disowned, but we think Duncan is going to knock their socks off.

Until the next post....