Denver Adventure

WARNING: Long Post Ahead

I love to travel and I think Alex is beginning to share my obsession feelings. So, last week we took Moose to my parent's house and we headed off on a 12 hour drive. The drive was easy and wasn't as bad as I was anticipating but, Kansas lived up to my expectations...it was very dull.

Our adventure

Day 1:
We left Thursday morning, very early at 3:30am. Alex started off the drive and I did what everyone would do...I slept. So, Gnome kept Alex company.

When we arrived that afternoon we called Cory, Alex's longtime friend who just moved out to the region, and met for dinner. Alex found a Groupon for a burger place so, off we went. After dinner we strolled the 16th Street Mall, people watched and went to Coyote Ugly (it was not like the movie....it was just an empty bar. Slightly disappointing).

Day 2:
We woke up and headed to Colorado Springs to The Garden of the Gods. When we first got there we went into the visitor center to see where to go and get a map. As we were talking with the lovely little old lady, Alex asks, "So, where exactly is this Pike's Peak?" She kindly responds by pointing her finger and saying, "Right there, it's the big one..." I'm pretty sure she made fun of us after we left. But, we had a great time climbing around.

After Garden of the Gods, we decided to chance the weather forecast and drive up Pike's Peak and we are very glad we did. The drive was a lot of fun and very beautiful. As we were driving in the park they had a sign of things you could purchase, like an audio guide, a map and a Junior Ranger packet. Of course, we had to get the Jr. Ranger packet! It came with a coloring book, crayons AND a ranger star. I wore the star all day and was quite proud. We drove all 19 miles to the top and were 14,110ft above sea level! I highly recommend going up if you're in the area....just be careful on your way down (our breaks were hot-500 degrees-Yikes! We adhered to the mandatory break check and stopped for a bit to cool). 

Crystal Lake 

Driving into the clouds

Alex "jumped" off Pike's Peak

Day 3:

We started our day with the most important meal: Breakfast and we are happy we did! We went to LoDo (Lower Downtown) and ate at Snooze. It was FANTASTIC! I love breakfast, many days we have breakfast multiple times a day (as long as we have bacon, Alex doesn't mind). I got pancakes: 1 red velvet, 1 blueberry blossom and 1 pineapple upside down [pan]cake...yum. Alex got breakfast burritos...with extra bacon. :) Then we headed to my pick tour: Hammond's Candy Factory. It was somewhat interesting and worth what we paid...it was free. But, we got free samples, so it worked out. 

Then we picked Cory up and headed to Alex's choice tour...Coor's Brewery Tour. I didn't take any pictures because all I was concerned with was how awful (I thought) it smelled. But the boy's got 3 ten ounce samples, so they were happy. In my opinion, it too was worth what we paid: free. 

Day 4:

Our morning started earlier than we anticipated. Some doofus decided to pull the fire alarm at 5am so we were up and at 'em. But, the annoyance passed and we were on our way to Idaho Springs, CO to go white water rafting! Alex was adamant that we raft and I couldn't think of a reason not to, so we put on our wet suits and life jackets and set sail on the rapids. Since the winter was mild, so were the rapids. But, we had fun and went down the "advanced" rapids in lou of the "intermediate." We went 8 or so miles down Clear Creek. Our guide told us some interesting statistics about the creek, but I don't remember them... 

We're the cool ones in the front

After we rafted we headed into Idaho Springs to see the sights. Idaho Springs was the first sight of the Gold Rush, so it had some neat history. We ate at a Mom & Pop deli, walked up and down the main street and in and out of the cute shops. On our way to the car I had a slight judgmental moment. There were two individuals not of anglo-saxin decent taking pictures in the general direction of the highway. So, being dumb I turned toward Alex to make a wise comment. Before I could say anything, he pointed up and said, "Look! There's a waterfall.!" Oops...I felt bad and learned a lesson. 

Day 5:

We came home. 

We had a wonderful adventure and I'm grateful that Alex and I have the opportunities to go and do. Now I will (eventually) catch up on laundry, going through the mail, paying bills, and going to the grocery store...the real world,

P.S: Thanks Mom and Dad for watching Moose! 

Strive...to know I'm blessed

I have a disease. It's chronic and my mother has known I have had it for a long time. It's not terminal, but I'll probably die with it. It's called, I-want-itis. I WANT EVERYTHING!

 I want ice cream, I want Moose to go potty outside, I want the sun to shine longer, I want world peace, I want my neighbors to water my flowers when I'm out of town, I want to be taller, thinner, smarter, funnier, awesomer... 

I want something all the time. I don't want to get the words "want" and "strive" confused because, I strive to be healthier. I want to be thinner. This is the body God gave me so I should be as healthy as I can be, not disillusioned. I should strive to take advantage of sunny days and not pout when it's cold and rainy. I should strive to train Moose to be a good puppy, not expect him to be perfect (although he's pretty stinkin' close!).

I am so blessed to have everything that I do. I desperately need to stop wanting, whining and complaining for something I don't have and need to be thanking God and praising Him for all that I do. 

Job 22:21- Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.

Hebrews 13:15- Therefore by him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. 

Psalm 145: 3- Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

Summer To Do:

I'm a "To Do" lister, for everything! So, of course Alex and I would have a summer to do list for Summer '12! So far we have accomplished a few tasks/adventures! Without further ado, here is our list:

  Run a 5k
✓Get cupcakes from Jilly's
  Go on a canoe trip
✓Go to Cardinals game(s)
  Go to the Muny
  Play tennis in Forrest Park
✓Learn how to golf (Abby)
✓Do something spontaneous
  Michigan City July 4th week
  Go to the Big Bang
✓Go to Soulard Market
  Do something fun for our anniversary


So far we have gone to Jilly's- they won Cupcake Wars on Food Network. We have gone to two Cardinal games, I have had a few golf lesson's with Alex, Jared and Dustin. Alex even took me to the driving range! Our something spontaneous was getting Moose! And, we went to Soulard last weekend and got a HUGE watermelon and our first peaches of summer.

Reese's EXPLOSION Cupcake from Jilly's...YUM!

Moose and his toys!

Hopefully we can accomplish everything on our list and have a lot of fun stories about Summer 2012!

B I G Weekend

I am graduating! FINALLY! I graduate with honors from the SIU Dental Hygiene program on Saturday. Graduation has never been the most exciting event to me, but I am happy to be done and to be recognized for my hard work. Although cliche, I honestly don't think I could have made it through without Alex and my family. I appreciate everything that you have all done for me and sacrificed for me. I don't think I can truly thank you enough.

On Sunday we are having a get together BBQ at my parents house, so if you're in the neighborhood, stop by! There will be plenty of tasty food and fun!

Next part of the BIG Weekend...

Alex and I are very excited to announce that we are adding 4 more legs to our family! We are adopting a 9 week old pound puppy! He is a beagle poodle mix, a boodle? or a peagle? He shouldn't be too big, 25lbs at the most. His mama was a beagle and his daddy a toy poodle. Anywho, he is the cutest pup on Earth! We get to pick him up from the rescue shelter on Monday.

We are naming him Moose!

Neither of us have raised a puppy. But, we have observed our parents, so hopefully that's enough. It is an exciting, slightly scary time! So far we have a lot of toys for him to play with and a fluffy bed for him to sleep in. We'll pull it together in time for bedtime on Monday...I hope. Although Alex has declared, "The dog doesn't come up the stairs. Ever." I nodded and smiled, but while the cat's away the mice Moose will play! ;)

Since I don't have my license, let alone a job, this is the most opportune time to train him and play with him. We are currently accepting any and all puppy raising advice, so PLEASE leave us some words of wisdom!