End of October

today is just one of those days.

I am sitting here kicking myself because after the weekend we had, I don't have one single picture to show for it.

Believe me it was one for the books. 

Jeb and I both were able to get Friday (and Saturday for Jeb) off so we could take a road trip up North to see all our family.

We left Friday morning so we could meet Lacy in Pueblo just as she got off of work and we hit the road!

We spent the afternoon at my cousin Kati's visiting with her and her family. She had a baby boy 3 weeks ago and I COULD NOT wait to meet him! 

They had a Halloween party to go to that night so we met up with one of my very best friends and her fiance and Jeb's brother to play BINGO!

We really did have such a good time even though none of us won any money, we went back for the "late night" round to try our hand again. Didn't win anything that time either, but got to spend some more time together!

After watching a few episodes of Duck Dynasty with my Aunt Chris we called it a night.

The next morning we left kati's house after 2 rounds of hugs and kisses from Jackson and headed to my Grandparents

Saturday was my papa Jason's 80th birthday. We spent the morning chatting with him and my grandma about the wedding and all the happenings in their lives. 

My parents and Karly made it to my Grandma's house just in time for lunch. 

Just as we were about to sit down to big plates of nachos my aunt Becca and cousin Jake brought my other cousin Matt's daughter over to spend a little time with us.

She is so cute, it took her a little time to warm up to all of us, but when Jeb and I left to head for Ft. Collins she was being passed from person to person.

My parents, sister and family celebrated my Papa's birthday that night with dinner and a scrapbook full of memories from many people in my papa's life.

We met up with Jeb's parents, brother and girlfriend at Farm House, the fraternity that Tyler is president of. They had just finished up an afternoon snack of cinnamon rolls and hot cider. Perfect for a pre-game snack.

The 6 of us stopped by 5 guys before heading to the game just to make sure we were full to the brim.

The game was so cold! But, THEY WON! it turned out to be a pretty fun game to watch!

Jeb's friend Ian met us for the 2nd half of the game and for drinks at Potts after.

It was such a fun day!

Sunday we met Jeb's brother for breakfast before his alumni meeting and then went over to Buffalo Wild Wings for more food (ha!) and to watch the Eagles loose. Boo!

We had to head south after the game because we had an appointment in Castle-rock to pick up the cutest party favor EVER!

This is Trip! He's already settled right in to our little family!

Today, I am so thankful for my family. And the family I have joined.

My cousins are always inspiring me to be better. At everything, Kati and her family are settling into being a family of 4 and seem to be loving it. Her husband Chris is such a good dad, he even makes changing a dirty diaper into something so hilarious my sides started hurting. 

My grandparents try not to miss a beat in all of our lives, my papa had lots of questions about Jeb's job and how things were going. Both were so excited to hear about all the happenings with my sisters and I.

My mom made sure to send us on the road with some home-made goodies & I have never seen my dad so rested looking and at peace. I really think this fall has done him a lot of good.

My sisters are busy as always it was so good to spend some time with them. Jeb had a good time razzing them too!

Sam and Gail were so fun to talk with. Lots of laughter this weekend and I am so thankful I married into such a wonderful family.

Tyler and Robyn are as busy as my sisters are. It was really nice to see them for the game and evening.

Today, I can't help but want to move. Closer to all of our family. I know we are putting down roots here and the people we have met down here have really made this move easy. The time with our family is always so short lived, and that is why I think I always leave wanting more.

Birthday Part(ies)

Due to all of this holiday madness, my birthday celebration was a bit scattered, which only meant more than one!

The last Monday night dinner I had with my cousin and her family before Christmas break she made me a home-made delicious pepperoni pizza with some yummy birthday pudding for dessert. (The pudding has a very classy name… but I can never remember it.)

I enjoyed the evening so much. Full of laughter, playing “ring around the rosy” and singing our “ABC’s” My cousin made me feel very special, along with the home-made meal she made me a wash cloth and two oven mitts, with some hot chocolate and two Christmas mugs. It was great!

Then, the following Wednesday Gail came over to have dinner with my family before we all were split for the next two weeks, and I opened the gifts from my family after.

My dad finished the big chest that I had started over 2 years ago in his woodshop class for me. I was so surprised and I love that it is finished! I am so lucky to have a dad that makes (and finishes) such beautiful furniture and workings out of wood. My mom made me a door hanging that will be on our front door, wherever Jeb and I decide to call home. Lacy got me a set of make-up brushes (which I needed badly) Karly got me a cute crossing pistols ring, (I’ve worn it almost every outing since then.) I was also given a Taste of Home cookbook with 4 versions of each recipe 1. For light cooking 2. Fast cooking 3. Cooking for two 4. And a regular recipe. My mom also got me a gift card and a new stamp set (I’m so excited for it!)

On Friday Jeb and I came up to Greeley to visit my cousin Kait and her family. We had a wedding that Jeb was a part of on Saturday, and we met his brother Tyler and his girlfriend Robyn for dinner and a movie, where I was serenated an awkward “Happy Birthday” but wasn’t given my free birthday dessert (?!?) We saw Sherlock Holmes, well; Jeb, Tyler, & Robyn saw it… I slept through 3/4ths of it only waking up during the loud gun matches.

On Monday (my actual birthday) My cousin Kati invited her mom my Aunt Chris over for a Papa John’s pizza night. It was so yummy! Kati and I spent the day dyeing and cutting each other’s hair, pizza and an ice cream cake for dessert was a perfect way to end the day. My cousin got me a cute martini glass that says “if the shoe fits, buy one in every color.” & a travel size yummy smelling set from Victoria Secret My Aunt gave me the dish cloths, towels and oven mitts off our wedding registry. I am so excited to be getting things for our future home, I am so excited for what is yet to come! It was for sure a fun day.

Tuesday I went and made Christmas candy with my Grandma who gave me the rest of my cowboy towels that she started last year, with a big glass Tupperware bowl (also an item off our registry!)  My cousin took me out to dinner and some dancing, we had a great time! Maybe a little too much fun because I was useless all day Wednesday, but hey, you only live once & I knew I was in good care with Kait!

My family is so important to me; I am so blessed to be surrounded by people that love me. Now if the snow will stop I could actually see them!

Soon enough Jeb and I will be on our way to see Jeb’s extended family, and as sad as I am to not spend my last “Childhood” Christmas with my family, I am beyond excited to meet all the people who love and care about my Jeb.

Everyone out there in the www. world, Merry Christmas. I hope your holiday is filled with all the love and joy that has been a part of mine this far.

Don’t forget the true meaning of this holiday. More than ever am I thankful for the love and forgiveness that has been given to me from my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

WEDDING NEWS!!!!

My Grandma finished the “pre wedding dress” dress, and she told me that we need to find the lace for my ACTUAL dress very soon!

Birthday Boy

Jeb turns 21 on Sunday, and I can't get over it. I have only known him for 8 years, and we've been dating for the last 2.  but 21! really?!? How can this cowboy already be 21?!?

(Jeb's 16th Birthday)

i made the cake... I had a BIG crush on him them :)



That got me thinking about what being 21 means to everyone under that spectacular age:
 This last summer when I worked at our local pizza place, occasionally I served an alcohol beverage to those partaking in the consumption of such a grown up liquid, and for those who didn't look at least 30 i had to ID.  Which, was nerve wracking (by the way) What if they weren't 21? What if they got mad? What if I couldn't find the birth date on out of state licences?  {My boss had this nifty little booklet that had how all 21 and older licences looked from... well, EVERYWHERE! but with him as a boss (DO THIS! DO THAT! YOU DON"T LOOK BUSY!) I never took the time to memorize each and every one of them} [SHH don't tell!]  But once I got over the spooky feeling of checking the ID I would take the alcohol order and go along with my business.  [Let me just say this: WHY DOES DRAFT BEER HAVE TO BE STICKY???] If we weren't busy I would spoon all the foam out calmly and neatly, but when we were rushed, {MONEY!} I would have to let all the foam and some beer (SHH!) run over the chilled glass and all over my hand, which left them sticky.  That lead to my kitchen tickets being sticky and finger smugged, and my hands leaving my fingerprints on the bottom of pizza pans (Thank goodness no one ever looks at the bottom of pizza pans!)  But really, it just annoyed me, until I was caught up to take a few minutes to run over to the little hand sink and wash those suckers off.  Usually to be followed up with new customers who all wanted 18oz glasses of Fat Tire. 
Did I mention that most days I loved that job?  The boss was another story, but I really loved seeing people I knew and serving them.I did even if there was alcohol services involved.

Anyways:  There was a young couple that came in to the pizza place 2 or 3 times this summer to have dinner, and usually they ordered alcohol of some sort.  I would think, {Someday when I'm all grown up, I'll do that! Go to dinner with my husband and we'll both order an adult beverage! It'll be so great!} 

Truth be told, I don't like beer, and if I can taste a hit of alcohol in a drink, I don't like it, and Jeb isn't much of a drinker either, he likes beer but other than that, he doesn't seem to eager to partake in everything that most under age kids can't wait to get their hands on. 

The other day I asked him what he wanted to do, since I'm still under-age i figured we would go to dinner, and then him and his buddies would go shut the local bars in town down. And the next day he would be hungover and all out of sorts.  He answered me with:  "Oh go to stock show {National Western Stock Show In Denver} and I'll buy a $6.00 beer and call it good."  No sparkle in his eager eye, no elaborate plans, no hoop-la, no fireworks, just a $6.00 beer and "we'll call it good!" 

I think the people in the dorm room below us heard my jaw hit the floor.

What do you even say to that?  Do I argue and say do something special?  Do I call a friend of his and have him set something up?  Do I plan a party at someones house? I don't know!?!

So I blinked into the head-lights a few times and said, if that's what you want, sounds good to me!

That's just one of the reasons I love him.