RoaD tRiPPiN'

In July of last year we took a road trip to Colorado for Jason's sister's wedding. We decided to make it a 10 day adventure staying several days right outside Rocky Mountain National Park.

If you remember, this was during all the horrible fires Colorado experienced. We were lucky enough to avoid all of them and didn't see any of the destruction but we drove through Colorado Springs about a week before the fires hit there that caused so much devastation.

Our first stop was in Amarillo at the Big Texan: Home of the FREE 72 oz. steak! If you can eat it all in an hour then it's free. We did not attempt it. (Grin.) The restaurant is HUGE, complete with games and swings and all kinds of music and activities. I think we ended up spending about 2 hours there. Grant LOVED it! And it was nice to stretch our legs before we headed on to New Mexico where we'd spend the night.

OnE

January 3rd my baby turned one. Thank you to our family who made it for several special celebrations. You are so loved, Blake Allen.

A Visitor

Grandpa was in town this week for some work related meetings and we were able to spend a little time with him. We took him to see Daddy play hockey Sunday night.

Come back soon, Grandpa!

Beautiful People

My friend, Dana, sent the sweetest note to me last week.  In it she included a quote that I just really loved.  I thought is was a lovely encouragement....especially the last line.  I thought someone else might like it too so here it is:

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, suffering, struggle, loss and have found their way out of the depths.  These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving conern.  Beautiful people don't just happen."
-- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Thank you for sharing, Dana.

Cast Be Gone!

Little man got his cast off 2 weeks ago. His little toes are looking straight which is good since that was kind of the point. And he is happily wearing 2 shoes now.

I have to say, cast on or off, he really didn't seem to pay any attention. I thought he'd seem happy to have it gone but he honestly didn't even react. I'm convinced if your child needs to be in a cast this is the age to do it. Kids are amazing.

 Before:

After:

Boots, Steers, and Roller Coasters?

We hit up the Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo this weekend with our friends the Brewers. Grant loved seeing all the animals but his favorite thing may just have been the kiddie roller coaster.

I am a HUGE fan of roller coasters but not so much the ones at these rinky-dink carnival-type things. I always think a few screws may have been left out/lost when putting it together and the whole thing will fall down at any minute. But Grant really wanted to ride it and he wasn't tall enough to go without an adult so I nervously got on and strapped us in.

First let me just say that for a kiddie roller coaster this one had some decent drops and was a pretty good ride. As we went along I was thinking Grant was not going to like it but he screamed and laughed his head off and insisted we ride again. (I made Jason ride it with him the second time. I had already taken my chances and wasn't going to tempt fate twice in one outing. Though not sure what it says about me that I let my son and husband get on it.)

 I'm excited to know that I'll have a roller coaster riding partner down the road and look forward to taking Grant on the big coasters (you know, the ones they don't take apart and put on the back of a tractor-trailer) when he gets bigger.

 Grin.

9 YeARs

We have been here all week celebrating 9 years of marriage. Feeling undeservedly blessed. Happy anniversary! 1.24.04