Is this thing still on?!?

 

Wow...considering how 2020 went down, it's no wonder that is when I stopped blogging. 😂 To be fair, I do a lot of posting on Facebook and started printing that into a book every year, so this one sort of got neglected 😏  I still come here often to read old posts and enjoy the photos and look up old friends, so I thought it might be fun to post something and see if anyone was still out there.  I made so many quilting friends on here, most of whom I have "friended" on Facebook now, so I'm glad we are still in touch, but a lot of you sort of stopped blogging and doing social media altogether, so I hope you are all doing well and fabulous!  

I am sharing the traditional photos of Justin and Jordyn carving the pumpkins for Halloween, while watching It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown".  Jordyn is in high school now, but still loves to do the pumpkins.  Crazy to think she will be moving out in 6 months and going to college.

Their job was always to gut the pumpkins and then Justin would roast pumpkin seeds while Jordyn and I each carved a pumpkin, but this year I let Jordyn carve them all.  She spends most of her time in her room gaming with friends online, so I was just happy to have her visiting us in the living room! 😍  

We took her senior pictures last month and we just ordered her cap and gown, and graduation announcements, so it's really starting to become real for us.  She is in the concurrent enrollment program in High School, which means she earned enough college level class credit to get her first year of school at the community college paid for by the high school.  She has also taken several AP classes, so she'll have a lot of college done already when she actually graduates in May.  We are so proud of her and all she has accomplished.  This school year is going to fly by...wish me luck as I try to hold it together 💗

Happy New Year!!!

  I'm having a hard time keeping up on my blog like I used to, but I don't have the heart to give it up yet, so I apologize if the posts are few and far between. (If there is indeed anyone still out there that follows me :D ) I used to have a book made each year of my blog and I have done that for 10 years, but sadly, the last 3 years I have fallen behind and not printed them.  I finally succumbed to Facebook, and had my last two years of posting on there printed into a book instead. (2018 and 2019) It's much cheaper, though it doesn't include all the journaling, but it's better than nothing, so I guess that will do for now.  I still enjoy looking back over the years on my blog, and it's easier to search for certain posts on here, so I will see what I can do to improve this....but I'm making no promises :D  hahahah
  Anyways, Happy Fabulous New Year and Welcome 2020!!!  We enjoyed some black eyed pea stew with sausage this afternoon and watched the Mandalorian together!  That show is such a blast!  The last episode of the season was fabulous! 
  I'm participating in a 30 day sketchbook challenge online, and it started today.  The prompt was Spots and Dots, and since we have been watching all the Star Wars movies in preparation for seeing the final movie in the saga tomorrow, this little guy popped into my head. Not too shabby for being a little rusty :)
  Reading, drawing and watching movies...not a bad way to start off the year!  Happy 2020~

Welcome June!!!

June is off to a great start!  The rhubarb patch is huge and I'm making my 3rd batch of strawberry rhubarb jam, I've planted some flowers in the garden, and Jordyn is having a sleepover with a friend.  Oh...and the hive produced two new swarms...bee man is off to the rescue to help them find a new home!  I'm soooo happy I decided to take the summer off this year!  Bring on Summer!

First Day of Summer Break ~

Media Tech meeting at council tree library this morning...now I can officially shut off the alarm clock!  Jordyn had a sleepover in town with a bunch of friends after school yesterday, so I picked her up and we met up with Christy to have lunch in town and go shopping!  Naturally Jordyn slept in the car while Christy and I walked around the Garden Center.  Let the summer fun begin!!!

Last Day of 7th Grade!

 These three clowns have been friends since preschool and today was their last day of 7th grade!  We celebrated the last day of school by going to Vatos Tacos and Tequila at the Exchange in Fort Collins!  What a fun place...its a square surrounded by restaurants and a play area in the middle for kids.  Parents can enjoy a beer or margarita on the patios while the kids run around.

 The tacos and nachos were tasty, but the beer on the last day of school tasted the best!  We all had way too much fun!

Congratulations on another fabulous school year Jordyn!  We are proud of you and look forward to watching you ROCK 8th grade...your last year of middle school!  WOW! 

Guess what I'm up to Today!?!

 Yep...it't recertification time!  Spent the whole day doing Meds training, CPR and First Aid!  I'm no longer an EMT, but all this stuff is required for my job at school.  It was a long day, but I'm glad to have all this training done...for a few years anyways!  Happy Friday!

Crock Pot Kato ~

Walked into the kitchen tonight to find this...

Spring Break ~

Jordyn and her friend Hunter are kicking off Spring Break with a sleepover and lots of game playing!  Good Times!

Bomb Cyclone Blizzard ~

 What exactly is a bomb cyclone blizzard?!?  I have no idea, but it earned us two snow days...yesterday and today!  Technically, Jordyn still had school today, but since the mountain schools were closed, they don't run the mountain busses, so no school for Jordyn :)  We power lounged yesterday, and today Jordyn played out in the snow for over an hour...guess she was bored and needed to get out of the house!  Now we are waiting for the corned beef and cabbage in the crockpot to be ready and our snow days are complete!  We'll have school on Friday, and then our Spring Break starts!  Hooray for "Spring" break!

Fancy Musicians ~

 Justin played a wedding last month with Donovan and Meg, and the photos taken by the photographer were just posted today, so I thought I would share.  Don't they look fabulous!  They sounded great too!  I didn't go to the wedding, but I did get to hear them rehearse before the gig.  Beautiful music!

Art Show in Town ~

 We went to the mall yesterday to check out the Poudre School District Art Show. Jordyn had a piece in the show, so we had to get some picks. Afterwards, we went to Bar Louie to have some dinner...super yummy food, if you've never been! We don't get out much in the winter together, so it was a nice night in town!

Chess Champ ~

So proud of Jordyn for taking 1st place in the Chess Club at school!  She was the only girl to make it into the final 8!  You rock honey...way to go!

Last Day of Break ~

 Jordyn and Justin just finished this puzzle we’ve been working on for a week, while I finished another book. Enjoying our last day of break...well my last day, middle school kids start back on Tuesday. I guess it’s back to alarm clocks and bras for me....sigh!  What a wonderful break!  P.S. Mom, this puzzle was hard!  Maybe an easier one next year  :)  hahaha

Thoughts for Today and the New Year ~

Thoughts for Today and the New Year ~

I started doing this in 2008, can you believe its been 10 years! It's become my New Years Eve tradition, so here goes...

I'm feeling...Grateful for all that we have!  A warm cozy cabin to live in, a good job, great friends and a loving and caring family!  There is joy and laughter in our home, food on the table and good health.  What more could you ask for :)

I'm seeing...All the projects I'd like to tackle in 2019 and I am confident I will get them done!  One of my goals last year was to take more trips, be they big or small, and I am planning even more for the new year.  I also see myself creating more and enjoying family time.  I'm thinking about taking the summer off this year and that excites me too!  Bring on 2019!

I'm thinking...once again, of all the fun things that happened in 2018!  Our entire family went on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera, which was fabulous!  Thanks Mom!  A trip to New Orleans with a bunch of girlfriends to celebrate my 50th, our 20th anniversary Rogue Camp with over 100 people here (too bad I was sick the entire time) hahahha, Justin and I both turning 50, Jordyn making the Volleyball team and kicking ass!  I started another new position at Stove Prairie and it came with a raise!  Yep...all great things to think about for 2018!

I'm appreciating...My new job!  I love being the new secretary at Stove Prairie!  It keeps me connected with everyone, but still allows time for me to do planning at work instead of at home for my Media/Tech part of the job, so its a win win!  Its been a bit of a learning curve this year, but I really think I'm getting the hang of it and its great to have a job you love!

I'm cooking...Homemade Mac N Cheese in the Instant Pot!  I'm still getting familiar with the Instant Pot, but this is our go-to recipe for it!  Quick and easy!

I'm planning...on learning another language!  I want to spend less time on social media and more time creating and learning new things.  Denise recently went to Paris, and now she's inspired me to go!  I would love to learn some basic French so that we can travel there and not be total ugly Americans!  :) hahahah 

I'm reading...Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.  I started it yesterday and I only have about 35 pages left today.  What a fun ride this book was!  I also completed my Goodreads book challenge this last year.  15 books for the year (I finished with 16).  Always fun to complete a challenge!

I'm wearing...My new flannel pajamas that my mom gave us for Christmas and fuzzy slippers.  I'ts 4 degrees outside right now and dropping fast, so I'm cozy by the fire!

I'm creating...a lot of new things...right now I'm working on a crazy quilt Christmas tree skirt.  I was hoping to have it finished in time for Christmas, but didn't want to rush it and I'd like to add a lot more embroidery to it, so I'm taking my time with it.  I've also made more earrings this year, and I'd like to try my hand at making some wine cork ornaments.  I participated in Inktober this year and made it to 26 of the 31 days before I ran out of steam...not too bad and it certainly got me exploring with my art supplies again :)  Jordyn and I also made another Mask for the Mask Exhibit at the Fort Collins Museum of Art.  The exhibit won't be out until April though, so you'll just have to wait to see what we created!  :)

I'm hearing...the peace and quiet of mountain life, and it is wonderful!  Justin is playing up at the Basil tonight, and Jordyn and I stayed home.  I prefer this to crowds any day!  What a great way to ring in the new year!

I'm enjoying...Jordyn's new Amazon Echo Dot!  We've been requesting tunes from it all day and having fun jamming while working on an puzzle.  Alexa, play Poker Face by Lady Gaga!  Yeah...I'm gonna have to get me one of these!

I'm sharing...a photo of Jordyn and I on New Years Eve!  She's in her room gaming right now, but we're about to head up to Aunt Leann's for a cocktail or two before we come back down here to watch a movie and ring in the new year!

May 2019 be filled with joy & laughter, peace, good health and prosperity to all!

We Love Aquaman!!!

 Met up with some friends in town today to enjoy Torchy's Tacos and Aquaman!  The movie was awesome, and the company even better!  The graphics were amazing in Aquaman, but Momoa was even more amazing!  What a fun day!

Ready for Christmas!

Ran to town today for the last of the shopping...grocery store and liquor store! Came home and cleaned the house, and now I am sitting down with a very tasty Evan Williams eggnog!  Time for some more Christmas movies! Last night it was the Die Hard movies.  Eventually I'll get those damn cookies made...hahahahah

Dinner at Glen Echo ~

 Jordyn and I stopped off at Glen Echo on the way home from school tonight...we miss our occasional visits to the Potbelly, so we thought we would give it a shot.  The place was decorated so beautifully and the food was fantastic!  It's so great to have a nice place just down the road to enjoy...we will definitely be back!

Thanksgiving Weekend and a Monopoly Sleepover ~

 We kicked off our Thanksgiving weekend with a trip to the movie theatre with friends on Tuesday after school to see the new Fantastical Beasts movie!  Justin joined us there and we all enjoyed it and had a great time!

Thanksgiving was spent in pajamas all day!  Jordyn slept till noon and Justin and I enjoyed a bloody mary while she slept!  I made lasagna and salad this year...and sadly took zero photos but this one of us in the morning.  But the break was spent relaxing the whole time!

 Jordyn had her friend Hunter and Sophia over for a sleepover as well and they had an absolute blast!  They played games all night, then hung out on the trampoline for hours in the dark (and cold).  You could hear them out there laughing and having fun!  I can't believe they were out there so late when it was 30 degrees out.  The next morning they played games all day...monopoly was the favorite and it was funny to listen to them barter and banter over properties.  Jordyn had never played before so she was really enjoying it!  These three play video games online all the time together, so it was fun to finally get them all together for a sleepover.  I was happy to see they never got on the computer once, but just played all day!  What a fun bunch and a great way to spend Thanksgiving weekend!