First Snow for a New Year

We got our first winter storm of the year here in Colorado! It has been a dry hot winter...until last night! I was so excited to see snow that I didn't even mind shoveling the drive this morning!



My New Year's Resolution? Spend more time with Nick in 2011! :)

Merry Christmas!

The Look and Feel of Fall...

It is looking and feeling a lot like fall here in Colorado. Around our house we are getting into the crisp weather season through cooking, decorating, and staying warm indoors!


Sleeping by the fire...

Cuddling with Ma...

Homemade cookies...

Yes, I CAN cook...

Crockpot chili, yum!
I finally got all the insurance details worked out and have hired a roofer to come replace our roof (see the hail video from our May post) and replace most of our windows. The paperwork has been a headache, but I am very excited to be having it all pay off soon with the home upgrades!

Turkey Day, My Way...

This Thanksgiving I had my family over to our house and made dinner for them. This was a nice change, and my vindication of my good name! My family and friends have a running joke that "Kelley can't cook." Well, after yesterday, no one can say that again. I made a full Thanksgiving meal along with two deserts and they were all not only edible, but good! We missed Nick and cannot wait to have him home for next year's celebration.

Engagement Celebration!!!

My parents took Nick and I out on Saturday to celebrate our engagement news. We went to a modern mexican resturaunt downtown and it was DELICIOUS! Nick and I both gave it two thumbs up. They made fresh guacomole at our table (this sold me) and the sea food was wonderful. My Mom and Dad shared some stories about their past travels I had never heard and my brother gave us all a few laughs. Great night!

Halloween Fun (A smidge early of course)...

Nick and I went to our local pumpkin patch and got some early Halloween jack-o-lanterns. His leave ends tomorrow and we didn't want to miss the Halloween fun. We braved our way through a haunted house a few nights ago...more like Nick and my brother laughed as I screamed the entire way! I really enjoyed it though, me being scared meant they did their jobs well!


Self portrait?


Our finished pumpkins, hopefully they will last until Halloween so I can set them on the front steps for the trick-or-treaters.


Cricket got a chunk of my pumkin and thought it was his new toy, a wrestling match ensued between him and Nick to get it back.


A very disfunctional family photo...it is so stinking hard to get the boys to SIT STILL!


I couldn't help it, we had to dress the little guy, makes me laugh everytime!!!

Rest and Relaxation...

Nick and I went on a mini-vacation to Pagosa Springs while he was home on leave from Afghanistan. (Did I mention I am SUPER excited he was home?!)



We got in the truck with the boys and it was a gorgeous drive. We stayed in a little cabin and did...absolutly...nothing! It was wonderful, a game of horseshoes, endless hikes, and waterfalls. That pretty much sums it all up.




Oh...and did I mention we got engaged?!!!

Hard Work Pays Off...

I have been working 10-20 hours a week in overtime for the past several weeks. While it is good for the savings account and good for the company team, it is hard on my physical and mental well-being! However, I have been trying to show my committment and eagerness to learn my new duties. Today all that dedication and hard work paid off...I got promoted! I start as a supervisor tomorrow. This means a raise and weekends off, very exciting!!!

Distraction...

My good friend has been letting me babysit her son in the mornings to keep me company. It is a wonderful distraction from missing Nick because babies are so dependent and so entertaining it is hard for my mind to focus anywhere else but on him. He is five months old and learns new things everyday, it is really wonderful to see. I'm thankful for baby Wesley being the temporary "man in my life!" Haha. And also greatful I can give him back to his Mommy when he is being cranky!

Working It Out...

I have been taking Moose running with me now that he is one year old. The vet said I needed to wait until the one year mark so that his bones and joints could fully develop first. He is running about a mile and a half a day and I am building him up slowly to eventually complete 5k's. He really seems to like it.

We had a little accident today because he still does not understand staying to one side and away from my feet. Needless to say when my feet are brought to a sudden halt by a ball of fuzz entagled in my legs...I fall down and go boom! It was probably a bilarious site for my neighbors. Moose is learning discipline though. Usually if he got the chance to run he would do so and think it was a game for me to try and catch him. Today, as I was sprawled in the middle of the street he stopped looked at me with the most guilty/apologetic of faces, and returned to me when I called (the leash was not a high priority when I went splat)! So, we finished out the rest of the run and I was quite proud of him. We always go pick up Cricket after our run to finish up with a walk together.

I've been doing more work around the house to get it decorated and looking more and more like home for Nick and I. I finally finished the laundry room this weekend.

Before



After






(Yes, I realize the pictures are sideways, I am waiting on photos I enlarged to be ready for pick up.)

A Perfect Day...

Every Sunday I take the boys over to our local dog park for some socializing and rough housing. They love it, and I love that they sleep the rest of the day!!! This Sunday however, I decided I wanted to do something for me AND them. So, I drove them up to a trail I used to run in Boulder and we hiked for awhile. I was a bit nervous because I had never taken them hiking before and was unsure if they would make it to the top or how they would react.

It was a bit jerky (too much excitement), but overall successful. I think they really had a great time and I always enjoy getting to go to the mountains. Next weekend I will see if they can handle something a bit longer because today was only about two miles (I didn't want to get halfway up a trail and have them give up...I'm not backpacking them out)! This is a great beginning to the day and I am hoping for many more like this with the boys before hiking season is over.

You get what you give...

I donated blood for the first time today. My work hosted a blood drive and I decided it was time to step up to the plate. I felt very good about it and everything went well. I came home from work tonight and the news was reporting that the company I gave through was giving their donations to the military because they had requested more. Additionally, they said that this blood would probably be going overseas. I couldn't help but think God really does call us to serve where our hearts are because that is where we can give the most. He called me to give blood and it is going to where my heart is...overseas with a military service member. The full circle of giving!

Far Far and Away...

I recieved a picture from Nick last week (just now am having time to post this) and thought I would share with everyone. He said he is getting used to the heat (as much as one can get used to it) and is making friends with his fellow soldiers. He sounds happy and healthy and like he is able to keep his head on straight. I'm sure all our thoughts and love are with him.

Recent Happenings...

I finally got Nick's office painted, it looks wonderful! I'm going to tackle the kitchen next.
My rose bushes are managing to hang on so far. I did some research and read that you should mulch them with grass clippings so I will try that today and keep up with their watering schedule. Fingers crossed!
The ugly-ugly bushes in front of our garage that Nick and I hated so much are finally gone! That was quite the project but worth it! Now, if only our grass would fill in. It is definitely getting better, but I would love to see it perfect! (I am not patient at all!)
I have two full weeks left at the courthouse (CASA) and then it will be time for me to take the skills I've learned and find a real job (no more internship excuse) ha! I'm glad for the knowledge I have gained and cannot wait to create a career of my own.
I took a CLEP test last week and passed with flying colors. I want to do a few more to boost me into a Master's Program. These are for undergraduate credit, but I feel they can add to my resume regardless.

Happy Independence Day

I hope that everyone has a wonderful 4th of July! I am very thankful for Nick today and all his fellow soldiers who protect and serve this country everyday from home and overseas. This day still exists thanks to their hard work and dedication. We are very blessed to have such brave individuals surrounding us, both past and present.

One year ago today, this was Nick and I's Independence Day at the Colorado Rapids Game:

Take Me Out To The Ball Game...

Tonight I went to a Rockies game with Aaron and Marlon (two of Nick's best friends) and their girlfriends. It was nice that while he is gone his friends are still including me in the things all of us normally do together. The Rockies couldn't pull out a win, but the fireworks show made up for the loss. We had great seats to see the fireworks without having to crane our necks. I suppose sometimes it is good to sit in the top level!

Pool Boys...

Today my brother and I took out the pool and let the boys have some summer fun! This was their first time in the pool, but we assumed since they have been in rivers and lakes the transition would be simple. I think this will be a fun weekend toy for them all summer long!
I cannot wait for Nick to come home and see this because I know he would be the first one to sit down in the pool with these crazy pupps!

Enjoy the View Along the Way...

I have made a habit of taking a walk during my lunch break at work each day. It is good to get away from the florescent lights and take in the fresh air. Here is my view (on top of the free air show I get when the F-16 go screaming past from the AFB):







I completed my CASA training on Thursday and was sworn in before the court. Now I will pick my first case and hopefully start encouraging the life of a child. I am going to work in the Youth in Transition unit which means I will be working with a teenager to emancipate out of the foster care system and become self-sufficient. I cannot wait to dive in head first!