Colorado Springs

This past weekend, David took me to Colorado Springs for my birthday (Yes, my birthday was a month ago, but this was my present). It's a BEAUTIFUL city and there is so much to do. We stayed at this aweome Bread and Breakfast called Red Crags. Theodore Roosevelt once stayed there so it has a ton of history. On Friday night, we hit up a local restaurant called the Keg. Afterwards, we decided to do some sightseeing and went to see the Seven Falls. Had I known that we'd have to climb almost 40 flights of stairs (yes, over 400 steps) to get to the top of the falls, I would've traded my heels for tennis shoes. Needless to say, David and I spent the majority of the time trying to catch our breath and noticing how out of shape we are. However, it was a beautiful place and I'm glad we took the trek up those horrific stairs. Saturday was spent at the Cave of the Winds where we decided to take the lantern tour. David spent the majority of the time hunched over (due to the fact that several entrances in the caves are only about 42 inches high) while I just walked my way right through the caves. If you ever make it down that way, we HIGHLY recommend taking the lantern tour. We wanted to go to Pike's Peak, but the road was closed due to snow and ice. So, we'll just have to take another trip someday.

Red Crags Inn

Catching our breath at Seven Falls (not a very good pic of us)

Outside the Caves

Inside Cave of the Winds
David being David

Operation Birthday Surprise

In May, my Mom celebrated a birthday. To honor this momentous occasion, my Dad initiated "Operation Birthday Surprise." In other words, my Dad flew all of us into Houston to surprise my Mom for her birthday. It went off without a hitch and my Mom was completely surprised. She cried, which was our sign that our mission was a success. When Mom cries, you know it's good! I got to spend time with Cole and Katelyn and catch up on everything I've been missing with them. Of course, I loved spending time with Dana, Cody, my Mom and Dad too. It was a wonderful weekend spent with my family and of course it made it me miss Texas so much!!

Kerri and her "perfect child," Hadley taking a snoozer before we get to Houston Mom hugging the Coloradans
Gramps and Grammy with the grandkids Uncle Giant, Cole and Katelyn
Sara hangin in the pool
Crazy Anna posing

Unc and Cole fishin' off the dock

Cute Katelyn

Cowboy Cole

Hadley, Cole and Katelyn (I have THE cutest nieces and nephew)

Guy Time

Aunt Dink and Hadley

Happy Birthday Mom!

Future Baylor Bowhead (seriously, how cute is she?!)

"Look Gramps, my belly sounds like a watermelon too!"

My Memoir

My friend Holly tagged me to write a six-word memoir. So, here it goes...

Wife
Texan
Mooga (Mom in Dutch)
Listener
Confused
Believer

WThe rules: Write your own six word memoir, and post it on your blog. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to the original post, if possible, so that it can be tracked as it travels across the blogosphere. Tag at least five more blogs with links. Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

I tag...
Mo, Kerri,

Peace out 27.....

....and hello 28! So, I'm a little behind and should've posted last week, but found naps to be more important lately! Anyway, April 9th was my 28th birthday. It isn't a very significant number, but I already forsee this year as being great!

As for my actual birthday celebration, I woke in the morning to a nice omelet breakfast prepared by Anna and David. Anna also gave me pretty earrings and a necklace, along with a poem. Afterwards, I left for an uneventful day at work. I came home from work and took a nap. When I woke up, I found that David had made me a delicious lasagna dinner complete with salad and garlic bread. After dinner I got to open presents. David decided to get me a sewing machine! I know some of you are thinking, "What the heck?" But, I really wanted one. Now I get to be crafty and make curtains and stuff. Anywho, back to the celebration. If you know me well, you know that no birthday is complete without an ice cream cake of sweet cream and strawberries from Marble Slab. This became a tradition when I was roommates with Holly at Baylor. After college, my sister Dana carried on the tradition. Then, when I married David I gave him full warning about my cake request. However, we had no room in our freezer for a cake, so we just went to Marble Slab instead. And that was just as great! All in all, it was a great birthday and just what I wanted!

But, it wasn't over yet! The following Friday, David said that we were going to dinner at this Italian place that he wanted to try. I'm always up for some good pasta, so I thought nothing of it. However, when we arrived in the back room, I bumped into about 20 of our closest friends for a surprise party! Woo hoo! My husband is so sweet! It was a complete shock and was truly humbling to know that these people that I have known for less than a year took time out of their lives to celebrate me. David decided it would be funny if it were a princess themed party (hence the barbie picture at the top) so I had a tiara AND a wand! My sister Kerri got a cake that said "Happy Birthday Princess Jenny" and coordinating princess plates and napkins. Then David gave me one last surprise when he gave me a piece of paper that had a reservation for this bed and breakfast in Colorado Springs. I've not spent much time there, so I was super pumped!

And so now I'm 28. Closer to 30. But that's ok because I still look like I'm 17. :) Adios 27!

Pictures to come....

He is risen. He is risen indeed.

Happy Easter! Today was a beautiful day that started with snow and ended with a blue and sunny sky. We started off by going to church where David, Sara and Michelle (David's sister) sang the song Might is the Power of the Cross. It was Sara's first time to sing in front of our church and she did a great job! After that, we headed to David's parents house to enjoy an egg hunt and nice turkey dinner. It's always such mass chaos with all those people, but such a blast! Today also happened to be David's parents 40th anniversary. So we celebrated them as well. We hope that y'all had a great day and remembered that Christ gave it all just to save you!


Here's the video, it was recorded using a small digital camera so the visual quality and audio leave a little to be desired.



If only I could keep up with Sara! She's very talented and it was AWESOME to do our first song (in public) together.

(David)

Texas vs. Colorado III

Yesterday was a sad day for Baylor fans as the lowly CU buffs beat them in the opening round of the big 12 tourney, putting their big dance chances somewhat in doubt. In the process they became the 1st ever number 12 seed to win a game in the big 12 tourney.

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_8566136

Sara

Happy BIRTHDAY SARA!!!!

I can't believe it but today you are 11 years old. It's crazy how the time flies by as most parents would attest because it seems that only yesterday you were a tiny little bubbly girl who had all the answers and could amaze adults with your vocabulary and logic. Your cute face could light up an entire room and I was so proud to call you my daughter.

Now you are becoming the young lady that I know God wants you to be and you are such a joy to us.

There will be many challenges that you face over the years but always know that first and foremost God loves you. Secondly we love you more than you'll ever know. You also have an amazing extended family who loves you and will always be there for you.

You are an awesome daughter and all a dad could ask for, I'm very blessed to have you in my life and I thank God daily that He is letting me take care of you. You have such a nurturing spirit. After my surgery you always wanted to stay with me and take care of me and I really appreciated that. You have a tender heart to help people and I love that about you. We'll have our ups and downs but know that you'll always be my little Sara Bear and that nothing can ever take your place in my life.

You are an amazing big sister! You are Anna's hero, role model and best friend. You've always been an great big sister and looked out for Boo Boo and I'm very grateful for that. You two have a bond that cannot be duplicated or broken. Thank you for being such a great big sister, watching you two together grow and become closer over the years has always been such a joy.

So Happy birthday baby! I hope it's the best birthday yet and I can't wait to see what the coming year has in store for you and our family. I love you!

Dad