Sunday, August 15, 2010

Adventures in Denver

A lovely Saturday afternoon in Denver. We started the morning out with a double P90X workout. One for the Friday workout we missed because we spent all night looking for computer sleeves for Matt online and another for Saturday. Needless to say by noon and about 2.5 hours later we were starved and soar and hungry. (So with our workout regime; we decided to start from the beginning of the 90 day workout since we just took off 2 weeks to move and had may other interruptions in the 6 weeks prior. Although we had both lost about 15lbs.) We had driven by a Boston Market last week and Matt really wanted to go today since we were so hungry.
I asked Matt for a bite of his chicken here, but he wouldn't share.
We headed downtown to explore. we parked by the art museum and saw theses giant cow. Of course a great photo.

This area off Colfax had so much to look at, the many art museum buildings, the Cell, the library, art in the plaza, etc. We chatted with some people at the museum and they explained we need a whole day to explore it, so we will return again.

This pic was taken in front of the art museum. If you look close I am being swept away with the paper!


Next to the art museum was a plaza that had beautiful flowers and an open area theater with huge columns. We sat and watched a local rock musician play for a benefit called Feed the Need which supports local schools with supplies and money for those in need. The music and idea for the benefit was great but unfortunately there was like 20 people that showed. No PR and it was sad to see. AS we walked further into the plaza the capital building laid int he middle. I got this great pic of it!

We walked past 16th and toward the business district. We found this sign on the ground that explained a bit about the unusual grid system of Denver's city. All of the main downtown city streets sit at a 45 degree angle. It does seem odd.
Before we headed back home for dinner we happened to see across the street from the grid sign this really neat looking building, Brown Palace Hotel. It was really cool and spectacularly classy inside. As we walked in people were having afternoon tea and crumpets in the lobby while a piano player entertained. The dinner menu had an 8 course meal at a great value of 105$ plus tax and tip. We felt a little under dressed so we decided another day perhaps.
Just a side note, the tax thing is hard to figure out here. And it is hard to get used to on our pocket books too. So in the city its like 7.7 but in other areas is 6.8 or less. So it pays to know what cities charge what for what. It depends I guess. There's no tax on necessity grocery items. But things like a cooking spoon or other unnecessity items in the grocery store are taxed at like 2 or 3%. Matt got a new laptop for school and paid $60 in tax, ouch! Good thing he had a rebate so it still was the cheapest one he found.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

We made it to Denver!

Our drive to Colorado was 26 hours, 1400 miles and 4 days. Matt drove the giant U-haul pulling the Corolla and I drove the Nissan. It was a long slow drive but we made it safely. This was our first pic in Colorado and I almost missed the sign. But with some evasive maneuvers, I got it. We stopped in Fort OCllins to use the restrooms and it just happened to be a great visitors center too! We must have got 30 or 40 brochures and maps of Denver and Colorado. I even got an awesome free Colorado souviner hat!!! Here is the first pic of the city!
This is a few days later at 16th street mall. I am playing one of the many pianos that line the street. It can be a great conversation piece or a great way for musical bums to become entertainers and make a little cash!
This is part of CU/UC Denver Campus! Here's Matt sitting in the business center of the school, trying to get info for classes! So much prep!
This is the Student Union; Trivoli. Across the street is the Pepsi Center Field! Crazy!
We decided to stroll through the city after Matt got some things done for school. We walked from campus to the famous 16th street mall. What a fun street and I couldn't resist the chance to take a pic by this gigantic Pegasus. And of course as we strolled through LoDo (known as Lower Downtown) we happen to stumble upon Coors Field which is home of the Rockies. Crazy! What you don't see adjacent to the Field is 2 bike cops clocking people coming off the ramp of the freeway and then walking in the middle of the road with their hand out to pull them over and nail them with a speeding ticket. We have heard cops here are not forgiving!

Apartment hunting trip to Denver!

Matt and Darlene went out to Denver to scope out a nice place for us. Which was well worth it because our place is great and we probably would have ended up in Glendale which would have been scary.

This is a pic from the land in Colorado. The plans for the land are pending until further notice, but the view looks spectacular!
Matt's mom being silly!
Matt, Darlene, Shey and LauraLee went to the bridge at the Royal Gorge; Colorado's natural wonder. It looks really far down from the bridge so I have no idea how anyone could fish from it. About 1,000 ft. over the Arkansa River. WOW!

Last 6 Months Update!

In March we flew down to lovely Palm Desert and visited my Grandparents for a week. We golfed, visited an Oasis, saw wild desert flowers, ate great food, admired the most tricked out and fancy golf carts in California and visited with two of our favorite people.


Jonathan (Matt's brother) married Breezy and her kids in March at Cannon Beach, Oregon.
It was so great to have friends and family visit us this summer in wonderful little Ashland. Here is a pic of Melissa with Lotus and Naomi! We had a great time hanging out!June 24th we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. This year was my turn to decide the event (we alternate every year). I chose to raft the Rogue River. We dropped in at Ennis Riffle and rafted about 5 hours to Grave Creek. I only got stuck once, on Agness riffle in the middle of the rapid on a large rock. Poor Matt had to watch me struggle off the rock as he gracefully floated by. But I eventually made it off without bailing out of the raft! We also saw a baby black bear take a dip in the water across the river from us as we ate lunch.

Matt Graduated from Southern Oregon University in June with a business degree in Marketing and a certificate in E-Commerce and Internet Marketing. Yay. We were so happy all the parents came to show their support, and Lauren too!

I had my 28th birthday July 24th. My Grandparents hosted a lovely dinner with family. I was excited that my friend Chelsea came too! The food was great and the company even better and I had my favorite, Lemon mereingue pie! It was a wonderful evening on the river.
Before I left work at FMG, some fellow co-workers and I had a nice farewell get-together. I will miss my job and all the great people I became friends with. I am now and forever a FMG model and jewelry artist!
This last pic is me and my friend Chelsea at the FMG annual picnic. We finally got r faces painted and they look fabulous!!!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

It's been awhile

So we have not posted in awhile, but we have been busy in the world of living and working.

We did recently get a chance to make Angie's famous ranch dressing and it was delicious! We added it to rice and tamales for dinner. Thanks Angie!
Matt's parents visited us a few weekends ago! We had a January Christmas. It was fun. We even busted out the new scrabble game and gave it a try.
Matt and I started a game that has been going on for about three weeks. We have less than ten letters left and it's a close game.


Sunday, December 27, 2009

The holiday

Christmas Day......we had a great morning at our Grandparent's house opening gifts, eating breakfast and enjoying the family! We played games in the afternoon and Matt entertained us with some Christmas music on the piano. Then we had a nice light lunch and more game play! In the evening we went to the the jam packed movie theater to see Sherlock Holmes! It was a great holiday to share with so much family.

Christmas Eve... we had a lovely dinner at my great aunt Leta's house. We participated in the family gift exchange. It was hilarious because every time it was one of the men's turn to give their gift to their recipient they had to ask their wife which gift under the tree it was. Then we headed back to my mom's to open family gifts!

The cousin's, mom and grandpa! He was bombarded by a photo shoot but he was a good sport! It was fun!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

The Charity Tree

The hours, days, and months of preparation has all led to this one day. During a cold winter day in southern Oregon, the teddy bears come to have their picnic.

The "Bear" tree before all the decorations
50 handmade bears sit waiting for placement.

What's a picnic without a little fishing? (STUPID BEAR CAUGHT ONE!!)

Tasty ceramic berry pie.

The Final picnic.
Whew. Glad that's all over. Now time for the auction!!

Thanksgiving Fun

As another year inevitably comes to a fast close, we get together with family and friends to gorge ourselves with mass quantities of delicious food and spend time reacquainting ourselves with the joys of quality time at home. The time inevitably speeds by too quickly but it is nice to have at least one day where we can just sit down and relax, if even just for the day. Here, is that day!!

Everyone is all smiles. We have not eaten yet.


Mariana's stomach grew 3 sizes this day.

Gathered around the table. Let the feasting begin!!

Thanksgiving isn't just for turkey anymore.

The Mutt.

Yummy good!!