Happy Birthday, Daddy

Yesterday was my Daddy's Birthday.  I wasn't expecting to see him but got a call that there was a ticket to join him at one of his favorite places on earth-Home of the Colorado Rockies, Coors Field in beautiful downtown Denver.

Trevor and I joined him (he had to pick us up because I am currently sharing a car with my sixteen year old son and needless to say, I loose the coin toss most times when it comes to who gets the car, but that's a whole other blog post.) Also joining us were my aunt Julie, cousin Rebekah, Uncle Alan (AKA Al the kiddies pal) who is currently living in the DC area and works at the Pentagon

The afternoon was chilly but beautiful.  During the tour we got to see the upper level,which I have seen no less than a hundred times because those are the least expensive, yet just as awesome seats. We got to take shots of the field from above but it was cool to be the only people in the whole stadium.

We also got to go to the suite level, club level, the "lower press box" which is where all the writers from various magazines, newspapers and other publications get to watch the game.  "Lower" refers to the location in the stadium, not having anything to do with their position in the press rankings.  We also found out that Mikey Mouse is a huge Rockies fan too.

Then we got to go down into the clubhouse. We were only allowed to enter the visitors clubhouse as the Rockies train year round in their ginormous 15,000 square foot clubhouse and I am sure ladies like myself that would do just about anything to see a MLB player's cute behind up close are not welcomed at any time anywhere near their locker room or gym. The visiting team has a mere 7,000 square foot clubhouse that isn't too shabby.

Next on the tour was my favorite part-going out onto the field. We were warned ahead of time that we were NOT allowed to walk on the grass. Throughout the tour we were informed of the way that the grass is kept so green even at times of the year when every other blade of grass in Colorado is the   blah-est color brown you have ever seen and how they mow it not once but twice before every game. Whoa, bet that guy never thought that would be his job during the summer when he was 14, mowing his neighbors lawns just for a little spending money. We did as we were told and only touched the grass with our hands. We also got to call the bull pen, and without all the 50,000 or so screaming fans you can actually hear the phone ring across the field. We go to sit on the benches where those cute little behinds have spent many a summer afternoon.

It was a fun way to spend time with my dad on his birthday! Loved it and can't wait until spring training and the boys of summer to pull on their tight white pinstriped pants and PLAY BALL!

Just Because

Since it's my birthday, I decided that I would blog today just because...

My son just got his licence today. Just because he is licenced to drive doesn't mean that I will not be having anxiety, fear and be holding my breath the entire time that he is gone.

I just got my nose pierced  a few days ago and it is truly driving my boys nuts that I am cooler than they are.

Just last year on this very day, we had a huge blizzard in Colorado and today it is about 80 degrees and JUST beautiful!

I am telling myself on this my 34th birthday that I just need to get off my ass and get in shape.  I am starting Couch to 5K and this time I am going to stick with it.  I have my running shoes, a partner and a whole lotta motivation! I am not waiting until new years to get on with it.  I am committing to this running plan and eating better.

I think I have a cold, UUGH, just in time to go back to work on Monday!

Just have a few moments to myself so I think I will continue my reorganization of my craft room!

Starting Over

I am hoping that third times a charm will apply to my third attempt at keeping up on this blog. As I am approaching a birthday very soon, I have decided to refocus on some of the thing s that I want to do with my life and how I want to spend my time.  Blogging and sharing some of my thoughts craftiness and photos is a part of this refocus.  

The first thing that I want to share is a project designed to Jump start my creativity. I completed it as a part of an online workshop given by Amy Tan. I wasn't sure how I was going to approach the project at first but now that it is done, I am so happy with the result. Once I get over my completely paralyzing fear of my sewing machine, I may try to make one of these cute little books myself.  Thankfully, Amy stitched the first one together for me so I was able to move on from step one.  When putting the book together, I decided to use all of the things that have been piling up in my scraproom that I loved but was never sure what to use them for. 

 I am loving how it turned out imperfect, eclectic and features some of my favorite things. 

Here's to jumping into more creativity and blogging about it along the way.

P.S. Thanks Amy for the inspiration and the fun workshop!

Admit it!

Okay so I truly am a nerd! As if loving scrapbooking with a passion wasn't nerdy enough, now I can't get enough of knitting! I love all the luscious colors of the yarn. I love all the possibilities that come with a brand new skein-OMG I even know the lingo. I hope my friends that are knitters don't mind it when I refer to us as the "Nerdy Needle Club." I now stand a proud member of the club and now if I could just figure out a way to balance the nerdy things that I keep getting myself into.

Pop of color

With a fresh clean start to the new year I have decided to add some vibrant color to my office/scrapspace. I have recently added this bright red chair to the room. I love it! I really want to get a funk cool pillow to add to the vibrant colors but fo now it is great like it is. I intended to sit and read or knit in the chair and I really have yet to use it but it has become a place that the boys will sit and chaat with me while I am in here. I love that they feel comfortable in here and that it makes them open up and talk to me.

Meet Frankie

Today we had breakfast at a local Einsteins. As we ate and chatted a curious squirrel came to the door. I thought it was odd that a squirrel was so bold and curious with so many people around. He literally peered into the door as if he knew what was inside and he wanted some...Bad! He kept looking and looking to get someones attention to let him in. A few times he nearly darted into the store as people came and went. Pretty soon someone commented about it to the staff and the said "oh you mean Frankie." So it became apparent that this was not the first time this little guy has visited. One of the staff members did indeed go outside with something for him to munch on. And so he did...munch...and munch...and munch some more for a long, long time.

Self Portrait

Peace

When my boys were little I feel like all I did was take pictures of them sleeping. I loved those peaceful moments when they were dreaming. I loved that moment when I caught them sucking their tongue dreaming about food, talking or trying to do something else while so far away in dreamland. It has been so long since I captured a shot one of them sleeping. Nothing has changed, there is still so much peace in his face when he is asleep. I truly wish that I could go back just one more time when they were little enough to have those peaceful moments in my arms. Hard to believe that now Trevor is so tall that his feet hang over the edge of the love seat as he takes a much needed evening nap today.

Oh Deer!

I love working where I do! There are many reasons that my job is fun and that I love it! Today I am thankful for the fact that the school is in an area that has a lot of wildlife to see but we are still in the city. The best of both worlds, Rural city life! Today we had some visitors that came right up to the school looking for food. I can only imagine the crazy things that they found to eat right where the kids hang out. Do you think that deer like gummy bears, stale pretzels, old Halloween candy that was smuggled to school and bread crusts mushed beyond recognition? Who knows?!? I just know that it is really great to work in an area of town where I can see nature right outside everyday and occasionally catch a glimpse of these deer wandering around. Thanks for sharing your home with us!

Day 4

I love living in Colorado. I love the beautiful scenery and I wish that after living here almost all of my life, I would know more about the state and what it has to offer. One thing I do know is that there is usually something beautiful to see as the sun begins to set. This Tree is out my back window and in the spring and summer offers a beautiful lush view and during a cold winter sunset can be just as pretty. I so miss the color green in the winter and although we are only half way into the winter I could use some warmth!

Day 3

Today we finally put the holidays to rest at our house. Before it all came down I captured a couple of shots of the tree. For the last couple of years I have been wanting to change the ornaments and I had even left the tree with just lights for a couple of years while decideing what I liked. This year I decided to put all silver ornaments on the tree and I absolutely loved it!

Focus 365

That is what I have decide to call my projsect of capturing one photo a day and challenging myself to see the world around me.

Today my photo is from my son's high school. The mural is painted above the bleachers and everytime I see it I am flashed back to the excitement that happens in a high school gym. From all the pep rallys and exciting victories and all of the bonds that are formed there in the four short years that we all roamed those halls. I am excited for my son to now experience all of that and at the same time I miss the fact that he doesn't hug me like he needs to very often anymore, he can't crawl onto my lap and fall asleep, he doesn't have the baby fine hair and baby soft skin that I loved so much. He is truly becoming a man right before my eyes,he is now a driver, has a deep voice and thinks I am a total dork(which may be entirely true). I hope that Cherokee Trail is an exciting place and that Bryce and his friends rock the Cougar Den for the next four years!

New Year

As I begin to look at where I want my life to be in 2010, many things come to mind that I would like to change, do better at or make a priority in my life. In thinking about this, I decided that I would have my word for this year be FOCUS. It is my intention to
Focus on my health, wellness and fitness.
Focus on those that I love.
Focus the lens of my camera more (see below for more on this)
Focus on my passions.
I could go on and I am sure I will but for now I will share what I have already put into practice on this New Years Day 1/1/10:

365 Challenge
Inspired by many artists, photographers and scprabookers I have decided to take on the challenge of taking photos EVERYDAY, improve my photography and all along the way enjoy capturing the world around me that I sometimes in the past have been to busy to see.
The first photo is in my Art Room in my house. This wall and the items on it help to inspire me to create and capture life. Most of the items on this wall in one way or another come from the amazingly creative Ali Edwards.

Happy New Year!!