Crested Butte

Our friends the Fox's come to Co frequently to vacation in Crested Butte

Usually we manage to squeeze in a dinner or a couple of days hanging out at our place.

This year we were able to go up to C.B. with them.
Knowing that it was going to be a super fast trip we debated about whether or not it was worth going.
It the end we decided that a little time with them was better than none and we packed everyone up and headed out.
And we were SO glad that we did!
We had such a fantastic time.

It was great to hang out with them and catch up.
We have been friends since before there were any little Hahl's and little Fox's running around.
It only takes a few minutes together to remember how much we love being with them.
They are such great people.
I feel honored to be able to call them my friends :)

(Emma and I at the start of the trip)

The main event was a fourwheeling trip up to Tin Cup.
Riding Tin Cup was on Larry's bucket list so he was really excited to be able to check it off.
Personally I had no idea what I was getting into.


( Everyone pretending to be blown off the top. See the elevation sign - I have never ridden to that elevation before)

Usually when we ride we do short little trails and as a family we can't go out all at the same time.
I was expecting a similar ride this time.
I was completely wrong.


(Some random dog decided to pose with us)
Everyone loaded up, I rode with Lily and since Larry's atv is larger and he has mad skills he rode with Bella and Brooke.
And Brendan headed out on the little atv.
We rode, and we rode and we rode some more.
By the time we were done we rode around 32 miles.

(our F.B.F.F.'s Hunter, Emma, Matt and Caleb)
Part of it was on an actual dirt road and the rest was up rocky switchbacks.
And on some of the switchbacks the shoulder was very narrow.
It was a little bit scary.

(one of the mountain top views)
After we reached the top of the mountain we continued on another couple of miles to some property Matt's brother owns.
The trail to it was terrifying.
I was pretty certain I was going to roll the atv and die.
Larry kept telling me that I was going to be fine.
It looked worse than it was yadda yadda yadda.

(the other side of the mountain)
And while it was scary, and I DID almost run off the trail, in the end I made it!
When we got to to the property it was so windy.
Larry actually leaned into the wind trying to fall forward and the wind held him up.
It was crazy!
(The town church in Tin Cup. So quaint)
What a great ride!
The memories the kids are going to have from that trip!

So thanks Fox's for letting us hang.
We are looking forward to next year's vacation with ya all!

my alarm clock is possessed!!

seriously.

i am not even kidding.

i think it needs an exorcist.

do they have exorcist's for inanimate objects??

here is what is going on.

yesterday morning, the alarm went off and i started getting ready for church.

after being up for an HOUR, i went downstairs and discovered that it was a hour earlier than what the alarm said.

i figured that lily had somehow messed with it and changed the time.

last night, we went to bed.

larry asked me if i changed the time back, which i did.

it went off this morning.

i got ready, came downstairs only to find that once again

IT'S AN HOUR EARLIER THAN WHAT MY ALARM CLOCK SAYS!!

what the heck is going on??

why.... why.....why does it keep changing itself!!

so much for the ultra cool alarm clock that larry was so excited to give me.

i don't care if it tells me what the temperature is outside.

and talks to me in this really cool voice.

it's dead to me.

LOST - the final installment

The show that has captivated us for the last 6 years has come to an end.
But how do you celebrate the ending of something that you have invested so much time into??
Why throw a little party that's how!

Die Hard LOST fans only!

Once you pass through the hatch the fun begins!

The infamous smoke monster paid us a visit.
I was worried that he didn't get his invitation.

Charlie's last message.
Oh the tears I shed when that message was delivered!

Our Dharma issued beverages


Lots of tropical food!
(some of the food items are missing)

The LOST cake

Beach, Crashed Airplane, Jungle and Temple

It even had a golden center to represent the "light" of the island

You can't have a party without guests.

And I just have to say that we have the best friends ever!

All our favorite LOST characters attended!

Crazy Rousseau

Kate frantically punching in the magic numbers.

Keeping everything in balance

Sawyer

(kendria insisted on being sawyer! i didn't make her!)

I don't think we really settled on an identity

Jack

(I really, really wanted to draw on Jack's tattoos but didn't have time)

Shannon and Jacob

(I think Drew intended to be someone else, but he looks just like Jacob)

Sun was in attendance as well but missed her photo opp.

Thanks so much guys for celebrating the end with us!

And for going along with our crazy themed party.

As for the finale.

I don't think I can even begin to sum up my feelings.

For me, it was extremely emotional.

So much so that days later when I would think of it I would get a little teary.

I didn't love the way it ended.

In fact, at first I was really mad; and sad.

But what I did love about it was that in the end they were all together.

They were all happy.

And the finale reminded me how much I had grown to love all the characters.

If I had to sum it all up I would say that it was about finding yourself, redemption and faith.

I have a lot more to say about the show and my philosophy but let's be honest;

Who is really going to read all that??

So I will sign off with a thanks.

Thanks for 6 years of gripping, soul searching tv.

I shed some serious tears throughout this series.

And I loved every single minute of it!

Except for killing Jin and Sun

That was a sucker punch

lil's new do

WELL~ Isn't that special!

wonder how long that's going to take to grow

end of the season

the 2009-2010 Colorado Children's Chorale season is officially over.

when we started this adventure late last summer we really didn't know what to expect.

bella and her school/chorale friend, we carpooled every week

couldn't have done it without these guys!

we knew it would be a huge time commitment

bells and i outside Boettcher Hall
spring concert

we knew Bella would love every second of it



performing Small Miracles at the Colorado Heights University

and we hoped that she would do well
Brendan and Bells
he really was a proud big brother on this day


in the end, all of these things were realized.
and now, we are ready for the summer break!

Happy Birthday Brooke!! (April 8)

Every year when it's time to celebrate birthday's I am amazed at how fast the kids are growing.
The time between when I was holding them as infants and today is like a whirlwind, yet it seems like only yesterday.
This year Brooke turned 6
Her birthday fell on a Thursday and we were packed with Achievement Days and Scouts.
So on her actual birthday we had a simple family party of pizza and homemade cake.
Then I took her to Target to spend some birthday money

Here is the delicious chocolate cake with cheesecake pudding for filling.
It was heavenly

A couple of weeks after her birthday we had a skating party

It was so much fun

At the beginning many of the kids couldn't skate

But by the end they were all doing really well

The birthday girl with her second birthday cake

It was a little chaotic but I would recommend a skating party to everyone

The kids absolutely had a ball!

Hope your birthday was great Brooke!

We love you so much!

date with daughtry

Those of you that know me well, know that I haven't watched American Idol in years. Those of you that don't may be asking yourself ~ Why?? How can you not watch AI?

Well I can answer that question for you in a name: Chris Daughtry.

I was a huge, can't miss a single episode full blown AI addict season 5.

And then something crazy happened.

Chris was voted off.

I was so outraged.

He was clearly the most talented singer BY FAR that season.

So I vowed then that I would never again find myself manipulated and let down by that show. And I knew that we hadn't heard the last of Chris.

I knew that fame would find him.

And now, roughly 4 years later, his fame has come.

And what of the winner from season 5? Taylor Hicks?

What exactly is he doing these days?

Apparently he is still making music but has anyone heard it??

That's what I thought.

SO~ being the huge, and I do mean HUGE

Daughtry fan that I am, I have been dying to attend a concert.

He was in Denver a few months ago at the Gothic and I really wanted to go but it was a Sunday so I thought I would be good and not go :)

Have to set a good example for the young women ya know.

Then I heard he was going to be in Broomfield and I really wanted to go but thought it was too far to go in the middle of the week. Totally gives away my age I know.

But then the other day I was in the car and one of the local stations was giving away Daughtry tickets.

About a week or so before this I just so happened to program the stations number into my cell phone cause they are always giving away cool things.

I had a story that fit in with what they were looking for so I started dialing.

It took many, many times to get through but finally I did.

And I WON!

ME! Who never wins anything!

I couldn't believe it was real.

I was sure when I went to pick up the tickets they were going to tell me that there was some mistake. But it was true, they were really mine and last night was the show.

And it was AWESOME!

The first band that played was CAVO. I have nothing to say about them honestly. They were really bad.
And I felt like I had traveled back in time to the late 80's early 90's.
When the drummer ripped off his shirt I was a little worried that we were going to have some Red Hot Chili Pepper's action goin on.
But thankfully it was just him.
And it was just his shirt.
Not his pants replaced with a tube sock.

I want to apologize in advance for the crumy pics.
My camera does not take far away shots well at all.
Next up was Skillet
We had never heard of them but immediately it was obvious that we were one of the few that hadn't.
Everyone started going crazy!
Clearly, they have a fairly large following.
If I had to sum Skillet up in one word that word would be ANGRY
Their music sounds very, very angry.
Even the "Love Ballad" ~ their words not mine, sounded angry. However, I like angry.
And then something crazy happened.
That angry band started talking about Jesus.
In an introduction to a song about suicide, the lead singer starts talking about his hero, Jesus Christ and how he makes it so that we are never alone.
And that we can reach out to him anytime, anywhere and he will hear you.
Well I'll be.
The angry band is really a Christian Rock Band!
Who knew??
Apparently everyone but us.
So in the end, we decided that we really liked Skillet and that on a cd they are probably great and not quite so angry sounding.
Oh!
And Russell Brand moonlights as their soundboard operator. I kid you not!
They could have been twins.

Finally after what seemed like forever Daughtry took the stage.
And rocked the house!
It was an awesome show.
That man has some serious pipes. Even if he couldn't breathe because of the altitude.
And he's pretty easy on the eyes as well. Not that we could really see but ya know.
His hotness is the same whether I can fully appreciate the view or not.

His encore was fabulous.

Why people rush out of the building in hopes to clear out the parking lot before the masses descend and miss the encore is beyond me. You've already invested a couple hours, why not another 20 mins?

So I say adieu to Daughtry.

Until we meet again, I remain your devoted and loyal fan.

Keep on Rockin!!!