Anniversary Getaway

A few weeks ago the hubs and I celebrated our 3rd Anniversary!
Allow me to brag, I didn't do a thing.  Nope, not one single thing.

Hubby arranged the entire trip.
Little Miss had her first sleep over with Nana and her cousin.
He made reservations at the most amazing little bed and breakfast I'd ever been to.
Great room, amazing food, beautiful views, hot husband.  What more could a girl want?

the only picture of us on our trip and I'm blurry... Boo!!!!

Sometimes, it's necessary to get away and remember who you are as a couple, not parents.
And that is just what this trip did, helped us be a fun loving couple.

There is something so fun about bed and breakfast inn's.
They are so personal and make you feel like you are at home.
Nothing is more peaceful, especially when they are tucked away in a small, quiet mountain town.

Let me introduce you to Arrowhead Manor 

Enjoy breakfast while looking at the gorgeous mountain views

Admire the GORGEOUS decor of this place.

Seriously, I love all of the dark wood and the beautiful light fixtures.

Now it's time to check into your room which has more than you could imagine.  Starting with a huge king size bed that is the most comfortable thing I have ever slept on....

Complete with your very own sitting area. 

    

(Excuse the fact that my husband can't live without football for 2 seconds.)

As well as your own personal deck with a hot tub that overlooks the beauty of Colorado.

I don't have to do much convincing because the pictures speak for themselves.

This was the perfect setting for Hubs and I to enjoy us time without the interruption of our lovely 2 year old.

So now, if you are looking for a quiet, romantic getaway in Colorado.  I highly recommend this place.

My One Minute Half Time Show

A couple of weeks ago, the hubs and I got free tickets the the Bronco Pre-season game.

The Broncos gave tickets to all of the first responders at the Aurora Movie Theater shooting.

Before the game all of the victims of the shooting got to walk onto the field while the crowd gave them a standing ovation.  It was a pretty moving site to see.

Next came the intro of the Broncos with our new quarterback that ALL of Denver is thrilled about, Peyton Manning.  This was his first appearance at a game so once again the crowd went wild.

We went with one of our favorite couples, Jason and Ashley.  (and their new baby boy!)  

Yeah Caleb and Jason are pretty close- a little to close sometimes!  :)

Good thing I love Ashley just as much.  If not we'd be in big trouble.  

My all time favorite date!

Then came one of the craziest moments of my life.  I got to be apart of the half time show.  At first I refused- until I discovered I'd be in a huge Bud Lite Platinum bottle and no one would see my face.  (I have a weird fear of being in front of crowds of people)

So I raced  waddled my way through our relay race, and lost miserably.  But hey it was fun and I impressed my husband.  I'm not just a lame mom, I can race in a bottle on the Bronco's football field....  not well, but I can do it!  :)

Ignore my husband's ever supportive commentary!  :)  

I'm the orange bottle that comes in very last!

Zoo Fun

So if anyone is ever in Denver you MUST and I mean MUST check out the Denver Zoo.
I mean, Wow!!

They have done a whole lot of upgrades to this place and it's pretty dang cool.
They just put in a new "Asian Tropics" with a luxury hotel for the elephants.
Ok not really a hotel but if I was an elephant I would LOVE to live here.

And of course I couldn't resist this picture perfect moment with Little Miss.  She was a little scared of the elephants, but she found the elephant ears pretty hilarious.

Now I don't know about you but my kid is pretty obsessed with anything water related.  Swimming, fountains, puddles... it just makes her little day complete.  Well, the zoo just put in the cutest little water park by the seals and polar bears!   It's so fun!

It's just way to much fun to see the zoo through the eyes of an almost 2 year old.
And after a long day of checking out these Denver animals and playing in the water, we were pretty exhausted.  So of course our only option is a girl's slumber party.   I mean of course!!!!

So we grabbed our new best friend baby and put on a little Spongebob and had a great night relaxing.

Excuse our blurry self portrait here.... we just had to document the end to our fun little day!

Living Simply

My life feels a little chaotic at times.

I'm sure most people can relate.

Between being a wife, raising a child, and working.. those things alone keep me busy.  

Add in the day to day activities that come with living, and well I feel a little overwhelmed at times.

Last week we made a trip to Fort Collins to show off CSU to my brother.

I was taken back to how wonderful my life was then.  

Now don't get me wrong, my life is a million times greater now, but my life then was so, well, simple.

I worked, I walked my dog, I biked, and just enjoyed exploring Colorado up there.

I didn't have a TV for the longest time, so I did a lot of reading.

I spent a lot of time enjoying God and all He has done.

I lived in this modest little duplex.  It was perfect for my little life. 

Nothing spectacular but the perfect place for me at the time.

My front door

 Kitchen

 Bedroom

Back yard

Shia and my neighbors' dog Copper would sit in my recliner and stare outside for hours.

My faithful hiking partner, Shia.

The daily beauty I'd find... so much better than the TV.

I took some time to really thank God for that season in my life.

And in those moments of thanks I realized I could still have that life now.

A life with not as much distraction.

A life focused on my top three priorities.  

1. God

2. Caleb

3.  Blake

After that everything else will fall into place.

Granted a marriage and a child take a LOT of time and work, but how many times do I come home and flip on the TV?  

Probably a little to often.  How often do I find myself stuck in this lifestyle of busy?  

When I take a step back I realize that it's not necessary to have the materially perfect things that keep me busy and take me away from my 3 priorities.

(ie. clothes, home decor, accessories, electronics, etc)

I want to incorporate my old way of life into my new life and....

LIVE SIMPLY!

Enjoy the outdoors instead of Pinterest or the latest TV shows.

Not go crazy buying things that I'll just have to clean up and manage in my house.

I mean, let's be real, I have clothes I bought and have never worn. 

 They end up sitting in my closet until I realize I have to clean it out and give it to Good Will.

These things are nice, yes, but they sure do eventually complicate things.

I want to eat simply and enjoy the simplicity of fresh food.

The over processed food is delicious at times, but not good for you.

There is something so refreshing about living a life focused on the Lord.

So many times I get distracted by meaningless things.

His challenge to us might be hard at times but sure is simple.

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

-Matthew 16:24

What do you do to live a simple life? 

 Do you find yourself more at peace when you live simply?

Mother Nature, I Love You!

I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks.

Trust me, I've thought about it, but I've been a little busy!

Ya know, just hanging out with my family, pestering my little bro, enjoying my mom and discovering even MORE amazing places in Colorado.

Allow me to introduce you to Glenwood Springs!

It is the coolest mountain town.

I couldn't get bored in this small town if I tried!

Seriously!

It's about 3 1/2 hours away from Denver and well worth the trip.

We might have just enjoyed some crazy fun White Water Rafting, might have eaten at some pretty cool little restaurants, and maybe just maybe discovered one of the world's prettiest places.

The mountains always nourish my soul.

God definitely speaks through his beauty.

It's so nice to be away and "disconnect" for a little while.

So I hope these pictures also give you a little sense of awe!!

And if your in Colorado, please trust me and check this place out!

Glenwood Canyon

Hanging Lake

If this doesn't relax you, I don't know what will. 

These little chipmunks make you feel like a Disney Princess, they'll hang out with you and eat right out of your hand.... say it with me now... "AWWWWW"

Excuse the random girl in my picture... she wouldn't get off the dang log!  :)

Ignore my stupid hair/bangs in this picture and maybe admire the hotness of my hubby instead.

And hopefully we convinced this guy to move out here next year.

Love this Little Brother of mine!

Well there you go... did I convince you?

Tough Mudder

A few weeks ago we took a family trip to Beaver Creek so Caleb could run the Tough Mudder race.

It was so much fun and I just have to share!

If you haven't heard of the Tough Mudder here is a brief snapshot of what all it entails.

It's pretty intense.  

And it's super hard here in Colorado because you have to factor in the altitude.

Trust me... it does make a difference.

I played the "I have to watch the kid" card so only hubby got to run it with his team.

Ahh shucks!  :)

So while they were getting muddy and sore and electrocuted (yes that is right) and dunked in ice cold water... well here is what Blake and I did.

Yep, we picked flowers and enjoyed a peaceful time on the mountain!  :)

We got to hang out with our little friend, Alyssa, and I think Little Miss enjoyed having a friend for the day.  We rode the gondola, played with horses, played on the playground and topped it off with a picnic at the top of the mountain.

That sure beats running the race... if you ask me!  :)

Not to thrilled to be held by muddy daddy!  :)  

But she was super proud of him... promise.

We had a great time.

Caleb did awesome, and is even trying to convince me to run it with him next year!

So looks like I'll start training right now if that's going to happen.  

Either that or get pregnant.  We'll see!  :)

After quite the eventful day, I drove us all down the mountain, back home.

And here is what my car looked like for most of the way home.

So peaceful aren't they??

Anyone want to run it next year?  You know you do!!!  :)

Colorado Lovin

I'm from a very flat state called Oklahoma.

I now live in one of the most beautiful places, Colorado.

I still haven't adjusted to seeing the mountains everyday.

And honestly part of me hopes I never will.

Part of living in Colorado means loving the outdoors.

I crave time in the mountains.

The quiet, the beauty, it's perfect.

Well I think Hubs and I are passing on our love for the outdoors to Little Miss.

Here is my proof.

Yes that is correct... she is smelling trees.

Want to know why?  

Read this

So of course since my Mountain Man Father in Law taught us, we had to teach 

Little Miss.

And unfortunately now she smells every tree.

People think we're weird.

But I can live with that.

And just because I'm in a Little Miss picture mode, here are a few more from one of our walks.

"Shhh... I found a "hop hop" 

And you'd better believe she was enforcing the quiet rule with me.

And then we sat and stared at this bunny for a good 20 min.

Yep, life is pretty exciting around here... Bunny watching is our new favorite hobby.

Well we're heading up for a mountain trip this weekend for some more Colorado Lovin.

I can't wait.

Hubby is running the Tough Mudder, and Little Miss and I will be cheering him on.

Can't wait.

And of course, I'll take lots of pictures for you.