Crested Butte, CO

Chad and I just returned from a long weekend getaway to Crested Butte, CO for the annual Western State College of Colorado Homecoming trip. We get together with four of Chad's friends and their wives, no kids.
We rode in two separate cars, boys and girls but met up at the Continental Divide. Besides the fact that I was getting a little queezy from the switchbacks, the temperature was COLD at 12,000 feet...I almost didn't get out of the car. But then I thought about the photo opportunity I would be passing up and, well you can see what my decision was.
I don't do any of the planning and turn my opinion gauge to the off position. It always turns out to be a relaxing, enjoy the outdoors, laugh with good friends kind of vacation. As the years pass by we have gotten farther from the college homecoming events in Gunnison and more into enjoying the outdoors in Crested Butte. This year we reserved a house on Mount Crested Butte with a amazing straight on view of the mountain.We did a lot of strolling up and down Elk Avenue, shopping and eating. The girls: Jen, me and Kelly.The Boys: Trevin, Nate, Chad and Josh.We went on a hike to The Beaver Ponds and Chad and Trevin fished. Chad caught a Rainbow Trout. We saw 7+ cows by the pond at 9200 ft and an Otter. Owners just drop their cows off in the forest and come back to get them a month later. That was so interesting to me.

The Aspen trees were beautiful!

Meanwhile, at the homefront, Gramma was whippin' Summer into shape. No more whining, no more meltdowns because she taught her how to saw words. She has learned: "up","down". "night night" and many more. Thank you Gramma for taking such loving care of our sweet sugar plum so that we could enjoy ourselves!

Today Summer napped so well that I had to go wake her up at 5pm so that we could go to the gym. She was still asleep so I got the camera and snapped some pictures. Thank you God for blessing us with such a loving baby girl!

Monday Update

I have alot to say so let me begin by telling you what Summer is up to this week.

• She speaks her own language. I CANNOT wait until we can communicate in English.
• If I don't understand her language she whines.
• If I don't respond to her whine then she drops to the floor, arms behind her torso, then slowly lays her head on the ground (only took one headbang to learn that lesson-so smart)
• She has lots of cute 18 month clothes if she would just grow a little more so she can fit into them
• If outside, she wants to be in the street.
• Plays great at church and at the gym
• Eats healthy healthy healthy (yesterday she ate: tomatoes, melon, carrots, roasted potatoes)
• She understands us. I can ask her go get her sippy cup in the next room and she will.
• She loves to climb.
• She says "da-da" ALL.THE.TIME

Next topic, I want to give a few shout outs! I keep meaning to tell these people that I am proud of their success but I can't seem to execute. I am pretty sure they read this blog so here goes.
Sandie has lost 14 lbs! (Happy Birthday today!)
Rachel has lost 16 lbs!
Barrett has lost 20+ lbs!
Way to go ladies! This is no small feat. You have sacrificed daily in order to meet your goal and that takes self discipline. Self discipline is hard.
I told my bootcamp instructor (back in April) that, in time, people would say "oh you have always been fit" and I would respond and say "No I haven't! I used to struggle with my weight and exercise program but once I turned 31 I did a bootcamp and I have been fit since!" I am learning about my body and myself daily and what is the right program for me to sustain this for life. So don't think I have it figurred out...however I have decided that there is no other option and I am not turning back.
In church, they use the story of Cortez and how they burned the boats as a symbol of committment. That has such good application in marriage but I was thinking about running...and how I have to mentally commit. There is NO other option than to complete the 1/2 marathon. And there is NO OTHER OPTION than to run the entire course.

Burn the Boats, Burn the Boats!

Next topic, I am the editor of the Junior League quarterly magazine. My first issue is coming out soon and my deadlines are all too near. I have put forth hours of research, writing, editing, design (I am a committee of 1) and I am very excited about the final product. I love the organization of Real Simple magazine and I have turned to my RS library for guidance. I will show you some of the pages once I am complete.
PS - the JL is an organization of women commited to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving our community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
SO, we are not sitting around polishing our diamonds like some of you might think! We are educating pregnant teens at their lunch break at school, educating abused women on how to write a resume and get back in the work force and on their feet, educating parents on how to guide their troubled youth...etc

Ok, I'm done for the moment. Have a great day!

My Own Little World

When I hear this song on the radio it just gives me chills as it hits home.

What if there's a bigger picture?

What if I'm missing out?

What if there's a greater purpose I could be living right now?

Outside my own little world (Matthew West)

I am blessed to have the opportunity and resources to go attend a women's bible study at my church on Wednesday mornings. This past week they were discussing how we can do everything in the name of God. Nothing is too small to give praise to God. She gave the example of cleaning the yucky toilet rim that the men & boys in our lives get ridiculously disgusting. And that even in such a uhh, gross moment we can thank God for their healthy kidneys that are functioning and producing urine. And how when we are grocery shopping we can give thanks for our families we are buying for and the impactful role we play in their lives.

You get the point...even though this song makes you feel like you should be doing more you can start with giving thanks for what you have in your own little world.

I don't want to miss what matters

I want to be reaching out

Show me the greater purpose

So I can start living right now

Disclaimer: I am not perfect. I am simply trying to encourage you with what encourages me.

Sunday Funday

I dressed my baby up in a Halloween smocked dress today! So go ahead and start celebrating Fall...it's officially ok by me.

Summer helps me water the plants.
But then she gets distracted...And Thirsty...
Shock sets in...
And she's out of there...
Curiousity returns and she attempts to water the way Mama instructed.

Feeling Sassy

Gramma took Summer shopping and they came back Sassy!
I told Summer she better not act sassy or else Mama will have to step in. But seriously, the pink glitter flats are just too cute.

You wouldn't know it from this photo but Summer has had a fever of 101 since Sunday and we went to the doctor twice this week. I knew it was an ear infection but the Dr. was wrong the first go around. Therefore we had to suffer sleepless nights and grumpy days until I called and got a second opinion...ear infection confirmed!

And of course this would happen the week Chad is out of town. I was about to get seriously ill myself when Gramma came to the rescue. And after a women's Bible study and a 6 mile run, I was back on my feet again. Serious God moment on the treadmill...he reshaped my attitude (and my hips)!
Training for the 1/2 marathon has begun. I have my eye on the finish line.
Keep runnin runnin and runnin runnin and runnin runnin and runnin runnin...

Labor Day Weekend 2010

Mimi and Grando came to Asheville to spend the Labor Day weekend with us and we had a fun weekend full of dress up in Gigi's jewelry...Hugs and Kisses...
We enjoyed the 75 degree weather downtown playing roulette in the water park, trying not to get wet. Downtown Asheville really is a pleasant place to mingle, eat lunch and window shop.
We watched the first Alabama football game, Roll Tide! Relaxed and played a game of checkers, kind of. We are so blessed to have sweet cousins who pass down their adorable clothes to Summer. Here is a fall dress that she can now fit into. It was perfect for the cool front that blew in this weekend. Thanks cuz!