Snowmass Chili & Brewfest 2009

We went to the Chili & Brewfest in Snowmass again this year.


Only this year we (Ladd, really) went as competitors, too.

His "Kansas City Pale Ale" (his rendition of Boulevard's Pale Ale) went over well with the crowd. Though it didn't "win" anything, his keg did get tapped.
That is always a good sign. :)




There was an impressive amount of microbreweries there this year with delicious samples to devour.
Music was excellent again with Leftover Salmon, MOE and Particle.
And with this view, how could anybody not have a good time. :)

turning 30

Ladd turned the big 3-0 this March.

I planned a fun weekend in Denver for his birthday.

His folks barely missed the snow and ice storm that swept through Kansas that day and drove all the way to Denver to spend some time with their son, the "baby" of the family.
I also arranged for a couple of his friends to arrive in Denver Saturday night and surprise him at dinner. It went smoothly (short Devin being stuck in Kansas due to the ice - WE MISSED YOU SO!!!) and ladd was pleasantly surprised! Bueno!
We toured a microbrewery, drank and ate at a brewpub, knocked another Hard Rock Cafe off the list (no list, actually) and visited with family, friends and locals.

GOOD. TIMES.

Oh, yeah! How could I forget!?!?! Ladd requested a cheesecake for his birthday. I have never made one. needless to say, it turned out WAY better than I expected, for my first try. NO CRACKS!!! However, the edges crumbled a bit due to not enough buttering of the pan. It tasted maaaaa-velous!!!

love you baby!

 

Christmas and New Year's Eve 2008

This year, Ladd and I were able to spend Christmas Day together here in Glenwood Springs. It was nice. We watched movies, ate yummy food, drank our favorite drinks, and gave our furry babies their Christmas gifts. It was nice to have that day for ourselves.

a new scratcher


catnip was had


rawhide bones were chewed


Then, we were thankful to be able to drive home to Kansas the next day to see family again.
This year went down as my favorite time at home for the holidays, since moving out of the house in 1998.

My mom and sister-in-law graciously saved a large amount of their vacation time and used it to spend time with Ladd and me.
A whole week!
And Ladd also saved a week of vacation for the trip as well, which I am very thankful for as well.
It was great.
And once again, the Christmas time with family overlapped with Rachel's birthday.
She chose to spend her 30th birthday with all of us!


This look is showing her nervousness of the cost of the gifts she was about to open from her husband. ;) Cute.


Lots of relaxing, naps, food, drinks, games (I learned about the famous "Wii" - super fun by the way), gifts, bonfire, etc.
I am thankful for the time with them.

My mom and dad paid for Brad, Rachel, Ladd, and me to spend the evening together however we wanted, one night.
We had before dinner drinks at Brad and Rachel's.
Then, we went out for DeLIciOUs burgers!
We finished the night watching The Dark Night at their house.
Good times.
I'm thankful for Brad and Rachel and our relationship with them.
My husband, Ladd, was already friends with both of them before we even met.
Rachel is not only my sister-in-law, but also one of my best friends.
Since we don't see each other often enough, we really enjoyed our time together that night.
Thanks, Mom and Dad.











Time with Ladd's family was one of my best times with them as well.
It was even more relaxing than usual.
My mother-in-law is by far one of the best cooks I know.
Her food is absolutely amazing and I always get so full, because I want "just one more" bite! ;)
I'm sad to say, I forgot my camera when we went to his folk's house.
So, no pictures from the festivities there. :(

Thanks, Jerry and Kristin, for letting us invite ourselves over to see your kitty!
It was fun to be on your turf for a while.
I wish we could spend more time together and get to know more about each other.
Maybe we siblings could all get together for drinks or something, next time the family gets together?!?!?!




We enjoyed New Year's on the farm with a bonfire, per my request.
Ladd and I don't like to be driving on New Year's Eve, since we both like to partake in having a few drinks.
Bonfires are a favorite of mine.
I went to several when I was in High School and college.
Some of which were at my folks' farm.







And the Kansas sunsets.
SO glad to see these again!

10-19-2002

6 years ago, I married my guy.
He was 23, I was 22.
I still remember so much about that day.

Here is the invitation. Nice smudge marks.


Ladd and I at our Rehearsal dinner. After the dinner, my mom instructed my sister-in-law Rachel to take me straight home and make sure I go to bed! (she knows how grumpy I get when I don't get enough sleep) But alas, there was no way I was going to be able to fall asleep yet. Instead, Rachel and I stayed up and watched Moulin Rouge and I believe I painted my toe-nails. Good times. Thanks for being such a friend and support to me during that time. You are THE BEST sister (in-law)! Love you.


The Groom's cake. The phish logo. Its at their concert two years prior that we decided we were "officially" together.


And the honeymoon. What an awesome honeymoon! We went to Playa del Carmen, Mexico. We dreamed of drinking Pina Coladas on the beach, and we had one of the cocktail waiters take our picture so we had proof of one of accomplishing one of our many goals. We plan to go back to Mexico soon. We had so much fun there.


Somedays, it feels so surreal to think of all we have been through and all we have accomplished in these past 6 years of marriage. I am so curious what the next 6 years will bring.

I'll keep you posted, as time unravels the truth. :O)