Jonny The Firefighter

Officially, Jonny graduated from the Fire Academy in Maui. 
Yes, I'd be the proud, older sister....

Kyle Came Home!!

Kyle came home!

It’s kinda a big deal…

He just got engaged…

 And he works a lot…

 And goes to school…

 And I never, ever see him…

 And I love him so much…

 And I miss him so much…

But he took off some days right before finals to go see my parents in Pagosa Springs, so I did too. 

We stopped by Fargo’s on the way down, caught up with a bunch of the fam, and then headed down.

We went to church and watched plenty of football…

We paid a visit to Wolf Creek where we were reminded we are not so much in snowboarding shape…yet. 

Can’t believe the next time I see him, it will probably be at his wedding!!!!  Where did the time go???

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love Grandpa Sams, Uncle Larry, Aunt Yvonne, Mom, Dad, and Annie….

Yes, we spent all day preparing this meal.  Correction:  Mom and Yvonne spent all day preparing this meal.  I slept in Castle Rock after dinner out, got up, drank my coffee, then headed down to Pagosa-town. 

But, I wouldn’t have changed it for a moment like this…

I’m thankful for my family.  (and a few other things)

A New Thanksgiving Tradition?

In the spirit of holiday traditions, we may have to start a new one.  Or several. 

Jim and Tammy, lifelong friends of Jeremy and Kim, and newly adopted lifelong friends of mine, decided get in the au-to-mobile and come out for Thanksgiving.  They live in Dallas.  Upon arriving, a trip to Elways was in order. 

Hmmmm, I wonder if Elways is open on Thanksgiving Day?

Kyle and Haley -- Engaged!

We’re adding one more to our goof troop...

our freak parade, our….

I won’t go on….

I’m so excited for Kyle and Haley, who got engaged last Monday, November 21.  I got the “Kyle” version, which went something like this:

Well she had this bracelet that I knew she was going to wear for family pictures.  We were going over to her parents house that night for pictures, so I broke the bracelet.  I knew she’d ask me to fix it.  She did; and when she gave it to me, I slipped the ring on the bracelet and then gave it back to her.  When she saw it, I didn’t even have time to ask her—she just tackled me. 

dorable.  And I also can’t wait for the Haley version (but Kyle, that’s fine for now). 
A

Haley has been a part of our family already for five years,

but I’m excited to officially welcome her.  I’m sad they live so far away, but gives me a chance to go see them in Dallas.  I love Dallas! 

Congratulations, Kyle and Haley—I love you so much and am so excited to see what God does in your life!

What I'm Thankful For....

I’ve never done this.  I’ve never made a list of all the things I’m thankful for….but I’ve decided this would be the year to start.  I’m pretty sure I’ve never done this because I will then spend the next four weeks thinking of other things I’m thankful for, and hating that I hadn’t added it to the list.  So please, keep in mind that this list is not exclusive and I did not spend more than one day compiling it.  If you’re name isn’t on the list, I’m thankful for you, I promise.  So, in no particular order (except that, in which, it came to mind):

 I’m thankful for:

 My relationship with Jesus Christ and that he’s given me a desire to get to know Him more intimately every day

My parents, who love me unconditionally, and pray for me (I know they do) every day

My brothers, who teased me relentlessly, every day of my childhood. And still can make me laugh until my sides hurt.

My sister-in-law and future sister-in-law; bless you.  That is all J

My niece.  Resolution #1 for 2012 (still in the works) is to meet you. 

Jeremy, Kim & Family.  I’m trying to keep this short and simple so I will not expound.  That’s a novel in and of itself.

Family—near and far!

Friends—you know who you are—listening, laughing, and keeping me on my toes.

The best place to live.  Ever.

Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery.  I’m so glad I have a job I love—makes the sound of my alarm in the dark, somewhat okay.

Valor Christian High School – would have never thought I’d love coaching a bunch of high school girls and never imagined I’d have the opportunity to do so at such an amazing school.

Tim Tebow and our Denver Broncos – football is fun again.

My bicycle—sanity during the summer and a way to wage war on that winter pelt!

iPhone – nobody needs an explanation.  Mostly thankful for the Maps app. 

Dave Ramsey—I know this sounds funny, but I’m so thankful I took the Financial Peace University Class last year.

A reliable vehicle

Snow.  And specifically snow in the mountains.

Centerpoint Church in Pagosa Springs, CO

Country music, country music, country music

Shellac nail polish.  Single-handedly changed my life, I tell you.

Grandpa.  And the legacy he is leaving…

Country music.  Oh yeah, I already said that…

My health; I know it’s cliché, but no matter how much I complain, I’m thankful I’m able to enjoy the outdoors, and exercise and travel and enjoy life

And that brings me to:  Imitrex.  Abort the migraine. 

College sports.

Chocolate.

Twitter. The ability to have information (mainly NFL and NCAA related-topics) texted straight to my phone; priceless.

Lip gloss.  It’s just a must.

Don’t judge me on the shallowness of this list, please….

Operation Winter Wonderland 2011

Deck the halls…

Well, we SO did not feel like decking anything this year.  But, in an effort to save my fingers from frostbite, I suggested on Saturday morning that we start Operation Winter Wonderland 2011.  This was said while laying on the couch, with a full pot of coffee brewing, and football on the tv.  I’m surprised I lived to tell you this story, actually…

In joking manner, I asked Jeremy to please wear his Elf Costume as then at least we’d laugh while hating our lives.  Without hesitation, Kim reminded me she had purchased the matching Elf costume, Jovie, last Halloween. 

Live a little, right?

Yes, we absolutely decked the halls in these outfits. 

Yes, it was during the day.  Yes, people stopped, braked, backed up, cheered, whistled, you name it…. I’m not entirely sure what the neighbors thought, but let’s just say the high school boys across the street probably begged their dad to move…

It was a little chilly in the tights…

But I haven’t laughed that hard….repeatedly….for such a ridiculous reason….in quite some time. 

VALOR

2011 Valor Volleyball

Slightly goofy, and proud of it...

See what I mean...

And ready for a party... 

and then...

2011 4A Jeffco League Champions

2011 District Champions

 

and...

the glitter stand that got us there... 

Same story, different year

I really, REALLY do not like Halloween. Like, at all. But Kim says I need to learn to like it before I have kids. 

In usual fashion, I wait until October 31 to decide how I'm going to dress, then rush like crazy to find all the stuff I need to have a complete makeshift costume because I hate spending money on a costume I will wear one time, for three hours. And I always regret that decision. I brave the crowds and the disaster that IS Party City (and hate my life the entire time), all in an effort to try to "enjoy" this holiday.  Same story different year.  

Usually by the end of the night, Trevor and Jeremy have provided enough entertainment and laughter that I'm at least thankful I hung out with the cousins.  We always go to Trev and Jenn's house and hang out and take the kids trick-or-treating. Jenn makes fun Halloween food, too.

It's always a good time and I'm always glad I saddled up....Same story different year.

So, in case you thought this year was different, you're wrong.  Kim and I decided to try and pull off J-Lo and Steven Tyler using stuff we already owned.  We did pick up my scarf and a few feathers, but other than that, it's a little embarassing to say that we can pull of this on our own: 

But, I thought it turned out okay, and we had fun.  Same story different year.

And yes, the boys provided the entertainment.  Never a dull moment with these guys, either. 



 

 So really, it was a great night. It always is....

Baby Dunc's outta da Trunk

Meet Brooklyn Kealoha Duncan, my new little neice. 

With a full head of black hair, just like her mama!

And a round face with puffy cheeks, just like her daddy!

And the happy family. 

And seriously, I can't get over there soon enough!!



Please Share The Hot Water

So, after our game at Evergreen on Friday night, we took the girls to a hotel for "a night away".

So fun.  But, at times like these, I'm reminded that I love sleep. And going to bed early.

And that I do not love eating at 11:30pm--especially pizza for that matter. 

And if you give me homemade chocolate chip cookies, I will eat until they're gone. 

So clearly, that's all that happend Friday night.  Moving on...

Saturday, after breakfast, we took the girls to the hot springs in Idaho Springs. 

Clearly, we had to explore the caves. 

Thankfully, they wouldn't let us go in...something about it being a "quiet place"...not sure, couldn't hear.

We didn't last all that long--it was more the thought that counts.  (Please notice the awkward couple in the back.  Couldn't get enough of each other--had to work to get them in my photos)

Although Kurt and Lars could have stayed another hour or two. 

Slightly disappointed in the water temperature.  I was thinking "hot" when in reality it was "lukewarm".  Lukewarm Springs just doesn't have the same ring to it, huh?  And then I saw the sign and it all made sense.  Find the small pipe pumping the "hot" water and stand next to it.  Majority wins.  Nobody else had a group of 15. 

So we called it a day (or an hour) and headed down the street to Tommy Knockers.

And then on home...where I proceeded to sleep for the rest of the day--just like the slumber days of old.  

Let It Snow

Season Pass purchased. 

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.  

Backstage Experience

This is precisely why I started a blog.  I have the memory of a paper plate. I knew if I didn't write this down today, it would be forgotten. 

They call it the BSE.  The Backstage Experience.  Time to meet fellow Keith Urban fans, reapply lipgloss frequently and try to find something in common with the people surrounding you in the awkwardness as everything wants their own "moment" with Keith. 

I've only been trying to win this for three years.  No big deal.  In the meantime, Kim has won three times.  I should never play the lottery.

Kim and I had purchased our tickets in a Christmas 2010 Presale (yes, the longest 10 months of my life). This time, the tickets would be waiting for us at Will Call and we had no idea where the seats were--all we were told was "premiere floor".  Good enough.  We picked up our tickets and I checked in for my BSE and we found out our tickets were Row 5.  Perfectly fine with us.  Let's just get on with this night...

The Monkeyville People (Monkeyville is the name of the Keith Urban Fan Club) ushered us into a room as we waited for everyone to arrive. I had applied my BSE sticker to my jeans and wore it proudly.  We were then marched up (just picture the freak parade) to the Club Level and into the Continental Divide Room.  (Memory of a paper plate and unfortunately, I never pay any attention to any detail, so this is good for me) They'd created a "homey" atmosphere in this room with the curtains walling off the actual room...all the lights were off and there were a few lamps set up. Up in the front were three big chairs with microphones and a tv with rolling video of KU stuff.  There were about 50 stools lined up in there and then the back had catered food, drink and tables.  We just hung out--I recognized some of the people in there from other shows and some were radio DJ's but everyone was just as nervous/excited/anxious/curious as the next.  Most of the time I was was just anxious, the rest of the time I wanted to slap people. It just becomes everyone's time to one-up the next, so I just listened. Really, I was just annoyed.

Then a Monkeyville guy came out and we left that room in sections based on letters that were on our credentials.  It wasn't until now that I realized how many people were here with me--probably 75-100 people!  We walked down the hall and there were about 4 groups of about 25 people lined up.  Then they sectioned us into groups of 6.  So this is what the baby calves feel like on branding day, huh?  We waited a good 30 minutes before we worked our way to the front of the line.  We went back into the same room (let's call it the holding tank for now) that we were in before and there was Randy.  Randy is one of the biggest men I've ever met.  He's Keith's bodyguard, and if I could just hang out with him--maybe buy him a big gulp, I could die happy.  He was wearing a Denver Nuggets shirt (again, detail) and I immediately told him I loved his shirt and struck up a conversation with him.  While everyone else was checking their hair and allowing themselves to get all flustered, I'm hitting it off with Randy talking about the NBA lockout.  I turned around and my group had gone!  We entered in this smaller room created by curtains and as we entered, Keith was there saying hi to each of us.  It was pretty much just a "hey, my name is Annie"...he said hello, thanks for coming out, and I got a big hug, and that was about it.  He was very genuine and so nice, but you could tell you were like the 63rd person to go, so it wasn't as special as I thought it would be, but still, so cool.  We lined up for a picture, he thanked us for coming out, and we were ushered out.  Of course we had the woman with the mom jeans who had to make some dumb comment but beyond that, it was fun. 

Then, back to the holding tank.  Proudly sitting front and center.  We waited about 15 more minutes and then Keith came out with KYGO's Kelly and Rider.  They interviewed Keith for about 20 minutes or so, took a few questions and that was it! Now, if you're a freak like me (and there are many!), you've watched all the videos on the website.  I could have answered every single question that people came up with to ask him, so I was a little annoyed.  However, I didn't have any question in mind, so I should keep my mouth shut.  But honestly, there wasn't anything I was dying to know...except if Jerry was available for a Meet and Greet.  Jerry is the SINGLE bass guitarist--you know, the one with the bald head, tattoos...the one I've had the biggest crush on since my very first concert.  That was my only question.  And I didn't ask it, which was my plan all along because if I don't have something to regret, I didn't do it right!

I wish they would allow winners to bring a guest, because it would have been so much fun to have Kim there with me, but that's okay.  And as weird as this sounds, I'm so glad they didn't allow cameras in there--it would have been ridiculous if cameras could be in the room.  There would be constant flashing and people would be in your way to see the whole time trying to get pictures and stuff, so even though I don't have any pictures to show you but the one they sent us, I'm so thankful! 

So Keith took off and we could hear Jake Owen had started, so we headed to our seats.  All in all, it couldn't have been any better of a night, really. I mean, Keith Urban is one of the few artists who still do these meet-and-greets, and it means a lot that he'd spend so much time with his fans. It took about 2 hours of his time!  I also understand that it makes sense to have about 100 people back there rather than 10--I've been a part of those 10 people meet-and-greets and it makes for some crazies!  This keeps it fair and they've got a system down....

Yes, I'll keep applying to meet him again.

Well hello, snow!

I love snow.  I love winter.  I love skiing, and sledding, and playing in the snow.  I even love driving in the snow.

However, I'm not so sure that I love snow in October.  October 8, no less. 

Regardless of how I feel about it, the snow arrived the morning of October 8, 2011, and it snowed all day long. 

Thanks to Facebook, I was made aware there was snow on the ground.  It was way too cold in my bedroom to get out of bed just to check the weather--and let's be honest, I didn't believe the weatherman one bit when he said we'd wake up to snow.  But after reading 25 posts about the snow, I decided that more than likely, there was snow on the ground, just outside my bedroom window.

And sure enough...more than I thought, too!! 



It's fine...I'll be back in my shorts this week. 

It's Why We Walk....

So last weekend was the Annual Race for the Cure in Denver.  There were 6 of us poor souls who got up before the sun, braved the elements (yes, 75 degrees and sunshine) and walked the 5K with the other 900 million people.  Okay, not really 900 million, but after the 7^th person steps on the back of your heel because you’re packed in like cattle in a feed lot, it might as well be 900 million.  That is why we walk. 

So Aunt Yvonne and Aunt Cheryl picked up Kendall and me early Sunday morning and drove straight to the most important stop…Starbucks.  From there, we met Sarah and Janice at the Light Rail and joined the sea of pink making our way downtown.  Usually we’ve got a pretty big group from my office, but this year, it was a family affair.  Since we didn’t have to be there really early to organize a bunch of women (and allow for the 4 potty breaks prior to the start), we shot to get there about 7:45 for the 8:00 am walk. Best decision ever.  Granted, we still had to allow for MY potty break, but then we just begun the walk.  None of this waiting business.  And it was bizarre to have space around you as you started the walk.  Note to self; always arrive right on time, which means late, to these events.  We weren’t rushed, we weren’t crowded, we weren’t hot, we weren’t cold, we were just perfect. 

Sarah, Yvonne, Janice, Kendall, Annie, and Cheryl

Also,  note to self; no need to walk at a faster pace than you would have because you will eventually catch up with the crowd moving at a snail’s pace.  So, in all reality, by the time we actually crossed the “start” line, we had caught up to the mass.

See?  Masses...

So, in all reality, we should have slept for 15 more minutes. 

Pardon the chain-link fence...

But it’s okay, because there’s really never a dull moment.  There’s so much to look at, so much to laugh at, and plenty of people watching to do…okay, actually, this is why we walk. 

Most likely I was laughing at someone in this picture. 

And that's Kendall--yes, taller than me at age 13!

Sarah and my annual picture.  Also, does it not look like I have something green growing out of the top of my head?  Love that....

Sams Clan--Aunt Cheryl, Aunt Yvonne, Kendall and Me

Janice and Sarah