Denver Life

Merry Christmas!

So...you remember how you go back and see a toy that you played with as a child, and remarking how small the toy is now that you'v grown up?

That didn't happen today.

I decided that it would be cool to get Ella one of those great spring horses for Christmas, just like the one I had as a kid. The price suddenly dropped on Amazon, so I thought I'd grab it before the Christmas rush. It came in today, and because (a) the box was a bit banged up, and (b) I'm horrible at waiting, I decided to put it together so I could see my young one's joy (and feel some of my own). Meredith and Ella went upstairs while I put it together so my little assistant couldn't help me as much.

When she came back down, she said, "Whoa, that's big." And indeed it is.

On the plus side, Ella should be able to ride this horse until well into her college education. We probably won't let her have it in her dorm room though...they're crammed enough as it is.

More Prayers...

We love to pray, especially Gabriella and yes we do clap after every prayer. In fact, we clap a lot when "Ella Bella" does something great...but maybe she will have the "clapping after prayers" out of her system before she gets to Primary.
I hope.
Love you all

Enjoy!

Ella praying

The lighting is bad, but it's pretty funny anyway.

Barbie---where's Ken?

It has been a while since our last post so here it goes...

Just imagine you're a 7 year old "girl" (that part is important), and you are dressed in a beautiful princess gown...are you there yet? The theater doors open, you go up the escalator and there she is in the distance. The real live version of the doll you are clutching in your arms.

Well, if I had been seven and there I would have been pretty excited too...but I don't think our little "Ella Bella" knew what all the excitement was about.

BARBIE!

Last week I took Gabriella to a sneak peak of the new Barbie movie.

Even though she really doesn't know who Barbie is now....someday, sometime, and somewhere down the road she will be happy to know that her mom took her so she could get a picture with Barbie in person.

Come Back Ella...it's Barbie!

Oh yes...Barbie was there and coming from a family of girls we all got our love of dolls, hair and cute clothes from our mom. Growing up we would ask Mawma to let us bring down the box from upstairs that held the greatest treasure on earth...Barbie. Not just any Barbie, but Ken, Skipper, Francie, and Midge. They had real eyelashes and some even had just a plastic head so we could put wigs on them. Wigs? Who knew?
So in preparation of this event I had found my stash of Barbies here with me in CO. I let her old one and then she started biting her hand...oh well.

Anyway.

Things went well, we even saw a family from church and got to sit next to them. I think that helped Gabriella sit in her chair for while. They gave out goodie bags after the 20 minute sneak peak and off we went back home.

But before we left I got these great shots of her in her new sunglasses (I stepped on her old ones).

Hope you all enjoy...and as my Bio 100 teacher would say "May the dews of heaven distill upon you."

I got a new labelmaker...

...so I could label cables, etc. I had to make a quick label before that though.

Enjoy!
Steve

Kindred Spirits

Test your knowledge...do you know where these quotes are from?

"Look at that sea, girls--all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds."

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

"Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing."

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"

"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. --Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do."

We had a Anne of Green Gables/English/Pride and Prejudice party at my house the other night for the Beehives...and it was so fun.
We took things from my Anne of Green Gables Treasury book and divided out recipes: cucumber sandwiches, lemon biscuits and gingerbread. We also had strawberries and cream, biscuits, scones and yummy pink lemonade.

I also made some place card holders...

We watched the first 30 minutes of Pride and Prejudice and before that we did a craft project...hats. The girls took ribbon, flowers and flower wire and decorated their own "Anne" hat. Unfortunately I ended up helping everyone so I didn't' get to take many pictures but here is how mine turned out.

Then I needed someone to model it....GABRIELLA!

It was hysterical watching her with this hat...so I went I little picture crazy!

Okay, here is my cheesy pic...

Attack of the HAT!

Can't SEE..........GET THIS OFF ME!

"Marilla, isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"
- Lucy Maud Montgomery
Taken 9-4-07 & 9-5-07

Hi there "4" Eyes

Finally...she will let me put Sunglasses on her. I started laughing so much that she knew it was

funny, so I think that helped her keep them on.

Photos taken 8-28-07

Here she Comes...

down she goes...

Here she is modeling a new outfit before we left for church 8-25-07

see my tongue?

5 Years...SWEET

How do I love theeeeeeeeee...???
Yes, yes I must be a bit cheesy because today is our 5th Wedding Anniversary!
YEA!!!

Today was a really great day.
After Steve got home from work we got Gabriella ready and headed off to the Rec. Center to swim and burn some calories. After that we went out for dinner...
Funny how time flies, it doesn't seem like it has been five whole years, and the best part is that we still like each other. Steve is so important to me and has made our life here great. I know that he tries really hard to take care of us and does everything he can to make me happy...it gets difficult at times being so far away from family and then I also have a tendency to get homesick, but when that happens he tries to find a way to make it all better.

So to my knight and my hero, I love you...and I did warn anyone who reads this that it would be a very cheesy post.
Enjoy our journey!

Having a Ball

Well...it is pretty late and I'm tooooo sleepy to remember all the wonderful things I was going to say, except it was a great night and we had fun at the Ball.

Steve called me from work last week to ask if I would like to go to a dance for FREE, so of course I said yes...
One of the main highlights of the evening, and I'm taking the liberty of speaking for both of us, was getting to see this eagle up close and personal.

Even better...getting a picture with it.

Here I am with our friend Kim...

Our Adventures in Idaho...

Off we went to Idaho...it was my second time ever to visit the land of potatoes.
Our first stop: PARIS
Steve was telling me that his great-great grandfather was sent by Brigham Young to settle there.
Here is his cabin...

Then we saw the Tabernacle...there was a lot of neat history.

Then we made it to Georgetown...to see Steve's Grandmother Mary.
Look at this cool ball....

We had a nice visit and saw Steve's Aunt too...I got to look at some old photos and learn about the origin of a little wooden chair...
Four Generations...