Blizzard Round 2!

We didn't get near as much snow this time, but I still got to stay home from work on Friday. I figured if the City and County offices thought it was bad enough to stay home, I better just follow their lead! Jim and I enjoyed the day off together. Here are some pictures I took Thursday night. Hope everyone stays safe and has a great NYE night!!!

Christmas in Greeley

Shell and Rich check out the Cars blanket I made for them.
Thumper is enjoying her doggy greeting card that doubles as a bone...yum!
Our famous-to-us threesome photo is growing! This was Madison's first Christmas.

Christmas at home

Snoop loved the old time roller coaster my mom bought for my dad. It had two sets of cars that went around on the track; she sat there and watched it for I don't know how long. So funny...
Mom and Dad at Kristi's place
Michelle and Kassidy. Michelle got a PSP and we couldn't see her face most of the afternoon!
Sam, Kristi, Shelby and Morgan

More fun Blizzard pics

Time to play!

A small snow tunnel

The morning after

Blizzard of '06

Little drift on my front deck
Neighbor's house across the street
Believe it or not, there is a car under the snow to the left of that garage!!
My poor Neo!!


Yup! I'm stuck at home today. I left work in Thornton (our new office) at about 10 and was able to make it home. I wasn't, however, able to make it into my driveway! My car is stuck in the street... I did try to dig it out, and clear a spot for it, but I was unsuccessful, and today am pretty sore. Oh well. I'm VERY grateful to have made it home at all. If I hadn't, my kids would be freaking out for sure!! I hope everyone is safe and warm at home! Enjoy the white Christmas!!!

CO Avalanche v. St. Louis Blues

Jim before the game

Go Avs!!!
Jim and me
Rich and Jim

This is the second time I've been able to see these two teams face off this year - and they've won both times!! This time I got to share it with my boyfriend Jim, and one of my best friends Rich. Fun!!

Baking Day '06!!!

Every year my best friend, Michelle, has a baking day on the first Saturday in December. I think she said she's been doing it since about '94, or '96? Maybe later, not sure; a long time!! I met Shell in Oct. of '02 when I started working at NCMC in Greeley. We became quick friends and soon became so close we really consider each other sisters... In '03 she invited me to join in her baking day and I've done it with her every year since.

The ceremonial first sheet of cookies going into the oven!

Now - you must understand the preparation that goes in to this baking "day"! Shell has a binder of I don't know how many cookie and candy recipes she's collected over the years, typed up, and placed in protective covers. Around Oct. she begins to decide which recipes she wants to make that year. There are some that she makes every year, and others that she switches out just to see how people like them. Usually the day will consist of between 15 and 30 recipes!!! She starts buying ingredients in Nov. and starts making doughs for cookies early in the week before the Sat. of the big day. When it's all done, there are enough cookies to take to 4 or 5 offices (3 to NCMC, 1 with Rich to work, and now 1 with me to work), and to fill SEVERAL other plates and bags for family and friends. And she doesn't work alone!! Before I joined the group, Shell always had her mom and various other family members and friends to help her on baking day. The group has grown and this year we actually divided it into 2! Her sister-in-law Crystal and I, along with her 6 year old niece Katie were over on Friday night, getting the party started. My sister and her best friend Alison were able to join us as well! Then on Sat., the final count of women (and Katie) in the kitchen came to 9. For obvious reasons, Shell can't wait to have a large, professional sized kitchen, just for her baking day!! :) As it is, I think we generally do a very nice job of keeping to the tasks, and maneuvering however we can!

Everyone hard at work!

Baking day is such a fun tradition that I am so glad Shell has included me in for the past 4 years. Anybody want a cookie?! :)

L to R: Linda (Shell's mom), Emily, Shell, Katie, Kristi, Me, Tara, Alison's eyes, and Rebekah.

Coming soon...

...though I won't promise when - Baking Day!!! My sister and her best friend, Alison, joined us this year and it was great times as always! Also - Jim, Rich and I are going to the Avs game tomorrow night. Hopefully I'll get some great shots from that too!

Better late than never

So it took me a while to get my pictures from Florida posted. Things just kept coming up, and I didn't feel like sitting with the laptop for hours on end going through and picking out the best of the best pictures to post! I figured, however, that I'd better do it before Christmas, because then I'd be WAY behind!! Following are several pictures from my family Thanksgiving vacation. We took the cold with us to Florida, for the first part of the week, and we had a blast just the same. I have the best parents in the world!!!! :)

Disney World

Downtown Disney, our first night!

Kristi and me watching "TV" with one of Pongo and Perty's kids at the All Star - Movies Resort. We stayed at 101 Dalmations...can ya tell??

Epcot! We rode the new "Soarin'" ride; totally awesome!!! You can smell the oranges in the orange grove, and the pine trees in the forrests!

The new Mt. Everest roller coaster at Animal Kingdom. It goes backwards in the dark! So cool!!!

Christmas light display at the Backlots of MGM Studios

Cinderella's castle, decked out in snowflakes for the holidays.

Busch Gardens

Mom, Dad and Me
Jack Hanna - from the Animal Planet!
Mom holding a bird drinking from a cup in her hand
The roller coaster I wouldn't go on, but my dad and sister loved - Sheikra!

Our first day in Florida, my parents took us to Busch Gardens. I love that place because of all the animals, but they do have some pretty awesome coasters as well. Sheikra was the only one I didn't go on, and that's because it had a drop that went so straight down, it almost looked like it went backwards! Yikes!! My dad and sister loved it, though...maybe next time! :)

Thanksgiving in Florida...

Grandpa getting ready to carve the turkey.

Piloting his boat..."No Wake" signs mean nothing to this man!!

Family pic.

I had a great time visiting with my Grandpa for a few days over Thanksgiving. My 90-something Grandpa is still as awnry as ever. My mom visits him almost every summer and he always has a "to do" list!! The awesome thing is, he still gets around and can do most everything on his own. He loves getting out on his boat, which he has named "My Last One -5". Not sure what the -5 is about, but we're thinking maybe it's his 6th boat? Noone thought to ask him!!! We all love him so much and are hoping he'll travel out to visit us for Christmas!

Goodbye Zachary...

Zachary Parker Voss
March 9, 2004 to December 1, 2006

You will be dearly missed.

(See post from 10/8 for more details)