Lazy Saturday...

What's new?! As often as I can I like to do absolutely nothing at all on the weekends. This is probably the best reason I can give for not wanting to have children right now. And yet the 4 "children" I do have don't mind being lazy with me at all... In fact, I think they rather enjoy it!

T2R w/the Blacks

A few years ago my best friends, Shell and Rich, introduced me to a game called Ticket to Ride. It's not a difficult game, Shell and I always "play nice", and yet there can be quite a bit of strategy and frustation behind it. We have had many a "T2R" marathon during which we have a Harry Potter movie (or 2, or 3) playing in the background and snacks to munch on. Shell and I have even created new routes (using Rich's old Magick cards) and have played with 2 sets of trains each instead of the usual 1. We're always looking for new ways to play the game, and apparently so is the game designer!! Since the original North America edition, there have also been Europe, Marklin, and Nordic Countries editions of the game, as well as expansion packs with different routes, cards, options, and even boards. Shell and Rich own the N.A., Europe & Marklin editions, and the 1910 & Switzerland expansion packs. Last Friday night we had a game night to play the Switzerland version of the game. We put the 5th H.P. on first, and then the first H.P., and had popcorn, bananas and pretzel sticks with melted chocolate. Yum! Of course Nala joined in and it was a really fun night, despite the fact that both Shell and Rich had very little sleep the night before (Rich having gone to the midnight showing of Cloverfield, and Shell having put in OT at work). I wonder what version Days of Wonder will come up with next?!

Nala helping me with my next move

Shell and Nala

Rich and Nala

Nala zonked out under my feet and the chair...

Many Emotions...

Today has been a day of many emotions...

First - The shock yesterday of Heath Ledger's death carried over to today. He was my age and though "drugs may have been involved", the thought that people my age die all the time is shocking and scary to me. I loved Heath in "10 Things I Hate About You" and "A Knight's Tale". I think he had a promising career, and his looks weren't bad either! Seeing him in "The Dark Knight" will be like watching Brandon Lee in "The Crow"; a little eerie and sad all at once. I'm sad for his daughter who will grow up without her father...

Second - Disney has launced a new Fairy Tale Wedding gown collection. I'm not sure if this has been around a while and they're just now advertising it, or if it's something hot off the press. Either way, though I'm not engaged and don't plan to be getting married any time soon, this information has got me curious and excited! I will definitely be looking at those gowns, whether I ever do get married or not!!

Third - I started (finally) taking down my Christmas decorations last night. I must admit that I was happy to get my every day decor back out into the living room. However, today I took down the lights and window clings, and will soon be disassembling my tree... This makes me sad. I love Christmas and hate to see it go. I guess I can find a little comfort in the fact that in 10 short months, it will all be going up again!! :)

Avs vs. New York Rangers

We don't see a whole lot of Eastern teams come to the Pepsi Center, so when my boss offered me Avs vs. Rangers tickets, among others, I knew I had to pick them! I took Paul to his first ever Hockey game on Dec. 21st. Though my Joey was out, the other guys came through and Hejduk, Wolski and my other man, Svatos, helped the Avs to a win. I really wish we'd quit losing some of our best guys to injury and surgery!! The game must go on!

About as close to a smile you'll see on Paul in a picture.

Santa and his Elf shooting shirts in to the crowd.
Game winner Wojtek Wolski!!

Bishop Castle

I guess I'm going a little out of order right now. Paul and I went to Bishop Castle the Sunday before Christmas. It was a nice, sunny day in Pueblo, and FREEZING in San Isabel. We only stayed for a half hour or so before I couldn't feel my feet anymore.

Bishop's Castle from the road.
Paul stuck in a cage. Not sure why this is here??
Pretty stained glass, stone and iron work

A little closer view...
Paul walking to check out the new Moat.

Wow!

This was really nice.

Be sure to have your sound on.

Denver Getaway

For the past 8 or 9 years now, my family has tried to "get away" after the hustle and bustle of Christmas and spend a few days in the Denver area doing fun things. We've been places like the Butterfly Pavillion, Botanic Gardens, the Zoo, and lots of other fun places! This year we stayed in Golden and travelled downtown, hitting the Forney Museum of Transportation, Ocean Journey and Paul joined us for the Titanic exhibit and the Denver Museum of N&S. As always, the girls had a blast at the hotel pool and everyone had a great time seeing the attractions!

Morgan, Kassidy, Kristi and Me at the Forney Museum

Is this what became our van??

Dad with the sharks

Tigers at Ocean Journey

Lunch at the Museum

Something for the kids to touch!!

Kristi and most of her family...

Christmas 2007

I guess I've been a little busy and a lot lazy! Plus, I really don't like sitting all by myself in the den, while my cats stare at me through the doors. I've been without my laptop now for over a month, so no blogging in front of the TV with my live cat "blanket" keeping me company... I figured it was about time to post some Christmas pics though, given that I'm going to, begrudgingly, take down my decorations this week. I know that Christmas can't last all year; I just sure wish it would!!! I do hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Happy New Year!!!!

My gift to my parents
Dad got a plane!!
Hanging out at Kristi's
Mom and Dad
Kassidy setting up her Cat Nativity under the tree
Kristi and Michelle

Random December...

Nights in Greeley can be bitterly cold. Since some of the guys at work have started coming up North to work with the wall panel shop, they've all commented as to how the temperature drops drastically from the Thornton area to Greeley. We had several below 0 degree nights in December and I was feeling ever so grateful for my warm bed, which I was able to purchase when my Grandma C. passed away. I plan to have the bedroom set in my family for as long as possible and always think of her when I see it. Thanks, Grandma, for warm, comfy nights!!
Case in point!! Here is my car, stuck again, at the end of the driveway. I was desperately hoping for a white Christmas in Pueblo, and while it did snow just a few flakes, Greeley REALLY got the white Christmas I would have loved. However, I would have loved even more if it had QUIT snowing before I got home and had to dig out my driveway!! :)

Weddings and Funerals

As we grow older, we often find that the only time whole families come together anymore is for weddings and funerals. One is obviously more jovial than the other, yet unfortunately time does come to say goodbye to those we love.

My Aunt Glenda, Dad's sister, had not been well for years. And in fact, I hadn't seen her since, I believe, before she even went in to a nursing home several years ago. Though 2 of my cousins live just doors away from my parents, we have unfortunately not been close with them for quite some time. I can pretty much pin-point the time that my family and Aunt Glenda's started drifting apart to right after my Grandpa Z. died. Just a year later Grandma Z. died, and after that everything was different; no more Sunday dinners at the Grandparent's house, no more family time at each other's houses during the Holidays. While I still thought fondly of those times, it was like they were in a past that would never again be reality. And so it is.

Aunt Glenda passed away the morning after Christmas. While I'm sad that we weren't closer, or rather close at all for more than a decade, from what I hear her passing was a blessing in disguise. I know that her 3 sons, my cousins, will forever miss her and are grieving the loss of her earthly presence. I also know that they will carry her memory with them forever, and that she is now resting in peace; free from the burdens that held her captive on earth. And I hope, though we were reunited under such unhappy circumstances, that I can start to rekindle a relationship with my cousins. I'm ashamed to say I don't even really know who they are anymore, and I hope that can change.

Rest in peace, Glenda Elizabeth Frederick.

My sister, me, and baby Ted with Aunt Glenda - 1982?