Glenwood Baby

To officially start off spring break this year, we headed to the town of Glenwood Springs with our friends Matt & Nicole. If you aren't sure where that is, it is located about 3 hours west of Denver. Glenwood Springs is a cute, little town that nestled against the mountainside.  It is a place where you can river raft, ride bikes, hike, ski, or just relax in the hot springs.   

Since we were ALL on the verge of stressing out, this little trip couldn't have come at a better time.  The first place we visited, was the Glenwood Caverns.  We took a gondola ride up to the top of a mountain, and from there toured the inside of a cave.  We weren't quite sure how Hannah & Olivia were going to handle it since inside would be dark and Hannah yelled at Chiki about Ninjas and monsters before entering, but both ended up doing really well.   After the tour of the Caverns, everyone hoped on the little carts and shot down the mountainside.

Chiki screaming like a sissy :)

Olivia even had time to spark a new romance

Hannah was trying so hard to be brave in the cave

The entry into the cave

The entire crew at the top of the cave

After the Caverns, we decided to take hike up to Hanging Lake.  The hike was a measly 1.5 miles, but with a 20 month old and a 4 year, along with snow and ice in some areas ... 1.5 miles can seem like forever.   Hannah was such a good little hiker, and walked most the way to and from all by herself.  Once we reached the top, the view was absolutely spectacular and we were all happy that we had done it.  The next time we hike to Hanging Lake, we will make sure it is later in the year and will probably opt out on taking the girls.  

Look at the pretty turquoise water

The waterfall

More of the waterfall

Once at the top ... we were all dying

Later that evening, we hung out at the hot springs.  This isn't just any hot springs.  There are 2 main pools, the largest being the size of a football field.  The temperature between the two range from 85 degrees all the way up to 104 degrees.  Needless to say, after the hike from earlier ... the water felt fabulous.  Sorry no pics.  Me in a bathing suit, all of the super hairy guys (one guy - we could have tied his chest hair to his back hair), or the making out couples ... we decided to pass on photographing this event.

Our time in Glenwood Springs was short lived but it was definitely nice to get away and spend some time with great people.  The relaxing part was nice too!!

A Sign Of The Times

My little sister Kim and brother-in-law Jeremiah, came out for a visit last week.  They have been out here numerous times, but had yet to do the tour of the U.S. Mint.   For anyone who is looking for a free, short but sweet activity to do, I highly recommend it.   Anyhow, I have done the tour many times, and at the beginning of each tour ... you are usually presented with a shiney, new quarter for your keeping.  But not this visit.   Instead, we were given the speech about how the penny is loosing them money.  A definite sign of the times 





I couldn't resist and had to throw in these pictures. My cousin's little boy Zackary sent me Flate Zackary for a school project, and we took pictures of him at the Mint. Chiki and I had too much fun taking the pictures, and all of the guards were laughing at us.

Little Bites of Heaven

My sister-in-law Cameron made us some really YUMMY cinnamon pull aparts, the last time we were in Utah.  I got the recipe from her awhile ago, and finally made them last night.  They not only made the house smell absolutely delish ... but tasted like little bites of heaven.  At least I thought so.  I ate nearly the entire batch.  Anyhow, I wanted to share the recipe with any who would like to try.

Cinnamon Pull Aparts

15 rhodes rolls

3/4 c brown sugar

1/2 c butter

1 c pecans (optional)

Cinnamon

*Coat a pan with cooking spray.  Put rolls on the pan, cover, & raise for 1/2 hour

*Cut each roll in half & place in a bundt pan (or I used 2 loaf pans since I don't have a bundt)

*Combine melted butter, brown sugar, pecans & cinnamon to taste

*Pour mixture over rolls, & cover once again to raise for another 2-4 hours

*Preheat over to 350 and back for 15 - 20 minutes.  Remove from pan when done

For a little added sweetness I drizzled powdered sugar frosting over the top

1/4 c powdered sugar - sifted

1T water

1t vanilla

ENJOY!

The Ugly Is Gone

Good News - If you read my last post, you are probably thinking that my house is completely going to pot.  I try a project, it doesn't work to my liking, I make a huge mess, and then I move on.  Well, that part is true.  The GOOD NEWS, is that my husband lent a much needed helping hand last night and the caulking is once again under wraps.   It took Chiki a few hours to clean up my disaster but all looks 100% better.  I am thankful for his help, but am a little worried that he will never let me live this one down :)

Now onto my next project.  I know I can handle this one:  decluttering

WOW ... What Was I Thinking??

Sorry, there are going to be no pictures of this one.  Ok ... since Chiki is gone most of the time and there are things around the house that are in need of getting done, I thought that I would take some of those projects on.  Task #1 - caulk.  How hard can it really be?  I ran to the Home Depot and picked up a few tubes of caulk, along with some smoothing and scraping tools that "were" supposed to make this project alot easier.  I read a few of the instructions, but figured I didn't need to read all because heck this is going to be easy.  I put the 1st tube of caulk in the gun, and start my way around the kitchen sink.  Shoot, a little more came out then I would have liked but looks alot like paint so I am sure I can make my edge and clean everything else up when done.  I moved around to another area of the sink ... shoot what the heck??  Another mess  but oh well I will just clean this up along with the other, when done.  I then moved to the front of the sink.  Some of the caulk shoots out onto the cabinets, and also into the sink.  As I am trying to wipe it off of the cabinets, I realize ... this stupid @#$$!@ stuff doesn't come off.   Needless to say, I didn't stop there.  Still thinking to myself that anyone can do this and there is a little trick to it that I just need to figure out ... I moved onto not one of the bathroom sinks, but yep both of the bathroom sinks.  I would squirt a mess out onto one of the sinks, get frustrated and go into the other bathroom.   I went back and forth for about an hour, until I realized that this was hopeless.  After two wasted tubes of caulk, 3 sinks looking like a total mess because my brilliant self decided to try and clean the goopy mess up, and many, many not so good words later ... I gave up.  As of right now, none of the projects on the to do list have gotten done and I could care less

A Little V Day Fun

Valentine's Day is always lots of fun.  Especially when you have 2 little girlies who already take a liking to the colors pink & red, and love anything placed in front of them that is heart shaped.  Since Chiki was scheduled to work the crappy night shift that weekend (10 pm to 6 am), V Day started a day early.  He surprised all of us ladies in the house, with our own bouquets of flowers.  It was the cuttest thing ... the girls didn't want to put their own down and insisted on carrying them around most of the night.  

The next day was V Day.  Since Chiki was sleeping most of it, me and the girls had lots of time to put things together.  Hannah & Olivia "heart attacked" the house with their pink, heart shaped post its (thank you very much grandpa & grandma :)), and we got heart shaped balloons - one being Hannah Montana, and the other Winnie the Poo.  As for Chiki ... he got some hot wings because I am "HOT for him."  I know, I can't help that I am so creative - haha!

Later that evening per Hannah's request, we all went on a date to Red Robbin.  We were lucky to end up there because Hannah really wanted Chuckee Cheese.  Our good friends Matt & Nicole joined us.  It was funny because after we had all sat down in our spots, I looked to the side of me and there was Chiki.  Me & Chiki never get to sit next to each other, usually having at least one of the offspring sitting between us.  Matt was a total trooper and insisted on staying where we were all at.  He would never admit it out loud, but I think he really liked sitting between the girls :) , and I just have to mention that they were the best they have ever been!

We all had a GREAT time!

OCD

OCD - The older I am getting, the worse I am getting.  That or what I used to think was normal, I am finally discovering isn't so normal afterall.  Here is just a little taste of some of the strange things I have to do:

          

      1.  I cannot eat on just one side of my mouth.  I put a piece of candy in on the right side, when done I must put another candy in on my left.  I have to eat in even portions.

     2.  I cannot leave the house without making all of the beds and cleaning up the bathrooms.  I would rather be late then leave a mess.

     3.  Everything is a race.  If Chiki is driving the other car to the same location as myself ... I must beat him there.  If I am doing cardio at the gym ... I must go at least .1 higher then the person next to me.  This can sometimes be exhausting - haha

     4.  I am constantly wiping my girlies hands with wet wipes, and putting hand sanitizer on them.  

     5. When going out to dinner, I secretly dissect my food with my eyes.  I have gotten lots better at this over the years, and Chiki didn't know that I still do this one.  

Oh heck, I must be really messed up because that is just a few.   Anyhow, now it is your turn.  I would love to hear the funny things you do, and why you do them!