Sushi Boat!!!

Sushi tonight with Andy and Trevor, fresh out from the flat lands of IL. This is our boat! We thought 12 rolls was going to be too many.... we had room to spare.... enough to stop for frozen yogurt on the way home! Delicious!

Wal-Mart

I had to pick up some odds and ends today at Wal-Mart.  When I walked in, I thought I was in heaven.  Not the typical response you expect someone to give when they walk in to Wal-Mart.  So why the reaction from me?  It's back-to-school time.  I love, love, love to walk through the aisles of back-to-school supplies.  I love to consider all the neat ways to organize your school supplies, no matter the grade level.  Although I must admit, the college dorm supplies are my absolute favorite.  You can organize and coordinate every single item you would need for your dorm.  I love considering all the possible combinations.  I get some kind of sick enjoyment in new school supplies, arranging them and making them nice and neat.   

I also find it incredibly hilarious that no matter how neat and pretty things looks at the beginning of the year, give it two weeks (tops) and the backpack/folder/pencil case/dorm room are a complete and utter mess. 

So fast!

 Amazing how quickly things happen! I still am struggling to understand what happened with my crash... I was in the best shape of my life, and w/in a matter of seconds was no longer even able to ride a bike for a month and a half (for the risk of falling and hitting my face,) and when I am able may be a little scared... It still scares me quite a bit to look at my helmet!

 I went from fit and fast to bedridden and inactive for more than a month. Definitely learned to not take anything for granted! So appreciative of my wife for nursing me back to health!

I started running this weekend, and it feels good to be doing something again! Got to get ready for the Devil's Dash 5k in just over a month. Goal is to break 20 minutes!

Summer food

Today after church we ran some errands then came home to settle in and watch the Olympics. Lunch consisted of some awesome summer food to go along with summer Olympics :)

First picture: marinated, grilled tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and basil from our garden

Second picture: grilled peaches with a balsamic reduction and topped with bleu cheese

2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies Party

I have always enjoyed the Olympics, but I enjoy the summer Olympics more than the winter Olympics because I feel I can actually participate in most of the summer events.  Nick and I enjoy diving (pun intended) in to the Olympics and the interesting stories behind the athletes.  This year we've been hearing a lot about Missy Franklin (a 17-year-old swimmer from Aurora, CO) and have been following Kelci Bryant (one of my former students who is competing as a synchronized diver) as well as Sam Schultz (a professional mountain biker that Nick's dad and brother traveled to London to see compete).  Nick and I were both pretty excited as the start of the Olympics approached and decided it would be fun to host a party to watch the opening ceremonies.  Although the ceremony lasted 4 hours or so (?), we enjoyed the different story lines that were part of the ceremony - from the intensity of the Industrial Revolution to the fun music through the times.  Here are some shots from the night:

USA treats - red raspberry cheesecake and white chocolate-dipped strawberries

chris helping carter play with sadie

dinner shot #1

dinner shot #2

cayle and kennedie playing

jesslyn and little miss lindy leighn

     

4 years

Note:  This is a re-do...somehow the original post was lost :(

Four long years ago, Nick and I moved to Eagle County.  Some new colleagues heard we were in town and invited us over to watch the Opening Ceremonies to the 2008 Olympics because the host's step-son was participating in the steeplechase event at the Olympics.  I remember dinner that night was a nacho buffet, and I had brought buffalo chicken dip.  We met lots of new people that night who were so welcoming and fun.  It took a lot of stress off Nick and I to be able to meet our new coworkers before we actually had to report to school. 

Last night Nick and I hosted a party to cheer on the USA as the 2012 Olympics get underway.  I was able to use all of the red, white, and blue items I had purchased for the never-to-be 4th of July party :)  We had a great time with friends - hearing summer activity stories, catching up, and making new memories.  (More on last night's party here!) 

Before the party, both Nick and I had commented on where we were at the start of the last Olympics.  It's amazing the changes that can take place in 4 years!  Since the last Olympics we have settled in to a house, have had 2 amazing and beautiful kids, made many friends who are like family, and have grown together as a couple.  What a great four years it has been!

Where will we be the next time the summer Olympics get started??? 

Some firsts...

I've noticed a few "firsts" that popped up here recently...

cayle's first train ride.  grandma took him on the train at the denver zoo.  cayle cried until the train started, and then held on to grandma for dear life during the ride. 

cayle's first train ride on the steam engine.  3.5 hours long and he loved it.  we had an awesome window seat and he found as many animals as he could and pointed out water about every 2.7 seconds.

lindy's first camping trip.  down by durango, which is where cayle's first camping trip occurred.  she did awesome and seemed to enjoy her time in the tent!  she hung in there and put up with fishing, scenic drives, feeding ducks, cayle's bike rides, and more :)

cayle's first time fishing.  he stuck with it much longer than i expected.  he practiced reeling his line in...many, many times.  we didn't catch any fish, but he had lots of fun!

cayle's first time to eat tacos.  for dinner one night while camping, we had tacos.  nick and i were surprised when cayle didn't know how to hold or eat a taco - is anyone teaching this kid anything important??? how is it he is over two years old and never had a taco??? needless to say, it was a mess and we will have to do more work on taco-eating skills...