Zinnias oh Zinnias, I love you so!

My Zinnias kicked ass this year. Next year I'm doing zinnias in the front flower bed with marigolds in between....probably some more herbs in the flower boxes....on the side bed in the front, some more russian sage and sunflowers for height....on the side, definitely some hostas with lots lots lots of daffodils....do a rock/paver border around the tree with mulch inside....devastate the grass with some new seed and in the back?...hell if i know, i'll have to try new things out...oh, yes, and a few hanging pansy baskets in the front with geranium potted plants....the fall will call for an annual planting of a dozen or more tulips, dozen or so crocus, dozen or so hyacinth and of course daffodils....but, that's just off the top of my head!!

My Beloved...

There are a million and one reasons I love you. You are my family and my friend and you are committed to me. I am happy and honored to be your wife. You are, without a doubt, the most passionate and loving father on earth. My days are brighter because you are in them. You make me strong, you force me to relax and live life in a different way. For this I am eternally grateful and forever yours. You are the olive in my char. The Ch in my Chani. You are the apple of my jacker. I will love you more and more every day. xoxo

My Legacy: READING

I am so proud to be River's mommy. He is articulate and inquisitive and already has a love of reading. Reading has been an important part of my life and I can't imagine my life without books! It is one of my favorite activities to do with RW. We are currently reading 'The Mouse and the Motorcycle' by Beverly "greatest children's book author" Cleary. We read a few pages every night and RW looks at me while I'm reading, hanging on every word with anticipation and suspense.

My first experience reading with River was in-utero. Justin was reading 'One Fish, Two, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish'. When we got to the "hump of a bump of a wump" part, I got a bunch of kicks from inside as if to say "more more more".

As a 1-2 year old, River's favorite book was "Trucks". I always let him pick the book we are going to read and for awhile there, a LONG while he would pick "Trucks". Sometimes I would even hide the book because much as he loved it, I would get sick of it. I mean really I must have read "this is a truck going through a tunnel. this is the truck delivering the newspaper. this is the bread truck with bread for the store" over and over and over! I never hid the book too long, because he would actually go looking for it. With a look of "where did i put that Truck book? I know it must be here SOMEwhere!"

Now at age 3, I'll hear him talking and when I find him, often times it is sitting on the floor reading a book (see picture). It is too die for cute and makes my heart glow.

Obviously I am a woman and being the mother of a son, I am constantly learning new things about the other gender. Reading books to my son is opening up a whole new world for me. Instead of chick lit and feminine genre, I have been learning, albeit at the toddler level about more traditionally male things. Like trucks, automobiles, trains, planes, tractors etc. It's been interesting for sure. And, I'm loving every minute of it!!

Now off to perfect the PPPBBBBFFFFFF Ralph makes when operating his motorcycle. I love it!

Happy Birthday To Me!!

Yes, that's right 32 down, who knows how many left! My birthday, the greatest birthdate of the year, in my humble opinion was Monday, August 11, 2008.....summer birthdays rock...i almost feel bad for RW, having his in March....not to mention the fact that he got screwed out of a 1/2 birthday (also big in my family circle)....i got my haircut...had to work (bleh) and then went home to surprise after surprise after surprise....my new favorite restaurant is a chain!!! (Gasp, gasp)....The Bone Fish...super duper frikking good!!...and for the visuals, a visual:

Okoboji Vacation 2008

Amazing, glorious, unadulterated fun. Just a few words to describe our joyous vacation to Lake Okoboji. Or as I prefer to think of it: my lake. my lake that i let others use. Seriously, I have a connection to this lake. It brings out my inner child and makes my spirit warm and fuzzy. This is the first time that RW has been to Okoboji and seeing him see it for the first time was beautiful. Here is a picture of us:


A typical day in Okoboji: sleep in until 10....have a wonderful breakfast (gourmet french toast, biscuits/gravy, green chile smothered breakfast burritos)...go for a spin around the lake in the Whaler (a boat) with my coffee...then back for a nap....then a light lunch...then a nap...then a cocktail...then a swim....then dinner/drinks....a sunset cruise.....Here's RW modeling the fine art of napping:


I read a lot....I finished The Kite Runner (a scathing review regarding the sick and twisted excuse of an author to follow in a future blog)...i started Eat, Pray, Love...all the while enjoying this view from my perch on the deck!


Reconnecting with my handsome first husband (just a joke between us!)....and sharing my lake with him for the 3rd time.....we had a great time....nachos and beer at Braccos (overpriced and undergood)....nachos and beer at the Barefoot (nice view of what appeared to be the Swedish Bikini Team)....Ribs/Chicken dinner at the Gingham Inn, a little off the beaten path, but totally worth it.....riding the roller coaster at Arnolds Park.....swimming in Emerson Bay, swimming at Gull Point....fishing at Gull Point....catching more fish that Justin (hey, it'll probably only happen once, right, so i HAVE to brag!).....catfish fishing off the dock...sleeping in and lots of snuggling!



and let us not forget the most memorable experience of the week....the 3rd and FINAL running of the Ragan Foot Race...which resulted in me hitting the pavement...LITERALLY!!



All in all, Miss Okoboji and her magical waters have once again rejuvenated my heart and soul! I love you Okoboji!

6 hours until VACATION!!!

and i can hardly wait! Really, it feels like i'm about 10 again and the clock has slowed down. We leave tommorow at noon for our totally awesome roadtrip. My sweet hubby has already bought the beef jerky. I'll be finishing up the mandatory house cleaning this evening and tommorow morning. I found it genetic, the whole, can't go on vacation until the house is clean and the laundry is done? I don't think everyone does this, but the women in my family certainly do. CHEERS CHEERS AND MORE CHEERS AND A HAPPY DANCE THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE!! I'M OKOBOJI BOUND!!

First Hike of the Summer!

Yesterday, I hiked Rawhide Trail in White Ranch Park, just NW of Golden about 20 minutes. I went with Melanie, Ruth and her two kids. This is the perfect hike for the following: first one of the season, out of town guests, families (with some athletic ability) and those of us who love to enjoy the view!! We definitely went the right way (literally) so as the watering hole was at the middle end of the hike. The hike is about 4.5 miles long with about 1300' in elevation....not too strenuous, although I was impressed with the amount of sweat seeping through my shirt. Gross? Not to me, it's cool! The views from this hike are magnificent.. the trail goes through a canopied forrest, grassy plains and wooded areas....the smell is fresh and cleansing....there was a slight breeze and wildflowers were in full bloom. WHY DIDN'T I BRING MY CAMERA????

Friends are friends forever (if you're lucky)

We have been friends since 1987. That is 21 years. That is one hell of a very long time. It is so nice to have someone that has known you since you were 12 years old. We have been through 21 years of craziness. And by craziness, I mean the kind of craziness that is best kept between two lifelong buddies! I love my Beck. I will always love my Beck. There are just some things I know in life, that is one of them.

my list of 52 things to do before i turn 34...

1. Hike a ‘14ner
2. Go to a William Topley Concert
3. Visit susan in prison
4. Read a C. S Lewis book
5. Go to a weekend yoga retreat
6. Ski a back bowl
7. Write a letter to Jill 08/13/08: sent an email to apologize for my actions and kill negative chi.
8. Watch a Marilyn Monroe movie
9. Go to a taping of E-Town
10. Go to the Denver Museum of Art
11. Get a couples massage
12. Take a picnic to the mountains with RW and Jut
13. Send a “just because I love you” card to dad
14. Go home for harvest
15. Plan and host a dinner party for 8.
16. Read an entire book in the bible
17. Take a mental health day and not worry about work.
18. Decorate the guest bedroom.
19. Take a walk in the rain
20. Ride a rollercoaster 08/08/08: completed at Arnolds Park in Okoboji.
21. Run a 5k
22. Go for a bikeride
23. Take river to the children’s museum
24. Go camping with the family
25. Clean out closets
26. Update river’s baby book
27. Clean out the garage
28. Pay off the truck
29. Make the perfect margarita
30. Go fishing with justin 08/08/08: completed during vacation in Okoboji
31. Start a blog 08/08/08: started and making regular entries.
32. Pick a school for river to go to
33. GTG with steph and keith
34. GTG with jasmine and dave
35. Meet Malia at the park with the kids
36. Meet the girls in Kearney
37. Make a new friend
38. Send all grandparents a “just because” card
39. Go to a concert at red rocks 08/26/08: Willie Nelson with jut, Jeanne and steve!
40. Join a bookclub
41. Take River to a new park 08/21/08: Pillar of Fire park. He loved the basketball courts!
42. Play Frisbee in the park with the boys
43. Visit Tambra in Greeley
44. Go to Grizzly Rose with Sarah/Tam/Mel/Jess for girls night
45. Send a “just because” card to donna.
46. Send a “just because” card to mom.
47. Send a “just because” card to roxie.
48. Send a “just because” card to mike.
49. Send a “just because” card to the Heinrichs.
50. Go dancing with Leigh.
51. Sleep in until 10 in the morning.
52. Go to WaterWorld 08/24/08: went with RW. Definitely going againx1,000,000,0000.

Just call me Rachel Ray!

Yes, that's right. Grilled pizza, homemade, from scratch. To DIE for. Pizza dough courtesy of the Whole Foods pizza maker. Toppings included fresh basil from my herb garden, grape tomatoes, carmelized onions, shittake mushrooms and prosciutto. A delicate cilantro pesto served as the base. A side of all American caesar salad and homemade strawberry shortcake for dessert.

So typical...

I love Saturday mornings.....Seriously, life is good. Especially when you are three and your mommy makes you blueberry pannycakes and let''s you watch cartoons. And even more so, when she has a surprise, a BIG SURPRISE, for you later.....she is taking you to see Wall-E, your first real movie! Hey, any newly potty trained young man should be rewarded with robots, right?