Graduation!

First of all, can I just say that I have been blessed with the most wonderful, supportive family in addition to the most amazing friends a person could ever ask for?! Thanks so much to all of you who have been there for me and supported me over the years. Most of all, thanks to Darren - he is my biggest fan and supporter - truly there for me through thick and thin. I don't know what I would do without him!

It is so much harder to complete your degree when you don't go to college right out of high school, but I wouldn't have done it any other way. I am actually thankful I didn't go to college out of high school because, at the time, I thought I wanted to be an accountant. What was I thinking?!!! Everything happens for a reason, I guess!

After setting my mind to it and really working hard since 2005, I completed my degree requirements this October, and I officially walked in the graduation ceremony this past Saturday. Here are a few pictures of the graduation.










Me and Darren!


Darren, Me, and Ron (Darren's Dad)


Me and My Favorite Father-In-Law


Me and Nancy

Christmas Tree Hike!

Oh my goodness...... Christmas tree chopping turned into Christmas Tree hiking! It took us all day to get our tree cut down. We left shortly before 'noon to meet Turner and Angela, and we didn't get home until 7:30. It was an all day adventure!

We went to Arapaho National Forest near Winter Park and embarked upon quite the hike to find what we were looking for. I am going to be really sore tomorrow. Angela stayed at the base of the trail with Sydney because she was having a bit of a meltdown, so off we went without them. Turns out they were the smart ones!!

Little Cayden was such a trooper! He is a much better climber than I am. We hiked around for close to two hours before we both found trees to chop down. We finally found a couple though! Afterwards, we stopped in Winter Park, where Turner and Angela purchased another tree from a local vendor - a really pretty, full one! They will have one for their main level and one for their basement.

Then, we headed to Idaho Springs for dinner at Tommyknockers. It was so yummy, and we were starving by the time we got there. Good thing we took snacks to hold us over!

We are home now; tree is in the stand; water in it; but we will have to decorate it tomorrow cuz we are out of energy, and Darren is trying to watch all of the football games he recorded while we were gone!

It is supposed to be cold and snowy here tomorrow, so it's going to be a great day to stay inside and get the house ready for Christmas! Now, we just need egg nog!

Darren and I in front of our tree before "chopping" it down.


Ta Da!!!! All chopped down!


Cayden was having a blast!!


Our dear friends: Angela, Turner, Cayden, and Sydney


Cayden


Sydney


Views from the "hike"

We're Going Christmas Tree Chopping Today!

It's time for us to embark upon our annual Christmas Tree Chopping adventure with Turner, Angela, Cayden, and Sydney! It's tradition now, and we look forward to it each year. That means we're decorating for Christmas this weekend! Yay! It's my favorite time of the year!

We were supposed to go tomorrow, but we revised our plans and will be going today instead because it's supposed to be really cold and snowy tomorrow.

I am so thankful for this season. I love thinking about the birth of Christ and what it means. Let's all remember that as would typically get too caught up in the commercialism of the season rather than remembering why we celebrate to begin with.