Methinks it may be nigh time for a blog update....

I vow to try my hardest to write a monthly blog update, starting now.

Early New Year's resolution?  Hmmm... 

 ITALY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The skyline of Florence, including the third largest cathedral in the world

Looking up the Arno River

Standing on Ponte Vecchio, the oldest remaining bridge in Florence

A view of the Tuscan countryside

Our first "real" pizza; nothing else will ever live up to this.

Romantic dinner at the Tuscan castle and vineyard

The Colosseum in Rome

Inside the Colosseum

Monument to all the Christian martyrs who fell inside the Colosseum

The Roman Forum, where Julius Caesar and Paul walked.

Ruins of the Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum

The Pantheon

Inside the Pantheon

Having lunch outside Vatican City

The expansive dome of St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica, the largest cathedral in the world

And there are more here, with captions, if you are the "slide-show" type.  

We had an amazing, culture-filled, gluttonous, romantic, rejuvenating vacation in Italy - and we feel so blessed to have been able to take this trip.  This kind of thing never would have been possible for us if it weren't for Bill and his relentless hard work for an amazing company.

I bagged my first Fourteeners this summer!  The hike up Gray's and Torrey's Peaks was slippery, but fun!  And the company on the way to the top was excellent.  :)

Jen, me, Chris, and Adam at the summit of Torrey's Peak

Oh, Oktoberfest.  How we love thee, and your beer, and your brats, and your.... silly hats?

Uncle Dave, me, Bill, and beer

Bill enjoying his bratwurst

Chris is forced to wear a silly German hat, and looks thrilled about it.

We actually made it up to the mountains during the height of the Aspen color-changing season this year, and it was definitely worth the drive.  The Aspen is quickly becoming one of my favorite trees!

Bill's sister Angie visited us just before Thanksgiving.  Her short trip here included Rocky Mountain National Park, Ikea, The Wine and Cheese, a really crappy pizza, and a night on the town at Sing Sing in Denver (a dueling piano bar).  We love it when we have visitors!

Angie at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park

Angie and I at Sing Sing

Of course, no blog of ours would be complete without some furry kid pictures, right?  They are up to their usual shenanigans.  

A family picture is a rare occurrence!

Sleepy Goose

Sleepy Bean

Goose in a basket

Bean tormenting Goose in a basket

My mom came to visit last weekend!  Even though we won't have any visitors at Christmas this year, it was so nice to see my mom right before the holiday.  We have started acclimating her to the Colorado weather by forcing her to walk around outside, at night, in 25 degree weather, just to see pretty twinkle lights.  :)

Mom and our Christmas tree

Mom and I at the Blossoms of Light display at Denver Botanical Gardens

Pretty twinkle lights

And now we are in the thick of it - the Christmas season, that is.  Baking, shopping, wrapping, shipping, decorations, parties, gift-giving and receiving, counting blessings, treasuring family and friends.  We wish you the most heartfelt Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year!

It's a drive-by update!

Okay, so I need to cover almost three months' worth of life in a short enough span of time that you won't get bored and close this window.  I know several of you have been going through BlizBlitz withdrawal, and I apologize for sending you into a frenzy of shakes and moodiness.  Here is your fix... enjoy it, and I promise I will do my best not to withhold the blog for so long again.  :)

Flashback #1 - The Soldier Returns

Reunited with Steven after his one year of service with the Army in Afghanistan

 Flashback #2 - Dinosaurs, Bubbles, and Lots of Flowers

On Easter at Unca Dave and Aunt Ally's we made Dinosaur eggs; then we pretended that the T-Rex eggs were stalking the grass-eaters.  Because it was a holy day, the T-Rexes did not attack or shed any yolk.

Happy, oblivious grass-eaters.  Little did they know that later they would become egg salad for our lunches.

Bill really enjoys bubbles.

We spent a gorgeous Sunday picnicking at the Denver Botanical Gardens.

So many gorgeous flowers; too many to include here.

Flashback #3 - Bolder Boulder 10K

I was joined on my third year running the Bolder Boulder by my always encouraging Pace-Nazi cousin, Chris.  We had a great time!  We are planning on running another 10K in September.

Flashback #4 - Hiking, Jail, Hooray for EJ, and a Vintage Night Out

Hiking season is upon us!  Bill and I at Windy Point in Golden Gate State Park.

On our hike in Golden Gate Canyon, we saw the evidence of the wildlife circle-of-life: a deer carcass and hide, recently dinner for some large carnivore. 

The Edward Jones Summer Regional meeting was at Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs.  It was a lovely weekend of relaxation and time together for us.  Bill brought home TWO awards of recognition for his hard work this year!

We visited the tourist-trap known as Royal Gorge Bridge and Park in Canon City...

...and Bill ended up in jail.

Dora and I bagged South Boulder Peak (8,594ft) after completing one of the most strenuous hikes in our history.  The summit views were worth all the pain!

Bill took me on a nostalgic day trip to Ft. Collins where we walked around Old Town, ate ice cream cones and Rasta Pasta, and took in a movie at one of the few remaining drive-in theaters.

Bill likes to make silly faces when we take pictures, instead of smiling nicely like a normal person.  He knows it will make me laugh when I look at the picture later.  :)

And here we are again, in the present day.  I'd like to take a moment to say thank you for your patience and gentle nudging while waiting for a blog update.  I went through a couple tough months after losing my job and while trying to find another one; I didn't have it in me to write a blog entry for you that wouldn't be depressing!  Our summer is usually full of fun adventures, though, and this one will be no exception.  We are looking forward to another Red Rocks concert and an exciting trip to Italy, with lots of pictures to show.  Prepare yourself for the inevitable projector slideshow (digital version), and try not to fall asleep.

For Steven

That's my brother, Steven.  He is a soldier in the Army, serving for the past year in Afghanistan.  Today, he is sitting in limbo, awaiting the plane that will bring him home to his wife Chrissy, son Augustine, daughter Adeline, and newborn son Attlas.  He has sacrificed the comforts of home, his safety, watching his children grow and learn, kisses from his wife, hugs from his family, home-cooked meals, a warm bed to sleep in, and countless other things that I take for granted on a daily basis.  He has risked his life without a second thought.  He has done this for me.  He has done this for you.  He has done this for everyone who calls themselves free. 

We have prayed for him, day after day, relentlessly asking God to protect him and bring him home safely.  We have prayed for the men at his side, for his commanders, and for the people he protects.  We have prayed for his children, that in Steven's absence, God would comfort them as a father.  We have prayed for his wife, that the Lord would be her shield and her strength.  We have been awakened in the early hours of the morning, stirred from our beds to fall on our knees and pray for Steven.  By the grace of God, Steven is returning to us. 

We are anxious to see you, brother, to see your wide grin and joyful eyes.  We long to hear your voice and your deep laugh.  We can't wait to breathe the sigh of relief when we see you walk before us, and know that you are home, for real, for good.  May God speed your return, Steven.  We love you.