vail, co

here is a six month update--there are two cranes onsite now...this is a picture of the smaller one. you can compare with the old photo here.

it is simply amazing to me.

SKI DAY!

the kids signed up for the ski days this year.  for two days they go up to vail and get lessons and ski all day.  anna was a bit nervous and mikey was sooo excited!my friend who has kids the same ages as mine (and same skiing ability--"never-evers") and i went up and spied on them.  here are some pics...






they had a blast! and i really couldn't believe how well they did...especially anna.

my answers

1. what's your favorite ice cream topping?
definitely hot fudge...thick and hot...yum. and i do like caramel as well.

2. what is your ideal time to write/blog?
usually in the morning when both kids are at school.

3. what was the most pleasant surprise about your move?
well, i think the most pleasant surprise was that i haven't gotten depressed yet. but i really enjoy being in the mountains. i am a lot more active these days--i even have gone snowshoeing! also, since there is really only about 5 places to eat here in town, i make dinner ALL the time...not always pleasant but the money savings is quite pleasant.

4. when your stay in colorado is over, where do you want to live?
NOT dubai (shawn has a crazy idea...) probably somewhere close to 90th south and 3rd west (where the office is...i am not too fond of this commute).

5. what are your tips to losing "2 sizes"?
move to a place that has only 5 joints to eat out at and thus having to cook your own meals which results in eating a lot less.

6. what is the funniest thing your dad has said or done to you?
probably the time when he mailed the hot dog to me. i was leaving to go back to school one sunday afternoon and thought i would put a hot dog on the grill for a quick snack. well, i forgot about the hot dog. when my dad (actually probably my mom) went to put some meat on the grill a few days later, he found my more that blackened hot dog on the grill and no gas in the grill. i received a tubular package in the mail and was so embarrassed.
dad also used to leave messages for my roommates...heavy breathing, nerdy voices, etc. very embarrassing to a college gal.

7. name your favorite childhood memories.
*i really loved going out on the lawn on a warm summer night with katie and annie. we would spread out our blankets (each had her own) and we would roll ourselves into them from the waist down. and we would play mermaids.

*saturday morning trips to taco bell and then albertsons with my mom and sisters. one time we saw a mouse in taco bell.

8. leno or letterman? why?
um, probably letterman? but really i haven't watched either for a while because i fall asleep so dang early because i have to get up so dang early to get the kids to school.

9. do democrats usually drink pepsi and republicans coke? why?
um, i don't think shawn is a democrat. and he drinks pepsi. but i drink coke and pepsi and i consider myself undecided...so maybe? maybe shawn is a closet democrat...but i really don't think so.

10. if you had a day to yourself, what would you do?
i would sleep in for sure then i would get a pedicure, go to a movie and eat buttered movie theater popcorn, eat at a good restaurant, watch some tv, eat some more and probably eat some more again. oreos and milk sound really good right now.

11. what is the best thing about living 500+ miles away from family? worst?
i don't feel too guilty about not going and seeing my grandmas.
worst: sunday afternoons and evenings at my mom and dad's. i really miss that a lot.

well, thanks for participating. it has been fun for me, hope it's been fun for you!

the best ideas are stolen: reader's request day

so i am copying a copy-catter. ask a question or two in the comments section and perhaps i will answer...anything you want to know. i really hope i will get questions--how embarassing if i don't-ha!

big news!

just to let you all know, baby girl huffman entered the world very early this morning! i think around 12:45 am. she was a healthy 8 pounds 6 ounces and was 20 inches long.

that's all i know for now...

can you find me in these photos?

these were taken back in december on a day that we went up the mountain to sled...it is so pretty!

as a side note: right now it is only 12 degrees (windchill factor of 4 degrees!) and it is 1:30 in the afternoon and the sun is shining brightly!

2007: year in review for me

thought i would give it a try...

1. what did you do in 2007 that you have never done before?
well, i moved. not that i have never moved before, i have moved plenty. but i moved far away from family and friends and even acquaintances. to a state where i knew not even one single person! very big.

2. did you keep your new year's resolutions and will you make more for 2008?
i can't even remember if i made resolutions last year. i kind of doubt it but even if i did, i didn't accomplish them because i don't remember them. as for 2008, i am still debating what to do or even if i want to do anything.

3. did anyone close to you give birth in 2007?
my brother and his wife had little mason.

4. did anyone close to you die in 2007?
shawn's grandpa, bill burton, died december 27th. he was 93. he lived a long and healthy life.

5. what countries did you visit this past year?

um, none. pretty boring.

6. what would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
organization--in all areas, especially with time

7. what date will remain etched upon your memory and why?
july 15th...the day we moved.

8. what was your biggest struggle this year?
moving. homesickness...still is.

9. what was your biggest achievement this year?
moving. knowing that i can do it (mostly) on my own, with my own little family. it is a bit ironic that moving was both my biggest struggle and my biggest achievement.

10. did you suffer any illness or injury in 2007?
homesickness, vertigo, punctured right lung, hangnails, rls, plummer bum, enlarged prostate (okay, not that--i don't think i really even know what a prostate is but i do know that i don't have one, at least i think i don't)

11. what was the best thing you bought this year?
wii--for the family. me, my boots--i have worn them about everyday being out here.

12. whose behavior merited celebration?
definitely shawn. he has worked so hard this last year! and i am so proud of him for all his accomplishments.

13. whose behavior disappointed you?
definitely britney spears! can't stand what she is doing...but yet, i am so fascinated!

14. where did most of you money go?
RENT! and costco.

15. what did you get really excited about this year?
my new house...really i love it.losing some lubs.shawn's new job.

16. what song will remind you of 2007?
bon jovi "welcome to wherever you are"
kt tunstall "suddenly i see"
colbie calliat "bubbly"
hsm 2 soundtrack

17. compared to this time last year are you: much happier, much nicer, or richer?
maybe a little of each-

18. what do you wish you had done more of?
reading, sewing

19. what do you wish you had done less of?
tv watching...

20. did you fall in love this year?
of course...deeper...i couldn't ask for a more perfect husband for me! i love you shawn!

21. what was your favorite tb program in 2007?
the office
so you think you can
dancedancing with the stars
24 (although we watched in on dvd...almost every single season so far...we are currently watching the last one)

22. what was the best book you read this year?
i really enjoy "a thousand splendid suns" and i reread "secret life of bees" which i also really enjoy.

23. what was your greatest musical discovery this past year?
the cd that tiff put together for me...songs for a new adventure: happiness, hope, and a little heartache...perfect mix for this year. thanks tiff!

24. what did you want and get this year?
happy, well adjusted kids from the move.

25. what was the best movie you saw this year?
"little miss sunshine"

26. what did you do on your birthday and how are did you turn?
i turned 32. and this year, my birthday was a bit hard for me. not because of the age but because we had just moved and i was a bit lonely. i didn't really know anyone to have a party with...but this year will be different.

27. what would have made your year more satisfying?
this is hard...i had a great year and well, if i had to pick something, well i would make it accident free.

28. how would you describe your personal fashion statement this year?
i dropped two sizes.

29. what kept you sane this year?
a little faith, a little prayer, a little wellbutrin and prozac, a little sleep medicine, a little fresh air and exercise and a whole lot of junk food.

30. what celebrity did you fancy the most?



he is so hot! and you should see him in action!

31. who did you miss this past year?
ALL my family and friends...especially matthew for some strange reason.

32. who were the best new people you met this year?
i have a great new quilting and exercising friend here in eagle--she has been so great to me! plus, all the wives of the other layton construction workers here in colorado. i have made some great new friends.

33. tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year:
i am a lot stronger than i give myself credit for...not physically stronger but mentally and emotionally. as hard as it was to move, i am so glad we did because i now know what i am capable of--great learning and growing experience for me.

now it is your turn!

dinner anyone?

lots of elk everywhere. these elk, probably about 100, are hanging out at the local park not too far from my house (brush creek park--remember katie, annie?). it really is amazing.





great bum shot...



by the way, i had elk tortilla soup last night. our friends who got the elk last fall invite us over for dinner every so often and usually i don't eat the elk (elk burgers, elk stroganoff, elk steaks etc). but she made two pots of this soup--one with onions and one without onions, just for me. i won't eat onions but i will eat elk. huh. who'd of thunk.

plus, it was pretty tasty--the soup without the onions of course.

and here is the nail with my pretty ribbon garland that shawn used to nail the tree to the wall.



my garland is now three feet shorter.

BUT not only did shawn nail the tree to the wall, he nailed the tree stand to the floor. i discovered this yesterday as i tried to pick up the tree stand to move it outside.





if you look in the bottom left hand of the photo, on the green round part of the stand, you can see the shiny brass head of the nail.




there were three. pounded right through the carpet and into the floor.

needless to say, my tree did not fall down again!

i know christmas is over but...

here on display is my dad's old christmas village homes from 1955. my mom sent them to me this year and i LOVE them! (hgtv would be on me about all my cords--oh well).




the stockings were hung...i can't tell you how many times my kids pulled the stockings down, along with the stocking holder.



here is my tree that we chopped down and that toppled over a couple times...one time with just the lights on and the other time, ornaments and all. but it got fixed and that story is for another time.




my nesting santas that were my very first christmas decoration--kids, especially mikey, love these santas.




and here is my house all lit up--next year i want more lights! i wanted them on the top of the house but shawn wouldn't put them up in october before all the snow...next year!