Colorado Skiing

My Sister and her family drove up from warm Texas to Snowy Colorado to ski. Cassidy and I had the privilege to go with them. We got up at 5am and drove up to Golden, CO. We had to sign them up for their ski lessons at 8:30am. All the younger kids took ski lessons (Cooper, McKay, Hunter), even Cassidy and Jackson for their very first time. My brother-in-law Jeff and nephew Austin took on the black diamond runs on their own, while my sister Maria and I watched everyone from behind the camera lens. It was so much fun to watch the excitement in everyone's faces.

We really enjoyed watching Cassidy and Jackson explore the world of skiing. We were amazed with both of them and their natural ability to pick it up so fast. They looked so cute with all their gear on and Cassidy didn't have goggles so she was using her daddy's. They were so big on her they covered her entire face. But they worked.

It was neat that they had a conveyor to carry the little ones back up the hill. Sometimes Cassidy would wiggle her arms and hips to move around since she's our "Squirmy Worm"and had to learn to enjoy the ride up. Jackson made us laugh when he almost did the splits on the conveyor and they had to stop it twice. I will never forget this experience. I also look forward to bringing Cassidy back for more ski lessons.

That night we went to dinner at Chuck E. Cheese and then we said our good-nights. Cassidy and I stayed at a hotel for the night while my sister and her family stayed at the RV park nearby. Cassidy was thrilled to stay in a hotel. After a nice warm shower, dressing into our comfy pj's, each of us hopped in our own beds. Cassidy with a huge smile on her face looked over at me while sitting on her own bed and said, "Mom! We're neighbors!" It made me laugh. At one point she came over to my bed to cuddle with me and then jumped back in her bed to fall asleep. It was bliss.

The next morning we headed home. My sister was going to be staying with us for the next couple of days for some more fun! To be continued...

Colorado Sunrise

Eldora Ski Resort

Waiting to gear up for skiing

Look at those "little" skiis, aren't they cute?

Jackson & Cassidy taking a break from standing in line, while waiting for their skis. Too cute! Tired already!

My sister Maria and nephew Cooper

And the lessons begin...first with one ski
Jackson & Cassidy

Keep practicing

Cassidy getting off the Conveyor

Jackson had lots of fun falling down on purpose

Both Jackson and Cassidy passed their class and next time they'll be ready for their next challenge.

Cassidy with her Ski Instructor Amon

My camera buddy



Uncle Jeff & Austin (Ski Pros)

Yeah! You two did it!

Cousins who LOVED skiing
(Hunter, Cooper, McKay, Jackson, Austin, & Cassidy)

Videos of skiing moments

Getting Ready...



The beginning...learning on one ski



Cassidy skiing down the hill, you go girl!

Cassidy's T-Shirt

So Derek found an idea online to print on a T-shirt for Cassidy. I loved the idea! So to work we went. It's nice to have this family business for many reasons. The T-shirt reads as follows: "Have you Hugged Your Cassidy Today?"

Watching Daddy print her shirt

In the Conveyor Dryer it goes

Cassidy's favorite color: Pink

Cassidy was excited to wear her own T-shirt, designed with Love

Cassidy has a pink and yellow shirt with the same design...We had so much fun...Mommy had to have one too

Music for the Heart

To celebrate Valentine's, Derek took me to Johnny Carino's (Italian restaurant) for dinner and then to the Pikes Peak Center to listen to beautiful music performed by the Philharmonic , which is the local symphony. We both love to hear the sounds of the instruments LIVE!

The theme for the evening was "Hollywood Love Story". This included 13 song choices from different Hollywood movies. The music was so powerful it brought me to tears. The song selections were amazing! They even played "The Meadow" from the movie Twilight. My favorite two songs were the suite from the movie: Titanic, and the music from Romeo and Juliet. Of course we both really enjoyed the selections from West Side Story too. It was a romantic evening with just my honey!

The program

The Symphony getting ready

My Valentine

Magic #5

Our little angel turned FIVE on February 6th! We celebrated all weekend!

On Saturday we took Cassidy to IT'Z (a fun place with a pizza buffet and games) and had a good time watching a Tinkerbell movie in the Theater room while we ate our food. Then we adventured out and played games. It was so fun to play air hockey together.




Video of Cassidy and Daddy playing air hockey!



Then that evening I helped Cassidy get ready for her date. Her daddy took her to the "Daddy Daughter Dance" at the YMCA. They dressed up and Cassidy's eyes sparkled. I of course stayed home and had the chance to make Cassidy's birthday cake as they danced the night away. When the dance was over Derek called me and said to get ready because he and Cassidy were going to come pick me up for all of us to go out to Dairy Queen for ice cream. I had the chance to hear all about their date. Some of their favorites: the chicken dance, and the hokey pokey,...

We got home and it was time for the birthday girl to go to sleep. After Cassidy fell asleep Derek decorated her bedroom door with a painted sign that read: "Happy Birthday Cassidy!" and hung up balloons and ribbon. She was so surprised to find the door decor that next morning. It sure brought a smile to her face!


We got ready for church and Cassidy was asked to give her 2nd Primary talk at church. Her topic was...Heavenly Father has a plan for me. She made her parents proud. I love hearing her voice over the microphone. It's so sweet! The primary children sang Happy Birthday to her. Isabel (one of our babysitters) gave Cassidy a rice krispie treat and a rainbow necklace for her special day. When we got home we had Beef Stroganoff for dinner (one of Cassidy's favorites). We invited our extended family over for cake and ice cream. We had Uncle Bob, Auntie Marge, Aunt Barb, Aunt Erin, and cousins Lydia and Damien to celebrate with.

I found this Rainbow cake on the internet with 8 colored cake layers. Although I decided 7 cake layers was enough. Cassidy was SUPER EXCITED!! I loved making this cake for my little girl! I'm so glad I was able to pull it off.

Making a birthday wish...later she told us she wished for a baby brother or sister. Melted my heart!

Then she opened her presents...all she asked for was mini oreos and to go to IT'Z. But she ended up with so much more. She was introduced to Zuu Zuu pets. She loves her hamster, Kingston! She was also surprised with birthday phone calls, a package from Grammy, and cards in the mail from family and friends. I know she definitely felt loved. Thank you!!!!

Cousin Lydia

Auntie Marge

Uncle Bob

Auntie Marge, Aunt Barb, Aunt Erin, cousins Lydia & Damien

The next day I took cupcakes to preschool for her friends and she got to be sung to again. See what I mean about celebrating ALL Weekend! :)

WE SURE ADORE THIS FIVE YEAR OLD!!!!!

Handsome Hunk

I want to dedicate this post to my Handsome Hunk!

(Humors me when I ask him to pose for a picture :) )

Just a few reasons why I adore my husband!

1. I love when he takes me to the Temple
2. Says goodbye after our lunch date because he has to get back to work, but then turns around and makes his way back to us so he can spend more time with his girls even though he shouldn't
3. Offers guidance and advice
   
4. Explains in terms so I can understand. I love his Analogies!
5. A hard worker
6. A man true of his word
7. Very committed to me through hard times and very hard times
8. Adores his little girl and wants to make her smile
9. Gets younger every year
10. Sets goals and accomplishes them
    
11. Loves to play around and not worry about making a fool of himself
12. Still asks me to dance whether we're in the kitchen or living room
13. Takes out the trash
14. Interested in my needs and wants
15. Loves to be intimately connected :)
    
16. He brings out his sensitive side and blames it on allergies
17. Tries to find new ways to spend more time together, for example, starting a family business to have daddy home more
    
18. Always learning new things
19. Remembers all the important things with his amazing memory
20. He's my Best Friend
    

And the list goes on and on....

Random Picture

The other night I went into Cassidy's room to go check on her after we said goodnight. This is what I found. Where's Cassidy? She was under her comforter completely but it was so funny to see her doll placed so perfectly on her bed as if she was laying there staring up at me. I had to take a picture and had to show Cassidy the picture in the morning.

St. Jude's Fundraiser

First of all, thank you to all of you who graciously made a donation to St. Jude's. As a family we enjoyed participating in such an event to help raise money for children fighting cancer. We were able to raise $405 in just two days!

Next year, we will be ready to start sooner and reach a higher goal. The event took place in the Chapel Hills Mall. The walk came to 8 laps around the entire mall. Cassidy did pretty well. She walked and ran 4 laps out of the 8. The other laps she was content to be in her daddy's arms or in the stroller. There was a lot of people. It's so great to get involved and to do something so meaningful as a family.

Cassidy taking a break

Picture with the Water Girls. Always so eager to give us a cup of cold, refreshing, water when we needed it most.

We made it to the finish line wearing our new St. Jude's T-shirts

My 1st CTR Ring

On the first Sunday of January after church was over Cassidy came running to me and showed me her new prized possession...her very own CTR ring! CTR stands for "Choose the Right." And now she is no longer my little Sunbeam in the Sunbeam Sunday school class but now a CTR 5! She is growing too fast. She is so excited, especially since she always asks me to wear mine. And now she has her own. She's also excited that she and I now have matching CTR rings. What a cutie!