Nugz!

Last weekend was totally amazing, the highlight of it all was getting to see the nuggets vs. Oklahoma thunder on Sunday night! We won 8th row tickets and were so close to the nuggets locker room entrance!!! The game was close and full of excitement, couldn't have been a better win in overtime :) Such a fun night with my man and I went home with a sore throat and hands from all the cheering !

It has been Quiet...

too quiet!  And I am sorry for that.  I try to keep our blog up to date and needless to say I have been slacking!  One thing I love about blogging is how I can share the small bits of our lives, the day-to-day, and it keeps our friends and family in our little loop!  as uneventful as we are sometimes... I am now officially setting a 2013 goal to blog more than twice a month!  yea!  

wich you would think it wouldn't be that hard considering i just bought myself a new setup!!!  I have been dreaming of buying a mac mini for about a year now and finally started a little savings plan collecting all of my extra tipouts from bartending.  It took me 6 months to work up to making this purchase but I am so so so happy to have a new computer :)  It is fast and awesome and huge and pretty.  I love it.  and am really thankful to have put so much consideration into buying it.  Honestly It felt like a real achievement to put my cash down and take this beauty home!!  

 check out my 20" HD screeeeeen!!

my savings plan: stash envelopes :)  

It has been a slow transition for me into the new year, I have literally been thinking about what I want to accomplish in 2013 for the past 2 weeks.. and want to be as specific as possible.  Mostly I am trying to realistically plan out where I want the ceramics business to grow and how I can try and make it a more full time job.  I am always splitting my time and the restaurant gets priority over my studio time.  I want that make that a reverse statement and work from home more than I do at Kenny's.  Making ceramics is my dream job and I am so ready to set higher expectations for myself!!  Get ready for a year of major productivity.  

custom steins for some of the Kenny's kitchen boys; I have so many Kenny's co-workers requesting my pots with the logo on them that I just decided to carve my own stamp!  It makes "logoing" much easier!!

and you know that reaching my goal is going to take lots of owls :)  lots.  

good thing they are just so darn cute!

The past week had the coldest week of winter so far.  It was really warm n cozy in our house which made leaving to go to work at night hard!  not to mention my commute time doubled with the snow and ice on the roads.  I did get to wear my boots and put on cute outfits with lots of layers... but I'm glad it has warmed up a little :) 

I just think our little house is the cutest :)

Jared has been back at school for a few weeks now and is into his girls basketball season.  I can't wait to watch him coach a game - he said it is very different than the boys team.  They work a lot on fundamentals and learning the rules of the game :)  They also officially broke ground on the new middle school that is supposed to be built in time for next school year!!  

not a lot of visible progress has been made but we are staying positive and thinking happy thoughts that they will be on schedule!  Jared can't wait to have his own (brand new) art room!!

and some other exciting news that is making my heart swollen: the arrival of Zach and Nicole's baby boy!  He was born 1-16-13 healthy and adorable.  Jared and I were able to go visit and meet him this morning at the hospital.  

 Oliver Zane

he has stolen my heart <3 p="p">

I am really excited to have one shift left this week before a fun-filled weekend!  I am super excited to be going to arvada to celebrate Lynn's birthday, tour the Van Gough exhibit at the Denver Art Museum, annnnnd 

go to the Nuggets game thanks to Jared being awesome and Winning tickets!!

Fun filled.  I told you.  Can't WAIT!!  

TGIF,

almost :) 

the holidays

I have been laying low on the inter web scene and really soaking up being at home enjoying jared on his break - we had a wonderful Christmas (I was lucky to have a few days off from Kenny's) followed by another low key week where I took an entire 6 days off from the studio and just worked at the restaurant.  I needed a little separation after the many late nights and countless hours - So thankful to have been that busy and very relieved my workload has lightened.  

We were able to spend Christmas with both of the families - starting with Lynn and David in Arvada.  

 The Boys

 The Tree on Christmas Eve - magical, and I didn't get a picture of the snow outside!  it was a WHITE christmas :)

Lynn making a delicious Christmas morning breakfast - French toast and BACON!

It was a lot of fun to do this puzzle too, can't remember the last time I sat down to put one together.  we finished it while watching nuggets games and movies.  very relaxing :)

 We shared Christmas day with Shanda, Chad and the girls at grammie and poppa Miller's 

it was fun having everyone inculding the pups together to open the tree!  

 There was some afternoon playing with new toys

pretty pretty princess, one of payton's favorite board games!

Mom and Dad prepared a fabulous feast including smoked prime rib, lots of potatoes, deep fried chicken, fruit salad.... yes, i overate.  and felt fat and happy!

Jared and I also did our traditional christmas together, went out for dinner at chili's and exchanged our presents together :)

I am so thankful to be surrounded by Love, My amazing husband & dogs & family!!  I love you all so much.  And couldn't have asked for a better end to this year.  It was perfect. 

Our Turkey Day

Was shared with Jared's side of the family in South Dakota this year.  I was pretty nervous to make the trip because the dogs have never been in the car that long and Halpert has been known to get carsick... so have I hah.  Our drive couldn't have gone any smoother and everyone did so great - it was actually fun being together and spending time on the road, all 11hrs!  

 halpert considers himself a lap dog int he car lol

beesley slept most of the time - brought her favorite pillow and lots of blankies

It was great to be able to hangout with Gma and Gpa Almond, Sena & Karen and the girls, and Lynn and David!  And for me, seeing "South Dakota" was part of the fun!!  I got to see everyone's houses, the town of Parker, and put stories to real places.  SO happy we were able to make the trip and spend time together!! Oh yes, and enjoy an amazing thanksgiving feast.  Prepared by the wonderful Lynn who cooked everything the day of.  so talented :)  

Gracie, Karen, Sena, Dick, David, Jared, Ann, Me

I was absolutely smitten with Gma and Gpa Almonds house and how unique it was - custom built by Dick in the 70's and full of beautiful details.  He used to do a lot of stained glass work and has many of them hanging/built into the home, beautiful!

The boys spent time going through some of Grandpas old collections of coins and paper stubs and records - Very neat and fun to see!

 Looking up how much silver coins are worth

 (he had an FDR campaign button!)

(trying to get the player piano up and running, ran into a smokey problem :/) 

We also visited Grandpas shop that was full of treasures and more unique collections - antique tins and boxes, metal signs, oil cans, and salvaged doors and windows.  AND a 1935 hot rod truck, that he turned on and let us drive :)  

SO SWEET.  

I got to go into Souix Falls (it is only a half hour away from Parker) to see Sena & Karen's house and meet their wonderful pets - they have 2 dogs, a grand dog, and Gracie's Cat - Reenie was the sweetest golden girl I have ever met in my life!!

 Lily and her baby Buddy

The girls

Lily, Grandma, Karen, Lynn, and Sena

Our trip was amazing and It made me so happy to see everyone and spend time together, as short as our visit was.  I am so looking forward to going back for a summer vacation! I am truly blessed to be part of an amazing family, Love you all so much!

xoxo