Day Trippin'

Saturday was a beautiful Colorado day and the perfect weather for a day trip! We headed up for a quick detour of the Georgetown house and as we were driving up the Guenella Pass there were hints of Fall Colors already!

 This picture should be called LOOK! We are on a rock! LOL! And ya those are two kayaking strangers photobombing us!

 On the drive to Georgetown I always pass Idaho Springs and I see the Argo Mine off in the distance and this was the day that we finally stopped!!!

 This mine stopped working over 100 years ago and JUST this past May was open to the public for tours! You didn't spend much time in the tunnels since most of them are flooded out but this mine still has the mill, it was incredible.

 There are rumors this is haunted and everything is JUST as it was 100 years ago so you can literally feel the past, the energy and imagine the stories these walls have seen!

We had such a fun day, busy yet somehow relaxing at the same time! The only bad thing about this weekend was after we got home from Idaho Springs I got really car sick which brought on a HUGE migraine which lasted thru Monday!

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

You all know that I LOVE animals but I have a hard time going to Zoo's. 4 years ago Mom and I went to the Denver Zoo and we left so upset that I haven't been back to any zoo since. I have always read about the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, one of 2 Zoo's in the US actually in the mountains and this is also the #5 Zoo in the country. I did research, read about their enrichment programs for the animals and conservation efforts and we all decided to give it a whirl!

 I am SO glad we did, this was the BEST Zoo experience I have ever had! And not just because we were able to get so close but because the animals all seemed so happy, their enclosures were amazing and every single day each animal has wonderful enriching things to keep them occupied.

 And oh ya, this happened........ We got to feed and love on Giraffes. We arrived right when the Zoo opened so there were over 16 Giraffes ready for breakfast! PLUS a baby Giraffe which was SO cute! And I thought their tongues would be slimy but they aren't! LOL

 We watched the Elephant yoga, which helps them loosen their joints and then we got to feed a 45 year old Elephant! She was so sweet, I was just sad it went by too fast.

 I haven't been this close to an elephant before and it was incredible, animals are so amazing. But no I couldn't pet or hug her that was against the rules and I get that!

 This is a a smile that conveys my pure joy!

 The Zoo is in Colorado Springs and overlooks the Broadmoor down below, it was just stunning!

 We were so lucky right when we walked up to the Tiger exhibit she was in full play mode! She was jumping, attacking her ball and swimming all around. It was the best.

 You guys check this little guy out..... this is a porcupine asleep on a branch with it's little tongue out. I swear it was so cute. Also a lot of animals are able to roam free, different birds, wallabies and these guys, sloths.... so neat

 Heck ya I snuggled a goat! Dad caught me telling it how sweet it is while giving it so much love.

 They had this fun restaurant in the Zoo that overlooked all of Colorado Springs and it was nice to relax for a bit before heading on. We thought we would be at the Zoo for 2 hours or so but we loved it so much we spent over 5 hours at the zoo!

 Ya, so this happened.... Mom and I rode the Carousel! It was actually MUCH faster than we thought it would be! LOL

 The Zoo also had a Ski lift that takes you over all the enclosures so the 3 of us jumped on. It was so fun.

 And of course before we left we had to go feed the giraffes one more time, it was just the neatest experience

 We had a great day, the only down side was navigating the 1000s of strollers everywhere! LOL

10 Months

I can't believe our baby Elway is almost 10 months, he thinks he is 10 months going on 10 years. LOL! Let me tell you that Elway is so full of JOY it is contagious. You can just see how happy and kind his soul is and he has been so helpful during this past few weeks without Abner. If it wasn't for Elway I am not sure how Ralph would have gotten thru, Elway and Ralph are the best of buds and he is there for Ralph and gives him someone to play with. It really has brought out the puppy in our Ralph. Same with us, Elway and his joy have helped Matt and I... you can't be sad when you see this face. 

 Yes, this baby is spoiled rotten but we love it! His love tank is never full, he needs constant kisses, cuddles and play play time!

 Elway even traveled with me to the Georgetown house to meet his grandparents a few months ago and he ran around like a little boss. He even saw some deer and thought he might like to go after them! This silly little boy.

 When my Mom, Oma and sister were here 3 weeks ago they all fought over Elway. I think that must be what it is like when you have kids, the joy you get from seeing your family love on your children is so amazing. Really watching my family love on my babies makes my heart sing. Elway had a very special place in his heart for my Oma, she wrapped him up and snuggled him at night.

We 100% did the right thing brining in Elway knowing that sometime Abner would leave us and Ralph would need a companion. This little guy has been our glue lately and we all love him so very much!

My Best of 2016

I think a lot of people besides me had a rough 2016 but I think it is important that we look back on the good of year as well. So that is what I did and of course it was such a wonderful walk down this years memory lane. I am excited to share with you all today and of course I probably missed things but for me these were the highlights! (In NO order)

* Concerts GALORE!

My #1 concert this year and a top 5 of ALL time was AC/DC which was one of the BEST gifts Matt has ever given me! No joke this night was epic!

We also got to see Styx and Boston with Matt's family, Foreigner with my parents, Hall and Oats at Red Rocks, Journey, The Doobie Brothers and each concert was so much fun! I was a lucky girl this Summer as far as live music goes!

* My Baby Sisters wedding!
This picture below captures such a fun night with my family and I will literally always cherish this one!

 The day went off beautifully just like my sister was and being able to help out and put her at ease for her big day meant the world to me!

* Our 2 Trips over the Summer and Fall thanks to Farmers Insurance!

Boston and the East Coast has been a dream of mine so to get to spend time there was so much fun!

 And the fact that Farmers Insurance shut down the stadium before the game, made everything FREE to us and we got to watch batting practice..... I mean that was a dream come true!

 And my husband qualifying for Farmers Insurance Championship which means he is in the Top 1% of the company, so proud and happy for him and us!

 Getting to then spend a week in Savannah and Charleston was the best week and we both agree that we enjoyed this week better than Boston (how is that possible). Getting to stay at The Zero George in Charleston which is one of the best hotels in the world, I was so spoiled!

* Realtor

Finishing up Real Estate school and passing my exams to become a licensed Realtor, I am proud of myself! I am excited to see what happens in the New Year. 

 * Elway Austin Savage
Of course this blessing has been SO MUCH WORK but adding a new member to the family is a big step and I know he will fit in eventually! (lol)

And we may be biased as we are with all our fur-children but Elway happens to be the cutest pup around!

* Family

Having Matt's family here in June for the Boston concert and a Rockies game, then my parents for a Broncos game is always so fun! Sharing our state with our family is always a highlight!

Memories are fun even when they only happened this year! I hope next year is full of the EXACT same!!!!!!

Easy E

I can't believe that Elway Austin has been with us for about 6 weeks and what I also can't believe is that Elway has literally doubled in size! I mean he is still a very small fry but now he is a slightly larger fry!

 Elway is super bossy, has no fear, pees on everything, loves running, loves eating and loves his Mommy and Daddy! In fact this week I took Elway to visit Daddy at the office and he settled right in! He loves chasing his sister Bella and my boy Abner still completely ignores him. BUT the heavens opened for a Christmas miracle, Ralph decided this week that he no longer wants to murder Elway and they run...... chase each other.... lick each other and play like crazy. Yes, Ralph still gets annoyed and the play has to be supervised but good gosh I thought it would NEVER happen.

Things are still crazy, my life is running non-stop and he is a TON of work and boy OH boy can he scream! LOL!

Merry & Bright

If you didn't get a Christmas card from us... no, we didn't forget you we just didn't do them. Well I did make them but this year I only got 12 to put on my families Christmas presents! But I did want to share with you all the card, it turned out so lovely! Last year we featured our boy Oscar on front and this year it was all about our little old man Abner!

 Of course we couldn't leave out the rest of our fur-children and I left the bottom half blank so I would write personal messages!

 Thanks to my Dad for taking both the pictures on the front and this one on the back!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from my family to yours.