Independence Weekend 2013

We had such a fun holiday weekend. Our awesome friends, Kehly and Jeff, flew to Denver to spend the week with us. It was so nice having them here with us and Amelia loved having people to entertain her besides her boring mom and dad.

July 3

They flew in on the 3rd, and we went straight to Civic Park which is right in the heart of downtown Denver. It was a blast. There was a huge crowd, but we actually found a good spot despite getting there 15 minutes to start time. The fireworks were lit off to the beat of the Denver symphony. 

Amelia was leading the music

July 4

On the 4th, we headed up to Nederland. Its about 30 minutes up the canyon past Boulder. It is a TINY town, but my family has a cabin up there and they have a fantastic firework show. Unfortunately the fireworks were postponed due the to the wild fires. So we went and saw the tiniest, weirdest parade we have every seen. We saw about 20 firetrucks and band that played on grills. It was very interesting.

Kehly and Jeff

The grill masters

People were coming up to us and taking pictures of this cute girl.

After Nederland we headed to Boulder. I love Boulder. It's so laid back and Pearl Street is just the cutest. We had some delicious Mexican food and Amelia seemed to enjoy it as well.

After Boulder, we headed to my friend Jessica's house in Parker. they just built a gorgeous new home and it was perfect for a BBQ. Plus, Koen and Amelia love each other.

Since fireworks were banned, they had an awesome laser show. Before the show started they had a band, bounce houses, fair festivities, and food. Can't go to a fair without getting kettlecorn.

Waiting for the lasers to start. Amelia was much more interested in people watching anyways.

July 5

The next day, we headed over to the Red Rock Amphitheater. It's beautiful, but I don't know why people rave about it if they aren't going to a concert there. It is cool, but its really small and not much to see if you aren't seeing a band. Have they been to Moab or Arches? We went to a Denver visitor center and they told us this is the number one place to go. We had been here before, but though Kehly and Jeff would like it, too. They agreed with my Moab comparison.

We also went and visited my dear friend, Buffalo Bill. I was not happy about this. I didn't think it would be fun, and I was a poor sport. But it was actually pretty cool. I mean, if we weren't right by it, I wouldn't go, but I am glad we made the stop before our next destination.

His grave site looks over the denver valley. I wish I would have gotten a picture of the view, but just know it was beautiful.

After Buffalo Bill, we went to the Colorado Mills Mall. I love this mall. REAL SHOPPING.

For those of you that live in Ithaca, you know what I mean.

We also stopped by the Denver Temple. 

July 6

Sadly, this was their last day with us.

We went downtown again, and went to the Denver Art Museum.  It was a great museum. I don't last too long in art museums, but it was pretty fun.

We walked over to 16th street, and ate at The Yard House. It was delicious.

We also stopped by Big Blue Bear

And we found the rhino that Jeff's brother helped design.

It was very fun weekend. I am so glad Kehly and Jeff came for a visit. It made the weekend. 

Temples

I love to see the temple...

Living in New York, and even Denver, I have realized how much the temples really mean to me.

When living in Utah, I definitely took the sacred visits for granted. There is a hill in Orem, just a mile away from where Anthony lived during our first 3 years of marriage, where we could go sit and we could see the Provo Temple and the Mount Timpanogos Temple at the same time. I miss that spot more than anything. We used to go to the temple every month, and now we are lucky to go once a year... MAYBE. 

We visited the Denver Temple yesterday. We couldn't go in because it was closed for cleaning, plus we had Amelia, but just being on the grounds gives a piece of heaven. Away from the day to day, away from the world. And we need that. Life can be a drag, lets be  honest. It is nice to know that we have somewhere to go to get away from it all and focus one what truly matters. 

 I am so grateful that I was sealed to Anthony. I don't know where I would be if I hadn't made the decision and the promise to myself to get married in the temple. I know I wouldn't be as happy as I am now and I truly think that it is because of the covenants and promises we have made. Being sealed is the most important thing I have ever done, and probably will continue to be throughout my life.

I saw this video on YouTube and it really made me think... It's worth the wait.

I hope you like it.

Am I still live? Yes.

Since I stopped doing Amelia's monthly update, I have been horrible to this blog. I don't want to download all of our pics on this computer because it is Anthony's school computer, so I will just wait until we get back to New York.

This blog is practically on life support.

And I'm not really resuscitating it here. 

Just a little bit of this and that.

We have been having a blast this summer. Love this area, and since we most likely won't be coming back to Denver, I am glad we could live here for a summer. There is so much to do and the climate is perfect!

We went to the Denver Botanic Gardens. 

We went to the Red Rock Amphitheater. This is where Incubus (my band, my boys) film all their live music videos. I wish they were touring this summer, but they are not.

We go to the park a lot. 

She is getting SOOO big!

And this is what happens when she is given ice cream. For Real.

OFF THE FREAKING WALL.

Didn't go to bed until 12.

Amelia and I LIVE at the pool. 

I have been asked if I have some other ethnicity in me.. No I don't.

I put sunscreen on EVERY time too. I just turn tan in 1 day.

Anthony is not so lucky. His stomach was peeling for a week after being in the sun for (no joke) 25 minutes.

So cute how she lifts her legs off the grass.

She really wishes she could float.

I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine.

Goodbye Google Reader

 I am sure many of you have heard that Google Reader will no longer be updating your blogs. This means that when the blogs you subscribe to or follow update their blogs, you will not know unless you go directly to their blog. This seems like such a hassle right?!

Well, I have been using the Bloglovin' app  on my iPhone, and I love it. I haven't found an other app that works as well. They also have a website that links with the app, so you are able to read the blogs on your computer too. With this new Google update, Bloglovin has created a super easy way to upload all of the blogs you follow onto their website. Now instead of going to your Google reader, you can just sign into Bloglovin.com and read them there.

Here is a great tutorial on how to do so.

http://heartifb.com/2013/03/15/how-to-move-your-google-reader-rss-feed-to-bloglovin/

and here is an other one

http://hubbyjacksblogattack.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-to-join-bloglovin-hjs-linkup.html

Hope this helps. I was pretty confused as to what they meant by their 'spring cleaning' and I am glad I can read blogs easily this way.

Life in Denver

Since we arrived in Denver, we have been having a blast. Our apartment in Ithaca, NY, is being rented out (so we don't have to pay double rent!) and the renters are using our furniture and other household items. Because of this, we weren't able to bring a lot of things and have been buying odds and ends since we got here.
Luckily, and randomly, I have a few really good friends that live here and we were able to borrow most of the big items. Jessica is building a new house, and bought all new furniture so we got her old couch, bed, crib.. It is AWESOME!

So far I love it here. Definitely reminds me of home.

Amelia did so good on the plane. She slept for the first flight and about 45 minutes of the second flight. She just played the rest of the time. I taught her how to listen to the ocean in a cup. She thought it was amazing.

She is finally getting long hair. She loves to brush her own hair.

Great Grandma Pat made her the cutest outfits. She also learned how to pose.

View from our balcony... looking at my home.

CAFE RIO... she likes it too!

Sticking letters to herself. 

We also got a new baby cam. We love watching her. I always thought she fell asleep right away, but that was a big fat lie. She plays, jumps, claps, and sings for 15 minutes before she decides to lay down... Adorable.

I am very excited for this summer. I love the area and I am so glad I already have friends in the area. It is great.