Pumpkin Carving 1989 (give or take)

I stole this picture off of Karly Staples blog of the Orton, Adams, Staples, Harper families annual pumpkin carving party. I had to post it. T.J. is the cute little fart in the back with the light blue shirt and dark shorts. I'm not kidding when I say that I think he was the cutest kid (still is) in the world! This might be the only picture you ever see of him carving a pumpkin, so enjoy!

Fitness Challenge

Every season at my gym we do a fitness challenge. It's basically like the Biggest Loser. Every trainer has a team which we encourage healthy lifestyle changes both physically and nutritionally. Unless... you train with me, and then I will work you so hard you will want to die. Now if I have a client that just wants a couple of workouts so that eventually they can "go it alone" then I will give them a few well balanced workouts and send them on their way. But, if I have a group member that tells me that they are in this challenge to win it, then they are not getting away without a throwing up a time or two. I've only ever made two clients pass out (don't worry, I caught them both) which is never a fun situation for them especially when they wake up surrounded by a bunch of EMT's (safety first). But in my defense, if I thought I was going to pass out I would tell my trainer. I don't read minds!

For the fall challenge this year I got the best team in the whole world! They all want nothing less than nauseating workouts and we are 250 points ahead of the other 6 teams. I'm a little (a lot) competitive and I expect no less from my group. Our team name is the Blue Bunnies (a cop term, probably dirty - I dunno) .

Throughout the challenge we have fitness competitions where all of the teams get together and compete physically against each other for extra points towards the challenge and ever so important bragging rights. We always have a team "uniform" for these types of events and so I had to see how good of a sport Parks would be. Well he was awesome, not only did he wear the bunny ears and tail with pride - he also wore bunny boxers. You can't beat it! They took 2nd in the first challenge (we got robbed) and 1st in the second.

One of my team members has won 5 out of the 9 challenges and I really think this time I will have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and trainer's choice, all from my team - total sweep! Go Bunnies!

We all put on fake tatoos. I made Parks (next to me) put on on a skull with pig tails:) Priceless!

Turkey Shmurkey

So we had 2 turkeys in our teeny tiny little freezer from Thanksgivings past. We get a turkey every year and every year we clean out a spot in the freezer for the new one. Well, we've never had to actually cook turkey for a Thanksgiving dinner because we are always with family so why in the name of all that is good in this world would I ever cook one by choice, right? Well I'd had it with these stupid turkeys and told T.J. that I was going to give them to caring ministries. Well, he freaked - he loves him some turkey and insisted that we not only keep them but obviously cook them.

So this might be something totally common to most of you but being the vegetarian that I am, totally sicks me out! Not only is it bad enough the you are dealing with an entire bird but it turns out you have to molest it before you cook it. The feet are tied together with what looks like a zip tie that you have to take off so that you can go digging in the lower orifice of the bird to get the neck. Then you lovingly tie the feet back up and go into the upper orifice to get the remaining organs which happen to be in the cutest little baggie you've ever seen - gag. Seriously!?! T.J.'s aunt Sandy (thanks Sandy) offered to come over and help and luckily saw the look of horror on my face and did the molesting for me (again, thanks Sandy!). Then you have to check the skin for any remaining feathers that might still be attached to your little gobbler, pick up this entire 16 pound bird and plop it into your pan to cook.

The bird cooks, looks great, smells good. So I ask Sandy, "How do you cut this thing?" to which she ripped off a leg and said, "like that!". Let's just say - hopefully it will be awhile before I cook another turkey!

Girls Night - Race for the Cure - Broncos vs Buccs

This weekend was so much fun! It started out with a girls night on Friday. We all met for dinner and then headed back to Serita's house for more food, girl talk, games and a sleepover. It was so good to see everyone! It seemed like it had been forever since I had seen those beautiful faces.

Candice, Me, Serita, Keela, Jenn, Mel

We did this pencil thing that is supposed to tell you how many

children you will have and if they will be a boy or a girl. I had

never heard of it before but if it's right I will be having

one boy and two girls - in that order.

Serita and I walked out after changing for bed

and we both had our I love Guam shirts on.

We laughed so hard! Of course we had to take a picture.

T.J. and I stayed in Denver on Saturday night because Sunday Morning I ran the Race for a Cure with one of my favorite clients and a friend. We got to the hotel to check in and randomly kept seeing big black guys everywhere. Well T.J. went down to the sports bar to grab something to eat and saw a couple of coaches for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and ended riding the elevator up with Ronde Barber and a couple other players. When I got back from the race I rode up with a couple of them and they asked all about the race and told me to have a nice day (I guess they didn't know I would be at the game cheering against them). Nice guys, to bad they lost:)

The race was great and such a neat thing to be a part of. Denver is one of the biggest races in the country with over 65,000 participants. It is always such an emotional day. Nearly everyone is racing for someone who is either battling, has survived or lost the battle with breast cancer and it is so heart warming to see all of the signs on runners backs dedicating their run to loved ones. Pink shirts were worn by survivors and it awesome to see thousands of pink shirts throughout the crowd!

Getting ready to run the race.

We went to the Broncos game Sunday afternoon and although it was supposed to rain most of the game we only got a sprinkle. It was so freaking hot the first half that I realized I wasn't even watching the game I was totally consumed by the heat. But I love football and the games are always a blast.

Broncos intros

The fly over, of course. It's my favorite part!

The hot couple... literally!

We nearly sweat to death.

Gary Zimmerman was honored at half time for being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.

Cheerleaders dancing in the south end zone for the 3rd quarter break. It started to rain right before they danced. That made me a little jealous. It was always fun to dance in the rain.

Blast From the Past!

I acutally started crying I was laughing so hard while I was doing this. My friend Candice had this on her blog and I had to try it. I have to admit that I think T.J. can pull off just about every look. I didn't get so lucky. Enjoy...

Kinda looks like Michael Phelps here doesn't he?

Oh, the bob!
Sweet turtle neck!
Anyone have any hairspray?
This is actually pretty close to what T.J. looks like when he really needs a haricut, like right now!

Class of '84 - rock on!
This was exactly what his hair looked like in middle school!
You bet I rocked the ratted bangs - in elementary.

Business in the front, party in the back!

Total Creeper!

Have you ever heard the "Denver Thunder"?

That was a question that a Denver Fan asked me (knowing that I wasn't from Colorado) at one of my first events as a Cheerleader. I knew that she wasn't really talking about the actual thunder so I told her that I wasn't really sure and asked, "What is the Denver Thunder"? She told me that it was the constant roar at Invesco Field on gameday. Yesterday I experienced the "Denver Thunder" for the first time as a fan, it was awesome!
I really thought that I would show up and see all of my girls on the field, have a minor breakdown and eventually be restrained for trying to jump on to the field to join in. But, T.J. got lucky. No breakdown, no attempt to jump the railing and not even one little tear. It is a totally different experience being in the stands with all of the die hard fans and I loved every minute of it. I didn't think that it would be easy to move on from something that I have loved so much for 6 years but it's so comforting to know that I made the right decision to hang up the old dancing shoes, or cowboy boots - whatever!

Yep, this is the best I could get of T.J. and I. He loves pictures!

Broncos intros. "Bring 'em out, bring 'em out, bring 'em out"!

My favorite part, the National Anthem. Before the game they had us stand and say the Pledge of Allegience, I love all things patriotic! T.J. looked at me and said "what would Obama do?". I had to laugh!

They had a B-2 fly over. It's cool to think that I've been in one and might have known those pilots!

My girlies doin' their thing. You guys looked awesome!

Memories...

This is a great idea!
1. As you comment on my blog, leave one (or 2 or 3 or 10) memories that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember.
2. Next, repost these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty fun to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you are playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave a memory about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you do not have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments. Have fun!!

My Babies

Okay, so if you know me, you know that I'm a total animal lover! The kind of person that is sad to see a dead little prairie dog on the side of the street - even if he was too stupid to move before the car ran him over. The person that cries when animals get killed in movies - kill all the people you want but leave the animals alone! T.J. actually had to pause 8 degrees because I couldn't pull it together after the old dog couldn't break through his leash to get away with the other dogs! Yes, pathetic but that's who I am. I especially love dogs so of course I would have some of my own and they are hands down (I am willing to go down throwing punches if you disagree with me) the best dogs (kids) in the whole entire world! And... if you don't like dogs, we probably can't be friends - fair warning.
I got Biggie while I was still in college. She is my little princess! I got Harley as a "moving away from all family and friends to go live in Fort Morgan (where?) Colorado" present. He has one floppy ear and as soon as I saw his picture on the Internet it was love at first sight - no going back. He will always be my best Internet purchase! They get presents for just about every major holiday but not just from me, but from the "grandparents" as well. Yeah, their spoiled but until we have babies and maybe even after that, that's how it will stay!

Of course, they both want the same toy at the same time.

"Now what do we do"?

So much for making the bed!

Whitney, does this "dog blanket" look familiar?

I call this - Biggie's mugshot. Doesn't she look guilty of something?

I tried to get some pictures of the dogs for Christmas cards a couple of years ago so I wanted to put them in Christmas gear (I'm really not the type to dress up my dogs but I thought it would make for a festive picture). Didn't work. Harley thought that he was being punished every time I put anything on his head and would go straight to his room. I caught this shot right before he made a run for it.

Biggie acted totally bored the entire time and was all but excited about the "photo shoot". Needless to say, they didn't end up in their costumes.

Powell

Last week we went to Lake Powell for what might be the last time for the season... tear! I could say it again and again... I love that place! And we got a new addition to our lake toys, a kayak! Takael and I have wanted one for awhile and so Rick surprised us with one this trip. So fun! We were especially lazy this trip but got all the fun and sun that anyone could want! Then on Monday and Tuesday, T.J. had meetings in Vegas so I got to hang out with my family. I even got to see Michelle, who I haven't seen since before we moved. It was so good to see her and her cute little boys even if it was for only a couple of hours. Melanie, we thought about coming to see you but we didn't have much time. I wish we could have but sometimes it's the thought that counts, right? My mom and I played Rummikub until her eyes started to look blood shot and then called it a night. She won pretty much every game, so I'm demanding a rematch, I just don't know when. My dad and I went for a hike Tuesday morning for about 3 hours, got lost a couple of times and brought home enough sand in our shoes that we could have nearly created our own little sand box. Then we went to Vegas and ate at the Claim Jumper where he physically ate himself sick, although I have to admit it was my fault since I made us get appetizers and desserts, sorry dad! What can I say, it was a great trip to close out the summer with!

...In what? Competitive eating?

So if you are like most of the world, you are absolutely glued to the T.V. watching the Olympics, I am definitely no exception. These Olympians are absolutely incredible. I cry during just about every event because these people are just so inspiring! So I was watching an interview from one of our female triathloners (I know that's not a word but you get it right?) and she was saying that she competed in her first triathlon just 4 years ago and now she is competing in the Olympics! Seriously... crazy right? So I said to T.J. "I want to be an Olympian" knowing that this was a ridiculous comment but thinking of how cool it would be to compete for your country and inspire so many people, etc, etc,etc. His reply was, "In what? Competitive eating?" Don't feel bad, if all went as planned, he still has a bruise on his arm. Now, it's no secret, this girl can eat but I just don't need to be harassed about it! So sadly to say, I won't ever be an Olympian but I will always watch with complete respect and admiration for all of these athletes and I'll definitely be sad when the games are all over. Good thing football starts soon (pre-season doesn't count, it sucks!) and even better... it's fantasy football time people! Waaaa Whoooo!