Merry Christmas!

We hope you have a happy and blessed Christmas and New Year!

Rudy can't wait for Christmas to be over.

He hates his antlers.

I never could get a picture of Molly.

She wouldn't hold still and her antlers kept falling off.

Tom loves decorating the house for Christmas.

Penguins have become his favorite thing.

The big one scares the dogs.

These are our new additions for this year.

It is a very busy holiday season at our house. We have company coming from all directions. We expect 12 on Christmas Day and 2 more after Christmas through the New Year.

(we miss Michaela... have fun in Texas!)

Here's to a great 2010!

Molly's Apology

My name is Molly and I can be a very bad dog when I get bored.

This is what I did yesterday.

I thought, "I have some time on my hands. I could just chew on this cable for a while."

Oh my Mom was so mad.

I guess it was a big deal.

I just wanted to say...

I'm sorry Mom!

I'm Grateful for Boobs and Pancakes

Everyday I'm grateful for the life I live and for everything Heavenly Father has blessed me with... my health, my family, my husband and children, etc.

Today our city stops everything for a few hours to collectively acknowledge those that are surviving breast cancer and those that have lost their lives to this disease.

Tom's mother died of breast cancer when he was 5. She was 44. In 2000, we lost my cousin Donna to breast cancer at the age of 39. And in 2006, I was diagnosed at 38 - just 9 months after Tom and I were married. When I was diagnosed he told me, "This disease destroys families. It's time to change our family history. Let's fight this thing!"

Today I am cancer free and so grateful for my nurse angel Genie, who convinced me to go have my mammogram before I was 40, and for my husband who battled everyday with me while I was treated. It's been 2 years and 11 months.

On every Race for the Cure day since I was diagnosed, we get up, put on our race day t-shirts and go have pancakes. I'm not sure how it started, but this is what we do and I'm grateful. I'm grateful to have a husband to share pancakes with and I'm grateful to be 41 years old and still able to eat pancakes.

I'M SO GRATEFUL!

Nothing Bundt Fabulous!

On September 18th, my baby sister turned 40. So to celebrate they had a BBQ with friends and family, and I was in charge of the cake.

I found a bakery that has some of the best cake I've ever tasted in my life. The bakery is called Nothing Bundt Cakes. It's on Country Line and Quebec.

This is the cake we ate to celebrate Renee's birthday. It was red velvet with cream cheese frosting.

You gotta try this.

YUMMO!

Oh Rudickers!

Today our dogs came home from the Puppy Spa, also known as Grampa and Gramma's house. This is the place our little ones go when there are no bigger ones to take care of them when we are out of town. They have friends there, they are spoiled rotten and have many adventures chasing rabbits, barking at the deer, and on this trip... eating D-Con mouse poison.

Yes, on this trip Rudy found a box of D-Con behind a gigantic entertainment center in a place that a 20lb. dog should never be able to go, and he didn't share it with any of his friends.

Within about 24 hours Dad knew that one of the dogs had found it and all 6 dogs were rushed to the Vet to be checked out. After a few humiliating tests it was discovered that Rudy was the only one to ate any. They gave him 4 shots of Vitamin K, and he is doing great!

Given enough time and motivation there is nothing this little guy won't get into. He's always been a very BIG eater.

Together Again... After 23 Years!

In July, my sister Renee and I had the chance to be reunited with our older, half sister Debbie. Debbie lives in Albuquerque, NM and came to Denver on vacation. A lot has changed. The last time we saw her was in 1986. It had been 23 years.

We've all grown up. It's has been great getting to know her again... as adults. We had a fabulous lunch that lasted almost until dinner time because we just kept talking and getting caught up. It was a really great day.

Next visit will hopefully be in October and hopefully get to introduce her to our families. YEAH!

This Is How My Garden Grows

I love my garden. My husband has an amazing green thumb and I get to enjoy it every day.

Spider Wort

Goose Beard

Day Lilies

More Lilies...

Purple Lillies... we love lilies!

This is my sprinkler. So cute!

And... our house if finally fixed. They did such a good job. What a relief to have it back to normal.