By 10:30 this morning I had already done two loads of laundry, done the dishes, cleaned my house (given, my house isn't big, by any means), worked out and had eaten two breakfasts. Say it with me, successful Saturday morning!  

I'm just drinking coffee out of my R-rated mug that Joel's Grandmas probably don't prefer so much and looking out the window and watching all the white stuff float around my neighborhood and I feel so thankful that I don't have allergies. Both my mom and brother acquired allergies in the twenties and I'm crossing my fingers that that ridiculousness skips me. Being a nature enthusiast, I think that would be devastating. That would be right up there with a cat or a candle allergy. We all know, these are a few things that would break me. 

After an absolutely wonderful, love filled 'Teacher Appreciation Week' I seriously feel like a doughnut. I am a doughnut. I'm going to be honest with you, I bet I ate 13 donuts this week, possibly between 13-15. Odds are good that it's the later. Good thing I felt motivated to work out this morning. Can I get a thumbs up for that one? It's weeks like this, especially, that I love my job. Among the appreciative words and thoughtful little cards and gifts, we host a Mother's Day Tea at the end of the week every year and invite all the moms and grandmas (dads and grandpas are welcome too, we don't discriminate) and it's gatherings like that that make me feel so full. Yes, they last a short amount of time, given the attention span of my classroom's age, but any excuse to sit down with my parents and meet them on the friend level, not just the 'I take care of your child' level, is important to me. It's weeks like this that I am also surprised by gifts given by families that I wouldn't have thought would give them. 

I received news the other day that Joel's parents will be coming out over our anniversary weekend and going camping with us. Joel's parents haven't visited us yet and we could not be more excited to spend that special weekend with them. Anniversary weekend plus the 4th of July- that's one heck of a special time. We are lucky enough to have both of our parents out within a matter of two months. My parents will be out for a week, the first weekend in June. I look so forward to the day that we own a house and space to have everyone here at once. 

How am I doing; on my mission to become a full time blogger? ;) The thought of blogging consistently every couple days, is exhausting, not going to lie and I probably won't keep it up. Here I am, just being honest. 

Stay tuned for tomorrow; a blog filled with all things "Mother." 

Have a wonderful Saturday, all! 

 

"And to a blog that came straight from my random-thought-filled-noggin."

Hey, Hi, SUP! 

Haaapppppppy Thursdaaayyyyyy! 

I've been wanting to blog lately, but have been putting it off like woah. I've just gotten the last of my supplies to finish the last couple of my kid's Mother's Day gifts and I grabbed a bottle of wine on my way home. After pouring myself a glass, I went to the bathroom and came out wearing lipstick. I don't know what over came me while I was in the loo, but there's something fantastic about this combo; wearing red lipstick and drinking a glass of wine. Have you ever done that; put on lipstick even when you know you're in for the night? It's making me think about the times I would clean my room in heels, back when I still lived at home. Through my door my mom would wonder what the heck was going on, why was I clomping around on my wood floor? in heels? and to add to it, my sweat pants. "Oh, it's just my inner trophy wife!" This is how I feel right now. And now I'm wondering why I no longer clean my house wearing heels. 

I give myself such a hard time. Whenever I feel like blogging, I think to myself that it's been forever and a day since that last time I've blogged and then I feel completely overwhelmed by the fact that it would take far too long to fill you in on my recent happenings so I just refrain from filling you up at all. 

I frequently day dream about having the life of a paid blogger and not actually having to spend 40 hours a week doing anything other than what I want, simply blogging about life and all it's glory and making money all at the same time. Can't I just travel the world? But keep my place and my cats and all my belongings? Joel could so easily up and travel the world, sell everything that he owns but his guitar and his inhaler. And his girlfriend. I'm not for sale. And I'm the one that keeps us grounded. Yes, I would love to travel the world but no, I can't sell all my belongings to do so. Nor do I currently have a job that lets me take time off as often as I please. Given, I've been lucky enough to have most of the times that I've requested off. I would imagine, no full time job wants to give anyone a month off to go travel the world and then work a handful of months and then go do it again. If you have any suggestions on how to keep my place, cats, pay for all of it and travel the world as I please and still make money while spending it, please let a girl know. Don't keep your secrets from me. Suggestions and advice on how to get there are welcome. 

On to the recent happenings of my life: I am a twenty six year old. 
Twenty six and it feels so good! I said this over my Birthday last year but I am right where I need to be. Right here. Smack dab in the center of 'closer to 30' greatness. I have always loved growing up and if you don't love growing up, you need to change your perspective. Be thankful. You continue to receive something great at your Birthday every year. The "Proceed this way" card. The 'double color and cross the bridge' card in Candy Land; not the 'Captain Gum Drop-- lose a turn' card. Don't get down about the fact that you are getting older! Appreciate the fact that you are blessed enough to have a Birthday every year. Not all are so lucky.  

Speaking of Birthdays, I have a new goal. Actually, I shouldn't say 'goal' because it's going to happen, mark my words. I'm going to spend my 27th Birthday in Ireland. in a pub. but not while drinking Guinness. I'm going to visit Trinity College in Dublin and be in heaven, surrounded by the largest library known to man kind and then I'm going to meet sweet new Irish friends that Joel and I will keep in contact with for the rest of our lives, especially until we move there someday. I'm going to visit Scotland and take amazing pictures of the brightest green cliffs that over look that gloomy sea that still manages to look beautiful. It's a sea over there, isn't it? I'm terrible at Geography and I'm not going to Google it. It's beside the point and you get the picture. To feed my forever obsession with it, I'm going to visit Stonehenge and Joel's going to propose to me inside it's sacredness. Kidding, but seriously. Kidding, but seriously. Kidding? Seriously.

I'm just being funny. dfffffffff <<<< that was from Oscar. I've come from fetching myself one more, small glass of vino and I've realized Oscar has sent his regards! I've also realized the time (8:06PM) and am currently thinking to myself that I wish it was Friday and that I may turn on Clublife and catch my second wind and head down to Denver for a night of grand company and possibly dance moves (Que "Selfie" by The Chainsmokers) But it's still Thursday and my mind has ventured off onto another day dream tangent and I'm being brought back to Earth by the fact that I have to work at 7Am tomorrow but it's okay because it's going to be Friday in a matter of hours. 

So, cheers and thumbs up to the weekend. And to a blog that came straight from my random-thought-filled-noggin.

 

 

Work Hard and be Nice to People.

Good Morning, friends! 

Bright eyed and bushy tailed right at 5:56 this morning! Standard. I told Joel at about 8:00 last night, "I'm not old but it's 8PM on a Friday and I'm exhausted and seriously contemplating bedtime." I'm not embarrassed.

It has been a wonderful couple weeks at work. Last week, on Monday we had our "teacher in service" day, where we had a staff meeting, the assistants got to clean and the lead teachers finished up lesson plans and had parent-teacher conferences. In the past, conferences have intimidated me like woah, but I've taught myself over the years to build that great rapport and friendship with my parents long before it's even time for conferences. All went incredibly well and I heard from most how awesome it is for them to have a teacher that is so passionate about what they do, as well as love and enjoy their children very much. I would honestly hang out with my entire class outside of school, so those statements were accurate. I'm learning that the desired 15 minute time frame that we are supposed to limit it to, is not enough time for me to talk about the great little people they are all turning into. One of my girls started in my room just a couple weeks ago, so her mom wanted a conference, more so just to learn what I'm all about. She made me feel amazing when she told me that she's always really liked me and my energy and she's been anxiously awaiting her daughter's transition into my room.

This week, we had our unexpected, annual QA visit. Quality Assurance visits once a year to make sure we are continuing health and safety, curriculum, interactions and all that good stuff, properly, and each year we are given a score. We had a new rep this time, who was much friendlier than the last and who everyone loved. I shorty realized after her entering my room, that I attended a training with her down in Denver once. After telling my co-teacher and I how great our room looked and how wonderful our interactions were, she left the room to tell my director that she couldn't even believe she was in a toddler room, they were so well behaved, that we do a wonderful job at teaching them. My co-teacher and I were extremely happy to hear it, even though we knew we were going to nail it. The rep told my director that she would feature me in a potty training video on how fast and efficiently one can actually potty train. People seem to be shocked at times at how fast I get 10 almost two year olds in the bathroom, and on the potty in under 10 minutes. I'm proud to say that I've gotten most of them in the habit of taking off their own pants and diaper, throwing it away and getting up on the potty on their own. They get a clean diaper out of their drawer, open it up for me, and all I have to do is put it on.

The second day of QA, was focused more on curriculum. I got into work and my director informed me that the rep would be hanging out in my room for about an hour and a half, looking over curriculum, lesson plans, my circle time and once again, interactions. I felt great about it from the start but even better when my director told me she picked the strongest classroom from each side of the building to be observed. Like the previous day, it went great and she told me my lesson plans were gorgeous. She actually said, "gorgeous." That's what I get for being organized and at times, making more work for myself, simply so it does look better. 

Last weekend, it was my 1 year anniversary working for the Goddard School and it feels so good! It definitely doesn't feel like it's been that long. I started at another disastrous center, stayed there for 4 months and then started at the school I'm at now. I've been asked if I wish I would have just come straight there and the answer has always been, "no." I babysit for families that I met there and have also formed great friendships that started there. My best friend out here, I met there and we both now, work for The Goddard School, but different locations.

My owner told me that school wide, my room or age group, is by far the most challenging. Clearly, I've found my niche' because I disagreed with her. My room is easy peasy and there is nowhere else I'd rather be. 

Life without a little risk is not an adventure darling, it's a darn shame.

Hello, strangers and friends. 

Ooofta, it has been some time since I blogged last. I'm feeling motivated simply because I'm warm inside, night number 2 on my couch, with night number 4 with what I think is strep throat. Can I kick this mother by myself? I'm trying! The thought of finding a doctor, making an appointment, or simply putting clothes and makeup on my face and heading to the minute clinic is far too much a hassle at this moment in time. Grade A laziness.

First of all, Happy New Year!! And cheers to another great one! 

 

I can't believe it's 2014 and I'm ecstatic thinking of all this year's greatness. I spent New Years Eve with a solid group of my loved ones, at dinner with both mine and Joel's parents, at the restaurant that Joel and I like to pretend that we had our 'first date' at and then with my best friends celebrating in down town Hudson where I grew up. I had way more fun there than I did two years ago in Minneapolis, yeah we learned that one that hard way. The simpler the better and that also goes for New Years celebrations. 

We had a wonderful two weeks back home in Wisconsin and Minnesota over the holidays. It was a much needed trip home with friends that I hadn't seen or hugged for far too long and with new babies that I got to meet for the first time. One, isn't even so much a 'baby' anymore, but a big, happy 9 month old with the most amazing personality. We spent both Christmas Eve and Christmas day with both our families and I was grateful to have it work out that way. Life is almost always in our favor. I got to spend a much needed afternoon with all the amazing ladies that I used to work with over brunch, mimosas and of course, the Packers and it made me miss them even more than I did before I saw them and hugged them for the first time in over a year. 

We got to see a lot of people, but also didn't get to see everyone that we had hoped to. Luckily, we have a crazy amount of weddings this summer and fall and I hope to see all the great people that I didn't get to in no better of a place, but a place filled with friends in celebration of love. Ah, my heart is warm just thinking about it. 

After two weeks away, I was anxious to get home. I am a schedule and routine person and I was antsy to be on that plane, flying home. Crazy to think of Colorado as my home now; and it felt sooo good to see those mountains and be stationary in this amazing state, and see my kitties, of course. Not gonna lie, I was excited to see our sweet salt water fish too. It makes me laugh, that statement. 

While we were home, we got to fill in all our family and friends of our next life adventure of moving our life to the East coast. Because Joel and I get so high and excited while thinking about and planning to move our life to sweet places, we first of all were shooting for Ireland. After doing extensive research, we found that unfortunately, Ireland makes it close to impossible for people from other countries to move there without studying abroad or being transferred for work. No, I wasn't going to go back to school just to move us to Ireland, that was Joel's first, brilliant plan. And sadly, childcare is a profession that you can't get a work visa for, so I would have no way to make any moola. I suppose I could always work at a cute, little coffee shop, but childcare is what I'm good at and lets face it, that's where my heart is. We kind of put that idea aside, but I couldn't bring myself to throw away my "Ireland To-Do" list just yet. 

I was honestly watching Hocus Pocus when I thought to myself, "I want to celebrate Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts." I immediately texted Joel, who was in LA at the time and asked what he thought about moving our life to the Boston area. He thought it was an amazing idea and that was that! All it takes for us is an idea and motiviation to get us there. That is exactly how Colorado happened. The East coast is somewhere that Joel hasn't touched with his music and it would do great there, both of us are confident in that. The company that I work for originated out there and there are centers all over the place. I immediately did what I did when we decided to move to Colorado, I got on craigslist and started looking for places for rent out of excitement, even when it wasn't practical to do so. I would type in the address, put it in the Goddard School website and sure enough, it would pull up 5-10 centers within a 40 mile radius. I'm getting jacked right now just thinking about it. 

If you remember the last blog I wrote, I talked about Joel having an interview with the Ritz Carlton in Beaver Creek. Well folks, he got the job, is an official employee and gets to spend every Sunday and Monday in the mountains, making money that almost triples his monthly income. And then he gets to spend every Tuesday making his way down those amazing, powder filled mountains on his snowboard. Joel is officially, living the Colorado dream, my friends, doing what he loves. Joel getting this job, changed our plan around a bit. Now, we plan to stay here through next winter season (April-ish) and then head back to the Midwest for a few months to save some moola and then move our life to the East coast. With the money that Joel will be making from the Ritz, he could fly there ever so often and play that gig to keep himself as an employee and continue to reap the benefits for as long as possible, and I have no doubt that he will, even when we move away. We could not be more excited! 

I have not yet told my director of my plan, I feel like it's not time to do so, especially, if anything changes. Knowing Joel and I, this is definitely possible. 

Just before I logged into Blogger, I read an article titled "37 Things Dying People said they Regretted they didn't do." The first thing was travel when they were able to. I'm confident that that is something that I will not regret in my last moments. And the fact that I have somebody amazing to share it with, makes me feel even more excited. And thankful.  

Cheers!

 

With Joel traveling so much and us not fully getting a chance to milk our first summer in Colorado together, Joel made a promise to me about a month ago that he would take this last weekend off from playing shows and we would take full advantage of a full weekend to go camping one more time in the mountains before they fill with those beautiful snow caps.

When we first moved here, it was this time last year. Joel tried hard to contact different resorts to try and set up shows, but most places book months, sometimes a year, in advance. Knowing that his music would be so perfect in the background, next to an amazing stone fire place in a mountain resort, having people come in and out off the mountains, he persisted. He was just recently contacted by the Ritz Carlton in Beaver Creek and he set up his 'interview' for Friday, knowing we would be passing through on our way camping. After getting done with work 2 hours early and cruising home on the most perfect Fall day, we packed up and were headed for the mountains, in my car. BAD IDEA. Long story short, we were completely stopped on the highway because vehicles in front of us had voluntarily stopped and then proceeded to go 25 mph because it was pure ice once we got to the Eisenhower tunnel before entering Vail. As we sat there, Joel, in the drivers seat, reacted like a truck was coming straight for him and sure enough, there was a truck sliding right for my car. Thank you to the stone median and the fact that it was just a truck and not a semi. We thought it was going to come straight over. Kelsey was there with us on that one. As we began to drive away, I worried for the person in that truck, knowing they were now facing the wrong way and right around a corner where cars coming his way were now flying out of that tunnel. A ways down the road, we saw an ambulance and a firetruck heading that way and I had to tell myself that it wasn't for that guy. 

Once we safely got to the Ritz Carlton about an hour and a half late, I was amazed at how huge and beautiful the resort was and immediately wished I had put makeup on and wasn't dressed to go camping. After intending to just go inside to the bathroom and not sit in on Joel's interview, I don't know how I ended up in there. Listening to Joel talk his music up and sell himself was refreshing to me and I was even asked a couple questions by the manager; What are 3 words I would use to describe Joel/ his music and if there was one thing I would change about him, what would it be? First of all, this is something that Joel has never done. He's never had to 'interview.' Apparently this place is so high end, you don't just play music for them, you pass an online application, go through multiple interviews, you are on the payroll, make an hourly wage, and reap the benefits of an actual employee. Which, made Joel and I smile specifically because both managers loved him and because you get discounted prices on many, many high end hotels and resorts around the world. At about 10:30 we were back on those icy roads and headed for Deep Lake Campground. Last week we did a little research on campsites and found that only a handful were open through October. We choose Deep Lake Campground because it looked the prettiest and seemed the nicest. Let me tell you, they failed big time on specifying that the drive was two hours on a dirt, narrow road up the side of a snowy, slippery mountain. Keep in mind we are in my Fushion and not Joel's Sequoia. This is what it looked like on Joel's phone.

Here, let's zoom a bit.

This. On a snowy, narrow mountain side in a little car at night time. The farther and farther we went up the mountain, the more snow came, obviously. We eventually got to a point where we both agreed that if we parked, and it snowed more, we would be stuck for sure. Saturday, we were told many people have had to abandon their cars up there during winter time and wait for the snow to melt. Anyways, after crying out of frustration and telling Joel this was not how I had pictured camping and being a little too dramatic, we decided to go down a ways, park and sleep in the car. Thank you to Joel's 20 degree sleeping bag, we both slept comfortably, but only for a couple hours. I laugh about it now only because we survived, got to watch the beautiful sunrise from the top of a mountain, and made it down safely.

We were pretty stoked to finally be on a paved road again and drove about 15 minutes to the campsite that was second on our list it should have been first.

It was chilly, yes, but the sun was constantly shining and the hot apple cider was endless. Too many times I looked over at Joel and we'd agree how content we felt just sitting there. The only thing that made Joel not so content was loosing to me in Battleship too many times in a row, like he usually does. The scenery won't change your skill level, babe. Shortly after noon we headed into town for Glenwood's Oktober Fest where we laughed at how life works out. We far too often fall upon greatness. This life is just too good to us. 

After making friends at the Fest and hanging out on the edge of the Colorado River and listening to Joel play his beloved, we headed back to the campsite and went to bed at 8:30 caught up on some sleep. We woke up early Sunday morning, drank our coffee, ate our coffee cake and got our protein from that delicious Alaskan salom that we luckily haven't run out of yet, and were off to hike Hanging Lake. Have you heard of Hanging Lake? Google it. And visit it someday, if you can. It's amazing. Aside from my knee hurting here and there, the treacherous, 1 mile hike was worth it and I got a handful of compliments on my shirt. 

 

 

After the hike, we grilled some more food and were headed home. Our weekend was successful and quite adventurous. Although, Joel was not done. He drove us right to Red Rocks to show me more amazingness and we were there as the sun went down and the clouds turned orange and pink. This weekend, I crossed off two places on my 'Places to Visit' list and we learned our lesson in taking my car anywhere towards those beautiful mountains. Never again! 

Also, this week, I went to the dentist for the first time in a year and a half and tried squash and liked it for the first time in my life. It was a pretty epic week. 

It's funny because I started a blog last night about how ridiculously happy and high on life I was (what's new) and here I am, so thankful to have left work and my monstrous two year olds and their non-listening ears 2 hours early, but I have still been reminded of how good life is and how I need to continue to appreciate 'the little things.' Yes, here I am, blogging about life's greatness and all the little things that remind me so. Again, what's new? After the longest and most frustrating day I think I've had yet, at Goddard, a day full of 10 two year olds pulling each other's hair and clothes, pushing and hitting and even kicking each other, and almost always hearing "NO!" after I've asked them to do something, I was reminded by my co-teacher who brought me Starbucks after her break, that I am not in this alone. After accidentally being somewhat rude to a fellow co-worker on my lunch break, out of frustration with my day, I felt awful and childish, like my two year olds, lashing out and yelling because someone took their baby doll. I was quick to apologize and explain that I was having a tough day but that was no excuse. As I got back into my room after my lunch break and started to clean, I thought to myself, "I am going to embrace this silence," because it took my crabby kids longer to fall asleep today, some an hour later than when they usually do. As the thought crossed my mind, one of my girls woke up screaming because dad forgot to bring her binkie to school today and she was having trouble sleeping without it. I took a deep breath and went to pat her back back to sleep as I looked up and honestly, asked my homeboy upstairs if he could please make her go back to sleep before she woke up the rest of my overly-crabby kids. As little miss no-binkie fell back asleep, another woke up. And another. The cleaning had to get done so I continued to clean in hopes that my babes awake would stay quietly on their beds. 10 minutes later, the co-worker I was rude to, came in and asked me what I had for her to do. Thinking, shoot, principles office, I'm getting a talking to.. which means my directors office, she said, "You get to go home." As I happily packed up my things and pretty much ran out of the center, yelling to my director on my way out, that tomorrow's a new day and that I'm going to bring a good, positive attitude to work, that's when I crossed path's with my thoughtful co-teacher who placed a Starbucks in my hand. As I stopped in my tracks and dramatically slouched my head and shoulders with appreciation, I thought I might cry. It has been ages since I've had such a frustrating day that I felt like tears would do me good. They haven't come yet, although I thought on the way home that a solid cry would have been amazing. I told my center owner today that tonight, I was going to do all the things that make me happy; drink wine, clean, do laundry, listen to techno and watch a little HGTV. Phew, I feel better even having just written all this down. Blogging should have been on that list. 

As I pulled into my driveway and grabbed my work things out of my car, I was approached by my neighbor; a sweet, old lady who lives across the street. For the last few months, she has lived in one side of a duplex, which she owns, and in the other side lives the shittiest person you've ever met in your life. Now, I have a problem with rude people, we know this. I know that we are all human, and sometimes people have bad days (me earlier) but this man sucks. He has 3 young kids, who he swears and yells at and constantly lets run wild, and he hasn't paid this sweet, old lady rent in months. As she's asking me when Joel gets back, to help her move his things out, which was court ordered and a mess, she started to cry. I swear, at that moment, I wanted to hug her and cry with her. On top of my day, I saw how hurt she is and has been, dealing with this man who promised her that he would shovel in the winter and mow the lawn in the summer and hasn't done so since he's moved in. I am looking forward to the time when he's out of there and she doesn't have to deal with the stress and I no longer have to sit in my kitchen on a Saturday and listen to this man yell at his kids and be a terrible parent. Joel and I have said to each other many times, how sorry we feel for these kids because they know nothing different. They are being raised by someone terrible, who is doing this parent thing wrong, in my opinion, so hopefully someday they are level headed enough to realize what it is to be a good person. 

As I'm feeling better by the minute, having gotten all this out and finished my first load of laundry since I've been home, let me tell you what I intended to blog about last night. It's so funny, reading books and articles on making positive changes in your life, and taking measures to actually do so. I am proud of myself for living in the moment more. The last couple days, as I've gotten on my laptop to accomplish things for work, and I've put the work aside and taken the time to catch up with people that I haven't talked to in awhile because the work can always come later. I'm getting better about taking the time to love Joel a little better and give him that 'physical touch' love language that he needs to keep his 'love tank full.' I will always go back to reference that book. Even when I'm motivated to get things done and Oscar or Olive comes to lay on my lap and rub their furry cheeks on me with their love, I take the time to pet them and cuddle them for a minute, because that's important to them. Okay, I sound like a crazy cat lady. Happily. Doing these little things is so much easier said than done, 'living in the moment' in general, is easier said than done. But the feeling you get when you can actually see yourself making those changes, is rewarding.

Last night after catching up with my mom via Skype, I love you, technology, she informed me that her and my dad would be buying mine and Joel's plane tickets home for Christmas this year. After spending about 2 hours at Hobby Lobby in the Christmas section the other night, and smelling all of the Fall and Holiday scented candles at Wal-Mart yesterday, I could not be more ready for the end of the year. As I get older, I find myself loving the start of Fall and that part of the year more and more. Years ago, I would have never been caught saying that I was ready for Fall in the middle of August. Here I am, smelling my rustic retreat candle and looking so forward to buying pumpkins with Joel this year, because he'll be home this year, unlike last. I've always known how amazing my friends and family are, but having lived 17 hours away from all of my people for the last almost year, I've grown a stronger love and appreciation for them. I've also grown an appreciation for where I grew up. Since I've lived in Colorado, I haven't done a handful of my favorite things, simply because they aren't available here. Back home, in the Midwest, I had the Mall of America about 40 minutes away, I had the Minnesota State Fair about 35 minutes away, I had the Renaissance Festival about an hour away. I grew up on the St. Croix River and spent my summers there. Given I have mountains here, which are pretty amazing, I won't be experiencing the Renaissance Festival this year because it's about 4 hours away, along with eating my favorite, deep fried pickles at the State Fair because that's about 2 hours away. I may be being a bit of a baby here, but I look forward to the day that I can raise my family back in the Midwest so they can experience all the great things that I grew up with. Joel and I moved out to Colorado with the mentality of possibly staying forever. Well, we've decided that our love for the mountains will be met again when we have kids that aren't itty bitty, but who won't hate us for moving them 17 hours away from their friends either. Being home a few weekends back over Durand, it was confirmed that I need to have my babies grow up where I grew up, simply because having the support system of your family and friends doesn't compare to how gorgeous the mountains are. 

Let the Sun Shine.

This is far too good to not share and it's far too large to set as my Facebook status. Or so I think.

Enjoy!  

 

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you; Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating others could destroy overnight; Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give your best anyway.