Go Donkeys!

I LOVE football season! 

I really, really do...especially when your team is GOOD!  I wouldn't say I'm a fair weather fan, I've loved and cheered for the Broncos since I was little girl, but when the Broncos are HOT you get so much more involved in their season and so excited to see them play and cheer for the win!

My dad and brother have season tickets and invited me and the kids to a preseason game...

We grabbed some food on the way down and actually were the true definition of "tailgating"...

 We ate our pizza on the tailgate of my dad's truck.

Eli being Uncle's little buddy as usual...

 ...and Ashtyn with her Nana!

 Eli is SO lazy...so lazy he got everyone to carry him some part of the long walk to the stadium!

 I wasn't real sure how Eli and Ashtyn would do at the game and given that our tickets are pretty much in heaven, moving around or horse playing was not prohibited in fear of them falling to their death.  Eli did great and loved every minute of it...

He even got into it and always yelled with the crowd...

"First Down!" (along with the arm movement)

"In-Com-Plete!"

and an "Ohhhh!" when they'd miss a play

and a "GO, GO, GO" when they were running the ball!

He was really into it!

 Ashtyn on the other hand was un-amused and just kept asking for dip-n-dots, cotton candy or "When is it time to go?"

  Football clearly is not her cup of tea - at least not yet!

 What impressed me most about Eli was how he could follow the ball - even all the way up in our high seats - he always knew where the ball was.  It must be an instinct boys are born with...

He does come from a long line of football players,

so hopefully soon I will be watching him "Go, Go, Go!"

 Eli's other most favorite part were the fireworks they'd shoot off every time they'd score.  Ashtyn loved when Thunder, the horse, would ride across the field in celebration too!

We had such a fun evening at Sports Authority Field!

Thanks Papa for the invite - we'll now watch the rest of the season from the comfort of our couch - front row seats baby! 

Go Broncos!

First Day of School

 Ashtyn attended her first day of school at Birch Elementary as a Kindergartener...CRAZY!

I can't believe her first day of school has come and gone, and we are now in full swing of the school year.  I thought I would have been more emotional dropping her off that first day of school and watching her walk into her classroom, but I was more excited and proud of her then anything.  Ashtyn is so ready for this time in her life and is already enjoying every single minute of it!

 She attends Monday, Wednesday all day and half day Friday sessions. 

I love the fact that they attend all day instead of half days like most kindergarten schedules.  I think its good for them to ease into a full school schedule, but still get to experience a full day and go to lunch, PE, recess, art and music class!  I was most nervous about her going to lunch in a big cafeteria with all the other kids and then having to find her way to the playground - but I heard she did fine and wasn't scared at all!

She is so grown up...

Ashtyn has the most amazing teacher EVER - Ms. Murphy!

We have been SO impressed by her and Matt and I constantly say "Thank the Lord for Kindergarten Teachers!"  I know I don't have one ounce of the patience or desire to help little kids learn to read, write or just to sit still as elementary teachers do.  I don't know how they do it, but they are sure a blessing to parents.  Ms. Murphy even held a jump start a couple weeks before school - voluntarily - so she could meet all her incoming students and get them comfortable in the new classroom and school.  It amazes me how she took time out of her own summer to spend it with our kids.  I know it made a huge difference on Ashtyn's first day of school and we will be forever grateful to have such a wonderful Kindergarten Teacher - hopefully Eli will get her too! 

 The best thing about where we live is we are right around the corner from our school.  We could even hear the fire drill they had during the first week.

We love that we get to walk to and from school each day and we've gotten to meet more neighbors too!  We'll see if we walk when there's two feet of snow out there, but for now it's part of the routine!

We tried riding scooters one day, but after Ashtyn wiped out, ripped up her hand and knee with blood dripping everywhere which then meant I had to sprint home to get first aid supplies and then rush Ashtyn with big alligator tears streaming down her face to school so we weren't late on the second day...so we now WALK only to school!

Don't need the added stress of what could happen on the way to school...

 Ashtyn looked so adorable on her first day of school! 

She had to get the famous lite up Sketchers, so I found the perfect dress to compliment!

She also picked out her purple back pack with horses - very fitting!

 I'm so proud of my baby girl who is now a Proud Bulldog!

 Before school started she socialized with some of her classmates she met in jump start.

It was such a relief to see her already making friends...

 I was happy to see she wasn't the tallest girl in her class...

The girl behind Ashtyn is Brooke, who we hear is a friend, but sometimes can be a little "out of control"...I'm happy to see she is already aware of how others act!

 When the bell rings they line up on their designated line and then the teacher comes out to get them...

I can't believe she is old enough to be in school...or better yet that I am old enough to have a kid in school!  The other night I went to Back to School Night followed by a PTA meeting - that made me feel old, but I am so ready for this time in our life!

Ashtyn,

I wish you nothing but success in your first year of school.  I pray that you stay confident and true to yourself.  I pray that you make good decisions and hopefully learn from the times that you don't.  I pray that you are helpful and kind to your fellow classmates, and make great friends.  I can't wait to watch how much you grow, mature and learn in the next nine months.  I can't wait to hear you read your first book and write your first sentence.  Always remember that daddy and I are here with you on this big journey and will always be there to help you and support you with whatever you need.  We are already so proud of you and your enthusiasm to learn. 

 Good Luck Baby Girl - I love you!

Chili Time!

Eight years ago I vowed to Matt in front of my family and friends to learn how to make green chili - and I have done just that!  I was not much of a Mexican food fan before meeting Matt, and really the only green chili I'd ever ate was of the can kind - Stokes - gag!

I was quickly set straight and ever since eating Matt's family's green chili it was only natural to become an expert at learning and making the recipe. 

The key ingredient are the chilies - no kidding!  But, you can't just head to King Soopers and buy green chilies - nope - you have to wait for the great month of August to roll around and then they start to harvest the famous green chilies! 

We ran out of chili in July, so we were anxiously awaiting for the farms to start picking the chilies!  As soon as we got back from Lake Powell we headed down to LuLu's farm in Brighton to find this welcoming sign...

 That was music to our ears!

We walked inside and ordered two bushels of Marisol!

The farm roasts them for you which is so great!

 That's like heaven sitting in a box!

After letting them cool down we divide them up into baggies, so we can freeze them and use them throughout the year for our green chili, hamburgers, guacamole and whatever else you want to add a little spice to!

Typically the chilies are pretty small, but this year they were much bigger!  Especially, this one I found - it had to be 12 inches long!  I made green chili that night with the fresh chilies and it was AMAZING!  The best thing about marring Matt - the green chili recipe!

I'm going to share the recipe and also so my kids have a documentation of it...

So here it is...but remember you need the MARISOL chilies!

Ingredients:

1 pound pork, cubed

10 Marisol green chilies, roasted

 Canola Oil

Flour

Water

Directions:

1 - Brown the pork in a large pot - I typically put a thin layer of Canola oil on the bottom and then add the pork.  I also add garlic salt to the raw pork in the pot - as much as you desire.

2 - As you brown the pork, skin the chilies (this is an art in itself) and puree them

3 - When the pork is done add flour until the oil is soaked up and the pork is coated

4 - Add the pureed chilies and mix with the pork

5 - SLOWLY add water (1 cup at a time) and stir while you dissolve the pork, flour, chilies and water into whatever consistency you desire - thin or thick.

6 - I typically let it boil on medium heat for about thirty minutes and then SERVE with homemade tortillas (good luck on those)

7 - Enjoy!

Hopefully my kids will make the green chili for their families one day!

To me it's better then spaghetti sauce - gasp, I know!

Dreamcation...

Our trip this year to Lake Powell was what I would define as a "Dreamcation"

With the past five years being very stressful, dramatic and having nothing but issues with boats and trucks, I had very little expectations for the trip this year.  If we arrived into Bullfrog in one piece I would have considered the trip a success...seriously LOW expectations!

But - it was a GREAT year, some would say a Dream Vacation!

All trucks and turbos worked, boats were all in "mostly" working order, my kids were so fun and enjoyable and we just had a great time soaking in the sun and playing in our most favorite playground EVER - Lake Powell! 

We arrived into Bullfrog Bay on Sunday around 5pm and the party started...

 To celebrate the first obstacle of just getting to Lake Powell we popped some tops and cheered each other!

 Ever since coming to Lake Powell as a parent the carefree days of worrying about what bikini I'd wear along with what trash magazine I'd read for the day are far gone.  Now I have to worry about keeping my kids alive!  The pure fact that for a week straight we are surrounded by water that is 200 feet deep and if for one minute I take my eyes off them they could be gone forever weighs pretty heavy on my mind - It's all I think about weeks before going on this trip, and I sometimes wonder if its even worth going!  So instead of living in fear, the life jackets were packed under their car seats (kind of like an airplane - emergency pack) and the minute we pulled into Bullfrog the jackets were on and they then had to live in them the entire week...

 Luckily, Eli loves his jacket and had no problem being in it!  He also has no fear now of jumping in the water, so keeping him on the dock/boat was also a constant challenge!

 Unloading is never the fun part, but we've got it down to a science and take plenty of beer breaks!

 Having a snack with his jacket on - good boy!

We are always anxious the first day to find out if the houseboat is in working order.  The boat definitely had some cosmetic issues this year...some dings, scratches and you know the slide was gone!

 Yep, apparently the slide, which is welded on to the top of the boat just fell off into the water!  Crazy, I know, and I am sure there is more to the actual story, but for our week aboard the Dream Haven we had no slide...The boat did have an electrical problem as well, but as long as we ran the generator all week we would be operable - so we were CLEAR for take off!

To celebrate the next obstacle we headed out for drinks and dinner, before our first night aboard the Dream Haven!

We all slept great the first night and were excited to head out to camp on the lake, but my dad wanted the electrical problem fixed, so we stayed in the Marina the first day...

 Luckily the Carnivals were already camped waiting for us, so we headed over there to hang for awhile.  The kids literally jumped out of our boat before we were anchored to start playing...

 After playing in the water and drinking I don't know how many beers - more then my limit for the day, I know that - those Carnivals drink like fish - we headed back to see if the Dream Haven was getting fixed as ordered by the Captain...

 It looked liked the Dream Haven was fixed as good as it could be, so my dad finally approved us for departure the next morning - Whoop Whoop!

 Ashtyn feeding the ducks - she even named all of them!

And Eli playing trash truck with the cooler - what kids do when they are stuck in a marina!

 We took a little cruise that afternoon and had our appetizers and drinks aboard the Sea Ray - it was so great!  Probably my most favorite part of the trip were our late afternoon cruises touring our favorite canyons...

 Cougar Bait!

 On Tuesday morning we were finally headed out of Bullfrog Marina to meet the Carnivals in Halls Creek and start having some fun on the lake.  Mona and Vince were so excited to finally leave the Marina.  They came with us a couple years back - the year where EVERYTHING went wrong and we stayed in the Marina all week!  I'm surprised they came back...

 Kevin is now the new Captain of the Dream Haven and did great!

We are slowly taking over the reins...

 This is why you come to Lake Powell - its just SO great!

We set up camp next to the Carnivals and the week was a wonderful Blur after that...

 We pretty much did this...

 SWAM!

 PLAYED IN THE SAND! (red sand that doesn't come out of clothes)

 and DRANK!

Vince brought some Moonshine and we all toasted to celebrate them finally being out on the lake.  Let's just say that afternoon was a great afternoon...Vince painted Kevin's toe nails and so on!

 I'm not sure what day it was, but one day my kids fell asleep at 6:30 and didn't wake up until 8am the next day!  I think we wore them out a little bit!

 Since our slide is now at the bottom of Lake Powell, we borrowed the Carnival's for the week...

My kids loved it!

 Yay Vinny!  You are floating in CRAZY deep water!

 Cougar Bait!

 Eli looking like an Old Man!

 My dad being ornery...

 My mom hates to get her hair wet...

 ...and YEP my dad pushes her in!

 Besides for swimming like fish all week, riding on the jet skis were my kids next favorite thing...They were constantly talking someone into taking them on rides!  I'm pretty sure I was like sixteen before I got to play on jet skis - my kids are so spoiled!

 Cougar Bait passed out!

 The Famous Campfire the Carnivals always host was fantastic as usual!

The absolute funniest part is when they sing "Ol' Mr.Ford" and all the old guys have to act out the different parts - I laughed - hard!

 Kenny, Vince, Gary and my Dad...

Eli joined right in on the fun! 

 After all the song singing it was time for the marshmallows!

 Back in the day tubing is what us kids did all day long!  We loved it and it is so much better in Lake Powell!  My kids are now getting old enough to where they wanted to tube, so I thought I would break them in a little bit, show them the ropes of tubing in Lake Powell! 

Kevin was going to take it easy, so taking them both at the same time was going to be fine...or so I thought...

 Here we are ready to have some tubing FUN!

Pretty FUN so far, nice and easy... 

 Getting a little crazy now, but still enjoying the bumps...

 Ok, now we are outside of the wake - we are not supposed to be outside of the wake...freaking out a bit and Ashtyn is saying "Uncle Kevers what are you doing?"

 REALLY freaking out now because I can see a huge wake up ahead and I am pretty sure we are going over it...Ashtyn now says "Oh, Holy Hell" as we...

 ...fly over the wake and I'm just trying to hold on to my kids and praying my expensive sunglasses don't fall off - Note: Eli is laughing while this is happening...

 ...and then after what feels like an eternity in the air, we safely land with Ashtyn half in the water, my sunglasses around my mouth and Eli still laughing...AND that was the end of tubing for Lake Powell 2013!

Matt belly laughs every time he sees those pictures! 

 Eli with the sunglasses in his shirt cracked me up!

 Ashtyn loved taking the jet skis on little excursions up and down the canyons.

We found this really cool spot that had a little beach and then some small cliffs to jump off,  I didn't really think they'd be brave enough to cliff jump, but I was wrong - they just jumped right in - over and over again!

 I had so much FUN going on our little family excursions!

The kids were SO much fun this year!

 Before we knew it our week was over and it was time to go home!

 It was an awesome year at Lake Powell - great company and great memories made with my sweet kids!  I can't believe I've been going to Lake Powell since I was seven years old, and even though we've had some tough years, I still LOVE spending a week on the Lake!

There's just no other vacation quite like it...

It's a Dreamcation!

See ya' next year!