Colorado Rant:

I was asked today: Why do you love Colorado so much? There are other places in this country that have mountains and low humidity...why Colorado? After thinking a bit I answered simply: "Its my home". Throughout the day I thought about the question and my answer and many feelings surfaced. I then questioned myself..why do I love it? It's not easy to describe the reasons you love something nor the roots of the feelings that are associated with that love. When I was 11 yrs old, the year that Halley's Comet was in our night sky, I remember laying on my back in my front yard looking up. I saw the comet as many did that night but through the eyes of a child. I had no idea how important that night was going to be to me later in life. My memory was not just the comet that night but of a spectacular Colorado sunset earlier that evening. I can still smell the crisp air and remember that it was a bit chilly out. I remember looking at the stars and the comet for a long .. long .. long time. Probably longer than any one time since then, including my camping days. At that age I knew that I was in the place that I wanted to be. When I moved to Missouri in my teens I was rocked. Not only where my friends gone, but so to where the great sunsets...and the stars. Don't get me wrong. Missouri has its share of decent sunsets and if you get away from the lights I'm sure it has its starry sky moments. None of them have ever been close to the one that night. I still remember it. There where colors that shouldn't blend well swirling together like they belonged together...pinks and blues and yellows and reds. So vibrant and stunning. As the sun set behind the mountains I saw the first star appear...then another until I was surrounded by a million diamonds and one comet. I remember dad calling me in and me not wanting to go in. I went out several times that night...without my parents knowledge just to peek up at the sky to see the comet again...as if it where going to disappear like a plane flying through the night sky.

Why do I love Colorado? It's a part of me and I am a part of it. That night I took Colorado in and it became part of who I am. It truly is my home and I can't wait to make it my wife and my children's home as well. Colorado, for me, is not just a state but a state of mind, body and soul. I can't wait to share that with the ones closest to me. I hope I live to 2061 so I can see Halley's Comet one more time in my Colorado night sky surrounded by my loved ones. What a gift that would be.

Busy weekend!

Got a bunch done this weekend! We finished both RaeAnn's and Taylors rooms. On Friday, Deidra and I decided to take the day off and stay home to turn the back room into Rae's room. After finishing that, we decided to paint the room to make it more "girly". We finished that up later that day. On Saturday morning, I woke up and whispered to Deidra "wanna do Taylors room today?" She gave me the ok and Taylor and I went to Lowes while Deidra cleaned out Taylors room. We spent the most of that day painting that room and making both look great! I must say we have the bug now cuz we are looking at the hall and thinking...2 hours tops. The living room will be a weekend event so it will have to wait till fall. As for our room, we will do it after the hall is finished. I think we will do a room a month until winter. We accomplished so much this weekend that it went by way to quick. I think next weekend will be a "do nothing" weekend. Our place is coming together. Busy weekend.

It is official!

Time to pull out the camping gear, get the swimsuits out renew the Six Flags season passes and crank up the AC. Today is the first day of summer! It was 96 degrees today in town. Ouch.

Happy Fathers Day!!!

Had a pretty great day today. Got to hang out with my mom and dad. Dad made some awesome BBQ and I made us some ice cold Mojitos. After lunch we watched the Cardinals hand a butt whoopin to the A's.

Happy Fathers Day to the best dads in the world: "Our dads"

We love you guys! You are pillars of strength and love in our lives.

What Makes a Dad?
God took the strength of a mountain,The majesty of a tree,The warmth of a summer sun,The calm of a quiet sea,The generous soul of nature,The comforting arm of night,The wisdom of the ages,The power of the eagles in flight,The joy of a morning in spring,The faith of a mustard seed,The patience of eternity,The depth of a family need,Then God combined these qualities,And there was nothing more to add,He knew his masterpiece was complete,And so he called it – Dad.

(Author unknown)

Happy Birthday to my Father!

Happy birthday to the best dad in the whole world. This weekend we will celebrate proper with some good imported brewskies.

Happy Birthday to my sweetie!

Happy Birthday baby! I love you more than you could ever and will ever possibly know. I am so proud of all the hard work you have accomplished and every day you manage to take my breath away with how you make things that seem impossible to most anyone not just possible but look easy. You not only shine as my wife but sparkle as our children's mother. You constantly amaze me and I am truly honored to be your husband. Just being around you proves that there is a God and that he loves me.

I know how much you love cute little chimps and since I can't get you one, I had one bake a cake and make you a card. Sadly after I took this pic he pounded your cake to smithereens and ate the candle. I love you with all my heart. Forever.

Light at the end of the tunnel!

After almost 3 years, Deidra and I are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. As of this Friday, she will be done with the first half of her summer clinicals and in about a week after that she starts her final 5 weeks. Once she finishes that she will study for her final tests or "boards" and then it's just a matter of her sending her resume out to a couple places near here to start working in her dream profession. Some Doctor told her she had what it takes to be a Doctor of physical therapy. For her to do that she would have to do about another 3 years of college maybe 4. She is thinking that over but realistically this would not be a possibility until I get rooted in my career and that will be in a different place so there is no need to start that ball rolling quite yet. It is up to her. I know she will be awesome no matter what job she chooses. June will be half over at the end of the week and in a couple weeks the first half of the year will be behind us. It is all going so quick! All is going extremely well for us at the present time and we will be taking a weekend off to stop and smell the roses in the next couple weeks. For now, its time for the Denver Dawg to get some rest.

WASSAP!

Ok. So the WASSAAP! thing was way played out in the last couple of years. After my last post I couldnt help it. Enjoy:

You know you love it.

Update on the Beardy Dragons:

In February 05, Deidra and I bought two little additions to the family. We lovingly named them Chubbers and Croikey Wiggle Bottoms. They are two Australian bearded dragons. After over a year, they have both grown by leaps and bounds but are not even close to the size that they are going to reach. After about 4 months, we were wondering why they didn't grow as much as we thought they would. About 3 weeks ago, my friend (the one we bought them from) came over and thought the same. After telling him the things we were feeding them, he let us know that they should have moved up to large crickets about half a year ago. After the advise, they have grown to almost double the size in about a month. Here are some pics of them when they were babies and then some pics of them now. Cute aren't they?

Baby Chubbs below his rock and log.
Chubbers on his log now.
Chubbers as a baby.
Chubbs now.
Chubbers chillin.

Croikey in my hand.
Croikey chillin in Deidra's hand.

Note the tail: We found out the hard way that they are both probably male. Chubbers chomped half Croik's tail off. He was a bit skittish for about 6 months. He's not so much now. They both have their own pad now. Croikey is thicker than Chubbers. He grew a bit thicker in the last 3 weeks. Bigger crickets truly do help. Going to have to buy them bigger aquariums now.

Joe Dirt added to Denvers Picks....

I can already hear everyone saying: "Joe Dirt?? Wow...The Denver Dawg has officially lost it!" Ok...first of all you have to understand something. I live in Missouri. There are only a couple of states in this country where you can truly say.."Hey! I know a guy like that!" and this is one of those places. I love this movie for several reasons and the one that matters the most is the fact that it is a movie that you can just sit down with a bag of chips and some guacamole and a Pepsi in your favorite torn stained T-shirt and ragged jean shorts and just laugh. Jamie Presley plays the perfect white trash hoochie and Kid Rock plays the best trailer trash desert dirt ball that anyone could ever use in a movie like this. If you watch this movie and don't laugh...I feel sorry for you guys. You need to loosen up and take time to enjoy the finer things in life. Loved it!

High 90's???

Was checking out the forecast for the next 10 days on the weather channel and was shocked to see the temp projected to reach 94 degrees in town Thursday. I guess the nice 70's and 80's are going to start to disappear in the next few weeks. 94 in Colorado is hot but the same temp or anything in the 90's in Missouri is not only exhausting and sticky hot but also dangerous to be out in for any length of time. Time to water the plants and flip the AC to a lower setting come Tuesday.

Proud of my little team!

Taylor's team did great last night. I am proud of each and every little guy on the team! Every player (and I do mean every player!) connected with the ball and they all ran the bases like a true little team! Taylor was our 3d baseman for the first time this season and got a couple guys out at 3d and made some great grabs. As far as Dylan and Evan, they also made some great stops and all 3 of my boys did awesome when they where up to bat. Proud of each of them. Even our little guys on the team hit well and played some pretty good D! Going to change up the defense a little bit more before I decide on true positions. I should have a good idea of who needs to go where after this next game on Friday. We will see. GO METS!