We’ve been getting some good snow this year! But it’s been cold!! So, we’ve only really been out a couple of times with the baby….but I wanted to share some of these cute pictures from Christmas Day:
January 10, 2010
December 28, 2009
We captured this today and thought we’d share it:
December 28, 2009
We had a sweet little birthday celebration last Saturday for Ellie’s one year birthday. It was so fun. It was a white butterfly theme because of all the snow we’ve gotten. She’s almost walking, but not yet. She definitely has started to talk. She’s really starting to understand that objects have words, which is fun to watch. She can readily say: Dada, Doggy, Mama, More “Maa”, All Done “ali duh”, Piggy (for her favorite stuffed animal) and this.
Here’s a slide-show of some pics from the party:
December 27, 2009
Ellie’s one party trick: growling! So, it only seemed right that my mom would get her a lion costume:
It was so cute!
December 27, 2009
After the whirlwind of opening up our new store, Joe sent us on a vacation! My mom came for Thanksgiving and watched Ellie while we flew off to Seattle for 4 days. It was kind-of a “work-trip/vacation” as we visited the Durango Joe’s roaster just outside of Seattle and tried to experience all the coffee-snobbery that we could ;). We got to stay at a unbelieveably beautiful house and just enjoy gallivanting around like a single couple for 4 days.
We didn’t really take that many pictures…but it was a great time. Thanks Joe!
P.S. I could totally move there!
December 27, 2009
Getting this dear coffee shop up and running! Long story really short: Joe and Mark had an opportunity to take over an existing coffee shop. Joe was at the time focused on opening up a shop in Bloomfield, N.M. and wasn’t sure he could do two at once…and so since I”ve just been leisurely enjoying myself at home…I decided it would be a super fun project: So the 4th Durango Joe’s location in Durango was formed ;)…. We call it Durango Joes Town Plaza (as it’s in the Town Plaza shopping center). After one week and a TON of Mark and my time it is complete and, in my opinion, quite transformed. Here are some before and after shots:
- Mark built me a divider wall for the couch area, a merchandise table, and installed a bar area! I think we made a pretty good team on this one!
The bathroom was the bane of my project! So I just hung umbrellas from teh ceiling and called it good! Surprisingly it’s what I get the most comments on ;). Ellie, my little back helper! She was such a good sport spending so much time there that week!
The merchandise table Mark built, all decked out for Christmas. The second picture is of the three paintings a dear friend painted for one of our walls.
My imaginary Christmas Tree ;)
As of today it has been very successful. We have received nothing but tons of compliments and business great and surprisingly continuing to pick up…who would have known Durango could support yet another Durango Joes Coffee House :)! Go Joe and Mark!!
September 18, 2009
Mark and I are an Aunt and Uncle again to Chris and Amy’s beautiful Livia Joy.
For those whom we’ve told about the situation and have been praying for them, thank you! Both Amy and Livia are healthy and strong! Praise God!
Just a quick catch-up for some who may not have heard: Amy was pregnant with twins Amélie Marie and Livia Joy. On August 13th, Amélie Marie (Mia) went to be with Jesus. Livia Joy was seen to be doing well and her heartbeat was strong right after they found out. Mia’s heart stopped beating sometime around 27 weeks. We know this because Amy’s last ultrasound revealed no major complications at 26 weeks. At 20 weeks both babies were completely healthy; growing at the same rates. By 24 weeks there was a slight difference in growth and one baby appeared to be smaller than the other. The discordance was at about 19% at that point. The high risk Doctors begin to start weekly monitoring when they see discordant growth that is 20% or greater. At 26 weeks the doctors saw a growth discordance of 21.5% and recommended Amy be seen on a weekly basis to monitor for Twin to Twin Transfusion (TTTS). They did not seem too worried about TTTS developing as it is not common after 25 weeks. Because their twins are identical and shared a placenta they were at risk of TTTS. Also because their girls were sharing a placenta and some of their blood vessels were connected, Livia was most likely considered to have suffered some sort of brain damage as a result of Mia’s passing. When one identical twin passes, the other is forced to absorb a high level of blood, resulting in what could be mild to severe brain damage. After this happened hundreds of people who knew Chris and Amy and our family began to pray for Livia. I know that both Chris and Amy were overwhelmed by the amount of support that they received!
Livia Joy was born healthy and beautiful on September 14th. She was 8 weeks early and so she was transported to the NICU at Mass general in Boston. Amy and Chris were also able to spend a good amount of time with Mia saying goodbye. Livia will need to stay in the NICU until she is able to breath and eat on her own. She is doing great and already able to breath on her own! Please continue to pray for Livia, Amy, Chris and their little boy Micah as they continue to care for and welcome Livia into their family while also grieving the loss of Mia.
September 13, 2009
I went for a couple months with out blogging…so I had a couple things to catch up on.
1. Mark and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary!! Wow!! Can’t believe we’ve made it this long…ha..just kidding…it’s been a great and kind of crazy three years. Mark was wonderful and surprised me by taking me out to a really nice dinner at Seasons and then kidnapped me and took me up to the most beautiful cabin in Silverton! It was wonderful! Go Mark!
2. We dedicated Ellie during our church’s river baptism service. It was beautiful! The most wonderful spot on the Florida River. It was such a fun service all worshiping by the river in a back yard. We were so glad that Jeff Dobesh, our pastor, dedicated Ellie. We both really admire him and a pastor and friend. And Ellie looked so cute in her white dress. ;)
3. My mom up and moved to California for 9 months to take a school of ministry at Bethel church in Redding. She bought an airstream now named “Patty” for her stay. Some funny lessons from living in an airstream for the last month:
1. When you exit your bathroom, you back out.
2. Your garage is the little compartment above the rear bumper in the back of your unit.
3. A crock pot is a must. It’s place while on however is outside under the rear tire where the heat from it doesn’t drive you out of your unit and is somewhat protected from the neighbor’s dog.
4. There really is very little material between you and the world outside. So in the middle of the night when you hear a noise outside your unit, you sit straight up in bed. When you peer out the blinds you discover it is just a cat jumping on the hood of your car parked right behind your bed outside!
5. You have to wash your face at night in the kitchen sink. The bathroom sink is entirely too small and water drips all over the front of the cabinet and on to the floor.
6. If you can plan a cooked meal that only takes one pan your miles ahead in the organization department.
7. When you walk in your unit, your house giggles.
8. WiFi today is pretty overrated. Too many people can access it and it gets snarfed up by others then nothing is left for you.
9. Dumping the black water tank is big excitement.
10. It’s best not to put anything on the bedroom floor, this way you can actually walk around your bed to make it.
August 30, 2009
Elise has started to growl….a lot. So…we decided to turn it into something fun to avoid the peculiar glances from passerbys: Now she knows what a Lion says: (so funny!! We have a wild baby!)
August 30, 2009
My friend Shelly and I threw a baby shower for a good friend and I decided to try my first Fondant cake with a belly cake ;). So I thought I would show some pictures…it didn’t turn out to bad.
Here is the first cake…ummm… that Sage ate… ya. …welcome to my life… 3 hours down the drain…
Take 2:
Ready for the fondant….trying to get it just the right color….
My friend Casey happened to be staying with us this weekend while she’s in town and I roped her into helping me make the flower…she’s amazing. And the finished product:
What do you think? Not bad for my first try…maybe a little booby…;)… it’s a good cake for some laughs!
