The Good Life

Five weeks since my last post? Aww schnikees... Auntie Hat has probably given up on me.

Of course a lot has happened.

Let's see... we were able to take our week long trip to Nebraska after all. It was just a couple weeks delayed. It worked out way different and way better than planned.

We headed up to NW NE on Saturday morning. Daddy was saved from a speeding ticket because smart mom (she is a CU grad, you know) dressed the girls in their Husker gear since it was game day. What state trooper can give a ticket to this?  Ok, I guess it depends on what state you are in.

We just love it up there. Scott built his Dad and Bonnie a fence to keep their little dogs safe and the girls and I spent lots of time going on "adventures" around Brookey Bottom.

Lucky checking out the digs without his leash!

The girls checking out the Missouri River

Rowan on the obligatory golf cart ride (well there wasn't just one!)

 

Avery loves it there too!

Grandpa Starman, the girls and Lucky

I love this picture of them.  Rowan is taking it.

Then it was time to say goodbye to the Bottom and we headed to Fremont to meet the Winn's minus Landon (he was in school) for lunch.  It was a quick visit and most of the time was spent pigging out at the best buffet in all the land at Godfather's, hence no pics.

We got to Omaha on Tuesday and I was scheduled to fly back to Denver on Wednesday morning for lots of important work stuff.  Then we started hearing about the snow.  Short story... I didn't go home.  Heeheehee.

So the girls had fun with their cousins, visited Great Grandma with their dad, I went to boot camp with the sisters, we went to Coco Keys (awesome indoor water park right off I-80 if you are ever in the neighborhood), and discovered our future business... a classy bar with virtual golf.

Grandma Carol giving Tress "SQUEEZES"

Rowan lovin her some Aunt Terri

Rowan, Tressin, Riley, Bailee and Austin

I tried uploading some hilarious vids but no luck.  I'll get them on Facebook so check them out.

We were able to head for home on Saturday although I-80 was still closed at North Platte.  Bummer... a night in our fave hotel, pool time and home by noon on Halloween.  Oh yeah, baby.

I know I complain about it sometimes, it is a lot of drving after all, but I really do love our trips to Nebraska.

Such great memories for us and our girls... Looking forward to many more!

Oh Rowy

Conversation between Rowan and I a couple days ago...

"Mommy, do you know what I am going to be when I grow up?"

"No. What?"

"A doctor. Do you know what kind of doctor?"

"No."

"Guess."

"Rowan, I have no idea what kind of doctor you want to be when you grow up."

"A vegetarian. Because I love animals."

oh Rowy...

Pseudo Camping

A few weeks pre-H1N1, we went on a pseudo-camping trip. This meant we pulled the camper up to some friends land near Wellington. They had a pig roast (what is up with all the pig references? interesting) and a big birthday party. We have been very disappointed this year that we only got one trip out in the Starman Hilton this summer so we were looking forward to it. And it was fun...

The Girls with The Peddicord's newest family member

(She started chewing on Tressy's hair right after this pic was taken!)

Adam and Melissa, the hosts, built a straw-bale house themselves. I've heard about them but had never actually seen one. It was absolutely beautiful. I was impressed! I wish I had pics of it but it's the slant roof in the sunset picture of Tressin.

Anyway... we just love our camper. Happy hibernating, ole Starman Hilton. Rest up. Next summer will be a different story!

Icky Piggy Shuffle

This has by far been one of the longest weeks of my life. Monday morning, at Kelly's to drop the girls off, I thought... hmmm, Tressin feels a little warm. We took her temp and yes, she had a fever. Not really sure why mom's take temps. Dude, we know. We just know. I had a bad feeling. Now I am not a negative person. You can ask those that know me best. It is actually one of my pet peeves. Nothing drives me more crazy... "We will never make it to the front of this line. Our food is going to be horrible. The weather will be too hot, too cold, too windy..." I mean really, life is too short, buck up! So it wasn't necessarily negativity as much as realism. I knew it was coming. And it did. By Tuesday night she had a 104 degree fever and the most horrible cough and congestion I have ever heard. I didn't sleep a wink, even while she did between motrin doses and back rubs and soothing words from mommy. Wednesday afternoon we took her in and got confirmation of what we had suspected (mom had spent all of those sleepless hours on the internet you know)... H1N1 had hit the littlest Starman. We got her some Tamiflu in the nick of time. Got sissy some too. So it's Thursday night. Both girls are back to fighting and being sassy aka normal. Yay! What really sucks is that we can't go to Nebraska tomorrow, a trip that has been planned for like four months. No Grandma Carol, Papa Ermin, Auntie Terri, Auntie Julie, Uncle Larry, "the cousins", a fun ass wedding, Grandma Lordemann et al, Brooky Bottom, Grandma and Grandpa Starman, the Winns and taco pizza from Godfathers. Rowan cried when we told her we weren't going... poor thing. It was a tough call. But as parents, you have to do what is best for your family.

Now go wash your hands!

The Facts of Life (sans pics)

Once again it has been too long since I updated "the blog". Oh well. Deal with it. Sorry Auntie Hat, I have good intentions but life just gets in the way.

Short version...

Rowan turned five. Crazy, crazy shit that I have a five year old. Even crazier is how much I love her. And that she drives me insane at the same time, especially in the mornings while getting ready for school. "Hey, can you run and put your shoes on please? Please go put your shoes on. I would appreciate if you would listen and put your shoes on. Put your shoes on or I am going to get upset with you... PUUUUT YOUR SHOOOOOES ON!!!!!!!"

The Winn's came. I love them. Especially the girl one. She gave me a keychain that put the forever in BFF.

The papa and the nana took a road trip to Northern CO. My dad hooked up with some of his old fraternity brothers and they went to a CSU game. (The "other" university in Colorado) He didn't understand what happened to them... they had gotten so damn old. Vee was psyched there was another wife younger than her. Probably not as psyched as that lady's husband. ;)

Our basement is coming along. HVAC, electrical and framing are nearly complete. Actually thinking about ordering drywall. Will it be done by Christmas?? Doubt it. Spring? Maybe. Next football season. Hell ya!

Gearing up for 9 nights in the Arbor State the second week in October. A Lordemann wedding (put your dancing shoes on), Aunt Terri's birthday, some time at Brooky Bottom, a Friday night in Fremont... it's all good.

Now that, my friends, is an update. The facts, if you will. But they aren't the facts of life. Remember that show? "You take the good, you take the bad, you take them all and there you have the facts of life..." It's not all good for us. Pretty sure it isn't for you either. We take the bad too. Trust me. But we hold strong to the fact that we can face challenges with the strength of a warrior, work through them with the heart of a savior, and wake up to better day.

That's just how we roll...

New Digs

So the girls have a new room, well it's the same room but it looks a lot different so Rowan calls it her new room. We said goodbye to the baby furniture via Craigslist, covered the yellow walls with pink and put together some bunk beds.

I know change is inevitable but I had a tough time with this one. I cried when we took the crib down and got really nostalgic when we went to paint the room. I thought back to being about 5 months pregnant and since we decided the first time to not find out the sex of the baby, we had to do something neutral. Of course the most important things in our lives at that time were the dogs. Hence the yellow room and dog theme.

Two little girls later... Ta-da- Pink room! Gotta give props to our neighbor Jay who painted it for us. He did an awesome job, was really fast and is available. He told us that while he was painting Rowan peeked her head in and told him it was really cool that he was a painter. He said that's the first time a female has ever said that to him. Funny!

Bunk beds- before.

Bunk beds- After. They were surprisingly easy to put together.

The girls love them and mommy really hopes her favorite interior decorator will be making a Labor Day trip to Colorado so she can help with the finishing touches.

Beef and Bean Days

I don't know what the second weekend in August represents to you... but to us and our fellow Milliken-ites... It's Beef and Bean Days, Baby! To be perfectly honest, besides the first year we moved here (the second weekend of August, 2003), we haven't really participated in the festivities. We always have something going on and invariably we always have something going on the second weekend of August. Until this year...

We rode bikes downtown for the parade. I was so impressed with my little farm town! It was pretty good!

Mini-Milliken-ites

We sat by a super nice family from West Greeley who were headed up to the Park to check out all the booths and activities they had going on. Of course, we also saw some of our neighbors and have I ever mentioned that I really like my neighbors? I do, and for the most part, always have. But in the last year or so, with some additions, Settlers Drive has become really fun. Lots of kids that are all about the same age. And with kids, usually comes parents. So we hang out between all the front yards; staring down speeders, breaking up fights (between the kids that is) and chit chatting. Out of the chit-chat came the idea for a little Block Party. And the First Annual Settlers Drive Beef and Bean Day BBQ was born! Everyone brought food and friends and we watched the fireworks, not to mention the crazy lightning show that accompanied the fireworks. Needless to say lightning that crazy is usually followed by torrential rain, at least this year in Weld County! So the party ended except for a few stragglers and the fire pit. It was exactly six years TO THE DAY that we moved here and I remembered again how lucky we are.

Here's some of the crew getting ready for fireworks.

Settlers Spawn

Now we are gearing up for Rowan to start "Pre-K" a week from Monday. I am changing up my work schedule so that I can pick her up everyday. But no more Monday's off... It's been four years, that I have had Monday's off. I'm gonna miss it but am excited to be done earlier everyday, pick Rowy up and maybe have some time to work-out. Enough about me, she's super pumped up for school!

We are taking one last little trip and going to Alamosa this weekend. Scott hasn't been able to go the last couple times and my brother Mark will have his kids so the girls can hang with their "cussins".

We might as well enjoy a little fun time because next weekend we will be putting a new room together for the girls, pink paint and all.

Now entering the "bunk bed years... look out!

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