Sunday, November 23, 2008
EMBRACE CHANGE
So, if you've been checking over the last couple of days, our blog has been a little off. I tried to import a new template and it messed everything up. Therefore, I decided it was time for a change. While I really appreciated the calming feel of the last template, I am enjoying the boldness of this one. Life is about change isn't it?! It's about creating your own history. Placing your stamp on life. Sharing with others so they can learn alongside you. It's about making a statement that shows your true colors. Well here are my colors--for this period of time anyway. I am EMBRACING change!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
People Are Funny!
This year Craig vowed he was going to take advantage of the variety of benefits Pepsi offers to their employees for free. One of these is tickets to a variety of sporting events. Well last night was over the top. I have never been to quite an event.
Let me set it up for you.
An Air Force Hockey game.
For those of you that don't know, Air Force has never really been a very good hockey team. Until recently, that is. Last year they won their division championship, so this year the games are a little more crowded. Certainly not sold out, but more seats are being filled. Good for them. They certainly deserve some support. They are ultimately defending our country so that we can maintain the lifestyle that we tend to take for granted.
Anyway, last night was an experience that I will certainly remember for a long time. You see, the AFA was offering free hotdogs, popcorn and soda through the end of the first period. Now you would have thought they were giving away free automobiles with the number of people that showed up for this game. I have never seen this stadium so packed. We arrived about 30 minutes early. Usually we arrive 10minutes late and the stadium still has more empty seats than filled ones. We barely found a spot to sit. By the time the first period started the stadium was standing room only. People were lined up on both sides behind the nets, plus blocking stairways just to see the game.
The free food was being dispursed in the basketball stadium area. The line to get the food came out the entrance of the basketball court, wrapped around the entrance doors past the nets for the hockey arena, and past the third entrance to the general admission seating area. CRAZY! What people won't do for a can of soda, a box of popcorn and a 50 cent hotdog!!
I know what you're thinking. Did we stand in line? WELL OF COURSE WE DID! We had to get our money's worth for our FREE evening!
Even with all those people the evening was a blast. Air Force blew Sacred Heart off the ice. We left just into the third period with a score of 4-1. On the drive home they scored two more goals. I am not sure what the final score ended up being, but it certainly was a memorable game.
Let me set it up for you.
An Air Force Hockey game.
For those of you that don't know, Air Force has never really been a very good hockey team. Until recently, that is. Last year they won their division championship, so this year the games are a little more crowded. Certainly not sold out, but more seats are being filled. Good for them. They certainly deserve some support. They are ultimately defending our country so that we can maintain the lifestyle that we tend to take for granted.
Anyway, last night was an experience that I will certainly remember for a long time. You see, the AFA was offering free hotdogs, popcorn and soda through the end of the first period. Now you would have thought they were giving away free automobiles with the number of people that showed up for this game. I have never seen this stadium so packed. We arrived about 30 minutes early. Usually we arrive 10minutes late and the stadium still has more empty seats than filled ones. We barely found a spot to sit. By the time the first period started the stadium was standing room only. People were lined up on both sides behind the nets, plus blocking stairways just to see the game.
The free food was being dispursed in the basketball stadium area. The line to get the food came out the entrance of the basketball court, wrapped around the entrance doors past the nets for the hockey arena, and past the third entrance to the general admission seating area. CRAZY! What people won't do for a can of soda, a box of popcorn and a 50 cent hotdog!!
I know what you're thinking. Did we stand in line? WELL OF COURSE WE DID! We had to get our money's worth for our FREE evening!
Even with all those people the evening was a blast. Air Force blew Sacred Heart off the ice. We left just into the third period with a score of 4-1. On the drive home they scored two more goals. I am not sure what the final score ended up being, but it certainly was a memorable game.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
How I Met Craig
Saw this in a friend's Blog...loved it...wanted to share it with you all!
1.Where did you meet?
At the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. He sold bear food...I sold giraffe food. We were 16 years old.
2.What was the first thought that went through your head when you met?
What a dork! I had to teach him to tally up the money we made for the day and make a new bank for the next day. I was in a rush because I was going out on a date. He was so slow to process and all I could think about was the date I was going on...funny thing is I don't even remember who the date was with now.
3.Do you remember what he/she was wearing?
A teal shirt with the zoo crew emblem khaki shorts and green and white adidas shoes. I am sure he must have been wearing undies and socks, too, but I don't recall!
4.Where was the first time you kissed this person?
At our friend Englebert's house. We were out on his deck.
5.Where did you go for your first date?
The Will Rogers Shrine.
6.How long did you know this person before you became a couple?
Three months.
7.How did he/she ask you out?
He didn't really...he just took me on a wild goose chase through his neighborhood and then we had birthday cake with his family...his sisters were celebrating their
9th and 12th birthdays. Now they are 30 and 33. Our daughter is older than his little sister was when we met!
8.Has this person ever proposed to you?
Of course! We got engaged 16 years ago on Thanksgiving weekend. He took me to the jeweler's on the way back college in Greeley. We bought the ring and when we got in the car he pulled it out and asked me to marry him!
9.Do you and this person have kids together?
The best ever! Emaleigh Rebekah who is ten and Caleb Craig who is seven.
10.Have you ever broken the law with this person?
Well I don't think so, but I never say never. I am sure we have been known to speed on occasion!
11.When was the first time you realized that you liked this person?
At the zoo's end of the summer picnic when I offered him my pickle!
12.Do you get along with his/her family?
Yes!
13.Do you trust this person?
With all of my soul!
14.Do you see her/him as your partner in your future?
I will be forever saddened if we aren't together.
15.What is the best gift she/he gave you?
Himself
16.What is one thing He/She does that gets on your nerves?
Waiting for him to get ready. His pacing is a little slower than mine...well a lot actually! You know that song "Waiting on Women" by Brad Paisley...well I think it should be called "Waiting on a Mann!"
17.Where do you see each other 15 years from now?
On a beach in Florida watching the waves crash in...sipping pepsi's on our lanai!
18.What causes the most arguments?
What arguments?!
19.How long have you been together?
21 years! On January 7th we will be celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary. We were just saying at dinner tonight..."where does the time go? It hardly seems possible we have been together so long. It seems like just yesterday we were falling in love!"
20.Are you Married?
Thanking God for this everyday!
1.Where did you meet?
At the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. He sold bear food...I sold giraffe food. We were 16 years old.
2.What was the first thought that went through your head when you met?
What a dork! I had to teach him to tally up the money we made for the day and make a new bank for the next day. I was in a rush because I was going out on a date. He was so slow to process and all I could think about was the date I was going on...funny thing is I don't even remember who the date was with now.
3.Do you remember what he/she was wearing?
A teal shirt with the zoo crew emblem khaki shorts and green and white adidas shoes. I am sure he must have been wearing undies and socks, too, but I don't recall!
4.Where was the first time you kissed this person?
At our friend Englebert's house. We were out on his deck.
5.Where did you go for your first date?
The Will Rogers Shrine.
6.How long did you know this person before you became a couple?
Three months.
7.How did he/she ask you out?
He didn't really...he just took me on a wild goose chase through his neighborhood and then we had birthday cake with his family...his sisters were celebrating their
9th and 12th birthdays. Now they are 30 and 33. Our daughter is older than his little sister was when we met!
8.Has this person ever proposed to you?
Of course! We got engaged 16 years ago on Thanksgiving weekend. He took me to the jeweler's on the way back college in Greeley. We bought the ring and when we got in the car he pulled it out and asked me to marry him!
9.Do you and this person have kids together?
The best ever! Emaleigh Rebekah who is ten and Caleb Craig who is seven.
10.Have you ever broken the law with this person?
Well I don't think so, but I never say never. I am sure we have been known to speed on occasion!
11.When was the first time you realized that you liked this person?
At the zoo's end of the summer picnic when I offered him my pickle!
12.Do you get along with his/her family?
Yes!
13.Do you trust this person?
With all of my soul!
14.Do you see her/him as your partner in your future?
I will be forever saddened if we aren't together.
15.What is the best gift she/he gave you?
Himself
16.What is one thing He/She does that gets on your nerves?
Waiting for him to get ready. His pacing is a little slower than mine...well a lot actually! You know that song "Waiting on Women" by Brad Paisley...well I think it should be called "Waiting on a Mann!"
17.Where do you see each other 15 years from now?
On a beach in Florida watching the waves crash in...sipping pepsi's on our lanai!
18.What causes the most arguments?
What arguments?!
19.How long have you been together?
21 years! On January 7th we will be celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary. We were just saying at dinner tonight..."where does the time go? It hardly seems possible we have been together so long. It seems like just yesterday we were falling in love!"
20.Are you Married?
Thanking God for this everyday!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The Search Begins!
The year Emaleigh was born we started a new Mann Family Tradition. A tradition that (I must sadly admit) I did begrudgingly for many years. The tradition of cutting down our own Christmas tree in the beautiful Rocky Mountains near Woodland Park, CO.
Over the years we have had many memories...
THE GOOD Sledding with the kids, hot cocoa and candy canes, searching for that perfect tree, and of course trudging through the snow knee deep.
THE BAD Craig having to carry the tree and the video camera only to trip and give himself a black eye. Ema not wanting to walk on her own. Caleb not wanting to pee in the wilderness, so he went in his pants instead.
THE TENDER Ema giving up her special baby blanket by leaving it on a rock for Jesus to come get it. (I just know He will be holding it for her when she gets to Heaven. I just hope I get to be there to witness it!)
Now that the kids are a little older, they really love searching for the tree. Last year, we started a new tradition going up a few weekends early before the snows arrive. This gives us the chance to take our time and really search for the perfect tree! Craig and the kids were so excited they could hardly wait to use their special tree hunting tools.
With Emaleigh being in fourth grade this year and learning about our state symbols, she decided we needed a blue spruce-CO's state tree! They were a little hard to come by, so she conceded with these three:
The weather was a bit chilly at first, but by the end of our hunt it was warm enough that the kids begged us to stay and play. They even made their own slingshots.
Surprisingly, on our way back down the mountain, it started to snow!
While I didn't start out enjoying this tradition, I must admit that is one of my favorites to start our holidays off...
...that and Turkey Dinner at Grandma's. This year we are having it today, as they are heading to AZ on Tuesday until Christmas.
Over the years we have had many memories...
THE GOOD Sledding with the kids, hot cocoa and candy canes, searching for that perfect tree, and of course trudging through the snow knee deep.
THE BAD Craig having to carry the tree and the video camera only to trip and give himself a black eye. Ema not wanting to walk on her own. Caleb not wanting to pee in the wilderness, so he went in his pants instead.
THE TENDER Ema giving up her special baby blanket by leaving it on a rock for Jesus to come get it. (I just know He will be holding it for her when she gets to Heaven. I just hope I get to be there to witness it!)
Now that the kids are a little older, they really love searching for the tree. Last year, we started a new tradition going up a few weekends early before the snows arrive. This gives us the chance to take our time and really search for the perfect tree! Craig and the kids were so excited they could hardly wait to use their special tree hunting tools.
With Emaleigh being in fourth grade this year and learning about our state symbols, she decided we needed a blue spruce-CO's state tree! They were a little hard to come by, so she conceded with these three:
The weather was a bit chilly at first, but by the end of our hunt it was warm enough that the kids begged us to stay and play. They even made their own slingshots.
Surprisingly, on our way back down the mountain, it started to snow!
While I didn't start out enjoying this tradition, I must admit that is one of my favorites to start our holidays off...
...that and Turkey Dinner at Grandma's. This year we are having it today, as they are heading to AZ on Tuesday until Christmas.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
A Party for Our Ema-bear!
Ever since we can remember we've had a nickname for Emaleigh. Ema-bear. I think is stems from her nursery being decorated in bears. This weekend she celebrated her birthday with her girlfriends at the Build-a-Bear Workshop. Emaleigh has been a fan of Build-a-Bear from the time her Grandma Mann made her first one when she was just 2 years old. A brown and white dog named Fluffy. Yesterday, along with 4 of her favorite girlfriends, she made her 5th Build-A-Bear friend...a cuddly gray koala named Birthday Wish.
Her party was a huge success. Amazingly, Craig and I hardly saw her! She spent most of her party hanging out with with her friends. So different than the other parties we've had for her. I guess this is the sign of her growing up. Not so sure I'm ready for it, though!
Her party was a huge success. Amazingly, Craig and I hardly saw her! She spent most of her party hanging out with with her friends. So different than the other parties we've had for her. I guess this is the sign of her growing up. Not so sure I'm ready for it, though!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Treats for all
Willy Wonka and Laura Ingalls
Halloween is always such a great time for the kids. This year all the family came over for soups and grilled cheese. The weather was a balmy 70 degrees. A little warm for soup, but it was enjoyed, none the less!
Woaa! Now that's a load of candy. I'm sure the dentists will enjoy us this year. Perhaps a lesson in giving and sharing with others is going be taking place real soon!
Halloween is always such a great time for the kids. This year all the family came over for soups and grilled cheese. The weather was a balmy 70 degrees. A little warm for soup, but it was enjoyed, none the less!
Woaa! Now that's a load of candy. I'm sure the dentists will enjoy us this year. Perhaps a lesson in giving and sharing with others is going be taking place real soon!
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