Nearing the End

For those of you that have been regular readers, you know that Craig and I have been diligently working on giving our study a facelift. All those home improvement shows we've been watching the past year have had the effect the home improvement stores hope for. The Mann's have surely given their fair share to Home Depot and Lowe's this past month! Anyway, we are getting very close to the end. Things are starting to take shape and we should be finished by the end of the weekend. Tonight we are planning on hanging some bookshelves above the desk, and then it's just a matter of putting up some decorating touches to make it feel like home. The desk is done and the kids are really enjoying their new work space. The chair arrived at the beginning of the week, and while it felt a little large at first, it really is a comfy place to read and hang out while others are working. To give you a sense of how far we have come, here's a glimpse of what we have so far. By the beginning of next week, it will be done!

Winter's Wonderful Surprise!

It amazes me how unpredictable Colorado winters can be. Just when I think I've got the rhythm, a surprise year is thrown into the loop! This year, it has been surprisingly warm. In fact, most recently, I am convinced it has been warmer than Florida or Arizona, where our family resides. Yesterday the dog and I basked in the the sun and enjoyed a leisurely afternoon walk. Today, I am going to update some furniture for the study with a fresh coat of paint! I usually only spray paint in the summer, but with the weather as nice as its been I know I must take full advantage of it. Besides...a cold front is coming in early next week, and I am sure we'll probably be buried knee deep in snow!

Taking Some Time Away

For Christmas this year, Nana helped send us on a ski trip to Winter Park, CO. We were able to get some really great deals since we waited for the middle of the week in January, so we spent two days on the slopes skiing and having a great time.

Caleb decided he wanted to try his hand at some moguls. He did pretty good for his first time.

Ema learned to side stop and ski between the cones without using the wedge!

Our favorite of course was our cozy little cabin we stayed in. It was a little drafty, but it suited our needs just fine!

It's Been A While

I guess it's been a while since my last posting. Life has been a little busy. We've been spending all of our free time redoing our study. Craig and I decided to crown mold, attempt to build a built in desk and try our hand at some built in bookshelves. We started about two weeks ago, and it has been a slow process. The room is now painted, and the crown molding is up. The desk is about half done. We've had a few set backs, but things are starting to pick up now. I don't want to show too many photos before it is all done, but here's one to give you a sneak peak at how busy we've been.

Happy Anniversay

Yesterday, Craig and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary. One of our resolutions this year is to try to avoid going out to eat for the month of January. It was a little disappointing to think of not going out to dinner for our anniversary. We both had to work, so I put a roast in the crockpot, allowing us the feeling of not having to cook once we got home! Later the kids said we should celebrate with a cake. Craig is a cake lover, so I conceded and baked a homemade cake. While it was tempting to just go buy one, I know how much my family prefers homemade. Besides, wouldn't that constitute eating out? It was a very relaxing and enjoyable evening, but next year I think we'll go out!

Happy New Year

Welcome 2009. We are so glad you have arrived. We look forward to what you have in store for our family. Although we do not yet know what it will entail, we can guarantee that whatever comes our way, we will enjoy each moment. While some may be more enjoyable than others, it is a gift to be able to treasure all of life's experiences. Both the good and the not so good!

Today we give thanks to God for the life we have been given. We want for nothing. We have been blessed with two really great kids, a wonderful marriage, stable jobs that provide for our desires, and possessions beyond our needs. For all of this we give thanks to God. It is amazing how much we have accumulated in our life. When we step back and look around, how can we complain? And yet, we do. Today we say thank you, for we realize that in any given moment it can be taken away.

This year, we would like to say thank you to all of our family and friends. We cherish the relationships we have built with each of you. While they are all unique, each one holds a special place in our hearts. We wish you a very Happy New Year and hope that you enjoy each day it has to offer.

May God Bless You Beyond Measure...