Boulder - Day One

Ryan and I got up at the unthinkable hour of 3:30 am to head off to Colorado which was painful...but well worth it when we arrived before noon Colorado time! We were pooped but had a good amount of the day left. First, we had to check in and our baggage was right on that line....

Yes, that reads 49.5 - a mere half pound from having to pay an additional $100 on top of the $25 baggage fee. Ugh. Our other bag was 48.0 pounds. Clearly we needed to get an additional bag while out in Colorado.

Anyway, 8 hours later we arrived in Denver. We grabbed our rental car and headed off to Boulder... what a stunning view:

We headed right for our hotel to check in - the historic Hotel Boulderado:

We stayed here last year as well. They have the most comfortable beds ever as well as the friendliest people. Love it.

Before we could crash, we spruced up a bit and headed out to Pearl Street for some shopping. We were dragging a bit when we came across this lovely place:

This was an "Herban Lounge" which had oxygen treatments as well as herbal teas, oxygenated water and "smartinis". Ryan and I opted for a "clarity" oxygen treatment which consisted of herbal infused oxygen (rosemary, eucalyptus and others) and we also had some herbal teas that were delicious. We walked out feeling more awake and alert and really...it was just kind of fun and different!

We then went off to the Rio Grande to visit Ryan's friend, Eric. Ryan also worked there in college. We all sat on the rooftop deck and had super yummy margaritas with a view of the mountains.

What a fabulous first day... we crashed at 8pm ready for day 2!

Elevation 2011

Ahhhh, vacation time! We headed to Colorado a few weeks ago as we did about the same time last year. Ryan went to college in Boulder so he still has friends living in Boulder and Denver. This year, though, we got to visit with Ryan's oldest brother Todd, wife Cathy and kiddos Owen and Grant since they moved from Oregon this past fall. We will miss our yearly visits to the Pacific Northwest but find Colorado an equally outstanding place to visit - if not better, just due to the sun and all.

This year we spent a full 7 days there so I will split it into a few posts.

This guy, for one, did not want us to go as he thought curling up in Papa's suitcase would mean we would stay....

We would also be remiss if we did not thank our catsitters, those who make it possible for us to leave on vacation while knowing our boys are well taken care of! Thanks to our dear friend Kate (Scoop and Chris, too) who the cats love almost (maybe just as much and sometimes more!) as mama and papa. She not only feeds them and scoops poops and peeps but hangs out and plays with them, which they just loooooove. She has been there since we first got Coodie 5 years ago which is why we call her "Aunt Kate":

Also a big thank you to Jed and Bonnie for helping out this time as well (I need a pic)! We are sure lucky to have people to count on.

Five!

Another belated birthday post was for our beloved cat, Coodie. He turned five on April 15. We are so very thankful for each one of those 5 years we have had with him as he is such a loving part of our family. He had a very difficult 2010 with his health which makes us even more happy to celebrate his birthday this year! Cheers to furry friends =^..^=

Late Birthday Post

I am a bit late in posting for Ryan's birthday that was a few weeks ago. I did make a fun video but have been unable to post it (grrr, Blogger) but we did take our yearly pilgrimage to a Red Sox game to celebrate so I do have those pictures to share.

Happy pregame Ryan.

Clay Buchholz - starting pitcher.

Some new giant TVs....I know they are called something else...jumbotrons? Anyway, BIG and pretty cool.

Gonzalez and Pedroia.

Terry Francona - he is the man.

Youk warming up and up to bat.

Big Papi...I had a hard time getting a good pic but he was very gracious. Considering the record was terrible at the time and most of the players seemed pretty focused - Big Papi always responded with a wave or a smile and a nod.

Happy Birthday Babe!

...and to finish it up... Wally doing a hip thrust! Yahoo! We had a great time once again in Beantown celebrating another fantastic year in Ryan's life. Cheers!

ilovermont

Ryan and I love to travel - on a plane or in a car, local or very far away. We have already filled you in on our trip up to northern NH and a few weeks after that we headed to VT with our best friends, Kate and Scott (aka "Scoop"). A few years ago we traveled to NYC for a long weekend with them as well and I can tell you, it is always a great time. We travel well together and always make some amazing memories. Vermont was no different. Kate found us a house to rent in West Wardsboro near Stratton Mountain and Mount Snow - a little ski lodge on a dirt road - and it was fantastic. We arrived on April Fools Day (Friday) driving through the snow to get there ... and it ended up snowing until late Saturday afternoon. It was lovely... a crackling fire, some good wine, fun games, a hot tub and good friends. It can't get much better than that!

Scoop lounging after unpacking. You can't see it, but the snow is lightly falling through the window.

Scoop showing off our bar.

Ryan looking up some local places for us to check out.

Ryan and Scoop watching the Sox game at The Last Chair.

Another view from The Last Chair.

The four of us in front of the fireplace. We are missing Emily and Dan who could not make it so we included them with our arms outstretched on either side....

In Manchester, VT hanging with a painting of an orange cat...of course we were missing our cats!

Ryan and Scoop in Manchester.

Look at those happy boys!

...and there was some dancing....

...and playing of Bananagrams...

Hey, what's up?

In front the fireplace...so warm and wonderful. I would want one if it weren't dry as a dog biscuit.

Kate and I snuggled in front of the fireplace.

These last two are my favorite photos of the weekend..... we love you guys!

Friends are the family you choose.

Weekend in the Mountains

After a loooong winter with way too much snow and way too much time inside, Ryan and I got away for our first of several weekends away that we have planned through early spring. We headed up north to Whitefield, NH with our friends Jed and Bonnie and stayed at the historic Mountain View Grand Hotel (below photo courtesy of Jed).

The hotel is over one hundred years old and was refurbished to the tune of $26 million in the early 2000's. They have also recently added a wind turbine (see below) and have become an eco-friendly hotel...right down to the recycled straws in the restaurant. Walking into the lobby feels like you are walking back in time.

This is a view from the tower atop the hotel and a view of only half of the massive building.

And another view of the mountains....

Ryan and Jed on our 5.5 mile snowshoe.

Bonnie and I chatting and snowshoeing. What an awesome workout....

...with an amazing view!

So, we really earned our pre dinner drinks and yummy dinner at the hotel restaurant.

After dinner, we enjoyed a bonfire and the super moon at the same time. Wow!

Bonnie and I patting Miss Belle.

Here we are proving to the guys that we are truly queens - not sure if they bought it, though! (photo courtesy of Jed)

We also visited the Mountain View Farm. Ryan got to pat a miniature donkey.

We saw some goats who were very affectionate.

A very fuzzy angora bunny.

Some more goats hanging out in the sun.

We had a such a great time up in "God's Country" - very relaxing and so much fun! More fun weekends to come....

Happy Birthday, Paw!

Today we celebrate my dad's birthday. 2011 will be a good year for my dad filled with good health (since a scary heart attack 11 months ago) and a retirement...finally! I was beginning to think he was pulling a Brett Favre....just in the retirement sense, of course. (Sheesh, in recent months, that has taken on a whole new meaning!)

So, let's do a trip down Memory Lane ....

My dad and I

Yes, friends...I got to ride in style while the rest of the family hiked up those mountains. I am sure the wooden throne I sat on was not too comfy for me but can you imagine what my dad's back felt like. Ouch!

The whole fam in the early 90's.

Ethan, Ryan, Aaron and my dad.

My dad and I on my wedding day. I am telling him to please not say anything to make me cry.

My mom, dad and I on a hike this past October in Boothbay Harbor.

Happy Birthday, Dad! We look forward to many more hikes with you and mom! Thanks for always being there for me.