Friday, April 29, 2011

To busy analyzing will and kate's kiss

I meant to post some pictures but I got so caught up in the last nights office episode (which was highly disappointing) and the royal wedding that I forgot to. I know the three people who read our blog are really worried about the promise I made and didn't follow through on, SO I will post our April photos soon. Like while it's still April and before it is May.

Just for the record I did not get up at 4am to watch the wedding but when I was forced to get up because my husband is the loudest bathroom person EVER I did immediatly turn the TV onto the Today show. Just in time to catch the couples first kiss. I than went into a serious venting session about our media having to analyze everything...it's a frigging kiss in front of millions of people...not exactly the arena for tongue! But if I were the princess I would have showed some nipple.

Have a nice Friday and a groovy weekend too!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A house a home part 3: A lesson learned

No pictures this post...check back tomorrow for those:)

To conclude my past two posts; we are still buying G and G's house (as long as ours sells) but we are a little delayed in listing and here is why:

Senior Care is quite a complex reality but it can basically be summed up into two categories:
1. Independent living
2. Assisted living

G and G fall into the first category. As we began to look at independent living facilities we had no idea there would be such limited housing available. Long waiting lists for patio homes (which is what Grandma would prefer) and large non refundable entry fees at some of the facilities. Some truly promote your Independence while others do all the every day tasks for them, like cooking and cleaning.

The places that do everything for them, felt more like nursing care and as grandma put it "I don't want to be around all these old people because they make me feel old!"

One of the first places we toured did not have kitchens in their apartments. They had three large meals in their dinning hall. As we sat there eating no one was smiling and I had to fight back all my tears trying to picture G and G living there. When we told the other family members their reaction was the same as ours; there is no way Grandma would be Grandma with out a stove! Such a simple thing but something that defines who she is. Where would we get our weekly banana bread and marble squares? I am only joking but baking is something she truly enjoys.

Soapbox moment:
Having done hours of research, talking to people in the field and visiting 5 of these places;  I can tell you there is not enough care for our seniors. There are some great places and some really not so great places. And though our parents are still functioning just fine this will be something we all have to think about someday and something our kids will have to think about. Long term health insurance is a huge benefit if you can get it. This will allow hospice or long term nursing care in your home for minimal cost when and if they need it. MOST ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES  DO NOT TAKE IT!

I can also tell you that if you start this process do your research! Stop by the places unannounced or make a lunch appointment to eat with some of the residents there because everyone of of these places is trying to SELL you on how lovely their facility is. There is always fine print and some of it is pretty deceiving. We have to be a culture that starts advocating for and taking care of our seniors....they are such a knowledgeable and unique generation.

OK I have stepped off of the soapbox now:

Luckily for us G and G are still capable to make decisions.  I am so proud of the two of them because even though this has been a really hard decision to make, they are doing it while they still can, not leaving it to their kids and grand kids to have to make.

We have narrowed our search down to two places that will promote G and G to live and feel independent; cook for themselves, clean, garden, join in activities if they choose or just be as they always have been, independent. They will be with-in three miles of us. We have placed them on a waiting list for a patio home knowing that they may have to do some apartment living in the meantime, which is their decision completely. And as of now we will list our house in June but as I say often "its always in God's Hands."

 The Little Boy and the Old Man by Shel Silverstein
Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."

Said the old man, "I do that too."

The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."

I do that too," laughed the little old man.

Said the little boy, "I often cry."

The old man nodded, "So do I."

But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems

Grown-ups don't pay attention to me."

And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.

I know what you mean," said the little old man."

Thursday, April 21, 2011

A house a home: part 2

When Grandma and Grandpa began discussing leaving their home of 50 years because it had become to much work, Matt and I started to ponder their future with them. You see their two sons, Mark and Charlie, don't live close. One is in Crested Butte, 5 hour drive from Denver, and the other lives in Wisconsin. The really hard part is they and us always assumed this would be Nancy's department...but that is not what God had planned so there is no time to sit and worry about what might have been because the thing we do know is that she would want them to be happy and safe.

I digress....as Matt and I began to have conversations about how we could include G and G into our family home, we began to think about leaving our home. Maybe we could find a home with a Mother in law suite or build one? As we started to do the research we discovered this was a much easier idea in our heads than reality...unless you have a large budget or a decent amount of land. The other problem was geographical because neither party wanted to leave the general area we live; Arvada-Golden area.


During all this movement Grandma and Grandpa decided they felt like a burden to us, they just couldn't feel comfortable having us take care of them as they age and we continue to build our family. Something Matt and I disagreed with but had to respect. So as soon as that door opened it closed. And once again I turned the plan over to God.


Than they did something suddenly, they listed their home for sale and began to look at independent senior living. Grandma began to see a reality in saying goodbye to their home of 50 years and it scared her. She began asking us to buy their house....so Matt and I took a day or two to really think about this.

Its the perfect layout, Three bedrooms upstairs, one downstairs. We could expand our family easily.


It has a huge yard with a view of the mountains.


Its less than a mile from Majestic View Park and Nature Center.


Its the house Nancy grew up in and where Matt lived during his high school years (when his parents moved north.) Mason's bedroom could be the room his Grandma grew up in...just slightly sentimental.


Us being there would give Grandma and Grandpa a sense of comfort in their aging years, they could be close to us in location and they could visit as much as they wanted.


It all seemed pretty perfect.



So we agreed to buy it! But its never that easy....

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

A House A home: part one

Our little Entrada house is not just a house,its a home!


It began as a college house for Matt and Nick, purchased in May of 2001 by Steve and Nancy.
It hosted several LARGE gatherings of drunk college kids and several room mates. The walls were adorned with life size Victoria secret posters and a mixed bag of handy down furniture.
Its the house where I first met Matt in the fall of 2002.
 where he swooned me with his golden locks and cute smile.

Its the home we first lived together, graduated college, started careers, became engaged, came home to as a married couple AND

  brought our baby boy home too.


Its were all of our siblings have lived and left (even Cade for a few months.)

 Where Matt and I stood sobbing in the kitchen after Nick's moving truck pulled away to Arizona because it truly was the end of an era.


Its where someone near and dear to us has been mourned and missed, everyday!


Its where neighbors have become our friends and where people look out for each other and their animals while away.


Its on the outskirts of Golden, the town we love so much...near the mountains and the miles of trails we love to hike and run.

Its our 3 bedroom 2 bath 1170-sq ft home. It ain't fancy but its our first home and its been a great home.

Sure it has its negatives, like it backs up to a decently busy road.


The kitchen needs some updating and more space.


The living room and dining area are small and on cold days when everyone resides there it feels really small.

BUT the biggest negative is the layout of our house. The upstairs only has two bedrooms and the third bedroom is two stories down in the basement. And according to Mason, that is where the monsters live.

Yes, expanding our family could be done, people do it in far "worse" situations. The kids could share a room in time.


BUT maybe we have outgrown our little home?


And as God so often does, plans have presented themselves....

Monday, April 11, 2011

What's cookin' good lookin'

Mason is bonkers about cooking.

and once you let them help you once

they want to help you every time

So I just set up a "safe" station

while he explores I can do the other cooking!

His current favorite is lemon with sugar! Ha!

Note to Self: I need to order some kid cooking items for his Easter basket. 

I know there are a million blogs about cooking but this recipe for "Jalapeno Thingies" by the Pioneer Woman is worth blogging about.

 I make these frequently when we have guests over and they are devoured.

Here is the link:

She details it quite well on her blog.
The only changes I make is adding some cheddar. I do some with just Cheddar for my husband that doesn't like "creamy" things (man is he missing out) and some combo. I also do them in the oven on broil instead of a grill. I place them on a lined cookie sheet on a cookie rack, so all the grease can drain off.

 Also we tried them on a burger (suggestion by our friend Chris Valdez) and they were delish!

Just wanted to share. Happy Monday!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Can we bottle some of that energy?

A lot of Mason pictures in this post, I guess when you are parent that is what becomes of pictures and things you talk about. I swear I still have a brain and can talk about interesting things but he is the core, the substance, the light of our eyes..ok you get it!

We have been keeping busy these days. We were getting ready to list our house and to buy G and G's house in Arvada....we still our. Its just not a next week thing more of a next year thing. Its a long story and a whole other blog post (I will do soon) but for now we are going to hand over the timing to God and let the doors open as they will.

 So back to our crazy two year old, with Mason I have discovered the more activity the better. I try to balance our weeks with my work and lots of activity mixed in with the normal weekly routine. As with all things, some days are much easier than others. Thank god on the challenging days there is always wine...of course in the evening when he is in bed!

This past week we fit the zoo amongst other things into the schedule. The Rockies are back in action but instead of participating in the opening day madness we went to the zoo with ten thousand other people who had the same idea.

Mason got his hippo climbing on...

And tail sliding..

while I caught up with my girlfriend Lauren and her little guy, Camden. Isn't he a cutie pie? They are so much easier at this stage but I just heard he is crawling so good luck Roots!

By the time we got home from the zoo a nap was needed!

By my third attempt of laying him down I couldn't see or hear him on the monitor so I went to check..

He had put all his bed belongings and himself under the fitted sheet!  "Ya mom, find me."

A nap in his bed wasn't in the stars this day...

 I think there is a short window for Mason to take naps and when I miss it he goes to crazy town. He literally starts climbing the "walls." Some days I just deal but this day we were meeting my parents, their friend Lisa, and Matt in Golden for dinner. He NEEDED TO SLEEP.  

So I put him in the car and before I even got the harness buckled on his seat he was out! 

 I drove Lookout Mountain. I rolled down the windows and listened to some tunes and acted like I was taking a mini road trip.

I even got out of the car to take some scenic pictures of our recent fire. 
and our little town tucked between the Mesas.
After the 40-minute recharge (for both of us) he was back and ready for more action!

so we chatted with the chickens and waited for the rest of the crew!

And when Dad arrived his little guy couldn't get to his arms fast enough! They have such a cool bond.


And patio dinning with Grandma and Papa was a lovely way to spend Friday evening.

My dad, who is already Mason's favorite, took Mason over to the firehouse. Mason got to go inside and climb on the real fire trucks and they even gave him a new fire hat.  

He was a pretty happy kid and we hadn't even made our way over to the ice cream parlor yet!

I can tell April is shaping up to be a great month!