Our Colorado Tour ~ Estes Park, Breckenridge & Salida

What a great weekend spent in the great state of Colorado! Ben and I began this journey because I wanted to spend some time in Estes Park. They had a great art festival going on and the summer was just about ending. Why not explore on a three day weekend?!?

Estes Park was great! Elk were walking everywhere. We had left Safeway and were driving down this hill and here come the elk just chilling and eating.

Then we saw this great big one. I tried zooming in a little but man this honker was HUGE!! Ben said, "Call your dad quick....This is a good one."

Right out side Estes Park was a cute little lake called Lily Lake. Just the name got me =) I was hoping to see the Lilly pads but I guess they come out at the end of July and early August. The lake was serene and beautiful.

I love this picture of the Aspen and the mountain behind it. I actually blew it up and had it put in black and white. Very nice!

Rocky Mountain National Park was not our favorite. I had heard the fishing was good in Estes Park and in this National Park but when we started driving there was not one place that we could see to go fishing. Ben was so bummed out, just as much as I was. We later found out that you had to hike a minimum of 2 miles to reach any river in the park...Not what we had planned (We bought a book later that evening that explained all of this, perfect timing, right?!?)

As we are driving just out of the park Ben looks bummed and I am disappointed. What to do? Oh drive around some more and find the river. We end up in Breckenridge, CO and find beautiful rivers and scenery. It is one of my favorite places to go!

The trees were already turning colors! So beautiful!

We went into this fly shop that put there flies in a container shaped like a fish (below) and also in the shape of a fly. I found it so ironic I had to get a picture.

Beautiful Breckenridge.

The big catch in Salida, CO....Ok not really. Ben didn't even know he had caught a fish until he flung the rod back and a fish was flapping in the hook.

At the end of trip, I enjoyed reading by the river and Ben enjoyed some fishing. Great end to a great weekend!

Angostura Lake, Rapid City, SD

Ben and I went to Rapid City a couple of weeks ago. We had alot of fun hanging out at the beach and enjoying some family time. Here are a few pictures from the trip.

Wonderful Family Memories

My sister, mom and grandma came to visit recently. We had so much fun shopping and touring the town. We also went to the Royal Gorge Bridge. It is an amazing bridge over the Arkansas River. Ben and Keila took this bungee jump ride that threw you over the gorge. Tons of fun!

Around the Stewart's House in 80 Seconds

I am going to condense this month into a couple of posts because so much has happened, ie. new car, family visits, plays, bathroom and backyard renovations. So to follow is "Around the Stewart's house in 80 seconds" haha

(anybody recognize that from around the world in 80 seconds from the news. Geez I crack myself up)!

"You are so cute, I wish I didn't have to kill you"

Ok, that sounds a little creepy, I know, but I almost wet myself when Ben told me that today. He was speaking of the cute little bunny rabbit hopping through our yard as we were dripping sweat landscaping.


See rabbits traditionally are cute....



But when they eat holes in your grass and sit in the middle of you beautiful flowers you don't see them as "cute" any more. They are now referred to as the "devil." That may be harsh let us say... "Horrible little animals who multiple every second you turn around which makes more horrible little animals to eat all your grass and flowers."

So now you can appreciate why I was laughing so hard as a cute little bunny hopped around our yard and my wonderful husband, in his cute little voice, says "You are so cute, I wish I didn't have to kill you."

Needs According to Google

What Cassie Needs According to Google

Rules:

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009 at 1832

Type in your name and the word "needs" in quotes ("[Your first name] needs”) into you favorite search engine and see what comes up.



1. Cassie needs a doctor (Don't we all)

2. Cassie needs toilet paper (Yes , how did you know)

3. Cassie needs to get over Diddy (um...Not even sure)

4. Cassie needs a home (Oh, that is sad. No worries, I have a couple)

5. Cassie needs a nice husband (Definitely. HAHA. Just kidding, I got a keeper)

6. Cassie needs a weave (Can white, blonde girls really get that)

7. Cassie needs your love (xoxoxoxox)

8. Cassie needs a change (We are redoing are landscaping, does that count)

9. Cassie needs your prayers (I don't mind those at all)

10. Cassie needs to sit the F*@! down (Geez, you don't have to get so angry about it)

Senior Year of High School Flashback

Fill this out about your SENIOR year of high school.The longer ago it was, the more fun the answers will be.And, if you're so inclined... Do that "notes-copy-paste-answer-tag" thing!

1. Did you date someone from your school? Yes but does one date even count.....

2. Did you marry someone from your high school? No

3. Did you car pool to school? Just with my sister because we had swim practice at 5 AM

4. What kind of car did you have? Oldsmobile, I know, I got all the guys...LOL (I think that is why my dad did it, so I wouldn't get one date)

5. What kind of car do you have now? Jetta

6. It's Friday night...where would you be? I would have been out with friends and my boyfriend's friends

7. What kind of job did you have in high school? The job I met my hubby at, a bagger at Family Thrift Center (grocery store)

8. What kind of job do you do now? Registered Nurse

9. Were you a party animal? Initially but chilled it out

10. Were you considered a flirt? Not so much

11. Were you in the band, orchestra, or choir? Choir

12. Were you a nerd? Not really but wanted good grades

13. Did you get suspended or expelled? Can you imagine what my dad would do to me!!!

14. Can you sing the fight song? I remember pieces and the beat

15. Who was/were your favorite teacher(s)? Is it bad that I can't even name one right now. I can tell you fav elementary school hands down Mrs. Weber

16. Where did you sit during lunch? Senior year we had open campus so wherever my friends were that is where I was

17. What was your school's full name? St. Thomas More High School

18. When did you graduate? 2002

19. What was your school mascot? Cavalier

20. If you could go back and do it again, would you do it all again? HELL NO!!!! I can't stand high school caddiness

21. Did you have fun at the Prom? So much fun!

22. Do you still talk to the person you went to the Prom with? Um, we are married =)

23. Are you planning on going to your next reunion? Yah, why not

Shower Floor Tile

Bear Dance Golf Course

Ben got to play a great course in Castle Rock, CO called the Bear Dance Golf Course.

First Hole: Sprinkling

First Putt: Pouring Rain

Second Hole : Pouring (after a 40 minute wait from the first hole)

Second Putt: Sprinkling

Third Hole Tee Shot: Puddles of water as he is teeing up the ball.

Fourth Hole: Sprinkling

Fifth Hole: Pouring

Sixth Hole: Pouring

Seventh Hole: Sprinkling

Eighth Hole: Sprinkling

Ninth Hole: God felt bad for him and finally let the rain up =)

And the Bathroom Saga Continues

Completed Tasks:

• Tile Done: Check
• Sinks In and Working: Check
• Mirrors Hung: Check
• Drawers Filled: Check
• Toilet Functioning: Check
• Closet Organizer Hung: Check
• Clothes Hung: Check

To Do Tasks:

• Add Drawers to the Closet Shelves
• Trim on the Floor
• Tile Shower
• Buy Glass for the Shower
• Hook Up Shower Head and Knob
• Find a Brushed Nickel Inset TP Holder

Ok, You get it...A few more things need to be done. LOL.

Mary's Find

Mary and Gary came out for the July 4th weekend. Friday we were able to fit 18 holes of golf it. It was great day until the 18th hole and then it started drizzling which then led into a down pour. Thank goodness we were safely in the car by then.

Saturday, July 4th we tried to enjoy a festival (that didn't exist) and instead went up to Cripple Creek (a bigger version of Deadwood). It was DOWN POURING like no other on the way up and on the way down. But made it safe and sound. They were having live music and grillin' up a storm. Very fun. I was the lucky one and sat down at a machine that had a fifty dollar credit! BIG WINNER RIGHT HERE! Ok so I didn't "win" it per-say but I felt like a winner.

With the many storms came many beautiful rainbows. This one Mary pointed out was particularly bright. The camera just does not do it justice.

Hope everyone had great 4th of July's!!!

6 months later AND....

Ben and I are deal finding, clearance shopping, getting the most and if possible the best without paying triple what we like. We know what we want and how much we want to spend on it. So instead of the typical 2 weeks of deciding something, ie. our new refrigerator, it took us approximately 6 months. Granted there were a few snags along the way that bumped a couple of months but we take full credit for taking FOREVER!

Yesterday we FINALLY! got the refrigerator. It is a Samsung, french door sleek black frig. AMEN! That is what I kept saying after we bought it. I was SO SO SO tired of not being decisive that I had a enough. LOL.

Oh my poor flowers!

So the pictures you most recently saw were the "Pre" Hail storm....Now enjoy the post (Um, Cassie had to replant everything) ones.

Bathroom Tiling Progress

I never realized how much work tiling was until I was talking to a friend who was thinking about attempting it herself.

Here were a few of my observations when Ben tiled:

1. He sweat...ALOT
2. He always said he hated tiling
3. He never complains but he definitely complained
4. His arms seemed much larger after he tiled than before.
5. The bathroom smelled like boy

So my friend began telling me how labor intensive it really was and after doing just one class she said "screw it." She also said how much I must love my husband for all the work he does.... if you know what I mean. Thank you honey =)