Boulder Creek

We had a blast! It is only about a 30 min drive down beautiful backroads from the house. Here are some pics from our day!

My high flying boy!

Lunch Time!

Man, if only I were bigger. It looks like so much fun!

Hesitant Momma finally let him try, but he had a crew in the water ready to catch him!

On the way home I saw a billboard advertising Mountain Air Ranch. Go ahead... google it! Hahahahahahaha! Sorry, had to do it. :)

Do Not Forget To Moisturize!

I am taking the kids to Boulder today to play in a mountain stream. While I was getting things ready, Ryder disappeared. When I found him this is what he looked like.

It was all in his hair too. Fortunately, Poison Control was not necessary this time. It was just a huge tub of Petroleum Jelly he was playing in. He won't need moisturizer for about a month! Oh boy, this is just the start of our day! LOL!

Let me introduce you to my best friend since I've been here in Colorado. I still have not gotten her name, but I am willing to bet she is better than your friend, Siri. She is so dependable, always listens and obeys, never talks back, offers invaluable wisdom, and leads me down the right road every time. My best friend has even died and I was able to bring her back to life immediately. WoW! I know they say money can't buy friends, but this friend is the exception. Reader, you can have a friend like mine too. Just zip on down to your nearest Verizon store and purchase a Droid Pro. You won't regret it. She is simply amazing! I'm thinking about getting her one of these.

Are We On Vacation?

We purchased a headboard and footboard for Tyler off a Craig's List from a man in Evergreen. J was unable to get the headboard home because it was too large, so we took a family trip back up there yesterday to tie it to the van roof. It was a beautiful drive and we stopped along the way for some play time. I can't wait until we can hike, but we need to look into getting a carrier for Ryder first.

Here is what I read online about Evergreen:

Well established as one of Colorado's hidden treasures and a popular day escape, the Evergreen community offers an array of parks, art galleries, theatre, restaurants, entertainment, and more. Evergreen Lake, our crown jewel is fed by tributaries from Mt. Evans and is known for its all-season recreational activities such as boating, fishing, birding, ice-skating, weddings and concerts, and is bordered by mountain parks with miles of trails for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and horseback riding.

I had already heard about Evergreen from our dear friends back home. It truly was a great little town in the mountains and I was so glad we took our time yesterday to enjoy it. We will definitely be going back.

Can you find the watermelon?

We ate outside at a cute place called Beau Jo's. It was very yummy. We got Mountain Pie. You are supposed to drizzle honey on the crust for dessert after.

Last night we sat outside with neighbors for a few hours and ate more pizza while the kids played.

Thursday 07/26, we went to the Arvada Volunteer Firefighter Park with our neighborhood friends. It has recently been completely redone and was very nice. It is 1.2 miles from the house. I also discovered there is really close library. The Standley Lake Library is 1.1 miles away. I must go very soon!! I'm so excited and hope it's spectacular with lots of children's resources!

The kids played with the neighbors almost all day. At one point, they played hide and seek in the basement with the lights off. It was everything I could do not to ruin the fun. I didn't want anything to get messed up, but what can really get messed up in my already chaotic, unorganized home?

When J got home from work we went to Ikea in Centennial. We drove through downtown Denver. It was quite the site. It was neat to see Sports Authority Field, Pepsi Center, Coors Field, and Six Flags Elitch Gardens Theme Park even if it was from the car window. It was the first time I had really been outside of Westminster since arriving in Colorado. I think there will be lots of FUN in our future.

Friday 07/27, one of my Mom-in-Law's lifelong friends, Joel Ann, who lives here in Colorado, came to help me. She brought a delicious meal that my kids LOVED, a lot of brochures and books about Co, and her friend, Flo. Brenda met Joel Ann over 20 yrs ago at Christian Family Chapel. This proves that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. I am so thankful for these woman who sacrificed their time to serve someone they had never met. What an example to me! It was refreshing to have other women in my house to bounce ideas off of and to have adult fellowship with. It was like I had known them for a long time. They helped me assemble a shelf and unpack boxes. I figured out a solution for all those toys, but I will have to show you that later.

The cable guy also came Friday. Just what am I going to do with all these luxuries - cable tv, a dishwasher, a garage, a fireplace.... WOW! I am thankful!



Here is a pic I took last week at the lake with the neighbors.

HAPPY SATURDAY AND GO USA!!!!

Some of the Things on My Mind

Justin's "MASTERPIECE" as the kids call it. They beg for it and, if you had just one taste, you would too!! He creates it with Blue Bell Ice Cream, mixes in Oreo and Reeses Cup, then tops it off with magic shell. Soooooo GOOD! Yesterday, we found Rocky Mountain Road and it is unreal! Oh, and by the way, I found my scale today. YIKES! I better lay off the Masterpiece!

This Colorado weed that is definitely a result of the fall of man. It's obnoxious and I do not like it one bit! It's as aggravating as Crab Grass or Dollar Weed.

Toy storage. The shelving I used back home will not fit in the basement, so I am presented with quite the challenge. I am thinking something like this would be cool, but I want to do it with old wooden ladders and they are hard to find. And, the rungs on each side of the ladder have to be even or a board will not lay flat. Wouldn't it be cool with 3 ladders? I don't know if I will ever find them and, who knows, I may even change my mind. I'm really into ladders right now, though. The things you can do with them are endless!

This is my HERO! How did I ever live without one? One of God's greatest gifts for sure :)

And, last but not least, drum roll please........ We have a showing tomorrow. Please be on your knees at 7pm 07/26.

As the title states, these are just some of the things on my mind. I am always, always thinking about God's goodness and faithfulness to me and am trying to trust Him with our future and not worry. There has been a lot of opportunity to practice this :) I am grateful for a husband that excels in this area and is confident that this is where we are supposed to be. I appreciate his unwavering faith.

These are just a few pics I took back in Florida before the movers came. I have been unpacking and finding new places for all this stuff. Funny how are house here is much bigger, but it sometimes does not feel like it. It seems nothing can be put in the same place as it was. Will I ever get done? Both my brain and my body are tired by the end of the day. I think too much and I always want things to be perfect and just so which drives my Honey bananas. Where should this go? Would it be better over there? Should I put it downstairs? What if it doesn't fit? Where am I going to put all these toys? I need to get one of those? On and on and on.... Sometimes it is hard to stay focused. I keep wanting to venture out, but then I say to myself, "Work then play." There will be time for fun later. Besides, it will be a lot cooler in Colorado very soon and more enjoyable to be outdoors.

The truck driving away

I will leave you with a pic of sunshine!

Don't Cry Over Spilled PAINT (try not to at least)

The wiktionary definition of my blog title:
"It is no use worrying about unfortunate events which have already happened and which cannot be changed."

It's the PRO here again.

-Don't leave a can of paint on the ground without the lid completely hammered down and secure! You never know when it might *mysteriously* get knocked over without you knowing and leave a big pool of paint ON THE CARPET for you to attempt to clean up whenever you happen to discover it.




On a different note, some folks from our church moved our stuff out of storage Sat. With the exception of our missing piano leg, everything seems to be ok with only a few bruises here and there. I guess it can't all be in perfect condition after a cross country move, huh. Now to the unpacking!!! I'm going to admit that is very hard to remain joyful in the midst of this. I don't like it! It's overwhelming. My husband said last night, "It's only been one day and it feels like it's been 30."

I have filed a claim with the moving company about the leg and the trace dept is also working on it. I will keep you up posted.

Learn From A Pro (ME)

-Don't ever paint any room in your home an obnoxious color unless you plan on repainting before you move out.

-Don't install those chair rails. They may look cute and all, but who wants to trim the ceiling and the baseboards and the top of the chair rail and the bottom of chair rail? STUPID and double the work!

-Always throw away your supplies when done painting or clean them.

-Don't pour paint into a solo cup because your toddler may think it is a drink.

-Don't paint in your hubby's tight boxer briefs. You never know when you might have to fly out the door because of an emergency

-Don't panic! Or at least try not to.

-Know the number to Poison Control. It's 1-800-222-1222. Easy enough to remember.

-It really is fine and dandy to drink paint if you get thirsty, but I wouldn't recommend it. Ryder likes Sherwin Williams Soft Tan mixed in Olympic Interior Flat Paint + Primer in One.

-Someone told me you could put your brush in the freezer to keep it from drying out. Don't try it! It will turn into a rock and you won't be able to continue painting after lunch.

-Always have gas in your car because you will have to go the hardware store at least 3 times per project.

-Don't buy the cheap plastic drop cloths because the painter tape will stick to it and when you try to get it off it will rip your plastic to pieces.

-You will always, always, always drip so be prepared. And, you more than likely, will drip right through that hole the tape created in your cheap plastic drop cloth.

-To get the little drop of paint off the carpet, just cut the top fibers off with a sharp pair of scissors. It works quite nicely. You can't even tell it was there.

-If you have any say, don't have air vents installed in the floor. When the air cuts on, it will blow your cheap plastic drop cloth a mile high and it will stick to the wet wall you just painted.

-Don't ever choose painting as a profession because it really sucks, I mean stinks.

-Lastly, if there is a professional painter in your life, thank them. They are angels! Thank you, Uncle Mike! I wish you were here to help me! I miss you!

Sorry, our memory is full on our computer which is why I have not been able to post pictures. As soon as we get this problem resolved, I will get you all caught up. I took some great ones yesterday!

GREAT! The word to describe yesterday! I went to the Unique Thrift Store and it was a huge success. I may just go back today. I bought 2 pairs of nike shorts for Tyler, a Gator shirt for Tyler (even in Denver you find UF stuff because they're the best), a bath mat, a hand towel, a regular towel, 20 hangers, a new balance pair of tennis shoes for Ryder, 2 oven mitts, and a purse all for $38 + tax. I was very happy!

After lunch and Ryder's nap we decided to go to Standley Lake. The baby and I walked, Tyler rode his bike, and Carter rode his scooter. It is so close - maybe 5 min at a normal walking pace. The trail and lake were both beautiful. We did not stay long because it looked like a storm was brewing. On the way back, we stopped at Somerset Park. This too was nice and well kept. The boys played for a bit. I cannot wait to get the baby seat attached to my bike and for Carter to start riding well. There are trials everywhere you look in Westminster. I anticipate lots of adventure with my boys!!

Once we got back into the neighborhood, guess who we ran into? Yep! Sandy. **Read my last post** She is really sweet, but..... WOW! That's what my dad would say. Anyhow, after chatting with her for sometime, some kids came out. That led to meeting the parents and all the surrounding neighbors in the immediate area. We stayed and talked for probably 2 hours in the circle. Guess what? One of the ladies was a hairdresser! Ryder's hair kept falling in his eyes, so she went inside, got all her stuff, and sat down in the middle of the circle and gave him a haircut for FREE. How awesome is that!

Our neighborhood is a 0.2 mile circle. I am beyond grateful for the smallness of it, for the great neighbors I have met so far (yes, even Sandy), that there are other children, for how close we are to adventure, and for the upcoming BLOCK PARTY Aug 18th. We may just have to consider buying in here one day. **I will have to write a post one day about how we got this house**

Justin left for work early this morning. He is going to look at some beds I found on CL for the boys. Hopefully, it works out.

Hope you have a terrific day! Isn't God good and faithful! I am so grateful that he orders my steps and that I don't. Pics to come.

The past 2 days have been spent trying to learn the area and unpacking what I can. The majority of our stuff will be in storage until Sat. Justin moved all the accessible boxes and those are the ones I have been working on.

The city of Westminster looks really nice and I think it will be a good place for our family. I don't really have anything to compare it to though. I have found the essentials - Super Target, WalMart, grocery store, Lowes, library, and the rec center. The rec center is awesome! It has 3 indoor swimming pools with a slide and rope swing, a rocking climbing wall, different special interest classes you can take, outdoor sports fields, and an amazing fitness center. I did a spin class yesterday morning using a guest pass and I loved it! We hope to join soon.

Our neighborhood is just a small circle, so the only traffic is from neighbors. It is quiet back here which is nice. Tyler has enjoyed riding his bike (I never let him do this at home). The downside is that there are not many kids in the circle and we are anxious to meet friends for our children. I have met 2 neighbors. My immediate next door neighbor is so sweet. Her name is Esther. She welcomed us with a vase of fresh picked flowers from her yard and has made available anything we should need to borrow from her home. She brought the kids some blankets yesterday. The neighbor down the street, Sandy, is nice too, but I think I will run inside if I see her coming. LOL! She is nosy and opinionated. She asked how much our rent was and then later tried to discourage me from homeschooling. Ugh!

I worked in the yard yesterday and was quite productive. It's looking better, but still has a ways to go. My hands got beat up. I am determined to have it look nice out there. Should have taken a before pic. Darn it!

Hmmmmm.....what to do today? I want to go thrifting and I want take the kids to the lake and park and I want to go to the zoo and I want to go up into the mountains. I need to go to the post office and I need to laundry and I need to paint the girly bedrooms. Stay tuned.

We Made It!

All the way through Kansas - rolling hills as far as the eye could see, old windmills and new energy windmills, cow parties everywhere, corn fields, sunflowers, and run down barns. It was really rather pretty.

We ate at Freddy's. The slogan is "The taste that brings you back" and it is absolutely right on. It was so fattening which usually always means delicious!!

The kids got louder and louder and you could tell anticipation was building as we got closer. They got silly and there was a lot of "pull my finger" action going on if you know what I mean.

We crossed over the CO state line and Denver was right around the corner. I was expecting to arrive to wondrous views of the Rockies, but sadly clouds obstructed my view. I dropped J off at the airport which, by the way, looks like a Big Top and then followed him to our home in Westminster. As we traveled further west, you could see the mountains better. They were beautiful even in the poor weather.

We made a quick tour of our house and then drove around the area so I could see where some things were. We are walking distance from a nice park and Standley Lake. It seems like the area will be nice for our family. People from the church we will be attending allowed us to borrow 3 air mattresses along with sheets and pillows and gave us a crate of some other essentials. I am grateful to God and already feel loved and cared for by people here that I have not even met. All our stuff will not be delivered until Sat so to say this week will be interesting is probably an understatement.

I was going to title this post "Home Sweet Home," but it just did not seem right. Jacksonville is still home to me. I am anxious though to decorate and get settled. My brain has a million ideas in it. Poor Justin. Lol! And, the yard is about to kill me. It needs some loving!

I will not be able to upload pics until we get Internet hooked up. So I will get you caught up on pics later. Thanks for your continued prayers! Still need home in Jacksonville to rent, but God has been faithful thus far and we believe He will continue to be.

Life is a Highway

Literally! The highway was our life yesterday! We left AL and drove through GA, TN, KY, IL, MO, and finally stopped in Topeka KS. Nashville had bad rain and traffic and St. Louis was congested for a bit, but overall, it was smooth sailing! We ate lunch at Chick Fil A in Clarksville, TN and dinner at Cracker Barrel in Columbia, MO (home of the University of Missouri).

The boys watched movies and listed to Adventures in Odyssey. There was some whining, but not much. At times, one boy would lay on the floor and the other in the seat. They made the most of their room. :) We just prayed for no wrecks!

We are heading down to a free complimentary breakfast and then we'll hit the road again. Last night, I saw a sign that said DENVER 560. WOOHOO!! We are getting close folks! Denver made it on the mileage sign! YES!

Pics to come. We are having trouble uploading.

A Family Shot

One of God's gifts to me - FAMILY! I am blessed beyond measure.

Day 7 Family Reunion 07/13

Last Day! BooHoo!

tubing, sliding down hill on boxes, glitter tattoos, antique shopping, and of course, more FOOD with brown sugar in it

I am so grateful for Grandma and Grandpa Platt who make reunion possible. Food, fellowship, family, fun - what's better? This week was a much needed rest for my soul. See you next year Chesnut Bay!

We are heading out bright and early for Colorado. Please pray for traveling mercies.

Day 6 Family Reunion 07/12

Rain, rain go away
Come again some other WEEK!

Before we were forced inside for the day, the poparazzi made an appearance again. The kids think it's the greatest! I think they purposely try to fall off!

We weren't going to let the rain wash away our fun. We moved the party to the basement and played our version of Family Feud.

The one's who chose not to drift off to the sound of pitter patter, moved to house #2 for more games.

Tonight was "young adult" night. We went bowling in Rainbow City, AL and then to Sonic for high calorie Sonic Blasts. It blasted my waist line for sure!