January hike

I love that in Colorado, we can head outdoors and not freeze to death. Don't get me wrong, it gets cold and snowy... But we have so many days of sunshine that those cold, snowy, cloudy, rainy days are more manageable. 

So, this past weekend, Anne, MM and I headed up to Lair 'o the Bear for some hiking. It was lovely!! The weather started cool but ended up being perfect hiking weather! Onto the eye candy...

Bringing in 2014...already past events and ones to come!

Its already more than halfway into the first month of 2014, and I have not done a great job of keeping up with blogging.  This year will (hopefully) be a fun filled and eventful year.

New Year's Eve was the most relaxing, laid back night I have had in a long time. Jay and I made dinner and boozy adult milkshakes, rented a couple of movies and curled up on the couch with our fuzzy children for a quiet night in.
It was lovely!

Jay and I also attended our first (of many?) Mammoth game of the season.  If you're a Denver-ite (or live in the vicinity) and haven't been to the indoor lacrosse games of the Mammoth... you're missing out. The games are like a giant party... and its easy to follow! If you know anything about hockey or soccer, or even a bit of basketball... indoor lacrosse would make sense! When Jay and I went it was Star Wars night... highly entertaining

I also just celebrated a birthday. Yes, really. I turned 30. Eeek! It was really not a big deal, but man that number just seems sooo.... old? mature? I don't really know. I know I don't feel much different, but I do have to remember that I am no longer in my 20s.  Luckily, I have a few other friends turning 30 this month as well... one of which is my lovely, beautiful friend Julie.  She is literally 2 weeks and a day younger than me. So... we decided to throw ourselves a Roaring 20's Thirtieth Birthday party. Flapper dresses and dapper suits required.  It ended up being a fantastic night!

So... what will the rest of this year hold? Wedding planning, outdoor adventures, time with friends and family and... Marrying the wonderful, amazing man in my life. And that will indeed be the best adventure to have.

Christmas time!

The holidays have come and gone. I feel like they went by much faster than usual! However brief, they were nice. Andy came home to visit...and I got a lovely Kitchen Aid stand mixer!! It's a baker's dream!

Nutcracker and dance girls

This year, for our Christmas gift, Julie bought tickets for Stacey, myself and Julie to head to the Nutcracker!!! I haven't been to the ballet since I was a little kid...but I love, love, love watching Center Stage, Breaking Pointe and any other ballet movies and shows. Add in the fact that I dance...means I have a greater appreciation for ballet. It was amazing!!

parade of lights

Every year, in downtown Denver, is the Parade of Lights. A nighttime, highly lit up parade. This year, Jay and I volunteered to help out...it was soooooooooo cold. Fun, but chaotic. I don't believe we will be helping out again...

Book of Mormon

For Jay's birthday present (in September) I managed to snag tickets to the Book of Mormon when they went on sale in June...for November. Confused yet? Anyway, about a week before Thanksgiving, Jay and I headed out for a date night! Dinner, drinks and the show! 

It was awesome!!! 

Beautiful light

A few pics of the gorgeous sky in December

Texas

I have been terrible in updating during this holiday season. It's just gone by so fast! However... Here we go!

So, for Thanksgiving Jay and I headed down to Abilene, Texas with his dad and step-mom to visit his Aunt Jean and Uncle Bill. If you remember at all, this is the same Aunt and Uncle we visited in Montana and last year in Texas. 

It was great to see Bill and Jean, despite the reason for the trip not being the happiest one...but on the plus side, we reconnected with Jay's cousin and her family!

Since it wasn't a pleasure trip, I didnt take a ton of pictures, but if did get some great sunset shots...

Extra practices

Last month, during the pipe band trip to Sidney, NE, I learned that one of the bands pipers works as a firefighter jut down the street from me! Since he brings his pipes to the firestation he suggested extra practices - for him to play for a dancer, and for me to dance.  This has lead to extra practices for both of us! It has been a bit of learning curve for both of us.  As "piper-speak" and "dancer-speak" are two totally different languages. Luckily, I've been dancing with the band long enough that I know a bit... and my firefighter buddy is game to try lots of new songs. 

We've been getting together about once a week to practice.  The bays where the engines sit are HUGE... so I have a lot of space to work with.  Its all concrete floors, so my steps aren't the most perfect or precise... but its helping me with more stamina (yea!) since each tune is typically long enough for 6 full steps. I also get to push myself to work on bigger things (like leaps) since I am comfortably laced into my tennis shoes.

taking a breather between dances

This whole arrangement is based on how often the Engine gets called out for things.  Sometimes our practice sessions get pushed back a bit...depending on how busy the firefighters are.  This past weekend, on Saturday, in mid-session my firefighter friend got a call.  So I hung out in the kitchen and helped the guys make brunch/lunch. 

yum!

Since I had nothing else on my calendar for the day, I even got to take a short ride in the truck! My inner 5-year old was totally freaking out, I mean, who doesn't want to ride in a fire truck?

checking out the gear in the truck

Its a pretty exciting arrangement that we have.  Extra pipes practice and extra dance practice. Its good for all!!!  Julie has come with me one practice session.. she's working on learning everything for her TCRG (Irish dance teacher) exam.  Hopefully I can convince a few more dancers to join me as well.

 

Two more fall hikes

Despite the incoming cold weather, girl's Sunday hikes are still goin' strong!  Last weekend, Anne, Brandy and I headed up to North Table Mesa.  Its super close to Golden and not too tough... since we don't want to wear Brandy out as our still hiking preggo friend!

Brandy and Anne

beautiful day!!

This past weekend we went over by Red Rocks to hike. The day was cold and windy, but very beautiful!  Mary Margaret joined us again and Brandy brought along Loui, her super hyper but loving chocolate lab.  He liked to be the leader of our group. 

Brrr! Chilly start

which way shall we go?

Loui leads the way!

another beautiful day!

There will be more hikes to come... and I am sure more layers added to our hiking outfits!

Fall feis

Fall Feis this year was bad for me. Bad placings mostly. However, I felt like I danced pretty well, so I try not to let it get me down. Luckily, mom took lots of pictures for me, so I can see what I need to work on (extension!) and where I look pretty good.  It was also my first time rocking the side-bun look at a competition. Which I think I really like!

In class recently, Julie had been having us work on stamina, stamina, stamina.  While the Judge's might have not liked my dancing... at least I didn't feel like I was going to die by the end of my steps.  Stamina is a must!!!

Until next time... I will just keep working.

see? I have to work on landing straight-legged

I also need to learn to smile!

I think pictures like this are fun! It looks like I am flying

 

I have an awesome support team!

Stacey makes my Irish Dance family that much more awesome!

This is what happens...

When you leave your phone in the dance studio during class.

You get hacked!! Luckily, Hannah-banana is one of my favorite kiddos ever, so it was ok. And these pictures totally crack me up!! Love you, Hannah!

Hannah-banana!

Halloween post (a little late)

For Halloween this year, instead of our typical night of house parties...we all dressed up and went out downtown instead!

the birthday girl!

Within our group, we had two different "Big Bang Theory" costumes... too bad we don't all get along ;)

 

Big Bang couple #1

Big Bang couple #2

Jay and I went with a Dia de los Muertos/Voodoo couple vibe.  It was quick, easy and cheap! But a lot of fun! Jay lent his creative hand to my lovely "la calavera" type mask (which allowed me to not have my face painted all night long)

Jay and I

One of the crowd favorites was Brandy and Drew's costume.  They were "Flo" and "Mayhem".  It was hilarious and awesome.

the pink hand weights were key!

All in all, in ended up being a great night. Now to think about a costume for next year...