A Denver Family's Adventure Through The Ups And Downs of Life



Thursday, March 24, 2011

Heading to Vegas

What am I going to do for a weekend
without my boys??

I'm headed to Las Vegas to meet my BFF who I haven't seen for a few years for a long, girl's weekend.  I know that it's good to get away, but this is going to be the first time that I'm away for Sam for more than a single night.  When I told Brian that I was planning a trip out of town, he was all for it.  He knows that I really need a few days to decompress.  It will make me a better wife and mother in the long run.  Thank you!!!

I also want to thank Andrea for looking after Sam tomorrow while Brian is at work.  You have helped us out so much this month.  I don't know what we would have done without you.  THANKS!!

I'm definitely taking my laptop so that I can squeeze in at least one Skype session during the weekend. I can't be totally without them.


Are there any bets that people would like me to place while I'm out there??  Maybe the Steelers or Broncos to win the Super bowl in 2012. 

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

My Favorite Elizabeth Taylor Movie

I just love "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."  It's my favorite Elizabeth Taylor movie of all time.  She and Paul Newman just sizzle on screen together.

The Story
Brick (Paul Newman), an alcoholic ex-football player, drinks his days away and resists the affections of his wife, Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor). His reunion with his father, Big Daddy (Burl Ives), who is dying of cancer, jogs a host of memories and revelations for both father and son.




Definitely worth watching.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Friday, March 18, 2011

“Ten Ways I Break the Rules”

These days pick up any magazine, watch any news show, talk to any doctor/therapist/professional, and you are told what you should do and how you should do it.


Drink more water! Eat more fiber! Sleep 8 hours! It’s stinking impossible to follow all the rules.

So, I don’t. Let’s face it. I’m not perfect and it takes way too much work to be that way. Some things have to go and I’m not going to feel badly about it unless it is going to kill me, hurt someone else or send me to jail for life.

Here are ten confessions that were so easy to come up with I’m sure there are a lot more:


  1. I always drive (at least) ten miles over the speed limit. I’ve only had one speeding ticket in my entire life. 
  2. I don't give my husband enough credit for everything that he does for his family.  I just jump down his throat about- What have you done today?
  3. I don’t drink 64 oz of water a day. Not sure many I drink, but it’s not enough.
  4. I sometime chew my fingernails.  Yuck!
  5. I don’t floss. Maybe once a quarter. Gross, I know. I usually lie to the dentist.
  6. I almost never stretch before or after I run.
  7. I haven't had a full 8 hours of sleep for over 2 years.
  8. It has been years since I have been on a weight lifting routine.  I know that this will help me increase my running speed and my weight loss, but when I get home, I want to spend time with my son and chill.
  9. I don't always shower after my lunchtime run.  Thank goodness I have my own office, so if you can deal with it, I can too.
  10. I stole the idea for this post from SUAR. I'm also stealing some of your confessions for myself.

How do you break the rules?

Let’s get the ball rolling and be real. Post about it on your blog under “Ten Ways I Break the Rules”. Or, just leave me a comment. It’s fun to confess.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

For $25


The first person that contacts me with a donation for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for $25 will receive a One Night Stay at the beautiful Bentwood Inn in Jackson Hole, WY.

The Bentwood Inn is centrally located to everything you will want to do on your Jackson Hole vacation. The inn is six miles from the world famous Jackson Hole Ski Area at Teton Village and the south entrance to Grand Teton National Park. It is six miles from Jackson Town and twelve miles from the Jackson Hole Airport. It is a spectacularly scenic sixty-five mile drive through the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton National Park to the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
The Bentwood Inn, built in 1995, was constructed using massive 200 year old logs brought in from Yellowstone National Park after the great fire of 1988. There is approximately 6,000 square feet of luxurious space, including 5 bedrooms. The craftsmanship is remarkable throughout. The 3-acre property has large,expansive decks for relaxing and socializing in warm weather. The majestic old growth Cottonwoods and pines offer privacy and solitude year round.

The only restriction is that this expires on April 30, 2011, so you only have 45 days to use it.

Please e-mail me at wilberta2006@yahoo.com if you are interested.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

UPDATE: Top 50 Things We Must Do With Our Kids In Denver Before They Grow Up

Last Saturday, I was able to cross another item off of the "Top 50 Things We Must Do With Our Kids In Denver Before They Grow Up" list.

37. Free Saturday at Denver Art Museum

We had a blast.  HERE are some photos from our day.


Here is the list as it stands now.  There are definitely LOTS of things still available.

1. Concert at Red Rocks
2. Tiny Town
3. Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Competition
4. Georgetown Loop Railroad
5. Wings Over The Rockies Air and Space Museum
6. Ice Cream at Liks
7. Boo At The Zoo
8. See flowers in bloom at (Wash)ington Park
9. Water World
10. Books at the Tattered Cover
11. Children's Museum
12. Rockies game
13. Blossom of Lights at the Denver Botanic Gardens
14. Pumpkin Patch at Anderson Farms
15. Hike a 14er (OK, an EASY one)
16. Denver Firefighters Museum
17. Picnic in Civic Center Park
18. Films on Fillmore
19. Broncos game
20. City Park Jazz
21. Forney Museum
22. Ski trip to the Molly Hogan lift at A-Basin
23. Butterfly Pavilion
24. Sandwiches at the original Heidi's Deli
25. Nuggets game
26. Serve Thanksgiving dinner at the Denver Mission
27. Tour Celestial Seasonings
28. Paint-a-pottery
29. Elitch Gardens
30. Horse-drawn carriage ride through LoDo
31. Nutcracker by the Colorado Ballet
32. Wildlife Experience
33. Parade of Lights
34. Avalanche game
35. Dinosaur Ridge
36. Paddle boats in City Park
37. Free Saturday at Denver Art Museum
38. Watch a rodeo at the National Western Stock Show
39. See a play at the Arvada Center
40. Colorado Railroad Museum
41. Rapids game
42. Saturday events at Denver Public Library
43. People's Fair
44. Play in the fountain behind Museum of Nature & Science
45. Ride the Light Rail
46. Feed stingrays at Downtown Aquarium
47. Cliff divers at Casa Bonita
48. Gondola ride on Cherry Creek
49. Oktoberfest in Larimer Square
50. Have a plot in a community garden

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Start of Lent

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  I'm definitely not one to be religious, but I want to participate in the "self-denial" portion of Lent, not for Jesus, but for my health.

According to Wikipedia:



Lent in the Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. Lent is a time of sacrifice for Jesus. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.



I am committing to not drink pop during work hours for the next 40 days.  For me, this is going to be hard.  I have been drinking the equivalent of (at least) 2 liters of Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Max or Coke Zero ever work day for about the last 2 months.  Bad, I know!!!!


I really have to get back into drinking water and hydrating my body better.  I'm hoping that this will kick start my weight loss and move me away from drinking pop at home, too.


Do you celebrate Lent?  Are you fasting in any way?

Friday, March 4, 2011

Florida Photos



Like Father, Like Son


Sam Definitely Liked the Gulf Better than the Ocean


 The Boys Needed a Nap after Visiting the Beach

My Boys at Dinner on Saturday Night

Brunch with Grandpa and Pat at Bravo on Sunday

 They were Definitely Buddies by the End of the Trip