weekend snippets...

I can't begin to tell you how much I love coffee houses. Cafés. Coffee shops.
Almost every one that I have been to has some element of comfort. Something that invites you in, fills you up and begs you to curl into some worn out, comfortable chair and stay awhile.

I checked out a new one on Friday, with my mom and boys, and I have added it to my list of favs. Because, you know, Norbert and I have a list.

And that list usually must consist of several elements:
1. good coffee (almost goes without saying, right?)
2. cozy atmosphere
3. kid-friendly (because we have two of them attached to our hips for an indefinite amount of time :)
4. good coffee (because it's that important.) Have I mentioned that I have been reaquainted to caffeine thanks to the parents who lived with us for 6 weeks and preceded to grind and brew fresh coffee EVERY morning, whilst living here???!! I know, I just wrote 'whilst'....I think I've been seeing too many Masterpiece Theater movies, lately. But seriously, who could avoid addiction with that kind of morning ritual?!

I look up a lot.
It's random, but I like it.

And I have to say...kids are so much fun. They really are. Their giggles and excitement are SO contagious and one of the best mood boosters. Ever. These boys had perma-grins plastered onto their faces this whole time. Up and down, up and down. And then they topped it off with a big ol' bag of fresh kettle corn.

Ahhhhh, summertime........




p.s. We have something big up our sleeves. Come by on Wednesday (correction: Tuesday) to find out :)

p.p.s. This is how I am starting my work week.....listening to a new spin on an old favorite.

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ode to summer

A pictorial:

A stop for coffee, chocolate milk, bagels, puzzles and comics....

                                                                                                                             is the perfect Sunday morning.

A mini neighborhood gathering:

Do sparklers ever lose their appeal?

Nope.

Onto the big ones:

I have never lost my child-like excitement for fireworks.



It was a fantastic weekend filled with friends, family and neighbors.
I hope you had a nice one, as well :)


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a surprise visit

Good morning!

Okay, let me tell you:  it's been a long, a tiring and a wonderful weekend all in one. My sister, her family and a couple of close friends decided to spring a surprise visit on us and thus started a whirlwind of fun.
The inaugural activity for the weekend began at the Friday Faire.

How about that blue hour sky??

 

Well said.

Next up: A Coors Brewery tour. The long line in the sun meant that we were mighty thirsty by the time we got inside.
The fix? Super fresh day-old beer.

The bus ride in....

...and a pit stop at the Capitol Grill in Golden on the way home.

After a much needed nap, it was on to Pearl Street...

Yesterday, we spent the afternoon eating, drinking, laughing and, for some, hitting a round of golf balls at the nearby driving range.


I also gave this to my sister:

She claimed this stone a long time ago...



Off to finish my new designs :)


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the Weekend

Over the weekend, we took a little trip to Steamboat Springs with three other families and stayed in a historically preserved house on Carpenter Ranch.

It was nice to check out of here for a bit.

Two of our friends, who work for The Nature Conservancy, set up our weekend getaway along with all of our families. It was relaxing and crazy all wrapped up in one, which made for an incredibly fun time.

I spent a good chunk of time taking pictures of the ranch and inside of the house.

That was my quiet time.

This was Norbert's:

(he also hid here when he needed time away from the NINE children playing...I think everyone had some kind of hiding spot!)

The layout was really funky and eccentric with a door that led nowhere and a window at level with the floor in our closet.

I liked that. It was different.

The gentleman who oversees the house called it 'cowboy architecture'.

The house is filled with antiques and is wonderfully preserved.

The walls are lined with pictures of the Carpenter and Dawson families that occupied the house a century ago. I loved looking over them.

We also spent an afternoon (after a mimosa brunch) at Saddleback Ranch going tubing.

 Loved it! 

We finished that up with hot chocolate and doritos at the cabin down the hill.

Healthy, I know.

Fun? Absolutely.

And of course, we also spent a great deal of time eating, socializing, drinking and kicking back because seriously,

that was the whole point. :)

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