I suppose it is time for an update.

Good night, fellow readers...if there are any left!
It has been five months today since I have updated this blog. I must get back to my research proposal and literature review, but before I do, I will give you a quick run down of our life the past five months.

Today: Michael and I celebrated our second anniversary. We've had a quiet day togehter not doing much but being together...and doing homework. Guess we will have to celebrate our other second annivesary on December 31st. :)

September: Spent lots of money to get my Jeep fixed--to include a new front wheel drive shaft and new battery. I spent about an hour after shcool one day with a parent and janitor working on my Jeep to get it started. Lessons learned: Do not let your battery grow corrosion! Replace your battery before six years of life has sucked the life out of your battery! When the four-wheel drive makes clunky "something-is-stuck-in-the-fan" noises and pops out of gear, get it fixed!!! Do not take your vehicle to Colorado Springs Dodge for repairs.

August: School started for me. This year is busier than ever with more students and grade levels to work with. I am enjoying working with the fifth graders. It is fun to see how they have grown and progressed since my time with them in first and second grade, some of them have grown by leaps and bounds. In August I finished my first two classes and started my third class for my Education Specialist Degree. This is a degree above a Master's and below a Doctorate, other than a pay raise, I am not sure what exactly I will do with this degree. Being a better teacher would be fine with me. I've enjoyed many tomatoes from my two tomatoe plants (thaks for your help, Linnette).

July: was July. Hot. Some rain. We had friends over to celebrate the 4th of July. This was the first year since I moved to Colorado that I was not in Iowa for the 4th. No two hour long parades showing off every tractor in town. No frightening carnival rides--where one ride cost way more than a season pass to 6 Flags, Worlds of Fun or Adventureland! Oh yeah, and my tomato plants grew!!!

June: Austin, Nick and I rode the train from Osceola to Denver. They were here for about a week. Unfortunalty a majority of that week, it rained, so we didn't get to do much. Sorry, boys. Next time.

May: School let out!!!!

More Pics of McGoofy's Garage

McGoofy's Honky Tonk Garage

For just about every holiday and non-holiday, relatives and friends from near and far gather in McGoofy's garage. What is so special about McGoofy's Garage? Is it the horrible ventilation, the stench of beer, cigarette smoke, a wood burning stove and a fishing pond? Is it the fridge full of fish guts and fish bait? Maybe the decor that is made up from old magazines and treasures found at flea markets, auctions, garage sales and swap meets. Really, I think these things just add to the atmosphere of McGoofy's Fishin' Shop where nothing is for sale. There is no other place in this world where people from one to 100 anxiously gather to celebrate birthdays, holidays or just celebrate the day from dawn til dusk. In this honky tonk, there are no brawls, you will hear no complaints. You hear laughter, you hear banjo, guitar, singing, drums. You see smiles, you see embraces and you see love. You feel full of life, you feel like dancing...even to an old honky tonk song. This is my family. Making memories in McGoofy's Garage.

Uncle Chuck and Kari


Pop singing and picking


Karina and Katie monkey pile on Uncle Chuck


Katie getting comfy on Uncle Chuck's lap.

Karina and Uncle Chuck making faces at each other

Uncle Chuck serenades Karina

First Anniversary 9/25/2009

Our first anniversary was on September 25. Michael sent a bouquet of flowers to school everyday that week. I put them all together and they made up a vividly colorful and beautiful. Friday he sent me a dozen red and white roses, most were small and had not opened until later the following week. I love my hussybun!

Christmas in March

Ok, so we are not having Christmas in March, but I thought I would share some more photos and videos from our Christmas. Specifically, honky-tonks in dad's garage and Michael with my family.

My pop and hussybun playing Cribbage


Catherine Austin and Kari enjoying "McGoofy's Garage" music

Catherine Katie and Austin enjoying "McGoofy's Garage" music

Pop and Michael pickin' and grinnin' in "McGoofy's Garage"

Pop In-law and Son in-law

Got Michael to pick with dad, now just gotta get him to go fishin'.

Christmas with a new family

Because of the ice, we did not go down to Osceola on Saturday afternoon, as we had planned. Austin was not a fan of this. He was so excited for us to get there...Really he was excited and could hardly wait to meet Michael. He called me a few times and left messages asking us if we were coming down...One message he said that it wasn't bad outside...Which was quite untrue, he just wanted us to come down. What a funny boy. We went down to Osceola on Sunday. Austin met his new uncle and cousins and dad met his new son in-law.

Moments with my sister and nieces before the celebrations...
Kelli and me

Kelli, Kari and Karina

Kelli and her gymnastics moves

We opened ate, opened gifts, played BINGO for gifts (lots of lotions, candles and fishin' stuff). Mikey was hilarous during the BINGO game. His commentary kept us all entertained. Cannot tell you his funny lines, but I assure you that we were amused and had some good laughs.

BINGO TIME!!!

Catherine and Granny

Daddy and Daughter

Diverse son in-laws

Gedardo and Kim

Kari and Mom

GIFT TIME!!!

Catherine loves Japan

Bubble Bean opening her gift

Gedardo Kelli Karina and Kim

Dad and his westerns

Austin and Mikey and Star Wars

Dad and Kari

Nick and his dollar bill tricks

Bubble Bean and her puppy