my eagle scout.

This is teen Matt and his dad, doing Matt's Eagle Scout project. I love these guys.

6 years.

...and I love him more today than ever.

september.

September was gone in a blink. We (supposedly) ushered in fall, and I guess it's a little cooler. It was in the 90's yesterday, which is almost sweater weather in Vegas, right?

These three guys had birthdays:

 

Gavin and Ryan turned 10 and Jeb turned 12. I can't believe that 90% of the crew is in double digits now. Time goes by too fast.

 

Also in September, we realized that Matt may have been a Romney. We found these two pictures:

 

 

Yep. Do you see it? The top picture is an old photo of Mitt and Ann Romney's family when they were young. The picture below is of Matt and his dad.  Ann even looks like my mother in law. I sent it to her and she had to do a double take.  Who knew? Matt and Mitt!

 

 

 

 

 

 

august.

It's a good thing I live in the desert because I am boycotting the end of summer. I am ignoring all the cute fall crafts and pumpkin recipes. There will be no discussing Halloween costumes. I will not partake in fall scented candles or autumn wreaths on my front door. If I am needed, I will be by the pool with a book and an iced drink every weekend until further notice. It all just went by too fast.

 

But...as much as I fight it, we are officially back to school and back to the routine of life, and I guess that's a good thing. August was a good month. I tagged along with Matt to Denver for one last trip before school started.

 

It was especially nice because it was on his birthday. For his birthday dinner, we went to my favorite place in Denver, El Diablo's. Oh my goodness. It was so good, as always. You have to love a man that chooses YOUR favorite place on HIS birthday.

This guy has lost about thirty pounds over the last 5 months.He looks great, but I believe we will have to get him some new clothes before winter.  His clothes are literally hanging on him.

I surprised him with some birthday balloons in the hotel room. He was really excited and thanked me over and over again. There were a few on the hotel door to greet him and he walked into the room with the biggest, sweetest smile on his face.

 

 

A few days after Matt's birthday, his sweet daughter, Madi, turned into a teenager. I seriously can't believe how grown up she is, especially after spending a week with her in Buffalo this summer.

 

 She is a beautiful girl, inside and out. She is talented and really special. Did I mention she is absolutely crazy and so much fun to be around?  Madi, we hope your 13th year is your best yet!

  

While Jeb is still busy with tennis, Griff has started rock climbing. He climbs at an indoor center for two hours a week and really enjoys it.
 

 He comes home sweaty and sore, which is a beautiful thing. Griff has made a commitment to losing weight and has stuck  with a diet and exercise program better than most adults. His face looks thinner and his clothes are fitting better. I am really proud of him.

I have officially submitted my application for the RN program and I am patiently anxiously awaiting an acceptance letter in the mail.

 

While I wait, I am taking classes towards my BSN and working. Hopefully, if all  goes well I will start the program in January.

 

 

 

 

The first day of school was super smooth. I officially have a 7th grader and a 5th grader.

 

 

 They're pretty cute, too.

 

After school we had our traditional catch up over cookies. It was a nice treat (especially for a household that has been treat- less for a while now! However, these were low cal and vegan.)

 

 I found out all about their teachers, their favorite classes and what all their friends did over the summer. I want to freeze these special times forever.

 

So that's August. I'm still clinging to the last little bits of summer. Summer doesn't officially end until, like Spetember 22nd or something, right?

 

 Happy Labor Day!

tag along.

Matt has to travel a ton for work, and we definitely miss him while he's away. But his travels come with a perk - I can tag along! His company is generous enough to afford us a mini vacation together whenever we wish, free of charge. Nice, huh?

I love going to Denver with him. The people are cool and I love that he stays downtown which is walking distance to everything. My trip this past weekend wasn't as busy as this but I definitely had a great time and came back feeling rested and ready for a new week.

Because Matt was on an extended trip, I came for the weekend to make sure he didn't get homesick. We walked around a bit, ate at some great places, and took full advantage of the comfy accommodations.

Denver has a ton of character and a vibrant spirit.

I could walk around snapping pictures and people watching all day. And when you're with your very best friend, well that's even better.

Until next time, Mile High City!

5 years and wood.

Five years ago today, I married my very best friend. While that sounds cliche, I just can't think of another way to describe the relationship that Matt and I have. There's no one else I would rather hang out with, no one else I would rather talk to, and no one else I miss more than him when he's gone. I still get butterflies when I think about him, and I am excited to see him at the end of the day. Simply put: he's pretty cool.

He makes me really  happy.

 I can't say that our five years of marriage have been perfect. We have weathered some very real storms together. We have faced alot of things that many couples never go through in a lifetime of marriage. These difficult times have definitely made us stronger and depend on each other more.

 

The best part about our marriage is that we both got a bonus. We each were blessed with some additional , cute kids to love.

           We are pretty fortunate that they all love each other too.

 

When friends and family ask how long we have been married, and we say "5 years", they always remark that it seems alot longer, and I have to agree. It seems like a lifetime but in a good way. 

 I am very grateful for my life and all the sweet people that fill it.

Happy anniversary, Matt. I love you more than you could possibly know.

(the traditional anniversary gift for 5 years is wood...what the heck?!)

45 days in 45 seconds.

Wasn't it just summertime? Now we are into the holiday season and 2011 is wrapping up at warp speed. Since August, we have celebrated 2 birthdays here in Las Vegas (Matt and Jeb) and sent birthday wishes to 3 special Utah kiddos (Madison, Ryan, and Gavin). School started at the end of August - 4th grade for G- and J has turned into a 6th grade middle schooler. The boys had parts in the Primary Program a few weeks ago at church and did an awesome job. School is going well for me as I learn to love cadaver dissections and continue to find joy in being a public speaking tutor at the college. (<- These are things I never thought I would do.) Matt is still the traveling man- working hard in Denver and Atlanta as of late. Life is full of good things.

dads.

I had a fabulous dad. He was larger than life, loving, courageous, and hilarious. He ate what he wanted, did what he felt like, and was generous even when he didn't have enough. He was a man of integrity and his word was worth gold. If you were lucky enough to spend time with Jim Downs, it meant that you would be well fed and well loved. I miss him terribly every day and there are still times that I reach for the phone to tell him about something that the boys did, or ask advice, or just say hi. He taught me to drive, how to fish, and how to make every day feel like a holiday. It amazes me how much Matt is like my dad too. There are so many times that I shake my head because of some little thing that Matt said or did that is so similar to my dad whom he never met.
I know that Father's Day is bitter sweet for Matt since his children are far away. He is still finding balance and peace with that situation and learning how to be a dad at a distance. In our home, I really appreciate the love and support he shows Jeb and Griffn. He treats them as he would his own kids. And his work schedule is nuts! Matt works crazy hours to provide for us and happily does so. We love him dearly.
I am eternally grateful for the fact that I have been blessed with great dads for myself and my children. Happy Father's Day!

rocky mountain high.

Matt was on a business trip to Denver for three weeks. His company was kind enough to fly me out to see him on the weekends he was there. Not only are we grateful for his job, but a company that is thoughtful and made sure we had time together during this long trip!

We had a blast seeing everything from Rocky Mountain National Park to the Stanley Hotel (the real life Shining) to Vail and Boulder and everything in between. Colorado is a beautiful state and it has it all. The fun of a big city with art museums, sports, restaurants, and concerts and the beauty of the outdoors that we absolutely fell in love with. It also has ELK! Everywhere! We were told it was the tail end of mating season (ha!) and they were still hanging around town. I certainly won't mind tagging along on business trips there!

Matt's trip was successful and we are really proud of him. We saw a lot of great things, but I think the one thing we all enjoyed seeing was this:

denver.

Matt has been traveling now for a week and he has a week and a half to go before coming home. We miss him terribly when he's gone, but we are forever thankful for a job and the hard work he's putting in.