Happy Anniversary, Happy Denver Broncos!

For our anniversary I got Taylor Denver Broncos tickets. Thanks to our friend and former Ute, our seats were so close I may be Wife-of-the-Year.

We drove down to Denver early Sunday morning, beating all traffic and checked into our hotel. We started wandering around downtown with all the other Broncos fans (and Raiders) eating some lunch and a drinking a few beers. Taylor and I reached game mode and headed to the stadium on a shuttle provided by our hotel.

The atmosphere at the game kept us smiling and laughing the entire time with the crazy (committed) fans, the view from ours seats, Taylor's yodeling competition with the guy behind us, and of course a Broncos win!

After the game we walked downtown and enjoyed the win at a few local joints.

Happy one year to us and I can't wait for all the years to come!

Birthday, Zoo, & Fondue

As most of you know, the best day of the year has already passed. I try to make the month of September last as long as I can but I suppose at some point after the 19th I need to stop celebrating my birthday.

On the day of my birth, I took a nice, short, 3 hour work day (isn't there a law saying you aren't allowed to work on your birthday?!). I then met my friend Emma downtown at Jose Maldoon's for a mexican lunch.

Beer and birthday cake.

That evening, Taylor took me to the Melting Pot. We enjoyed the four course meal including cheese fondue, salad, meats, and of course the chocolate fondue. It was perfect, and delicious!

Before the Melting Pot.

Chocolate Fondue!

Birthday flowers.

Sunday we decided to take a trip to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The weather has been perfect so we wanted to get in one last zoo visit before it gets too cold.

My birthday month has been amazing but it's not over yet! Tomorrow is our one year anniversary so the celebrating will continue! 

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Non-birthday-zoo-or fondue related I wanted to add that Taylor and his Army crew hiked Pike's Peak 2 weeks ago (all 14,000 ft of it). It took about 8 hours to get to the top with the last 2 miles being in snow. Besides getting extremely sunburnt and developing funny tan lines, he survived! 

The Peak the day after Taylor hiked it.

Also, after one year I finally have a Colorado license!

Labor Day Fun

Labor Day weekend quickly came and quickly left but not without some fun!

On August 30th the University of Utah soccer team came to Colorado Springs to play Colorado College. Taylor and I went to the game with our neighbor Frank. I couldn't believe how much I missed it and that this is my third Ute-less season! It seems like just yesterday I was doing cone shuttles, gasping for air, while my legs turned to jello.

The game ended in a 2-2 tie. 

On Friday and Saturday I was at the Church coordinating a wedding. This isn't in my normal "administrative job duties" but something I am slowly taking over. Taylor, Channing, and the pups relaxed and enjoyed the weekend.

Duke Wizowski.

Since we both had Monday off, we decided to do a day trip with our neighbors, Emma and Frank, and go to Cripple Creek. The boys went out shooting while Emma and I did the gambling. 

I sat down at the Davinci Penny Slot machine thinking, "Here you go, take all my money" like I do every time we go up to Cripple Creek. However, this time was a little different. As my machine starting dinging and the money kept rising, I just stared at my game as it put me close to $200 dollars. The luck continued throughout the day and I was not disappointed as we headed home that evening.

Luck!

9494 ft high up in Cripple Creek

Tomato, Tamahto

Over the last 2 months I have been watering this little guy like crazy. He has grown to be good lookin' and I hope even more delicious.

Taylor and I are still doing our 5K runs on Tuesday's. Last week was number 13 in the rain!

We have also joined a volleyball team (yes, I can reach the net). We play every Friday with a team and absolutely love it. Pictures to come!

That Salty City.

Two weeks ago, Taylor started his 2 week block leave (vacation). I also took some time off and we decided to go to Utah for a week for some much needed time with our friends.

We stopped in Glenwood Springs, about 4 hours from Colorado Springs to rest for the night and why wouldn't we stay at a hotel that was also connected to a brewery? After some sleep, we woke up early to hike up to Doc Holliday's grave site. 

Some Pringles, Coke, and five hours later, we arrived in Utah!

There was definitely a never dull moment in our week. Thank you to all of our amazing friends that took care of us and gave us an incredible time. We look forward to our next visit!

Let's Catch Up!

Don't worry, the Caldwell Cluster is still up and running! The last two months have been filled with lakes, baseball, fires, summer fun, and growing tomatoes!

Early June, we both had a Friday off and decided to go to Pueblo Lake (about an hour south from the Springs). We brought the pups in hopes of having Ella warm up to water and to see if Duke sinks.

The results: Ella still does not like water; Duke can swim!

Mid June, the Salt Lake City Bees traveled to the Springs! We went to two night games enjoying hot dogs, baseball, and beer. The second evening, we received a ball from a Bees player. Taylor's eyes lit up like he was seven years old again as he got the ball signed.

On June 23, The Waldo Canyon Fire started, being the most destructive fire in Colorado history. Over 32,000 people were evacuated, 18,000 acres burned, and nearly 350 homes destroyed.  The highway I take up to work was closed, and the town I work in was evacuated the first day. 3 weeks later, the fire is finally 100% contained but people are still struggling from the loss of their homes and lack of work.

Photo taken from newspaper.

Many animals have also lost their homes and have been forced to come into the towns looking for food. Last week at work I saw a baby bear, a baby bear in a tree, a baby bear get tranquilized, and a baby bear fall out of a tree. Wildlife took him away and out of danger.

The Fourth of July was spent with some nice army folks, food, and definitely no fireworks.

This weekend Taylor starts block leave and we will be heading to Utah for a week to enjoy some much needed time with our good friends!

Birthdays & Oceans.

The last two weeks have been filled with birthday celebrations and oceans.

Taylor turned the big 2-6 on May 13th! The celebrations started on Friday with homemade Big Macs, followed by chocolate cake, with chocolate icing, and chocolate chips inside (birthday boy's request). I added strawberries on top to make it prettier.

We lit the candles and I serenaded Taylor with my best version of Happy Birthday. ♫

On Saturday we drove to Denver to continue the celebration. We did the whole dinner thing and ended the night dancing from bar to bar, that left me sore for days.

Sunday was Taylor's actual birthday so we couldn't let the celebrating end quite yet! We relaxed and then finished the day at our lovely friends, and neighbor's house. 

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Last weekend I ventured out of the Springs to a place called...California. One of my best friends, Amanda, lives in Santa Monica (how unlucky she is...) and we had an amazing time catching up, going to piers, straining our voices in Glee Karaoke, visiting the ocean, drinking Blue Moons & Mimosa's, and wandering the Promenade. 

This weekend Taylor, Ella, Duke, and myself will be traveling west to Moab for some warm sunshine.