NEW KITCHEN!!!!!

We had the cabinets installed today -- they look awesome and the kitchen is going to be so great!!!

Pictures from the wedding...

Here are a couple of pictures from the wedding -- Lesha took 350 so there are so many to choose from!

Still remodeling...

The kitchen is coming along beautifully! The plaster guy is just about done and the cabinets will be installed next Thursday! So excited to get our kitchen finished -- we have a makeshift kitchen in the basement complete with microwave and refrigerator but that's about it. Chad and I painted yesterday and today -- the color we started with yesterday just didn't do it for us so we went a little darker today. Still have lots of painting to do but we are on the way now!

Remodeling...yuck!

We got home on Saturday assuming the floors would be finished and lo and behold, they were not. Sooo, we called the floor guy and he came on Saturday to put the last coat of polyurethane on it. Needless to say, we couldn't sleep in the house nor move the furniture in. Jess and Nick were kind to offer their house for us to stay. On Sunday, we came back home and began moving furniture into the house. At 11:30 p.m., we went to bed only to both start with headaches and feeling funny. At midnight, we decided to leave the house and go to a hotel here in Jeff City. We immediately felt better after leaving the fumey house. Ahhh...the joys of remodeling. :)

Leaving Santa Fe

Well, we are heading home! YAY! We are tired and ready to be in our own bed. The floors are done so when we get home tomorrow, we'll have to move the furniture back in. We'll go pick up Ruby Doobie on Sunday - I missed that little turd lol. Going to drive as far as possible today then just have a little tomorrow -- so excited to be going home as Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord!

Just got done whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande River in Taos. It was very fun - had Class II and III rapids! I would definitely like to do it again. Got pretty wet sitting in the front of the boat but we had an awesome guide who has been guiding for 23 years.

Yum, yum, yum...

We just went to a Mexican Restaurant right off the plaza in Taos and it was SOOO good. They made the guacamole fresh right at our table! It was the best guacamole I've had. Lots of cool shops on the plaza. We are going whitewater rafting in the morning (little scared lol) down the Rio Grande River and then possibly horseback riding in the afternoon before we head to Santa Fe.

Wow...entering Taos

Just went over the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge! Wow - you wanna talk about high and scary! We walked across to look over the bridge and it took my breath away...and then a big truck came over the bridge and I thought it was going to shake us off! Lol - I'm not really good with heights.

Chimney Rock

Just left Pagosa Springs - we took a tour to Chimney Rock and saw the buildings from the Pueblo and Chaco Civilizations 1000 A.D. It was absolutely beautiful! Had to hike some of the way and but it wasn't bad. We are headed to Taos, New Mexico now!

Durango...heading to Chimney Rock

We check out of the lodge tomorrow morning and we have made a plan (and I love plans lol). We are going to climb Chimney Rock as part of a guided tour and then head to Taos, New Mexico. In Taos, we are looking at several options including Horseback riding/rafting excursion, ski lift trip up the mountain, and some ranch with alpacas (some kind of llama animal). Durango was a neat town but definitely larger than Pagosa and more commercialized. Pagosa is unique in that no large companies have come in a taken over the town -- it's all quaint local-owned shops. We wanted to ride the train from Durango to Silverton but it was an all-day excursion and we had missed the last train.

Everyone has headed out...

Well, everyone has headed off in different directions today...Chad and I are just planning a quiet evening with just the two of us. We are going into Durango, CO tomorrow for the day and then leaving Pagosa Springs for Taos, NM on Tuesday.

Damn sideways pictures again...

It's official....

It's official!!! We are MARRIED! I haven't posted any blogs or pictures because the service at the lodge is spotty at best. Everyone made it to Pagosa on Friday at varying times and we have had a wonderful weekend. We went to eat on Friday night after everyone arrived at the Ole Miner's Steakhouse on the lodge property - had a good meal with great friends and family. Saturday at 4 p.m., Chad and I took the plunge and said our "I dos". Monica officiated and did a wonderful job! We all went to eat afterward at Pagosa Brewery - not so good eats, good beer, and again wonderful company. I can't tell you how much it meant to Chad and I to have the people we love be there with us on our special day. I know it was a LONG drive for some and definitely not the easiest for others with a 3 year old in tow, but it meant the world that they took time out of their busy lives to celebrate with us.

Beautiful -- can't believe we're finally here!!!

Well, we made it! It is just unbelievable -- we are in a rustic lodge/cabin setting nestled between the San Juan Mountains with nothing but spectacular views! Our cabin is so quaint and we have already been into town to get our marriage license...so it's official! Had a beer in the local saloon and wow, the altitude definitely does a number on my alcohol tolerance!

Sorry, the damn picture is sideways

Just had to stop on the highway for a real life cattle crossing! With cowboys and everything! Also stopped a couple of times while coming up Wolf Creek Pass (elevation 10,000+ feet) to take pictures! The view is absolutely breathtaking!

Service (cell and wifi) is extremely limited here!

Just stopped at a small roadside store right out of Del Norte that sells elk and bison jerky! Got some elk jerky, dad some elk summer sausage and Ben an elk's tooth! Got to see a huge beautiful elk - will post pics later

Just passed the Sangre De Cristo mountain range on our left with Blanca Peak the highest point at 14,235 ft!

Little Ben got car sick already this morning - guess he takes after me - poor thing! Gave him some Dramamine (I took mine too lol) so hopefully he'll feel better.

Just got on Hwy 160 to Pagosa Springs...got the mountains in front of and behind us - simply beautiful! Saw a real cowboy trying to hitch a ride at a little town called Walsenberg. Very different world from Missouri!

We are on the road yet again - leaving Colorado Springs and headed for Pagosa Springs! That will be where we stay until Tuesday - can't wait to see our cabin and the lodge!

Ahhhh...we made it

Well, we are almost done with our first day of driving. We just got gas in Limon, Colorado and have a little over an hour until we get to Colorado Springs. I can see the Rockies in the distance and they are beautiful! We are both pretty tired but very excited to get to where we're going.

We have officially crossed into the Mountain Time Zone in a little town called Brewster, Kansas. I don't know that I've ever been in such a windy place...and all you can see for miles are plains - flat, flat plains. We are about 3 hours from Colorado Springs!

Don't know what to say...

Just passed a sign that said "See the largest prairie dog in the world - 20 miles"! Wow...gotta love Kansas! I feel like Clark Griswold because for a moment I thought that might be neat lol.

Windmills!

Just left Salina, KS and passed these huge windmills that help power Kansas - truly amazing!

Storm a coming!

Just entered the Flint Hills of Kansas and I'm trying to talk Chad into becoming a storm chaser! There is a huge storm to our north along I-70 that looks like it could drop a tornado at any minute. Woo hoo - we'll chase that mother!

We are almost to Kansas City...left this morning after we dropped Ruby off at Honey Creek Pet Resort. She did pretty good when we dropped her off but I cried - I think Chad thought I was nuts! So excited that the time is finally here...can't wait to see our family and friends Friday and then marry the man of my dreams on Saturday.

Leaving in the Morning!!!

Well, we are finally leaving in the morning for our wedding and honeymoon!! I can't believe it's actually here -- it seemed at the time that things were moving slowly but now they are going so fast! I guess that's how it works when you are getting to do something you want to do :)

So excited for my family to be out there with us -- especially little Ben. He told me last night that "in 2 weeks, I am going to your wedding in Colorado". God love him...

The Remodel is Here....Oh Lord!

Well, we started the remodel on Thursday -- and we began by tearing out the kitchen! The guy who is going to refinish the wood floors and put new wood floors in the kitchen will be coming while we are gone on the wedding/honeymoon. Soooo...that means ALL of the furniture must be moved out by Tuesday --- wow! But, we will have all new floors when we get back and then the rest will be easy...we hope! We are living off of finger foods and take out for now and it's been quite chaotic!

Last night, Andy and Nick took Chad out for his bachelor party -- they went to Beer Fest and then on to Gumbo Bottoms to finish out the night. Many of Chad's buddies showed up to celebrate his last week of freedom - hahaha. In the meantime, Lesha had proposed that the girls go out for the night and so we ended up at Paddy Malone's for dinner and drinks -- had a really great night and it's so nice to know that I have made some girl friends here in Jeff City.

So excited to finally be heading west in a couple of days! I can't believe it's here and I get to marry the man of my dreams!

Last day of Summer class tomorrow!

The last day of the summer class I've been teaching is tomorrow -- they have a final quiz and exam as well as turning in a research paper. I am packing the last of my stuff out of my office as we speak. It is sad but I am very excited to be getting married next weekend as well as starting my new job. So far, I really like it! The people have been so nice and I have enjoyed the clients too.

Life is definitely like a book and it's time for a new chapter to begin. I'm very lucky to be starting it with my best friend and the best guy I know.

Going Away Party/Shower

The faculty at the University and the first-year graduate students gave me a Going Away Party/Shower this evening! We had such a fun time -- Joyce Renaud graciously opened her home with lots of great eats and outside games. Chad and I got the first of our wedding gifts which was very exciting. I got a wonderful card from my grad students that made me cry -- imagine that! I am very lucky to have had this wonderful job experience at Southeast -- I have learned so much and really found how much I enjoy teaching and passing on something that I'm passionate about. I am very excited about beginning my new job but I will miss the faculty and students at SEMO. Hopefully one day, I will be back teaching again but with Dr. in front of my name. I will post pictures of the shower/party once I get them from Joyce.

Fun with Benny

Had lots of fun with Benny yesterday -- I had to teach class in the morning then when I got to mom and dad's, Ben came over and wanted to clean out his pool and swim for a while. He is the funniest kid -- and so smart too! Love, love, love him!

Appendix Out!!!

Last night at about 9 p.m., Chad started hurting on his right side and we both thought at first it was just gas. After attempting to go to sleep without much success, he woke me up at 3 a.m. and was hurting a lot. We decided to go ahead and go to the ER in case it was something bad. I was afraid it was his appendix just by where it was hurting. The ER doc suspected appendicitis and shortly after that, tests confirmed it. Chad had an emergency appendectomy this morning at about 11 a.m. He is doing great -- just really sore and tired. I'm pretty much running on empty myself as I have been up since early and I had my hospital orientation today for my new job. It was definitely one of those things I couldn't miss so I jigged things around and was on the road most of the day back and forth between Capital Region and St. Mary's (where Chad was). He has to stay overnight tonight and will be released tomorrow sometime. The people at Cap Region were wonderful today about everything so hopefully they will be okay if I have to leave tomorrow to take Chad home. Wow, what a day...so glad the doctors caught everything in time and all turned out okay so far.

Officially a resident of Jeff City...

Well, I'm now officially a resident of Jefferson City -- I can't believe it's actually here! In just a month, we will be leaving for Colorado and the site of our wedding. I am getting so excited and have a list a mile long of things to do before we leave...imagine me with a list lol. We had a great weekend -- got the house organized and all of my clothes put away which took about 3 hours -- really! We went to watch Nick and Team Red Wheel at a mountain bike race today and then ate at Flat Branch -- oh so good! I have my New Employee Hospital Orientation tomorrow and I'm a little nervous but I know all will be fine. Ready to start on this new job chapter...

Final Countdown!

Well, we're on the final countdown until I "officially" move to Jefferson City! This is finals week at the University and I am moving the rest of my stuff on Thursday. Chad took most of my clothes and my jewelry box today when he left to go back -- he came to visit this weekend for Mother's Day. We had a great, but BUSY, weekend! Ben got a new swingset for his birthday and so on Saturday, we spent most of the day helping Dad, Bruce and Amy put it together...and we didn't get close to getting it done! It was nice to spend time with everybody, especially Mom for Mother's Day. I start teaching my summer class the week of May 17 and I'm not even close to being ready for that -- oh well, it will all get done eventually.

So excited about getting my things all in one place and being in Jeff City with Chad and Ruby...we only have about 5 weeks until the wedding!

Our green thumbs...

We have had a great weekend so far -- Amy and Bruce spent the night last night since they had a wedding to attend in KC today. We had a really nice time with them -- took them to our favorite Mexican restaurant and had some kick-ass margaritas :) Today, Chad and I bought some English Ivy plants, fountain grass, a new bush and a new Birch tree for the front yard. Everything looks really nice after working most of the afternoon and we beat out the rain it seems! The English Ivy was placed on the backyard hillside that has a lot of runoff since it is an evergreen and a perennial as well as a great ground cover. I am posting pictures of the planting of the tree -- it looks really great and the literature we got with it says that it will grow to 30-40 ft. in heighth!

2 1/2 weeks to go...

We're finally on the final countdown to the FMD -- the end of the semester is upon us and things are getting crazy! In less than 3 weeks, I will "officially" move to Jeff City. It is very exciting even though I know my family is sad and happy all at the same time. We will talk every day I'm sure and see each other as often as possible -- we'll just be a little bit farther apart (geographically) than we are now. Ben had his 3rd birthday on Tuesday -- I can't believe the little booger is actually 3 -- a big boy! He finally lol gave up his "pappy" on his birthday -- he believes that we had to give it to Ruby since she is still a baby and he is a big boy. I told him she would take good care of it!

I'm getting very excited to start my new job at Capital Region Medical Center -- ready to get back to actually doing the therapy -- I've really missed that even though I love teaching. I will definitely have to come back to see "my" grad students graduate next May -- they were my first grad class to teach so they have a special place.

End of the semester preparations are out of control this year -- I just have to stay on top of things so nothing begins to pile up.

It's hard to believe it's almost here!!! :)

Hell Bent for Cooper's Landing!

Chad and I decided to ride our bikes from Hartsburg, MO to Cooper's Landing on the Katy Trail today. Cooper's Landing is a small boat dock community right on the Missouri River. It's about 10 miles from Hartsburg. We rode there and enjoyed the view for a while then rode back -- had so much fun although my butt was really hurting by the time we got back! Haven't been riding in a while -- really have to get back in the groove. We took some pictures along the way and are posting those. The picture of the Hart's Creek conservation area is the entrance to the spot where Chad proposed on November 7, 2009. The locals in Cooper's Landing are a bit different but welcomed us all the same. They all turned out to watch one of their own launch a houseboat he had been working on for a few months. It was interesting to say the least! I'm also posting a picture of Ruby digging yet another hole in the yard -- you've really got to watch walking when she's around because you can turn an ankle pretty quickly!

Circus in Dexter

Last night, I had the pleasure of accompanying Amy and Ben to the circus down at the fairgrounds in Dexter. Ben was so very excited and couldn't wait to see what animals were there. It was great to see how excited he became watching the clowns, performers, and animals. The circus that was there had 3 elephants, 4 camels, 5 tigers, and ponies.

Just to step up on my soapbox for a minute, I was appalled that these poor animals were subjected to tasks and an environment that they do not belong in! They are WILD animals and belong in their native environment or a safe haven where they can be what they truly are. I don't know about the treatment of the animals at this particular circus but when one of the ponies was starting to collapse from walking in a circle for hours while Ben was riding one of the others, I really began to question their quality of life. It made my heart hurt to see these animals struggle to be something they are not. I am officially boycotting circuses that use live animals from this point on!

Anyway, now that I've gotten that off my chest lol, I was very excited to be able to spend some time with Ben and Amy last night. That kid is so very special and I am lucky to be his aunt.