one year.

happy 1 year anniversary!

last year was a whirlwind of pictures, people, music, vows, and dresses.

my favorite part was when we got to the hotel, sat down, had a bottle of champagne, and realized that we were married.

"you don't have to be perfect to belong in this place. you don't have to have all the answers, or always know the right thing to say. you can climb the highest mountain if you want. or quietly imagine that you might, someday. you can take chances, or take safety nets, make miracles or make mistakes. you don't have to be composed at all hours to be strong here. you don't have to be bold or certain or be brave. you don't have to have all the answers here. or even know who you want to be. just take my hand, and rest your heart, and stay awhile with me."

~ashley rice.

pretty much sums it up. love you.

telluride with charlie!

Happy Anniversary weekend!

no rehearsal dinner, wedding dress, or family brunches this year.

"to be nobody but yourself in a world that's doing its best to make you somebody else, is to fight the hardest battle you are ever going to fight."

~ ee cummings.

the end is near.

one day. (well really only a few hours).

i've had a lot of good things lately.

... obviously the family visits, spending time with people i love and don't get to see too often.

... i've decided not to switch graduate programs for the time being and am taking the summer off as far as school goes. i think i really need the break. and i also just can't imagine being in school for the next 4 years.

... i have a part-time internship this summer (starting next week) that could turn into something permanent. i'm a little apprehensive about leaving teaching, but at the same time i haven't really been happy with it in colorado and can't imagine spending the next 30 years doing what i've been doing.

... charlie and i decided to turn out 2 night stay in telluride into a 3 night stay! AND when i called to change our reservation they were out of the rooms that we had booked so we got a free upgrade. i'm so excited for some alone time with him. the last time we were alone for 3 days was in hawaii and it was so, so nice.

... i have one lunch, one interview, and one "closing circle" left before it's vacation time.

... i may possibly have just graded my last stack of papers. wow.

... i cannot wait for the drive to telluride, and hiking in telluride, and biking in telluride, and hanging lake on the way home, and bridal veil falls, and so many other things i hope we can squeeze into our weekend.

we're driving through glenwood canyon on the way home.

randomness...

... things have been so crazy lately. between family visiting, interviewing for jobs, and the end of the school year. wow ...

... we just had our last visitors (charlie's mom and aunt) leave today. i was sad to see them go, but excited to have some sleep in my future. we had a great time with them, being tourists, eating charlie's mom's amazing cooking, going to rockies games. charlie took off monday and tuesday to spend with them & i caught up with everyone after work. good times.

... jobs. i've had 4 interviews in the past 2 weeks. and it's been hard to fit that in while working full time and not trying to neglect family. tomorrow's the last one. i think i made a decision about what i'm going to do but we'll see.

... my parents got a kitten and a dog! so excited for them. and their "puppy" is a chocolate lab who's about 10 months old. and freaking adorable.

... as much as i love having family stay with us i am weirdly compulsive about cleaning when they leave. the good news for our house is that it's never been cleaner.

... it's finally spring! finally! flip flops and beer and dinner on a patio and thunderstorms and open windows!

... today i got off work a bit early and took the dogs for a long, long walk. i could really get used to getting off at 2:30.

d-man loves the fresh air, too.

it's the little things ...

wow, life has been busy.

... south boulder trail. my favorite views.

... spending time with my dad.

... sitting outside on our balcony after a long day of hiking.

... trips to the mountains.

... grilling out on our teeny grill.

... opening the windows.

... backrubs.

... hanging out outside with the dogs.

... spending time with family.

... doing dishes with charlie.

... wandering around the streets of old colorado.

... the.last.day.of.school. remember what that felt like?

... getting excited for our telluride trip.

... cleaning while blasting some music with the windows open.

... wearing shorts.

... saturday night dinners in denver.

... charlie's cake that he made for his mom.

... taking kids to a ropes course.

... & proving to them that i'm not scared of heights.

... freak snow in may.

... hawaiian chocolate from my kiddos.

... "appreciation circles"

... rockies games during the week.

... the return of my flip flops.

... cheese and crackers for dinner.

... my dad cooking.

... charlie's mom cooking.

... charlie grilling.

... my petunias that are trying hard to survive.

... charlie cleaning my car for me.

... friday night dinners in boulder. especially at pasta jays.

... rooftop bars.

... driving with the windows down.

... counting down the rest of the days until telluride!

sub day

last thursday and friday i took off to spend some time with my dad while he was in town.

as much as i like taking off work i always get the worst sub reports when i get back.

things like "so and so called me a b*tch" or "half the class stormed out and didn't come back"

this week was no exception.

the note i got from the sub on thursday was long and included:

"thin blond girl, pretty, kept yelling at me"

"girl with betty boop clothes wrote on chair with marker"

"Bob took off without permission"

lucky for me i was spending my time out on our patio and didn't have to deal with any of it.

the cats have decided that the entire reason we bought patio furniture was for them.