Look what we found!

A couple of weeks ago, our neighborhood had a community wide garage sale. Afterwards, 3 large dumpsters were dropped off for people to throw away their junk that didn't sell, or for people just to clean house and get rid of stuff. Anyway, Jon was helping our neighbor dump some of his stuff and in the process, discovered a dirt bike laying in the dumpster. They employed the help of a few more neighbors and dug it out. They were unsure if it even worked or why it was tossed, but after a little work, and air in the tires, they got it running! They had quite the weekend riding around on it- although the bike wasn't new, it only had 3 miles on it. I'm sure they will have many adventures on it- not bad for a bike pulled out of the dumpster, huh?

Ode to my dear sweet Olympus 600.

Preface: my new camera arrived today!

My dear old camera
you've captured many wonderful years;
but the news I'm about to tell you
indeed might bring you to tears.

On my concrete porch today
was a brown package that FedEx dropped;
inside was a shiny new camera
and all its handy props.

That's right-- I've upgraded
to a camera that offers more;
more lenses, more options,
cool functions I can't ignore.

But please, don't panic!
I'll dust you off from time to time;
for an intimate date or a night on the town
you're perfect in that tiny purse of mine.

My dear sweet Olympus
Never have you let me down.
You've served your time, and served it well
so I've chosen to keep you around.

My dear sweet Olympus
this new camera put me into debt!
a thing you must remember, though
is that YOU I will never forget.

Things I'm excited about!

1. So I ordered a spankin' new camera today! Months ago, I blogged about wanting a new SLR camera, and the time has come. I got a Nikon D40 and I'm so excited about it! I hope to get really great at by the time the baby arrives (yikes- in just 6 months!).

2. We booked our trip to Chicago! Jon's cousin is getting married there at the end of the month and we'll also spend a few days exploring what Chi-town has to offer. Originally we were going to make it a road trip, but after our Colorado excursion, I nixed the idea. I could never seem to coordinate my need to go to the bathroom with gas stops, so we were stopping every. single. hour. This way we'll be there in just under two hours, and no airport layovers. If you know of any restaurant recommendations or must-see sites, let me know!

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom is so beautiful and I am so grateful for her! I wouldn't be where I am without her help and constant support. She sacrificed alot putting me through 4 years of college and recently helping me with a beautiful wedding. Here's a picture (the most recent I have) of my mom and beautiful family.



Happy Mothers Day to my little sister as well- she has a little girl and is also pregnant, due just a few months before me!

Weekend fun in Durango, Colorado!

This last weekend we made the 12-hour journey west to Durango, Colorado. It was spur of the moment- which is always fun! We only had one full day in Durango, so Saturday, we decided to take the train 50 miles north to a town called Silverton. The train ride gave us stunning views of the San Juan Mountains, Colorado backcountry, and great wildlife in their environment. It was truly one of the best experiences- and though the ride was FREEZING (we sat in an open-air gondola and it was about 35 degrees at 9,000 feet) we were so glad we chose to do it. We also got to eat at several great restaurants downtown. Here are some pictures from the train ride and our trip:

Original 1881 steam train!

My crazy husband!

At some points, you look down to a 90 degree drop-off and pray that a rock slide doesn't occur.

Silverton is a town that is truly a step back in time; no paved roads, old saloons, and historic hotels. From May-October, the town is bustling with tourists coming in on the train. November- April, Silverton is a complete ghost-town. The winters are very harsh there, and it's nearly impossible to get in or out of the town.

Enjoying hot cider at Grumpy's Saloon in Silverton.


Going back home to Kansas- did I mention we rode in a Penske truck? My husband owns a moving business and I often get to go with him on his trips. No relaxation for me though, he puts me to work!! "No free ride", he says. Anyway, he returned the truck back to the rental place, and they told him we had blown a back tire- and we didn't even know it. Trucks have 4 tires in the back(2 on each side)- and we have NO idea where we blew it at. It could have been in the mountains- and had it been a front tire, we would have lost control. God is good and we are thankful He protected us and gave us a safe journey!