32nd Annual Balloon Classic

Last night (Saturday night) we went out to Memorial Park to enjoy the beautiful weather we're having. It was also the 32nd Annual Balloon Classic...in the morning the hot air balloons ascended and floated for a while, but we didn't make it out to see them in the morning. Instead we went out in the evening to see what is called the Balloon Glo...this was so beautiful to see. There were thousands of people who were out to see this and we even saw some people we knew there too! Here is one picture from the event...there are more at our shutterfly website.

I love my Craft Robo

This weekend Tom and I put together a couple of display boards for two ministries we are very involved in...MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) & AXIS (our church youth group). Below are pics of the finished products. They turned out VERY nice. I was able to use my Craft Robo to make a miniature circus tent and ferris wheel to go along with this year's MOPS theme...and we used it for cutting words out too.

So here are the pictures...

Yummy food

I love it when I try out a recipe and it turns out great, Tom likes it and I like it and it's especially wonderful when Gregory likes it too! Today was one of those lucky days :-) I made a teriyaki marinade and then sliced a pork loin thin and put it in the marinade. After a few hours I put it on our George Foreman grill for about 6 minutes and wow! Wonderful tasting meat. Hopefully it goes in the microwave well...Tom is taking it to eat tonight since he has to go to work here in a few hours (at 1245 am). Oh and another cool thing is I've never done anything with a pork loin before, so this was a first too. Now I know next time I see it on sale to grab it - it marinates well. So there's a crazy simple post today, but just had to share my joy with all of you out there reading my blog :-)

Another busy weekend

So we got to spend time with Tom's sister Lorrie yesterday (see previous post) and then today was a busy Sunday...I was in the nursery (yep, along with Gregory), then after church was a meeting for all children's workers (nursery workers included)...then Gregory fell asleep on the way home, so I thought I'd get a nap...but couldn't fall asleep, so I got up and got busy. I made some yummy peach cobbler (Paula Deen has some of the best recipes!) and then I made chicken clubhouse squares for our small group this evening.

Sorry no pictures of the peach cobbler...not very pretty and pretty much gone :-) Tom took half to work and I ate a quarter--so for you math whizzes--yep, only a quarter is left.

Here's a picture of the chicken clubhouse squares--recipe from one of my Pampered Chef cookbooks that I got when we were in Germany--Thanks Caren!

(not sure why I can't get this photo posted in the right directions)

Somewhat of a surprise visit

This weekend Tom's sister, Lorrie, tried to come and surprise Tom...she was here for a conference and we got to visit with her too.

Here are a couple of pictures from the visit. More to see at our shutterfly page http://tomandroxannecook.shutterfly.com/

This picture was Tom and Lorrie reminiscing and Gregory looking for "dad" in each picture.

What we've been up to...

So Tuesday night we went to the mall to return some shoes that I had gotten for Gregory, but they were too small before he even wore them. While we were there we stopped in the kid's play area. We've never taken the time to let Gregory play there, but it was just me and Gregory and we had no other plans for the evening, so he got to play. And the bonus was that I had someone to talk to too! Amber, the gal that I am teaming with to do publicity stuff for MOPS was there with her son, Lance, who is three. So we got to chat while the boys played.

Here are a couple of pictures from the fun time.




Wednesday was church, so I got a break from Gregory while he was in the nursery and I got to hang out with the youth. Tom was working, so we missed him being with us.

Today I got to babysit our pastor's kids, Luke (1) and Faith (3). Gregory really enjoyed having someone to play with. I watched them at the church while their mom did some office work.

Here are a couple of pictures from today. Someday soon I'll have to get some pictures of our nursery--the painting in there is amazing!

Time with friends

This past Friday evening we drove up to Denver to meet our friends...Brian, Rochelle & Deanna. Brian was our best man in our wedding five years ago and that was the last time we saw them. Unfortunately it might be another five years before we see them again as they were passing by on their way to Anchorage, Alaska. They are moving there to be the youth pastor at a church...this is where Tom & Brian (and Rochelle) first met--Alaska, so we hope to make it up there to visit them--during the summertime of course :-).

It was so awesome to catch up a little...nice to be able to pick up a friendship like time hadn't really passed. Of course the time together makes us miss them now and we now wish we had made more time to get together before they moved away. :-(

Here are a couple of photos from our time together...I didn't get any photos of Deanna, so I borrowed one from their photos they are sharing via Facebook.
Brian & Rochelle

Chillin' at the hotel.

This picture of Deanna (3 1/2) was from Brian & Rochelle (taken somewhere in Canada on the way to Alaska).

Youth Group Back to School Bash

This past Wednesday we had a Back to School Bash/BBQ for our youth group at a park near our church. It was a great time, but leading up to it I was quite busy shopping, preparing 75 cupcakes, cutting watermelon and running back and forth to the church for a variety of reasons...good thing we live pretty close to our church.

Here are a few pictures from the event.

Grillin' Fun...
Gotta have a picture of my little sweetheart.

We had the students divide up by schools/groups and pray for their upcoming school year. Pretty cool to see and hear their prayers.

A crafty idea

So what have I been up to lately...not blogging obviously :-) Sorry...it's been a busy time around here.

Here's one thing I have taken time to create while Gregory is napping.

Here are a few links with tutorials, directions and some other examples. So far there's nothing inside this, but I could put a little gift inside of it...something like candy, a candle, etc.

http://cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/2008/07/designer-bags.html
http://www.stampinpretty.com/2008/07/bella-rose-mini-tote.html
http://dianagibbs.typepad.com/stampin_with_di/2008/06/box-in-a-bag-tutorial.html

I have also taken some time to do a little scrapbooking, so I've gotten a couple of more pages done. I'll post that once it is all done.

I'll also have a separate post on what we've been up to...so be watching for it later today.

Just everyday stuff

Today we are welcoming a break in our hot weather--only 85 for a high today. So Gregory and I finally got back outside and went for a walk. We walked to our new King Sooper's grocery store. Wow it sure is nice to have a grocery store within walking distance and such a nice store too. This is where we mostly shop since they double coupons up to $1.00 off (in fact if the coupon is $.55 then it becomes $1.00!)

With the price of food rising so much we are sure looking for more coupons to help out.

Anyways, back to walking to King Soopers, so when we were inside enjoying the freezer section, the air conditioning and the new store; an elderly gentleman drove up on a scooter cart and asked if he could give Gregory a candy, unfortunately it was a hard one he could choke on so I said no, but thanks anyways. We went on to have a brief conversation and it reminded me of how much I miss having my grandpa in my life. I have so many memories of times with him and grandma Marriott in California. I sure hope Gregory grows up having great memories of time s with relatives even though we live so far from so many of them. We try to keep lots of pictures around him of family members and we talk about them with Gregory too and of course we enjoy using our webcam too. So we are looking forward to our trip to Missouri this coming Sept to see Betty (Tom's mom) and Beth (Tom's sister) and family. More good times with family to come.

Miss you all.