Meet Troy! We shot his parents wedding several years ago. Last week we did family portraits for them at Hudson Gardens. Troy brought his trusty, bright blue camera with the big red “clicky” button so he could help us. This little man has a great personality, so much curiosity, an abundance of energy and really…. how do you resist those beautiful eyes!

Last weekend Bob and I used a gift certificate to Wild Horse Inn given to us by Amanda and Parker. Due to family crazyness we were unable to celebrate our 30th anniversary, birthdays and other important events when they happened so this was a perfect get away. Amanda had shot a wedding last September where the bride and groom stayed at the Wild Horse Inn. She love the place and thought we would too. She was right – it’s a lovely place!

We opted to stay in one of the three cabins. A very good choice! With a living room/kitchenette and a big beautiful bedroom, it was like being home away from home.

I should mention that the bathroom had a huge two person bathtubs that was fabulous… but I won’t since my children read this and will think it’s totally gross that mom would even bring it up.

Bob signed us up for the “Romantic Escape Package” which included a beautiful vase of flowers in the room, champagne and yummy breakfasts in the cabin.

The weather was overcast most of the time. Once in a while the sun would peek through and then just as fast as it came out it would be snowing.

Saturday morning started with John, the owner of Wild Horse Inn, delivering breakfast of orange ginger french toast.  YUMMY!

We hung out for a while, then decided to drive out to Granby for the heck of it. Lets just say there isn’t much happening in Granby in October!

So we gathered up the cameras and headed over to Devils Thumb Ranch for the afternoon. First we went to their stables to take photos. Sadly their horses had been turned out for the afternoon.

I’m convinced the red chicken was trained to stare you down. She never took her eyes off you.

Then just like magic it’s snowing like crazy again!

So we hopped into the car and went to The Ranch Creek Spa at Devils Thumb for a couples massage. This was perfect for the two of us – I’m pretty sure with work and family stress we’ve forgotten how to relax. Everyone at the spa was great, very accommodating which was good since I think Bob has had only one massage before and was a bit apprehensive about what his crazy wife was getting him into.

We stayed for dinner at The Ranch House. Amanda and I have loved their meals when we’ve shot weddings at the Ranch. The food is excellent – lots of game choices and the chocolate desert was perfect. After we headed back to the cabin to watch movies and let the snow fall outside.

The next morning Bob went over to the main house to get another yummy breakfast. Got to love a man bringing you food!

After lounging around for awhile we headed back to Littleton where the snow was worse than what we’d been having in the mountains. Go Figure!

We had the perfect relaxing weekend. John and Chris at Wild Horse Inn have a great place to get away from it all. In a month or so the snow up there will be perfect for skiing. Tabernash is called the “Icebox of the Nation” for a darn good reason – it’s cold up there!

Thank you Amanda and Parker for the gift certificate and for staying with Spencer and Grace while we were gone. We appreciate your thoughtfulness!

As many of you know, one of our interns, Jeanie, is in the hospital having suffered a closed-head injury. She tripped and fell down a flight of concrete steps during a party with some of her friends- just a simple freak accident. We’ve received lots of inquires about her situation, and I wanted to give everyone an update.

Jeanie is stable and her condition is slowly, slowly improving. The doctors are taking very slow steps to bring her out of her induced sedation- they’re just allowing her time to rest and recuperate between every procedure, every move they make, and allow her to heal herself as best as she can!

Thank you, everyone, for your continued thoughts and prayers- I know her family really appreciates it!

Jeanie and her niece, Elise.

Bob, Spencer, Grace and I have made it to California! We picked up our oldest son, Parker at his soon to be old apartment. He’s all packed to move back to Colorado. We’re taking the everyone to California Adventure Land (Disney’s newest CA theme park) today. I love Disney.

Las Vegas was fun. The Planet Hollywood Hotel was great. We saw The Blue Man Group Friday night, they’re amazing. So creative. The high yesterday was 116 degrees. I imagine that’s how cookies feel while baking – how on earth to people live there and have a normal lifestyle?

Debi

Our nephew, Marco, and Auntie Chelly kicking back and watching Dad and AC kill pirates on Father’s Day.

Family is awesome.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone. Crazy rain here in Colorado – I feel like we’ve moved to Oregon. Hardly the ideal warm beginning of summer we look forward to. We went to the movies to see Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, which was very cute. Bob did some BBQing in the pouring rain because it’s some unwritten rule that you must BBQ on Memorial Day and soon we’ll be watching the Nuggets whip the Lakers.

Go Nuggets!

Guess it’s time to clean the rain gutters – Debi

I’ve fallen behind on our blog but before I add anything else I just wanted to say Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, Joan. We just returned from California where we celebrated my aunt’s 80th birthday. It was quite the event. Before we left my mother had to spend some time at the beach. We use to live in SoCal, the one thing we miss the most living in Colorado is the ocean. Chatfield reservoir just doesn’t cut it!

I’ll blog more later about Julie and Troy’s Wedding and the 80th birthday party later – right now – Happy Mother’s Day mom!

Last August our oldest son Parker moved to Marina Del Ray. We miss him a lot around here. Not that when he lived in Colorado he was around much – he’s always been a social guy, even as a little kid he was out and about with friends. But now he’s not here to eat all the leftovers in the refrigerator, complain about the old stuff still living in the pantry or to give his younger brother a hard time on a weekly basis. It’s strange… really strange!

Yesterday I had a few minutes to look through some of the photos of our trip and came across this one. I thought I’d share it. Before we left for the airport we had brunch at Paradise Cove in Malibu. Great food, huge glasses of fresh squeezed orange juice and some of the best people watching around. We walked the beach. Spencer and Parker beat up on each other – as boys do. It was good for Spencer to spend time with his brother. It was good to see Parker again.

So, Parker – we miss you. See you in April?

Love you – Mom

For the past 30 years Bob and I have hosted Christmas Eve dinner at our house. The door is open to everyone. At times we’ve had as many as 30 people, some from as far a California, Wyoming and even Germany.  Our tradition is a big cheesy lasagna, plenty of snackie stuff and chocolate — lots of Chocolate! Over the years we’ve added enchiladas and as the older 20 something kids noted — more “grown up drinks” are served.

There are presents, but more important there is family. Our family has grown over the years, in numbers and in size. Our babies are now in their teens and 20′s, taller than I am and no longer wait up for Santa. I miss the stage where the anticipation of what Santa might bring was the center of their lives. But I like this stage too. I like being able to have adult conversations, seeing the world through their eyes. Having the 16 year old nephew tell me a dirty joke — which was pretty darn funny! I like that most of them can get themselves to and from the party on their own and will help with the dinner without being asked. Ana and Cody had little Marco this September so there’s a baby again. Next year he’ll be old enough to sort of understand what Christmas is about and the cycle of anticipating Santa’s arrival  will continue.

Happy Holidays – Debi

My favorite ornament — this year.

Miss Sophie got a toy mouse for Christmas.

My father, David

That sibling thing never goes away no matter how old you are! Bob’s sister Lisa expressed her feeling about having her photo taken.

Spencer hamming it up for the camera. He’s feeling much better these days

My mother, Joan and Cinnamon. She walks in the house and Cinnamon goes right to the treat door. I’m not sure who’s got who trained!

Me holding little Marco. Grace and Jessica were amazed at his little tiny fingers. Really — they were hoping to get to hold him next.

AC and Dori

As Grace said “Oh my gosh mom, that is the cutest thing ever!” Granted she more than a bit partial to these two adorable twins. Kristen bid on this great bag at a fundraiser for the Colorado Destination ImagiNation program and was the lucky winner. We nearly froze poor “N” and “E” doing the shoot on a very chilly afternoon but they were little troopers through the whole event. My hands were numb and they weren’t complaining a bit. They even put on their Halloween costumes for a few shots. I’m not sure how Kirsten decided which photos to use on the bag — there were so many that turned out soooo cute!

“N” and “E” — Grace is looking forward to babysitting you two again!

- Debi

Check out the new bag (it’s huge!) as well as a couple shots from the day. This is the front side.

and the back side!

“N” — Isn’t he the most handsome 4 year old!

and Miss “E” looking positively adorable.

Even Kristen got her photo taken.