RED

I love the color red. And I also love taking photographs. And did I mention that I love contests?

Well I do.

I found a new blog today, Beyond Snapshots. And I think I'm in love. And you want to know what else I'm in love with? Epiphanie camera bags.

I'd love to have one, therefore I'd love to win this contest.

In the theme of the color red, I've posted this here photo. I just so happen to love San Fransisco too.

If you want to enter, make sure you do so by April 2nd. Head over to Beyond Snapshots for more details.

Photo Hunt #206: Fresh

It's spring-time in the Rockies!

This last week has brought us warm temperatures and cold temperatures and yes, even snow. This *fresh* snow blanketed our yard and deck this morning when we woke up; and it's still coming down as I write this. And to think it was warm enough just last weekend to wear shorts and even get sunburned a little.

This is my take on TNChick's PhotoHunt for this week. Jump over to her site to check out how she and others interpreted it, and make sure you join her Facebook Fan Page for more details.

"Éirinn go Brách" - Ireland Forever

May luck be our companion

May friends stand by our side

May history remind us all

Of Ireland's faith and pride.

May God bless us with happiness

May love and faith abide.

~Irish Blessing~

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all my friends and family!

Where the Wild Things Are

We took advantage of some beautiful spring-like weather yesterday and took the boys to the zoo. While it's always a fun time, it also gave me the opportunity to pull my camera out and take some photos. You guys all know how much I enjoy doing that....

A Mexican Grey Wolf

This bird was in the Budgie Buddies exhibit, some sort of finch perhaps?

The tiger, in Asian Highlands.

A male silverback gorilla, in Primate World

Colorado's 'top' predator: A mountain lion. Found in the Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit.

A funky bird in the African Rift Valley exhibit

Giraffe's!

Watch them here.

Meerkats!

Watch them here.

the Budgie Buddy exhibit

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. We love it there. And I just can't say enough about it. If you are ever in the Colorado Springs area, visit it - you'll be impressed.

Oh, and later this year? I'm participating in the Run to the Shrine.

It's only sits at an elevation of 8,136 feet.

1.4 miles STRAIGHT UP from the zoo's main entrance.

Ahhh. Wish me luck!

And in this corner

My kids have spent a lot of time recently in time-out, or even better yet, on restriction. Not listening, back talking, getting into mischief at school, for fighting with one another. We've even sent them to their rooms a few times for not eating all of their dinner, and being mean to the puppy. Mind you most of the time they are only sent to their rooms for the time frame of their respective ages (KJ = 7and Isaac = 4) and when they are on restriction 'fun things' are taken away (video games, outdoor play, the TV, etc) And yes, while it seems to work right then, they forget so quickly. Can I put a puppy in time out? He's tugging at my jacket sleeve that's hanging on the back of my chair as I type this. Let's be happy that's it's not my bare foot, or my inner thigh as those two areas have gotten chomped on before too. Basically what I'm saying is this: having a puppy is like adding another kid to the household. Anyways, the other day I sent the boys to their rooms for fighting. It was later in the afternoon and while my kids don't nap hardly at all anymore during the day, I knew they were tired (waking up at 6AM will do that to you. ON A WEEKEND) and I was secretly hoping that they'd fall asleep. Their rooms are on each end of a hallway and so usually they sit in their doorway and giggle and what not with each other, all the while they are still in their rooms. After just a few short minutes of them giggling and stuff it got quiet so I went upstairs to check on them. This is what I found Isaac, sound asleep in the doorway of his bedroom while waiting for his time out to be over. Or you know, maybe he was just worn out from defending his galaxy.

Blog Interrupted

So obviously I haven't been doing a very good job of keeping up with things in a way to keep you all (who probably by now have totally lost interest anyways) informed with happenings in my life. Or my kids life for that matter, but I will tell you this.

The year 2009 didn't end very well and the year 2010 didn't start out on the right note.

I lost two of my dogs around the end of the year all the while trying to celebrate birthdays and holidays with a smile on my face. Then the new year started and things seemed to be on the up and up until mid-January rolled around and I found out that the workplace was going to be laying off myself, along with 60+ other employees between then (it was January 15th to be exact) and the end of July. Just a short time later I was offered a supervisor position to fill a gap 'in the meantime' as someone jumped ship almost immediately when they too found out about our jobs. Talk about being disappointed one day and on cloud nine the next - it's sort of stressful if you ask me.

I feel like I've been on a roller coaster I tell you and while I've been trying to stay on the top of the steep hill by finding the positive in things and what not, I'm not quite sure it's working. I really feel like it's just been one bad thing after another. Rinse/Lather/Repeat.

With a few skips in between.

And did I really want to bore all of you with the intimate details of my moods? Yeah, probably not. Trust me, I've spared you all by not blogging over the last few months. But I'm going to try, starting today. Call it free therapy if you will...

In other news, we welcomed a puppy into our home on February 7th and we had some visitors in town a few weeks ago. I suppose I do need to fill in the gaps at some point.

But hey! In the meantime if you feel like it, 'Formspring Me'. It might actually make things fun! I mean after all I really don't want to weigh anyone down with the heavy stuff. That's my problem, not yours.

We'll meet again soon - promise.