Lions and tigers and Swine flu - Oh MY!

No lions or tigers, although I'm sure I growled just as much as one. Kaitlyn came down with the swine flu and narrowly escaped hospitalization. My poor little angel had a fever of 103 (with Motrin) for 4 days. I was able to get the presciption for tamiflu, although her Doctor said it wouldn't be available much longer. She is mostly better now, no fever, but still doing breathing treatments (we are down to two a day). During this time Mike was also sick.
It is so hard and scary to see a little one so sick. I am so thankful she is on the road to recovery!
Now - after taking care of Mike and Kaitlyn, I am starting to come down with something.
Where is my tea? My tissues? My soup? My vicks rub down?
I got nadda.
Sigh - such is life. The life of a Mom.

Jennifer Louise Robeck

Jennifer Louise Robeck, of Cotopaxi Colorado, Born May 23, 1955 lost her battle with cancer on September 12, 2009. Known as the “burrito lady” to many, Jennifer loved to cook and lived life to the fullest. She and Carol, her partner for 18 years loved to fish, camp, hunt, sing and dance. Jennifer was a proud Coloradoan who loved her mountains, the Bronco’s and the Rockies! She loved to play games and would grace us with her legendary whistle upon winning! Jennifer is survived by her brother Chris Robeck and Uncle Harvey Robeck and many dear family and friends. We would like to invite all her knew and loved her to a celebration of her life on October, 10 2009 at the Cody Park Church in Cotopaxi at 1:00 p.m.

These are just words. Words that will be printed in the paper. She was so much more than words, and I'm having a really hard time summing up her life with words - summing up my relationship with her in words.

It was no secret that Jennifer and I didn't always see eye to eye. In fact she down right pissed me off at times. But, she never treated me any differently because of it - nor I her. I think she was one of the few that I just "accepted" as they were. No more - no less and she accepted me. We had a few rough patches here and there, but I really don't remember them as much as I remember her smile and laugh.

She had an infectious laugh - it would start off as a small chuckle then build to something that, even if you had no idea why she was laughing, you would join in!

We played a lot of games; poker, dice, card games, board games, horseshoes, darts - you name it and she was in! And you could count on that whistle when she won! For those of you who have never heard it I compare it to the whistle in the Rawhide theme song...She also loved to ski. She took me skiing for my very first time - and man! That was a great day! Definitely one of my favorite days! I don't ski often, or very good - but what I can do is because of her... and I'm grateful for that experience.

Our "thing" was food. We loved to cook, and we cooked really well together and I think that is where we bonded. We really liked bouncing idea's and recipes off each other (I did more bouncing than she). It was a special treat when we got together for a meal because you could believe it would have every course imaginable! :-) She loved her "snackies" and sample time at the grocery stores was a highlite of the day! I often used her to test foods for me, to see if they were too spicy. If something was spicy her cheeks would sweat. No joke - little beads of sweat would form on her cheeks right above her cheekbones...and she would look at me and say "Don't eat it!"

She was very generous, if she had it and you needed it, it was yours! Of course, she did have 5 of whatever it was!!! She was a big bargain shopper! Her and I would just get so tickled if we got a great deal on something! It didn't matter if she didn't really need it - what could she get it for?! She wasn't cheap either. The first gift she ever bought me was a pair of pearl and diamond earings from the Shane Company. I was speachless... I didn't know if I was more excited about the earings or the fact that she got them from a company who's commerical I had memorized as a kid! (Go ahead say it with me... The Shane company just off Arapahoe Road and Emporia street one half mile east of I-25....) I still love those earings and I will forever cherish them.

She loved to crochet, and I'm really bummed now that I didn't have the patience to learn. She tried to teach me and I'm telling you - that's hard! She loved quilting and wood working - I have been on the receiving end of each of these talents and I am grateful.

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I am grateful that she was a part of my life, and I'm going to miss her.

Working Out!

Nothing much to say about this - it's just cute!
Here are Kaitlyn and her Daddy working out! Pardon the mess in the Garage...

Camping - August 09

We got to go camping again at Elevenmile (we really liked it last time). We got up there Friday afternoon and enjoyed a nice night all by ourselves. It was the first time we were camping and it was just us! It was a beautiful night, couldn't ask for anything better - well maybe for my air mattress to not have a hole, but other than that it was great!!
Saturday we were joined by Gabe and our neighbors Monique, Brian, Riley and Zoe. We had a great time - the weather turned a bit crazy Saturday night tho!

Check out the link below to see all the pics!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=5435&id=100000095584659&l=a03bb7a885

First day of school

Okay - so today is actually her second day of Pre-school. I am sitting here drinking my coffee, in complete silence because Mike is driving today. I'm thinking to myself "what should I do now?" Seriously - What should I do now? I know it's only two hours but I found myself with this nervous energy. So - I decided to bake some bread (in the bread maker of course) and get going on laundry - Only after I sat for 20 minutes and just did nothing. I didn't talk to anyone. I didn't watch t.v. I just sat. It was kind of nice! Now, to tackle that darned pantry. Uggh.
Tuesday was her first day - and NO, I didn't cry. Almost - but the tear didn't come out. She marched right up to the door, kicked off her shoes and asked where to put her book bag! She didn't even say goodbye! (That's the part where I almost cried.) She learned about the letter "A".
Kaitlyn is beside herself excited for school and "Mrs. Holly's class" and all her new "friends". Wednesday was excruciating for her. She must have asked 20 times "when do i get to go to Mrs. Holly's house?" She sang a song for me today "adios, adios - see you on Tuesday! See you on Tuesday." I think she is really going to do well!

Here are some pics from the open house and from her first day.

All set to start learning!

Daddy explaining that we have to wait until Mrs. Holly opens the door.


My little angel!

All sass, but still so cute!

Brushing her teeth all by herself, after all she's a big girl now!

Her folder! I know I'm a dork - I thought this was exciting!

Some of the classroom

Mommy and Kaitlyn decorating her book bag.

Mrs. Holly and Kaitlyn.

can we go in yet??!

Sorry for the backward order - I'm having a hard time organizing pics on here lately. Anyone else having this problem?

one more super cute pic!

Kaitlyn's friend Zoe had a spa day for her birthday - and Kaitlyn got her toes painted and this...

SO SO CUTE! What have we set ourselves up for?!

my first salad from my garden!

On the 4th I got to eat a whole salad entirely from my garden! It was SO delicious! Fresh lettuce, radish, spinach, tomatoes, basil, parsley and cilantro!

My Garden is growing fantastically!

Day at Chatfield Res

Last weekend, we went to water world and had a GREAT TIME! I hadn't been there since High School. It was so fun we all had a great time and I can't wait to go back!

The next day we went to Chatfield with my brother-in-law's family and our neighbors. We had a great time! It was nice to do something different - the kids enjoyed hanging out in the water and the big kids played badminton! Thanks to Aunt Patty, we had TONS of food and nothing went to waste! Check out my dirty face girls! LOL That's when you know you're having a good time!

Above are Jan, Mike, Richard, Mike, Jarod and Dee in a battle to the finish! :-) We had a lot of fun - laid back fun day!

XBox360!

My cousin Chris generously gave us an Xbox360!!! How lucky are we?! By we, I mean Mike because all the games are his, he got a remote for it (which is his) and he got me one game (Sonic) but won't show me how to set up a profile so I don't have to start over each time.

I'm going to have Jarod show me how ... and then.... watch out! That baby will be ALL MINE! LOL

Even Kaitlyn is getting in on the action! She loves mortal combat. So - is that a bad thing??

Thank you Chris for you generosity! We greatly appreciate it and are thoroughly enjoying it!

Where has the time gone?

Wow - I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since my last post! To start, I am totally addicted to Facebook. It has occupied all my free time lately and yes, I am ashamed! (Not really)

So - aside from facebook, what have I been doing? Enjoying the summer, enjoying the rain, loving my garden and hanging out with my family! Here are some pics of us enjoying the sunshine!

Kaitlyn gettin' jiggy wit' it!

Taking a sip out of her birthday pool!

The kids dancing - so cute! Check Jarod's moves out!
Below are Zoe, Kaitlyn and Bean showboating in the front yard!