at least we have 14 more years to teach him to drive

I stumbled upon this little video while uploading some pics.  Here's Kash's attempt to ride the kiddie cars at Boondocks for his cousin Kitt's birthday back in April.  Just because kids are tall enough to ride the ride doesn't mean they should! Pretty sure the worker guy hated us, but Kash sure did have a good time. 

Aunt Rach was nice enough to take Kash out on the bumper boats and get wet.  Kash loved it! 

zoo lights

Every year we talk and talk about going to see the zoo lights and never never do, but since this year Kash was older and was loving Christmas so much I made it a point to get us there.

I'd never seen that many people at the zoo, not even on a free day, but I'd say it was worth the wait.  Kash had fun too ha, but he was a little disappointed at the fact that we were at the zoo but we weren't seeing any animals! He kept saying, "More nanimals? More nanimals?"

Kash thought it was pretty cool to kick the snow all night

zoo lights

Every year we talk and talk about going to see the zoo lights and never never do, but since this year Kash was older and was loving Christmas so much I made it a point to get us there.

I'd never seen that many people at the zoo, not even on a free day, but I'd say it was worth the wait.  Kash had fun too ha, but he was a little disappointed at the fact that we were at the zoo but we weren't seeing any animals! He kept saying, "More nanimals? More nanimals?"

Kash thought it was pretty cool to kick the snow all night

welcome to denver

Oh what, you're sick of reading my Halloween post over and over?  Fine here's a new one :)

The mid-west might not have beautiful mountains, fresh air or tolerable winters but one thing it does have is good shopping!  This, next to family & friends of course, is the one thing I miss most about Illinois.  I mean it was definitly an upgrade in the shopping department coming from Logan, UT but I was a little dissapointed when Denver (or Colorado--hey I'm willing to drive for some good deals) didn't have some of my favorite stores.  But with the recent opening of IKEA, Stake n' Shake and now H&M I'm feeling more and more at home with each grand opening!

I do have to take some credit for the new shopping additions to Denver seeing as how I wrote a letter to both IKEA and H&M and they both wrote me back saying they would look into opening a store in this region. 

I was so excited when H&M announced they were opening a store on the 16th Street Mall downtown.  I would have prefered it to be in an actual mall, but I'll take whatever I can get.  I love H&M for their great prices, unique yet simple style and adorable and affordable little boys clothes (it's so hard to find cute boy clothes for babies/toddlers!). 

So a few weeks ago I dragged Karen to H&M with me.  Here our our adventures:

 

Karen and I were SHOCKED when we walked up to the store and there was a line around the block!

the pretty new store!



the actually do sell cute clothes there despite what these pictures are displaying!



came out with some goods!



day out with thomas

Kash's two obsessions right now are baseball and trains, or choo choos as he likes to call them.  So when I heard that THE Thomas the Train was coming to town I thought Kash would love it.  Not that he really watches Thomas but he does have a book of Thomas that he loves combined with his love of trains I figured he would still be excited to meet Thomas.  

Sadly none of us got much sleep the night before due to our lovely neighbor's dog who kept us up all night, needless to say Kash wasn't the only crabby one at this event.  We even got 8:30am tickets in hopes that Kash would be in a really good mood, yeah not so much. But in between the lines, lines and more lines (my dreams of Disneyland were maybe crushed a little at this outing when I realized Kash has zero tolerance for a line) there were smiles and laughter of excitement to see Thomas.

Kash was so excited when our shuttle bus turned the corner and you could see Thomas' creepy face.  He started clapping and yelling YAAAYYYY!  The whole bus did in fact, it was cute!

 But to keep it real this was how Kash was 87% of the time, dang neighbors and their stupid dog!

I'm still glad we went and that Kash did get excited to see Thomas and had a lot of fun riding the train!

and finally....

...IKEA opened here in Denver!!!  I've waited a long time (almost 4 years) for this store to open and it did not disappoint.  I grew up with IKEA so it's not like this is a new and exciting store to me.  But lately I've been seeing cute/cheap design ideas on blogs and it killed me that I didn't have the same inexpensive options that my fellow bloggers had.  Well not anymore!

I wasn't brave enough to go opening day but I did go 2 days later.  I prepped myself for the Disneyland-like madness but it actually wasn't that bad.  Sure there were a TON of people but there were also a lot of parking lot attendants and police and I was really surprised at how fast everything moved.  In fact I was able to park right next to the elevator and there was only one person in front of me in the check out.

Kash also enjoyed himself.  At first he was in awe of the hundreds of people.  And then he was in awe of this train.  We spent 15 minutes at this table while Kash just said "choo choo" over and over again.  Needless to say that one came home with us!

A sucker did come in handy when the store seemed to never end.  But I was surprised at how good he was during our TWO HOUR trip!

We ended up with some good stuff.  Now I just need to save my pennies so I can afford to go back.  Welcome to Colorado, IKEA!  It's good to have ya!

dear ikea,

IKEA I-25 & County Line Rd. Denver, CO

I was wondering if you would be willing to open a little sooner than this fall.  Don't get me wrong I'm very excited about your arrival to Denver...but I just wish your grand opening was a little sooner.  You see we just bought our first home and there's lots of new space that needs your touch and your ginormous sign is kind of a tease!

For example I have big plans for this rug in my living room.  Think something like this rug.


ERSLEV Rug, flatwoven


And this rug would look pretty cute in our basesment. 

GISLEV Rug, low pile

It would have been nice to have had you around last weekend when we bought our new couch, because this one looks a lot more comfortable than the one we got...


KARLSTAD Sofa

Oh and I need about a million of your frames for a gallery wall up my stairs. 

RIBBA Frame

So if there's any chance that your grand opening could move to June 1st I would be one happy customer.

Sincerely,
Desperate new home owner who wants her house to become a home

we didn't get any shoes but we met an NBA player

Last Wednesday Kash and I were at Park Meadows Mall, just shopping around trying to spend a gift card he got for Striderite. Sadly we didn’t find any shoes but we did find this man just hanging out at Baby Gap (of all places)!

Kash wondering who this huge, random man is and why his mom is actin' a fool! (I wish I would have had my real camera with me--this was taken on my phone)

We were on our way out of Baby Gap and I was trying to navigate the world’s largest jogging stroller through the world’s smallest isles when this big man was in my way. His dad said, “watch out J,” and when he turned around I knew right away who it was. You see Blaine might just be the biggest Nuggets fan in the world, resulting in me knowing a thing or two about the Nuggets.

As we got closer I pretty much screamed, “Oh my gosh are you JR Smith???” (Blaine commented when I retold the story, you knew who he was why did you ask? Haha I don’t know, what else are you supposed to say, “What up J!”??) He smiled and was like, “yeah.”  I proceeded to freak out. I mean it’s not every day you run into an NBA player. I told him how big of fan my husband was and asked if I could take his picture. He was super nice about it, considering I was being very loud and probably obnoxious. This is now the point of the story where my excitement wears off and I just get nervous. I started to say random things and couldn’t stop talking. “Okay you have to take a picture with my baby, I mean you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, will you please take a picture with my baby? Oh are you his mom? Nice to meet you! (as I touch her back…what? Don’t touch her Erica!!!) Oh my husband has been cheering for you guys even after the trade he’s just such a big fan” hahahaha

JR was super nice through the whole thing, he even told Kash he liked his hair and gave him a little pat. I then got Kash and just kept saying awkward things on my way out the door like, “sorry to bother you on your day off thank you so much for the picture!” JR’s mom, “It’s not his day off he has a game tonight,” me, “ehh I know my husband told me,” and then I just ran off.

I know what you are all saying, but you are a Jazz fan. I know I know! But the Nuggets are probably me second favorite team except when they play the Jazz, and I'm a big NBA fan. Don’t worry I didn’t tell him I was a Jazz fan—I don’t think things would have gone as smoothly. Overall he was way nicer than I thought he would be considering what the media has said about him from time to time. And luckily for me I showered that day! Hahaha

yuck

One thing I love about living in Denver is the climate.  The winters are never too harsh or cold, when it snows it melts within a day or two, and the summers are never too hot.  Well one thing I learned last year when the Dewey's came to visit us in the "Spring" is that March is the snowiest month in Colorado!  I had told them how nice and warm the weather was and had all these fun outdoor activies planned and then it was the blizzard of '09 their entire trip!

What the freak Colorado! Just as you get spring fever and you are ready to trade your sweaters in for capris here comes the snow.

This fine day in March is no exception.  It snowed 10+ inches last night.  I actually wouldn't mind all of the snow in March, but the fact that I was 99% sure I would have a snow day and didn't is what makes me mad.  I called my work's snowline seven times last night, praying each time that it would say we were closed today.  The best I got was a late start of 10am.  I guess I should be grateful that I got to sleep in...but instead I'm bitter that I'm here at work AND EVERYONE ELSE CALLED IN "SICK"!

And to top it off Blaine leaves for LA on business today and will be gone till Friday.  Mostly I just hate today and I'm a big time crabster!

Colorado summer--what a jip!

This is what has been flashing on my TV all summer!

It's been in the 50's all week. It rains when I go to work, it rains when I leave. We make our poor youth at church play water games in 60 degree weather. I've already pulled out my pumpkin pie candle, and I'm about ready to get out my autumn decorations. I feel like I'm supposed to be begging Blaine to take me to the pumpkin patch instead of the pool! This is just ridiculous. I love fall (with all my heart that is) but I want my summer back! I want to be tan. I want to go on Sunday walks with my husband.

This sucks!

mo tab at red rocks

Is pretty cool!

blaine's new friend "badger"

Last night we went to the Rockies game--thanks to Joy and Jason for giving Blaine the tickets for his bday!! We finally arrived at our seats (after a few wrong turns while resulting in a few flights of unnecessary stairs), whipped out the treats we snuck in and we were ready for the ball game. As it turns out so was the guy next to us who came to the game solo. He was loudly talking to himself in hopes that someone would talk back. Well as soon as he started throwing out facts about the game Blaine was all ears, he will talk sports with anyone! This resulted in eight innings of me just people watching, checking my phone to see if anyone texted me and the occasional high-five from Blaine (I'm assuming this was only because his new friend wasn't official BFF status yet...yes yet)!

At one point the dude finally takes a bathroom break, in which he reassures Blaine he'll be right back (whew! we were all worried) and Blaine informs me that this guy's name is BADGER! What the freak? I'm thinking it must be a joke and somewhat pray that this so called "Badger" has trouble finding his seats like we originally did. Don't worry he didn't and Blaine and Badge pick up right where they left off.

To top everything off at the end of the game "Badger" asks for Blaine's number so that they can maybe go to a game together!!!! I lost it...I seriously had to pretend I was looking for something in my purse because I couldn't stop laughing. So Blaine does the polite thing and gets his number confirming that his name is Badger, well it only gets better HIS NAME IS PATRICK!!!!!!!!!! Wow...I seriously couldn't handle the ridiculousness of the night anymore!

High fives were eventually given, numbers where exchanged and Blaine finally made a friend in Denver.

I guess I shouldn't laugh I'm still searching for my Denver BFF.

Blaine: 1
Eggs: 0

Don't let this picture fool you, this was the only time Blaine and I really interacted!

best friend weekend

warning: picture overload!
Our friends the Dewey's called us up one day and said, "I know we were talking about coming to visit you guys in June but I just don't think we can wait!" (can you blame them?!?) So they told us they were coming in a few weeks and Blaine and I couldn't even believe it! Friends actually coming to see us? WOW!

Juli and I met our freshmen year of college and knew pretty much from the first week of school that we would be friends for life. As roommates we would stay up late talking about boys, school and planning our next road trip. So for us it's an added bonus that our husbands get along so well...sometimes you would think they were the long time bff's!

Since it was snowing we hit up the museum, the movies and eventually Red Rocks. Along with late nights (as in 4am bedtime) of chatting, Guitar Hero and episodes of The Office. Looks like you guys might have to come back in June anyway to experience Denver minus the snow!

Needless to say we had the time of our lives, no thanks to the blizzard that decided to show up for the party. Thanks for coming to visit Juli and Bryan! We miss you guys already and really wish you lived here. It's amazing how much more you can like something (Denver) when you experience it with your best friends!

friends? yes please!

So we can't make friends in Colorado. No big deal our friends are coming to us!

This very week we have the Dewey's (best friends) coming to town...

In May Shell-woman and Mark (mom + bf) will pay us a visit...Along with a visit from Karen (Blaine's sis).

And June holds a surprise visit!!! I can't tell you who it is now because one of the friends doesn't know he's coming yet! This one was probably just as much a surprise to Blaine and I as it will be to our friend when we finds out he's coming to Denver!!! Stay tuned for that one!

Yea!! for people visiting us! I'm so excited for these next few months I can hardly stand it. So if you don't have anything to do this summer stop on by, the Turnbow's will show you a good time! (Yes, I just spoke in the third person. I guess I'm channeling Karl Malone...I've got Jazz fever if you couldn't tell!)

Jazz vs. Nuggets

Of course my hair fell in my face right as the picture was being taken. But I wasn't about to ask the crabby security guard for a retake!

There once was a boy who was obsessed with the Denver Nuggets. And there was a girl who had an undying love for the Utah Jazz (even at such places as the United Center and Pepsi Center). All though their preferences in basketball were clearly different they defied the odds and got married! But from that day forward their house would be a battle ground anytime the Jazz played the Nuggets.

On Thursday my mom surprised Blaine with an earlier birthday present...two awesome tickets to the Jazz vs. Nuggets game! While the game was super fun, I'm going to stick to watching the Jazz either at home or in Utah. The Nuggets fans were brutal. I mean, I expected it and had tons of fun. But at one point the whole arena started chanting UTAH SUCKS and I had to get up and represent the UT by pointing to my Jazz shirt. Sadly that Jazz didn't even win!!! :(

I guess Blaine and I are even now. A few years ago we went to a Jazz/Nuggs game in Utah and he too was heckled by the fans. (Denver fans were worse though!)

Thanks mom for a great night, and giving Blaine a birthday gift I could enjoy too!

The Nuggets participated in NBA's Green Week 2009 by wearing green jersey's. We thought that was cool.

denver free days

Did you know that your city probably offers a ton of free admission days to local museums, zoo, gardens etc.? Here's a list of Denver's free days. If you don't live in Denver I bet if you google "free days (your city) 2009" you will find the same sort of list. The only catch is very rarely are they on Saturdays...which makes it hard for the working family.

Blaine and I totally took advantage of free days last year and went to the Museum of Nature & Science. As you can see we had fun...for free!