Visiting the City of (our new little) Angel

This weekend Courtney & I traveled to LA to visit Cole, Josh and their new baby Cruz!  I'm not someone who's used to being around newborns so this was a really big treat for me.  He's such a little sweetheart, and so so so little!  The weekend went way too fast, but it was awesome to spend some time with Cole & Josh - I can't believe they're parents!

On the smallest plane in creation headed to LA (with Trista & Ryan Sutter too!)  The combination of wine and crazy 8's made it a quick trip.

Arriving in LA at Cole & Josh's meeting the little man for the first time!

It's no secret that Court and I like our sleep - so we got a hotel room.  View from our room.

Waking up, it's time to go on a walk.  Those eyes look so much like Jane, Cole's mom I can't stand it!

Aunt Courtney

So small!

DAD

Cole decided that she would wait until Court (Mother Christmas) and I were in town to help her decorate her tree... We stopped at the most insanely busy Michael's I've ever been in - seriously what is with all the people in LA??  We decorated the tree with a peacock theme - Colie's fav.

Cruz <3's Christmas

Josh stayed in with Cruz so the ladies could go out for dinner.  Cole took us to Amici's in Glendale for some much needed girlfriend catch-up time. This shopping area that had chandeliers hanging in the streets and they were blowing fake snow into the walkways.  I can't imagine if this was the only way I ever knew snow...

Last day nuzzling with Cruz before our obvious stop at In & Out Burger.  Gotta get that burger while we can!

 

Lovin' his blue bear outfit

This photo is seriously the funniest.  Court caught him dreaming with his hands up :)

Thanks for a great trip - we miss you guys so much already!

So Thankful

Another year with so much to be thankful for:  a soon-to-be hubby, amazing future in-laws and another sister I couldn't love more, an incredible family of my own who's support of everything I do is unwavering, friends that seriously rock, the most lovable fat cat who makes me laugh everyday, a fantastic job, good health, and lots and lots of happiness!  So, to celebrate this Thanksgiving my parents came out to spend a few days with Nick and I in Colorado.  

Since I'm no Betty Crocker I must admit I was a little intimidated by the fact that I'd be responsible for the biggest feast of the year.  THANKFULly though, my friend Robyn (a Thanksgiving dinner pro) offered to show me the ropes.  She came by one afternoon to teach me how to homemake both pumpkin and pecan pie and then continued to stay for hours as she talked me through the rest of the dinner as I carefully took notes praying that my first turkey wouldn't end in a house fire and Chinese food for dinner. 

As my parents arrived they were impressed with how under control things were, the salt wasn't getting overused per usual, I hadn't baked the plastic bag inside the turkey, the potatoes looked edible.  And cranberries out of the can?  I got this! 

Watch out Food Network, I can bake now.

My two turkeys

Aw, our first turkey

 

Dad doing the honors

More of the spread

 

Dinner was so good the men volunteered to take dish duty, love this!

Pin it.

 

  

"Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash.  But I would be proud to partake of your pecan pie."

I'm such a dork.

And to add to the fun, my mom's best friend Debbie (below left) and her husband Steve were also in Colorado for the weekend visiting her sister, Sandy (below right).  We spent two days together with them, one day down in Denver where Nick and I had the whole group playing cornhole, flip cup and even threw a little karaoke in there (keeping it classy) and then the next day we drove up to Erie, CO where Sandy lives for lots of football, chili and more good times.

Don't mind the patio furniture in our dining room.

  

I love Nick cheering for himself in the background :) 

We said goodbye to Mom & Dad Tuesday AM and after dropping them off at the airport we came home to find Moe sitting on the guest bed with this pillow.  Yes, he sits like that.

And finally, I stole this off of one of Emily Maynard's tweets I just love it.  Hope everyone's Thanksgivings were just as blessed!

Engagement Photos - Take 2

Nick and I met with our (awesome) photographer up at Heil Valley Ranch to give our engagement pictures another go.  Thankfully, this time the weather was on our side - it was a beautiful, fall Colorado afternoon.  You'll see in some of them just how bad the Boulder fires affected the area but overall it was a really great location.  I love the ones of us shot between the trees!  I'm so glad we did these pictures.  I think it gave us some insight onto the kind of pictures we want to take for our wedding day, less serious/artsy ones (hello Calvin Klein) and more smiling/genuine shots which is definitely more Nick & I...here are a few of my faves from the day!