what a week

Whew. 

The last week has been CRAZY. It all started last Monday when we realized oh no, we have to finish our ATCs -- tonight!!! And by finish, I mean do the whole thing.

A little note about Artist Trading Cards - these are special cards made by a group of artists and traded to one another so that, after you've made your set, you receive an entirely unique set of cards created by your circle of artist friends. There is a host who takes care of all the logistics, periodically nags the artists into getting their cards finished, sorts through cards and distributes. The host of this particular trading event is my very talented (and patient) Aunt Tarryn. 

The theme was what we take with us. Jeremiah and I began at 8:30 Monday, promptly after our lovely Amelie was in bed with an early morning looming ahead.

The cards turned out great. Jeremiah is becoming an amazing abstract artist. His secret? He says, don't think.

Tuesday is always crazy because I work which means an early morning, getting all three of us ready, heading up to the mountains to Ammy's grandparents and back down to work. Oh, and then I work. 

By Wednesday it was obvious that I needed to get a real handle on our plans for the week, my to do list, etc. Ammy helped me make three lists.

Despite a long to-do list, we managed to find a little free time -- and with the first incredibly gorgeous days of the year, we couldn't resist playing outside.

This cookie had an unfortunate end...see below.

On Friday we took a trip to the Denver Zoo with our friends Michelle and Stella, it was a whole bunch of fun.

Then there was Saturday, St. Patty's Day. Since it is Spring and all, we decided to take on an enormous yard project. So my mom and dad came down and gave us a hand while we dug up our whole back yard.

Before

During

 

After

We finished the day together with a traditional Irish dinner. Jer and my dad were so tired they could barely move.

Sunday we thought about sitting around but, at the last minute, decided on a picnic up Flagstaff in Boulder. The day was windy so we ate in the van and ventured out just above Gross Reservoir.

Ammy was very excited when we decided, at the top of the mountain, that it was time to switch her rear-facing car seat to forward-facing (you know, because she's a big girl).

Now we're already two days into a new week, many adventures ahead.

yellow petals

Jeremiah and I don't get out much. That is, together, without our girl. Last night my parents watched Amelie while we went to Whimsy Paint and Sip. They provide the canvas, brushes and paint, all we had to do was show up!

 Whimsy also has an open bar.

An instructor guides the group in a single painting throughout the night, complete with loud, fun music in between steps.

Whimsy is located in old town Erie. We lived in Erie about ten years ago, when it was just a tiny town in the middle of nowhere. Last night we drove by our first home, a tiny hundred-something year old miner's cabin set on two giant lots with towering cottonwoods as old as the house. We reminisced about the field behind the house where our collie, Fiona, had gotten thorns in her paws and Jeremiah carried her like a damsel in distress, all the way home. Looking down the sidewalk, we remembered the day I put our fiercely independent maine coon kitten on a leash, trying to walk him with our dog (didn't work out very well haha). The yard where Fiona chased that cat, Lukin, and he chased her back. He was just a few months old, she was two. They have both been gone for many years now.

Today is our anniversary, when we officially started dating - 11 years ago. Last night I could really feel all those years, I could really see where we had started and the meandering path that led us to who we are today.

Our masterpieces.