JOSHUA'S FIRST TOOTH

wow... my dad caught this on camera...sorry for the off look in his eyes..I am sure that the excitement was a little overwhelming for him.

It had been loose for a couple of days and all it took was a little brother on brother combat play wrestling to finally get it out of it's little place in his mouth.

Stupid tooth fairy left a bunch of quarters but accidentally forgot to get the tooth from out under his pillow. I am thinking that he/she must have been a first timer and didn't have an idea of what is protocol. I think that they're going to get fired. But that's just my opinion. I think Joshua would agree.

The Bighorn Mountaintop Lodge

The Bighorn Mountaintop Lodge

This is the deck off the side of the lodge... you could lean over and see the very bottom of the gorge...

way, way down there.

Can you see the snow speckling the side of the canyon? I did a LOT of research on the snow fall history in that area going back about 7 years. There hadn't been a snow fall during that particular time of year for a long time. Even though I got assurances from the lodge that they are truly in this thing called a banana boat area of Colorado and there should be any snow, we were all wrong. That evening was a snowstorm like you woudn't believe. Sure, it made for quite the dramatic wedding, however, driving in it made for quite the dramatic life and death situation. I am surprised that we didn't have any overnight guests on our honeymoon night. The great thing about the lodge is that they have three bedrooms and two full baths. The rooms were quaint and sweet. What made it so great was the HUGE fireplace in the main room. It put out a load of heat and looked fabulous. The place is totally affordable and if I ever think of having a reunion or event, I am going back.

A bit of backstory to this place, I had originally wanted my wedding in Santa Fe and then recognizing the insanity of trying to have a protestant wedding in a Catholic-centri local I realized that closer to home would the only option. Finally, I had narrowed it down to wanting it at some bed and breakfast but trying to find an open one around New Year's was near impossible and people weren't interested in hosting a group for an event like a wedding. Weeks and weeks of searching and then one day I just prayed about the situation and broadened my search just a little bit wider and there it was, two from the top of my google search. I nearly fell off my chair. It was exactly what I needed and wanted. Just far enough away to be an experience and close enough to not be impossible to come to. Staff were great and quick to respond. Some bridal stories have horrific stories but mine went off pretty much without a hitch...however, because I am not one to skirt over funny and/or awkward stuff.
Here's my top few, crazy moments...

1. I am not a naturally organized nor do I thrill about lists and checking off boxes like my middle sister, so my good friend Valerie had to hand hold me through the day before the wedding because I still had stuff to do....I was such a wack-a-doodle.
2. I forgot to sit down with my little sister Cadena and really talk through what I wanted in my photos and what kind of poses and when. I must have skipped that etiquette part in wedding planning. Poor thing, she was an extremely patient person because I totally was again, a total wack-a-doodle. However, she rocked the photos and we got a ton of great pictures from her and her assistant, Tara. All the wedding pictures on this site are the ones that she took. Check her site out. Currently, she is in ministry work at a military base working with b.r.a.t.s. You can check out the latest with her at her blog www.trustyphotography.blogspot.com.
3. The mail toilet broken in the lodge. It wasn't a big deal and people didn't really notice since there was another one. However, it did net a free night there. WHOOHOO and I am ALL about a deal.
4. I didn't know what music I wanted to come out to so earlier that afternoon I was playing all my vinyl records looking for something that would work. Too bad I didn't remember that for years, I wanted to do something special to a special John Denver song that I love, For You. oh, well.
5. The staff put together the salad plates outside along the deck and, luckily, Gabe and I were the first to walk out and around to get our dinner and to see that they had not realized what would happen and decided to recycle the refuse for the animals...or that's what I would like to think because there was salad all over the ground. I had to do a quick sweep and chuck to get the stuff out of view... just like how I cleaned my room when I was younger. haha!
6. After everyone braved the surprise snowstorm that started during the ceremony to leave, poor Gabe had to put my freaked out emotional self back together while I was bemoaning the idea that probably someone would die that night trying to get home. What a great way to spend our first night together...I doubt Gabe knew that would be a ton more weepy nights with me to get through.

Next up.....what we did different.

January 3, 2009

Our Wedding

Our wedding was definitely not a cookie cutter type wedding... it was perfect for us though. There were stuffed beasts, a huge fireplace, a toilet that didn't work, incredible BBQ, a view that would knock your socks off and a group of friends that loved incredibly well. We were so blessed to share this with them and now with you.

Part of the lodge were windows that looked down over the Royal Gorge. If you look closely you can see the bridge in the picture. It was an amazing couple of days there, especially early that next morning when the moon was still out (this was after the insane snow storm stopped) and its light reflected off the snow and gave out a bit of a purple/blue hue, the fog had rolled into the gorge and created the most amazing scene I had ever experienced. It was like we had walked into a movie. Gabe tried to take pictures of it but it just couldn't be captured.

Most people know that when it comes to myself, I am a bit of a cheapskate. Now, at a wedding, flowers are the norm and it's a bit off when people don't have them around. When I was younger I would dream of incredible flowers at my wedding that would rival Christian Slater's lame attempt at romance in Bed of Roses.

My younger sister, who married earlier in November, had incredible flowers and her wedding and I was MORE than happy to help her spend her money on some fabulous centerpieces, bouquets and all that other stuff...

However, when I walked into our local King Soopers (don't knock them, they are awesome floral designers) and started picking out what I wanted, I kept seeing dollar signs flash before my eyes. I looked at the list of necessary items and in a weird acceptance, my youthful dream of that floral wedding dried up and was put away. Adios, bridal bouquet...adieu, floral centerpieces... This day of days was a new one in my chapter of life and was totally unique. A perfect example of how God's plans are different than what we expect or imagine....

and how they show that God knows us inimately, deeply, truly and honestly. He knows what we need...and what will show His work in our lives.

What an incredible blessing!

PS... seriously, the BBQ was fabulous. The chef at the Royal Gorge smoked the meats for a whole day and created his own special sauce. I was in hog heaven..literally.

A Two-fer Celebration

Today was MOTHER'S DAY (obviously my first) and it was Courtney's believer's baptism at church, so it was a pretty eventful day full of some huge milestones. After weeks of classes, Courtney was approved by the elders to be a member of the church and they have permitted her to participate in communion. She has been exceptionally patient during the process and has learned a lot about her relationship with Christ and her role in His church.

Below is one of her gettin' a Presbyterian dunkin'.....

Today, we went over my parent's house for a Mother's Day celebration. Jana and Matt came down to join in the fun. Notice how the house looks like a floral shop. The kids made special cards and they decorated an apron for me and used their OWN money to do it. Talk about a special gift of special sacrifices. I wore it all afternoon.

Cleaning

Cleaning...What a project! I feel like I need a second brain that does all the projecting and planning in order to get and keep a house clean. Being a single person for so long and used to my sister's reminders on what needs to be done in our apartments, I, as a married woman and new mother, can now truly understand why she would get SO frustrated about how I just "couldn't see" the mess. It's right there... RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!! I see, Jana!! I can finally see!!!

I do have to say that when I can get organized enough to give out tasks and chores, Gabe and I have the BEST assistants and helpers and it helps that they each have their favorite chore to do. Theron prefers to clean the bedroom, put away his clothes and vacuum. Josh is a kitchen helper and Courtney is pretty good about doing whatever we ask and, even though she probably hates it, she is the official pooper scooper.

Looks just like her momma!

When I saw this picture, I thought that I was looking at a picture of Katrina! She looks just like her, especially with that goreous blong (I guess that means blond and long) hair. Now, it's shorter and a little easier to manage since she is styling her hair like a typical tween queen. We'll have to get a picture out, scan and do a side by side comparison in case I am just smokin' something.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck

Seriously....take off about 30 years from both those guys and wouldn't you totally agree that Josh and Theron are spitting images? Theron is all about the hair gel, you need to appreciate how much it takes to get a shine like that.

Andy Griffith has the power to mesmorize

I was quite impressed to hear that when the kids (Courtney and Joshua) spent a few days at the cabin during Spring Break, my parents entertained the kids with a couple of episodes of the Andy Griffith show and they LOVED it. Good 'ol Andy with his clean humor, hilarious plots and family lovin'. Even the dog was hooked.

Cabin adventures

(See the snow in the background!!)

My parents own a sweet cabin an hour West of Colorado Springs and sometimes we all head up for a little entertainment, relaxation and family time.

There's even a small hill in the back that's a perfect "green" run. So the kids can navigate without trees in the way.

Sometimes, however, we run into this crazy mountain man who likes to smoke pipes and talk to the black squirrels that populate this rural area. He seems like a friendly enough guy.

Cottonwood Center of the Arts

Today, my mother, Josh, Courtney and I went to the grand opening of the Cottonwood Center for the Arts building. Artists rent studio space and have a place to work on their stuff as well as host gallery events, lessons and parties. The kids were amazing AND they were almost the only ones there during the 3 hours we were there wandering around and meeting all the artists (all 60 of them!) and looking at their work. The center was brilliant and hosted an artist hunt which kept the kids focused and entertained. Besides, everyone loves two outgoing and friendly kids! Courtney even had one of the artists hand draw a portrait of her. Who knows?! Perhaps one of their filled out form will win us a nice piece of art from a Colorado Springs based artist. The facility is incredibly decorated and the lighting was beautiful. They even had a couple of bands playing in the center rooms that can convert into meeting and banquet rooms.

If interested, they open up the building to peruse every last Friday of the month.

Time for a Cuteness Break...sugar-free love

Introducing The PineCone Gang

These swarmy creatures call themselves The PineCone Gang. They hunt for treasure and wreck havoc among the village people. Thanks to an extremely creative grandpa and some killer face paint, these vagabonds looked the part. Seriously though, this past H-ween was definitely an enjoyable new adventure for me. My family and I never really did anything for H-ween when we were younger, considering it was the devil's holiday. So, the excitement in which my dad carried out his new persona was awe-inspiring.

Matt and Jana came out for the festivities and Matt walked the neighborhood with them as the ladies passed out candy in the cul-de-sac...trying to not eat more than what's acceptable. After H-ween the costumes were brought out a couple of more times for dress-up but the swords have been broken, the fabric has pretty much dissolved in the wash and the wads of fake pirate hair on the floor cause plenty of freak outs when I happened upon them. ick.

Engaged

It was inevitable really, Gabe and I got engaged in...oh geez, I can't remember. Late July? Anyway, whenever it was, it was just ONE week before Matt asked my sister to be his wife. Yikes. A race to the ALTER!!!

The beginning of us

Gabe and I met in '08....on eharmony. I know. I know. Why in the world would I, a sexy, crazy gorgeous and brilliant person, need the Internet to meet another sexy, crazy gorgeous and brilliant person...it's easy. We are lone creatures, unique..um, rare? Seriously though, it's hard out there for almost normal people. It's nice that Colorado banned smoking from the bars so one doesn't have to earn lung cancer in order to find love but that scene and even the church scene is blech. I, Christina, had been on before. To be honest, I would go on every time there was a reasonable coupon available, however, I was almost at the end of the subscription and not interestd in EVER getting back on. Gabe, on the other hand, had lost his wife and thought to give it a chance. Neither of us, at that time, knew that God had timed this so carefully and that we would cross paths.

This picture was taken during one of Gabe's first visits with my parents. Notice, my hand was clenched. I wasn't used to being so close to a guy before and it was all very new to me. For those who know me, understand the intensity of this newness. This wasn't a random undertaking... the relationship, before we even physically met, was put through a series of tests, questions, interviews that would have overwhelmed anyone.

I think back on it now and realize that only in God could someone go/grow through that experience.

I had no experience with guys. God kept me naive, innocent and idealist. Gabe had experience with heartache and loss like no man should ever go through. The death of a spouse is like cutting out your heart and watching the beating stop. in essence, He chose to piece two people together from opposite ends of experience.

Intano Family

It's a couple of days before Easter and we thought it would be fun to create an online blog that will allow everyone important to us a peek into what's going on with our Family.