Our First Anniversary

So this week we celebrated our first anniversary in our favorite place to be together, Breckenridge, Co. We stayed at the same hotel we always stay at when we visit Breck and even managed to get
THE ROOM that Ian has been wanting to get for 3 years now!

On our anniversary we got all dressed up (well sorta) and went to dinner at a magnificent restaurant in Frisco, Colorado. I have been CRAVING the bruschetta from Tuscato's for just about two years now! After dinner we went back to Breck and walked around and looked in the galleries.

Wednesday we took some more "professional" photos up on Boreas Pass. Here are some of my favorite shots!

These are from the deck at the hotel on our anniversary.

Busy Busy Busy

It has been a WHIRL WIND of a summer already! This year flew by so quickly, probably because I was working so much... I was working at school, most days starting at 7:30 and ending between 5:30 and 6:00... I had 3 days of clubs after school and 2 days of homebound speech services.  Then I had babysitting events with Seeking Sitters most weekends... around 40 hours a month of babysitting!

Ian took a class at the local community college this spring and was hooked so he is taking another this summer! He is also setting up his own handyman business (if you are in the Denver area and need work done on your house/yard give us a shout!) which has been keeping him busy with research!

Now that school is out, I am staying busy still... providing speech services in ESY (Extended School Year) for the ENTIRE district... which means that I have had 1 day of summer vacation (not counting the weekends) since school let out. Although it is easy cash, I am truly feeling that my services are useless as I am at a different school each day of the week, ultimately spending 4 hours per class over the course of the 4 week program... July is looking to be fun... Oh did I mention that I have started working for a home health agency and have 3 clients at the moment! Branching out in my profession finally!

July's excitement will start next weekend when we leave Evergreen HS from my ESY group and head to Aspen for the weekend. Ian's cousin, Sheridan is getting married and this is one event that we wouldn't miss for the world! We will come back from Aspen in time for Ian to go to class on Monday, then the rest of the week is free and clear for the moment... I'm not sure what we are going to do for the Fourth of July yet... but the next week we will be celebrating our FIRST anniversary!!! WAHOO!!! He is going to skip a day of class so we can go do something special for our day since we didn't get to go on a honeymoon last year... then the next week it is back to ESY for me, just not with Jeffco. I have agreed to be a contract provider for another school district near my house... this ESY is looking to be a little better organized and I will be paid better than I was through my own school district! Another perk (if you can call working in the summer a perk) is that the ESY program is Monday - Thursday... The last week of ESY my parents will be here for a visit and we are planning some day trips that we can go on after I get home as well as a weekend trip. They will leave on the 29th and on August 2 my OK BFF will fly in for the weekend! We already have the weekend plans figured out for Jason's visit!! I will take Jason to the airport on that following Monday. If things work out the way we'd like, Ian will be home loading up the tools that he needs as well as our stuff so that we can hit the road to come back to Oklahoma the next day!  We have a brand new nephew that we need to love, cuddle and spoil back in Tulsa!!!

As you can see, we have been very busy, me more so than Ian... at times I haven't known if I was coming or going but it has all been super fun and a learning experience!

I've been SEW busy!

I've been sewing... a lot lately... since last summer I have been a busy bee! I hadn't touched a sewing machine in years, specifically, before my grandma Alan passed away! My friend Karen had the patience to sit down with me and help me to sew the purses for the wedding party last June and since then, I've been on my own! Here are some pictures of my sewing products!

A blanket that my Grandma Austin and I made together when I was home in November. It is a little girlie- pinks, paisleys, owls... my future daughter will have something that her great grandma helped to make!

 A boy blanket that I made for a co-worker... super cute!

This is the boy blanket that my grandma and I made together. Greens, browns and monkeys galore! I love monkeys as most people know!!! I just need to finish the binding of this little creation and it is finished!

Burp rags that I made with scraps from receiving blankets that I made for friends that had twins this spring! The back is a green minky material!

This is the "back" of my dad's quilt that I started in October 2011. I am now thinking that I am going to make two quilts for him... use the flames as the back of this one and he can keep it at the station...

A monkey quilt for a co-worker. I found out that her theme for her new son is sports and monkeys along with reds/blues/browns... so I used a red back with baseballs to accent the brown front!

Another girlie blanket for a co-worker... there were 5 pregnant people in our building... this one is one of my favorite color combinations!

Yet another girl blanket...

The gender neutral blanket for my sister in law... I am hoping that Henry LOVES his flannel blankie made with love by his Aunt Tracey! I used weenie dogs on the back since Kelly and Jack have two weenie dogs at home!

The purse that I made for McKenzie. The outside is flannel and the inside regular cotton.

A little fleece monkey. My 5-6th grade girls made monkeys out of flannel this spring semester. I have made 2 fleece monkeys for our cousin's boys... This one is smaller than the first.

A gender neutral baby blanket for the last pregnant co-worker... She LOVED frogs so it fit!

The purse that I made for Syrina. I used two fat quarters to make this one.

Over all... since last June, I have made... (DRUM ROLL PLEASE)
150 corn sacks/tubes- wedding favors and fire station gifts
1 flannel/fleece quilt throw blanket for my Intern
10 flannel baby quilts (most of them pictured above)
4 little purses (2 pictured above)
1 larger Hobo purse
9 reversible bags for wedding party
2 full size quilt fronts for my dad
12 napkins- to match the placemats
8 quilted placemats - a wedding gift for friends
1 table runner - needs the back and quilted...
4 receiving blankets
4 burp rags/silkies
1 baby blanket with flannel on the front and chenille on the back
12 monkeys - with/for my 5/6th grade students
6 tote bags - for my 5/6th grade students

My Amazing Nieces

Is there ANYTHING that my 4 wonderful nieces CAN'T do?!? I know I am a wee bit biased when it comes to my girls, but I think that I have every right to be proud of these girls! Where to start...

Misti Leighanne- She has beaten the odds when it comes to getting where she is today. She just completed her second year of college with flying colors. She makes great grades... works while in school... plays several instruments (and plays them very well too!) and performs in the University's bands and groups. She recently got married to her high school sweet heart and is still making the grade at school... She is beautiful in every way, inside and out. There is nothing that she could do (well legally at least) that would disappoint me.

Syrina Nicole- My second little angel who has definitely beat the odds. She started life as a teeny tiny baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the first 12 weeks of her life... she has endured multiple surgeries to repair her palate, fix her teeth and now orthodontic surgery to continue the dental process. She is really growing into a beautiful young lady who has many talents of her own. She, like her daddy, loves to draw and sketch. She conquered clogging and this year took on jazz dancing. She is learning to cook and is proud of her creations. She is passing her EOI tests like they were kiddy games... This child never ceases to amaze me!

Ana Rae- Although not my blood niece, she is still one of my girls. She is talented beyond measure. She can dance (tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop), sing (oh my goodness can she sing!), act, play soccer, swim like a fish and excel in school. She is beautiful and has a big heart. She has stolen the heart of everyone in her family and in her life.

McKenzie Ann- My princess. She's been my princess from the beginning and my princess she will be forever. Much to my dad's chagrin, she has been a spitting image of me from the get-go. She has spunk and sass and doesn't take no none-sense from anyone. She can dance like an angel (hip hop and now clogging), calm an animal like no other... make up silly stories and jokes. She is adorable and sweet.

My girls, will always be my little girls... although they are now 21, 17 and 11, they are still my little girls. They are all beautiful, caring, sweet, loving, faithful, loyal, responsible, respectful, smart, focused, determined, special, unique, talented, energetic, crazy, athletic, spunky, sassy, loveable, patient and they all have the most amazing hearts of anyone I know!

Girls, if you ever read this, know this: Aunt Tracey (Meme) loves you with all her heart and there is NOTHING that will ever change the way I feel about you!

McKenzie's Dance Recital 2012

My talented niece, McKenzie Ann is the cute blonde just to the right of center. This is her first year that she has taken clogging, she has taken hip-hop the last few years of dance. I am super proud of her and all her accomplishments! She has come out of her shell and embraced performing in front of others... she has "taken a shine" to animals (especially horses and dogs) and has started showing my mom's silkies... she makes good grades... she loves to read. She is smart, silly, funny, caring, sweet, sassy, energetic, loving, friendly, outgoing, goofy, a little bit of a dork and she's MINE!!!

I love you Princess and Aunt Tracey is more proud of you than you will ever know!

As promised... a few months back...

As the old story goes... 'Twas the night before Christmas, our first in our home (as a married couple)... not a creature was stirring... (well maybe a Buddy...) not even a mouse... Here are pictures from Christmas Eve... both of our pups were apparently worn out!


Buddy looking up at me... and then away... it's rough being a Buddy!

 As usual, I am taking pictures of Ian setting up our self-taken portraits. It is always mildly entertaining to me the strange positions he ends up in to set up the various tripods!

I LOVE my Harry Potter/TU scarf, hat and mittens!!! The scarf is sooo cozy!!

Ian LOVES his Darth Vader alarm clock from Kelly and Jack! I was a little disappointed when I tried the alarm and it was the regular old "beep" nothing John Williams-y... But alas... it is a LEGO alarm clock! 

2011 In review

I can't believe how quickly 2011 flew by!!! It seems like just yesterday we were in Tulsa preparing to drive back to Denver from Christmas with our families and now we have two days left in the year!

2010 ended with the death of a very special woman in my life. Grandma Ida, my adopted great-grandmother, passed away on 12/30/2010 as we were leaving to come home to Colorado. Grandma Ida was 99! Unfortunately I was unable to return to Tulsa the beginning of January for her memorial service, which was a beautiful service dedicated to her beautiful life and the wonderful memories and legacy that she left behind. The rest of January was spent working in a place that I was becoming more resentful and unhappy, being sicker than I had in a long time and making final plans for our wedding. We had tastings for two different caterers, several floral consultations, and final decisions made on our wedding invites. We got to see Zach and Whitney for the day when we went to Golden to tour the Coors Factory and explore in downtown Golden. Then the next weekend they spent the night with us!

February was an exciting month... we received our cocktail napkins for the wedding, our wedding invites arrived and were sent out (5 months early for our wedding) and we received two photo books. My birthday came and went with me being laid up on the couch sick (again)... Ian, not having a job at the time, bought me the cutest (and most awesomest) stuffed frog for a combined Valentine's and birthday gift. (I still sleep with that frog every night!) Grandma Austin went in for her annual check up for her cancer... and we got the news that it was back... decisions to be made once more information was gathered.

March brought the "international" invites going out (on the 1st) and the selection of our caterer... we had a hard time deciding between the two caterers! We decided to do our own flowers rather than pay a lot of money for someone else to do what we could do on our own. In effort to save some money, we stayed home during my Spring Break and did work around the house. We built me a desk/craft area and refurbed an antique table base. We also bought enough seed to cover the earth (or so it seemed) to reseed our front and back yard (in an attempt to get some grass to grow...) and soil conditioner and fertilizer and even some flower seeds and bulbs. We were hoping that the gardens would be in full bloom when our families arrived in July...

April 1st was 100 days from our wedding! What an exciting day! Ian told me that he didn't care about the count down until we hit 100! We continued our project of improving the yards and garden... still hoping for some amazing blooms in July! I had my summative evaluation with my principal. All remarks were proficient, meets expectations, exceeds expectations in almost all areas, the only areas that were needs improvement or improving were in the areas of SBS (Standards Based System). I was a little relieved after this evaluation meeting. Grandma found out that she needed to have a hysterectomy to remove the cancerous cells from her body near the end of the month. Now the wait was on to find out when the surgery was going to be scheduled... Nothing like hurrying up to wait for the insurance company!

May brought us even closer to the wedding. Our plans were coming together seamlessly. Invites were out, decorations mainly purchased, photographer set, engagement pictures taken, caterer finalized and steps were in place for the Tulsa reception in August. Then I got the letter... well actually the meeting with my administration team... I was being non-renewed because I "didn't fit" with the building... I was devastated but at the same time, I was already looking for another job because I was not happy with where I was professionally. Drama was starting to settle down amongst the natives regarding the wedding plans. I taught my Severe Needs Special Education class how to sign the National Anthem and we signed it in front of the entire districts participants at our STARZ Track ad Field day for our special needs kids!!! I was sooo proud of my kids (and my staff!)!!!

June finally arrived! I drove home for a whirlwind 10 day trip. Two bridal showers, my nieces dance recital, two veil fittings, a hair appointment, dress fittings with mom and my reception dress,  and time with my little brother and Ana, oh and an interview. It was quite the trip that is for sure. During my trip I got to talk to my favorite GI Joe, Ed Johnson, just before he loaded up on the plane to go to Afghanistan for his 9 month tour. After returning to Colorado the whirlwind continued... dress pressed, nails done, spray tan completed, bridal portraits, jewelry party, makeup party, shopping with friends to finish up decorations and last minute details. I even met up with my friend Karin to sew purses for the bridal party AND 100 corn sacks/tubes for wedding favors. We celebrated Ian's birthday in his requested low-key style. You'd like information on my interview huh? Let's just say that within 30 minutes of finishing the interview, I received a call offering me a job! I accepted within 15 minutes! Grandma Austin had her hysterectomy with enough time to heal before my parents came out to Colorado for the wedding. However, just before coming out we got the news that there was some suspicious fluid in/around her stomach and intestines...

Our wedding month FINALLY came around! The weekend before our wedding we decided to jet set off to Aspen... on July 1 we dropped the dogs off at the kennel to be boarded for the weekend and we were off! We had never driven up Loveland Pass before so we decided to give it a shot, we had all the time in the world! Loveland Pass was beautiful! After that side trip we stayed on the passes and took Independence Pass into Aspen. Since we had never stopped at the Independence Ghost Town before (prior to my father visiting summer 2010) we thought we'd stop and hike and explore the area! After the ghost town, we headed on into Aspen and decided to check out Hunter creek before meeting up with Ian's cousins for the evening in Basalt. Saturday morning we got up and headed home, but we decided to take the scenic route home again. This time we stopped at the Day Grotto area on the pass where we explored the Ice Cave for the 3rd year in a row. Then we headed home the same way that we arrived. Who does that!?!?! The weekend before your wedding go out of town!!! We came home to tag the favors, place stickers on the water bottles and stuff hotel guest sacks and start cleaning like crazy people in preparation for my family to arrive on Wednesday! The fourth of July was another low-key affair, Kodi is scared to death of loud noises so we had to stay home with her to make sure she didn't freak out. My parents came in early to help out with final plans for the wedding. It seemed like everything had been coming together so smoothly and then the week of just fell apart! We went from having 60 RSVP'd guests to 40... the flower lady called to say that the flowers I had ordered didn't arrive... had to go to two different stores to get the flowers... it was storming, like Oklahoma thunderstorms... we hadn't finalized the slideshow and the music playlists or selected our vows, and it didn't seem like it would ever happen! The final straw that nearly brought me down was the phone call from Ian's mom saying that her sister wasn't going to be able to make the wedding... no biggie right? WRONG! Her sister is the one who had the veil!!! AUGH!!!! About the time that I was getting weak in the knees and tears were flowing over my freshly spray tanned face, Ian found out that the veil had been overnighted to us!

The wedding was beautiful, despite Ian being sick... I wouldn't change any of the details if I could do it over again. (See posts on the wedding). Finally, our families went home, Ian started to feel better and we prepared to go to Tulsa for the next reception.

The beginning of August was very hectic as well. I was starting orientation and moving my stuff into my new classroom and we were packing to go to Tulsa. That four day trip left my head spinning and my body wishing for a day off before returning to training! The reception was fun and we had a lot of people come by to wish us well and to catch up with us. It was so great to get to spend time with Kelly and Jack as well as Zach and Whitney. My new job started and I was loving the team that I worked with at my elementary school. For the first time in my career my caseload was less than 50! The team that I worked with was organized and open to helping me and supporting me. We finally got the news from the doctor that grandma had a rare form of cancer brought on from the over-radiation 7 years ago when she initially was diagnosed with Colon cancer... this new form of cancer was determined to be untreatable. She didn't make it to our reception because she wasn't feeling too well, but we did manage to spend some time with her before the party.

September brought Ian a job with Handyman Matters. He was working like crazy, which was good for him and us.  Work was still good and I was still loving it!!! The fall foliage was beautiful and we were enjoying being married. I even got to see my friend Jen from Fort Worth!!! Grandma was still doing well and living in her apartment, although we were wondering how long that would last...

Then in October work slowed down for Ian. Boo!!! We took a day to go to Estes Park with our friends, Ilene and Franco and their crazy kids, Shi and Sergio. The scarecrows in Estes were fun! I think that we will be trying that again next year! Grandma Austin's health was starting to decline- she was starting to have difficulty eating and her blood count was low. She was tired a lot and was starting to have pain.

November brought my parents making preparations for Grandma to move in with them. Since grandma's health was declining more rapidly than they expected, my parents flew me home the week before Thanksgiving so that I could spend time with her. I had a great visit at home. I got to spend time with my grandma sewing and some quality one on one time that I never really had the chance to have as a child growing up. I will always have the blankets that my grandma and I made together. I flew back to Colorado on Wednesday before Thanksgiving so that we could spend our first married Thanksgivingtogether.

December... my first Christmas to NOT be with my family... this was a tough pill to swallow for me. But there was no possible way that we were going to be able to afford the trip to Tulsa. We bought our first Christmas tree and decorated it with the various decorations that we have collected since we started dating... we even hung our stockings under the mantle! Having the decorations up made it a little easier being away from our families. And it was a little nice having a quiet day together, not being back and forth between his family and mine and time together... Grandma was living with my parents by this time. Her health was declining a little faster than expected, my mom was starting to have to come to grips with the fact that this would be the last holiday spent with her mother. :(

New Years Eve 2011 came with us ringing in the new year with Ian's cousins and friends. It is great being able to spend time with family and develop these wonderful relationships!!!

Celebrating our First Christmas...

This year was a momentous holiday for me... well for us... it was our first Christmas as a married couple... and my first Christmas away from my family. I have never felt more withdrawn from my family than this previous week... My family celebrated Christmas on Friday since my dad was working on Christmas Eve and Duane only had the girls until Christmas Eve... Ian's family had dinner together on Christmas Eve and then his immediate family celebrated together Christmas morning... and finally I missed the Marf family time Christmas evening.

All in all, our holidays were low key and very nice. We spent the morning cleaning the house and prepping our dinner... then we opened our gifts. I will post pictures later, when I am on my computer.

We selected our first Christmas tree this year and decorated it with ornaments that reflect our relationship. From the Fly-fishing Santa Ian bought me our first year dating to the wedding cake and bridal couple from this year and our wedding! We threw in a few of the ornaments that we brought back from Ian's parent's house and his grandma's house...

I am hoping that next year we will be in Tulsa with our families!!!

Time to Reflect and be thankful

It's Thanksgiving Day, a day to reflect on all the things we are thankful for in our lives. This year has been an amazing year full of blessings!

Today I am thankful for my family. Without them I wouldn't be here today. My family is beyond amazing and is the best sounding board and support system that a person could ever need. My family extends beyond my parents and "blood relatives," my family includes so many more. There are people in my life that have chosen to include me in their lives and their families. These people are my friends and my chosen family. This week I got the chance to spend time with my "cousin" and her kids, my "little brother" and "niece," along with my other "little brother". These people are as much of my family as my parents, nieces and blood relatives.

I am thankful for my safety and my freedom. My friends and family that are in and have been in the armed forces who have fought for our freedoms here at home. I just received word today that one of my best friends that is deployed in Afghanistan has returned to his COP with his unit safely and with his unit intact.

I'm thankful for my new husband. He is my support and my best friend, I couldn't ask for more. Well a steady job but hey, a job is a job in this economy! My husband takes care of our dogs day in and out, cleans te house and cooks for me most days. I've been home in Ok for the last week and while I was away he managed to knock quite a few of my honey-do's off the list to surprise me! I was so thankful to come home to a clean house that was still standing and to did all of my pictures hanging on the walls and other artwork on the walls! I could even see the floor in the basement!

There are so many things to be thankful for, these are merely a few!

September...

It has been a while since I last blogged. Life has been rather hectic and crazy since the wedding. I kept hearing that after the wedding things would slow down... however... after the wedding I had a few weeks to decompress and get my house back into shape before starting my new job. We went back to Oklahoma for a real quick 4 day weekend and reception for our family and friends who were unable to make it to the actual wedding ceremony... after returning home I jumped in head first into work!

My new job... I've prefaced it a few times now... I must say that I LOVE MY NEW JOB! I have something like 35 students on my caseload between 2 schools that range from PK-8th grade. I don't see the PK kids or the "Challenge" class (our severe needs self-contained class) at either school. This announcement made me sad as I truly enjoy the PK kids as well as the challenges presented by the self-contained classes, both elementary and middle school ranges. But my kids are amazing and with luck, most of my students that are at the Middle School (5th to 8th grade) will be on consult or dismissed this year. Jeffco is an amazing school district with amazing support for the staff and students.

This month also brought Ian a new job... FINALLY! I kept telling him that something would come along that would be perfect for him. He is working for a handy man company doing a variety of handy man tasks. He is enjoying his job so far and I am so thrilled that he has a job!

Last weekend we hosted one of my long-time friends, Ana for the night. A night wasn't long enough to fully catch up with my friend, but for now it will have to do. She currently lives in Canada in the Northern region of the Rockies while we are in the Southern region of the Rockies. She and I have been friends since 4th grade and have managed to stay in contact through different high schools, college (her being at Eastern State, Georgia, and Emporia while I was at TU), our living in different states (me Texas and then OK and her in Kansas) and now in different countries! Crazy to think how time brings people together and how friendships last over the years!

This weekend our friend from high school (well my friend from high school, Ian's from middle school) is in town visiting another friend so with any luck we will get to see him tomorrow!

We haven't had much of an update on my grandma Austin since I last posted on facebook, for those of you that aren't familiar with my facebook notes I will repost the newest report that we have on my grandma Austin and her health. So far, she is continuing to be healthy and it appears that the cancer isn't affecting her, for which I am grateful! Grandma update to be posted soon... probably later this weekend!

Formal Wedding Shots

First sighting shots- we are trying to sneak up on Ian... which is relatively difficult to do when you have 5 girls in heels walking on wooden planks!
One of my favorite pictures of us from the first shoot!
So sweet. I loved the variability of background for pictures at the lakehouse!
Ian being super patient waiting for me...
Me and the veil. I was the 22nd bride to wear this veil in the Keelty-Smith family!
Full view of my dress and veil! My train was about 5 feet long... and the veil was something like 12 feet long from top to bottom! Luckily, the veil laid perfectly on the back of my train so I didn't have to worry about destroyin the end of the veil!!!
Our parents! Aren't they just wonderful!!! Note my mom is in a dress!!!
With my handsome daddy! He chose to wear his Tulsa Fire Department dress uniform for my wedding! I am very proud of my daddy and what he does for complete strangers in Tulsa!
With my momma! I am so pleased that she wore a dress! That was probably because she was threatened that if she didn't wear a dress she was going to have to stay at the hotel!
With my parents while Ian was back in the building...
Family photo with both families...
Ian with his parents.
Us with his parents

Us with Ian's parents and his sister Kelly and her husband Jack

With my parents
With Syrina. She is happy to have Uncle Ian in her life!
McKenzie, my little princess and mini-me with me and Uncle Ian! She was so excited that we got married! She said to me on our wedding day, "I can call him UNCLE Ian now!"

Going back to the lakehouse when it started to sprinkle on us!!! Whew! My dress gets to be bustled now!

I love this shot with the veil! The veil is absolutely gorgeous!!

All the guests with us after the ceremony!!!
With the boys. It was Rod's idea for the boys to hold me up, and notice, Rod is the one standing to the side looking on... hmmmm... how did that work out?

With the girls.

Ian and the boys

With my nieces... They are such a blessing in our lives!

The bridal party!
One of my favorite silhouette shots!!! Super cool! Love the clouds and the coloring!!!

KISS!!!! Love this shot! Hard to "dip" when you are in a dress like mine!

It took all the energy he could muster to pick me up for this shot!!!

Ian with the girls... Kenzie just thinks it is funny that they are going to take a picture of them kissing him!!!

Not sure what to think...
It started to sprinkle again near the end of the night so our photographer set up the lights and had us come outside for some fun shots!!!! I love how my hair looks!