May 5, 2006

Hey everyone, it's good to be back after two days off. Adam was on the mend yesterday and is fine again today. Must of been some 12 hour bug.

I'd like to share the Fabulous Adventure™ Crissy and I had last night. You may remember that back on April 6th, I wrote that I entered a photo contest. Last night was the opening of the exhibit and announcement of the winners. Crissy and I decided to make a girl's night out of it and go down to Denver to see it. Our first adventure - getting lost. Yes, I've lived here my whole life, but I was not familiar with the area we were going to. Map Quest was a bit vague, and after a few misteps, we finally made it to the hospital. We went to the lobby and Crissy said she needed to go to the bathroom. We started looking for one (who makes a hospital direction sign with over 20 entries and not one is for the restroom???) and we walked by the photo exhibit. So of course we started looking. There were about 6 different catagories, so it took a minute to find the one we entered - Colorado Scenes and Nature. I quickly glanced through the pictures and was disappointed to see that neither Crissy nor I made it up. Then I realize it was a three panel display and there was my picture - with a red ribbon next to it.

(this picture. I took it last July 4th at Grammie & Pop-Pop's ranch. It was during my photography class I was taking, and my homework was to photograph different types of light. I was inside when I noticed it was "magic hour" sunset and I ran outside and snapped a few pictures before it was gone:)







I was very baffled because there were two white ribbon pictures below it. Was there a tie for third???? I was thinking that I had one second place for the catagory but I couldn't find a blue ribbon. Crissy kept telling me that I won second place overall and had just won a camera, but I didn't believe her.

And then, close to my picture, was Crissy's Flatirons picture. She made the display too!!!!



We started looking around more and found Crissy's other picture, a Mayan architeture picture also displayed.





And we also looked around and indeed there was 1 blue ribbon, one red ribbon, and a bunch of white ribbons (the winner of each catagory, one of the public and one for the hospital employees). We eventually found some one who looked like there were in charge and asked if they were giving out prizes tonight. He asked, "Why, did you win something?" Why yes! Then he said, "Hang on while I go get the CEO of the hospital."

So we had a quick photo session while they gave me my prize - a point and shoot digital camera. (Of course I forgot my camera, luckily Crissy had hers, though I look like a dork).





We asked George (the man in charge) some more questions. There were over 1200 entries and only 200 were displayed so we were just excited to even see our pictures up. And we even heard at least 3 people ask George why their pictures weren't up (Crissy and I agreed we would never have asked that, it was a CONTEST). There were about 100 entries from the hospital, which had it's own judging category. Crissy asked if she could get the cool mounting at the end of the contest, and George said he didn't know, he was hoping to have the exhibit travel, right now he's talking to Frontier Airlines to see if they want it for their concourse at DIA (which, unfortunately, you have to be a ticketed passenger to get to). We also asked George what criteria my picture won on. It was really cool to hear him talk about my picture (loved the light, the rusty equipment in the background, the light on the clouds, the way the clouds formed a circle around the windmill...)

Anyway, I was just blown away to get second place. There were some really great pictures. Crissy and I had to go out for margaritas to celebrate, so exciting! And I'm hoping to trade my camera for a new lens that I've had my eye on for a year (a 28-200 for my Rebel). Anyway, just wanted to share :)

7:05 Drop off

Rose are red,
This is loca,
Becky told me that
Starbucks was out of mocha!

Ok, should be loco, but not much rhyms with mocha. But I did enjoy my grande half-caf soy white chocolate mocha very much.

7:30 Ariel fell asleep in bjorn

8:45 4oz and bottle. And that's when I noticed, OMG, Ariel has a tooth!!!!! Becky, did you see one of her bottem teeth just broke through????!!!!!

9:05 We are getting ready to go to Crissy's for a playdate, Ciao!

9:30 We actually leave house.

9:45 Arrive at Crissy's. Ariel was happy and ready to play. Since I'm an awarding winning photographer now, here's some pictures of the princess:





Crissy was going through some old clothes and asked if I wanted any. Adam REALLY wanted this Elmo outfit. I think he only knows Elmo from diapers, but he really likes him. Here he's feeding Elmo a bottle (he doesn't know it's a red ketchup bottle). And Becky, you'll be happy to know that Adam has demanded to wear his snowboots again this week.





And a kiss, and 'nother kiss for Elmo:



11:30 After a short bjorn nap, Ariel was ready for a bottle. Look ma, no hands!



12:30 Both Crissy and I tried to get Ariel down for a nap in bed, and Ariel just refused.

12:45 Nap in bjorn

1:30 Crissy made Rice Krispy treats (don't tell Crissy's mom that this was her lunch :) )

2:15 4 oz bottle.

I just have to write about how much Adam loves Crissy. Just this week, he spontaniously started calling her Aunt Crissy. If he sees our phone, he says, "Call Kissy?" When I say, "Guess who's coming to our house," his guess is always "Kissy!" And lucky for me, he says, "Kissy up!" almost as much as "Mommy up."



Oh, and Alex and Gavin were around too, but they were playing so well that we didn't really notice them much. That's a good thing, trust me.

2:45 It felt like we had stayed long enough, time to go home. And plus, Crissy had to go pick Marcus up from school.

3:00 Ariel just hung out while I put pictures in my photo album and then updated the blog. She played with her toys and talked to herself.

3:45 Adam woke up from his car nap and was VERY grumpy.

4:00 Pick up. Bye Bye Aweeal (well, that's what Adam would have said if he wasn't crying.)