Grub, Booze & a Pair of Red Shoes

It's not often you get to sit in your backyard, drink Smirnof Ice, eat PB&J squares, mingle with a random mix of fine folk and listen to an hour of live music worth talkin' about. We were fortunate enough to get that opportunity last night. If it weren't for the 8 houses within arms reach (okay, 2 arms reach) of our patio, you would have thought you were in a private outdoor arena under the stars.

A college friend of ours is touring the country doing “Living Room Concerts.” Essentially, he drives from state to state and performs original music for folks, both strangers and friends. He started this concept about a year ago and has only rested his head on his own pillow for 2 weeks since. The concept has taken off. We offered to host him at what we called our “Grub, Booze & a Pair of Red Shoes" party. And we're glad we did! This dutchman has talent and he was able to share his amazing songwriting, vocal and instrumental talent with a handful of Denverites.

His name is Jon Troast and he wears signature red shoes at every performance. Check him out at www.jontroast.com . You won't regret it! Samples of his music can be found on his website and can also be purchased on iTunes. If you want to host him in your living room (or back patio), just contact him and set it up. It's what he does and it's pretty darn cool. Thanks for including our abode in your nationwide tour Jon. The pleasure was ours.

A Beautiful Way to Spend a Weekend

You've gotta love opportunities to venture off to a place on God's earth you've never seen before and very well might never see again. Oregon was this place for us over the weekend. What a marvelous corner of the earth it is. You're surrounded by towering mountains, plush green trees & grass, flowers blooming like wildfire, rivers bubbling, waterfalls plummeting, quaint towns welcoming and the friendliest people on earth. And in the midst of all that you had Vogelzangs. Lots of them.

A slew of people from across the country joined together to celebrate Nick and Caylei's nuptuals in the mountains of Southern Oregon. They officially got married in Whistler, Cananda this past winter and organized a big event for family and friends to celebrate with them. We, of course, wanted to be there to take part in the festivities.

Like I said, there were many Vogelzangs. As well as ever flowing alcohol, delectable food, spa days, men paid to pump your gas, (it's required by law), bocce ball, meeting new folk, dancing, shuttle buses that couldn't make it up the mountain, Uncle Bob saving the day but nearly finishing off hikers in the process, a bed made up in white linens hanging from the trees, Dude sleeping in the hotel bathroom and Mom and Dad using the lobby bathrooms to get ready for bed, midnight PB&J's and cookies, quality time with Grandparents, scrubbing of automobile carpeting, 40 foot snow drifts at Crater Lake, a blissfully happy bride and groom, off-the-cuff wedding toasts, a well-deserved slap in the head, a Jewish Bill Gates wearing a blue tie, a romantic drive through the back roads of Oregon.....it was a great weekend.

Congrats Nick and Caylei! It's awesome to see you so incredibly happy. We wish nothing but the best for you. Vogelzangs, we look forward to our next rendezvous! It's always an adventure.

Slideshow from Oregon

Pre-Jack

Another couple friend of ours is due with baby Jack in the coming week, so photo shoot #2 for the week took place yesterday. Baby Burke James of the post below was born on Saturday! He's nearly 7 pounds and Mom and babe are doing great. Congrats to them on a tough but successful delivery! Here's hoping Jack decides to wait until we get back from Oregon this weekend to arrive. We've been anxiously awaiting his entrance into this world. Although I'm pretty sure his parents would welcome him any second now if he so chose.

Awaiting the Bebes

We have approximately 32 friends who are expecting at the moment. Ok, maybe more like 13. Still, a crazy number of little peanuts in utero. Adam and Kirst are a part of our phenomenal small group and are expecting their "bebes" literally any minute. Poor Kirst has been feeling regular contractions for a week now. We went out yesterday and took her mind off of the constant pain by doing a photo shoot. Above are a few of my favorites.

The Photoshoot

The Sweet Pleasures of Motherhood

My boys spoiled me today...well, most days they do, but especially today. I don't remember what it was like to wake up and not be a mom. I can't imagine life without this little stinker in it. We had some quality fam time today and then went to Oma B's house with the Denver family for a cook-out. It was 75 and sunny and the mountains were as clear and beautiful as I've ever seen. There were many gentle reminders today...chocolate pancakes, fellowship at church, a one year old's constant giggling, time with friends, good food, pampering from a phenomenal husband, etc. etc. of just how good God is.

The Simple Things

No reason in particular for this post, other than sharing a couple videos that made us laugh. Dude has learned how to brush his teeth, as evidenced above. We also put water in our new table from Grandpa V & Grandma Di....this is now our most favoritest thing to do! By a long shot. Screaming at nothing and spending hours walking around the house behind push toys (as evidenced below) are also highlights in this one year old's life. More to come later!

A Few of Dude's Favorite Things

The first video is evidence that we're ALMOST there with the concept of walking. Dude does laps around the house behind his Tonka truck, trying to push walls out of the way when he gets stuck. The second video is from a couple weeks ago, but this "chasing the balls around the wood floor game" continues to live on. Daily. In fact, the word "ball" is said approximately 2,356 times per day. Anything that starts with the letter "b" has become a "ball." He's becoming quite the little vocal child. Jabbering all day in a language only he can understand, but is starting to understand what we say...it's really quite scary.

Dude also point with vigor at nearly everything that could be remotely interesting. The pointing is typically accompanied with a loud grunt to make sure that you're seeing whatever it is that he's pointing at...a leaf, a fan, a light, a tree, a bird, a spec of dust. Life is pretty fun with a 13 month old. He has us laughing more and more each day.

Our Favorite "D" & Henry Dog

We got this video from my brother and sis-in-law and need to share it with the world. Our nephew dog Henry is about the coolest and best trained canine on earth. And our darling nephew "D" and Henry make quite the tag team. Check them out.