Business Update!

Moving on...we have some what hit a brick wall. How frustrating when you know that you have some awesome ideas and lots for a business that you know you could make it very successful, yet that is hard to explain that, let alone make someone believe in you. But we haven't given up or closed the door on this idea yet. From the very beginning we have gone into this venture with the idea that what ever we did...we would learn. Yep, we have! But yet I don't have that feeling that this door is closed completely. So I continue to keep my eyes open for what path we might need to take to accomplish this business venture. I am not sure if a bank is our best option for the financial piece. I know that not every one that has bought a business has gone to a bank, so we have started to look at private investors...
One thing about this, our family, we won't let any business that we do or own be just average. After all we aren't average or normal. We are extraordinary and that would be just how we would run our business. Over the top and with excellence!

A day in the Mountains...and new friends

Sunday the 20th, Mark and I set out on the motorcycles to get a way from everything down here in the city. I love the ride to Walden and so that is where we decided to head. We could see the clouds over the mountains, but decided we had enough clothes and gear that we would be OK for the day. We took the long way through Ft Collins and hooked up on Hwy 14 to Walden. About 1/2 way up there is a road that dumps out of to 14 called Stove Praire Road. There was a ride going on that day that 'Red Hill Motor Werx' happen to be putting on and so there was TONS of bikes on the road...so much for that easy going ride. Out of the Stove Praire Road there were a couple of guys that jumped on a head of us. We rode behind them, along with another guy (that we ended up loosing from our new little formed pack in Walden. Never did see him again that day. Just before you go over Cameron Pass there is a stop, with a HUGE parking lot and one stall bathroom for men and women...I have always found that odd. But it just so happens that all of our pack (5 bikes in total) all stopped to stretch, bathroom break and grap something to drink.

One of the guys from the two that had jumped on before us said "are you ready to go?" like we are suppose to be with them. One thing I just love about riding....there are no stranger and everyone is friends and family. We said "sure" laughed and jumped on to join them again on our quest to get to Walden.(Now I have to say that I love the ride to Walden because of the scenery, the food at the "river rock cafe" and being with awesome hubby.) We end up arriving in Walden....but do you remember the 'run' that was going on...yep...you guessed it. They had arrived in Walden before, no room at the gas pump we decided to go on and get some food and then gas. Standing in the door way to the cafe, the two guys that had jumped on earlier, came up behind us. We started talking and thought that we might as well share a table as it didn't seem there would be to much space left for us to wait for two different tables.

We met Larry and Bill...we talked over food, joined them on another beautiful ride to places that Mark and I had not been yet. We took Hwy 125 out of Walden, ended up in Grandby (larry likes to take pictures and so stopping was a must) We had a great time! The four of us, before heading into town to get something to drink before the next leg of our journey

We decided to go up over Trailridge. Mark and I were excited as we had always wanted to go over Trailridge on the bikes. One thing about riding is that you always get to see everything with such a different view. It was cold, before leaving town I put on a long sleeved shirt, a jacket and then my rain gear. It did look like it could rain, but I really didn't wear the gear because of that, it just cuts out the wind. We saw some beautiful scenery, several herds of Elk (and can I tell you that there are STUPID people out there, we saw some people that where probably no more then 20 feet from some very large Bull Elk...something I wouldn't want to do, and certainly wouldn't want to piss them off....) But when we got to the top.......WOW!!!! Don't you wish you were there?

So you see the snow, yes it was cold up there. I had as many layers on that I had brought with me. But these veiws are incredible and truly make you think about how small you are compared to it all........The next couple of photos are Bill and Larry. What a couple of great guys! Thanks Larry and Bill for making it such a great trip. We had a great time, and laughed ALOT!

OK I have saved the really cute photos that really don't mean anything, but are cute!This was our cute friend at the top. He honestly wasn't going to do much if we weren't going to feed him. But heck the face ......



Back down we came.....11 1/2 hours on the road...wouldn't have changed it for anything...spent the day with my best friend and our new friends.

Buying a Business

Ok it has been over a week since I last wrote and it isn't like I haven't had anything to say. But it is like what do I want to say.....confused?
Every day I think of things that I want to write on my blog. I realize that this is like an on line diary/scrap book and I realize that I can keep alot of thoughts and memories here. It is just deciding what I really think is important enough that others will want to read it.
So I decided that I would take you on Mark and I's journey of buying a business. Truly you can't believe how much you have to go through just for someone to look at you and consider you possibly for some (not a lot) of money to buy and work the business for a few months to build the business back into a healthy state. But we went into this whole venture, knowing that we would learn and learn well and be the best business owners ever. We have filled out more questionares, and provided more information then I thought was neccessary. But trust me that didn't ask if I like or even approved of their process. Yet, I know that ever day many other people go through this process and end of being business owners. Well that is our goal....to be the best business in Northern Colorado. As we get closer to the closing process we will let you know what the business is and where you can find us. But for now I will just share to release some frustration or pass along some knowledge. The one great thing is that we are so excited that we have kids that support us through this process, hoping that they can too be involved in the business as well. We have gone into this with our eyes wide open. We will walk this road until either all the doors close for us not to buy it or until we close the door from our first day of business. Stay tune....I will keep you posted.

Family.......

Today like many days, ends up being crazy.....going in 50 different directions. But today I was able to stop in the midst of life and again realize how truly blessed my life is.

I have children that I love and adore and are so wonderful for all that they bring to life everyday!

I have grand children that allow me to laugh and share in their lives, they are all so precious and
unbelievably wonderful......

I have a husband that is so incredible....I truly don't know why God thought I deserved him, but hey I won't complain...he is a keeper and I am thankful for him everyday.

I AM BLESSED, there is no money or possessions that I could ever have that would make me wealthier then I am with such a great family.....this is success!

A fun day in the sun!

Well off to the park for little swinging and fun. Mckahl and Henessy love to hang out with each other and so the journey to the park was no different then any other day. This is the path that is just behind the house across the street. This journey took a lot long then it should have...but then again they are 2 and 3. Good thing they had some adults along to keep them on track.

Thank goodness Henessy doesn't have her license and that this isn't a real car...we might all be in trouble.

Joram and Henessy taking a trip down the slide, I wonder who really is having more fun??

Again, What is up with these

little ones wanting to drive?

Having fun........

friends!

Fighter/Bomber Planes

Ft Collins/Loveland Airport hosted 'The Collings Foundation' today. We had a great time being next to such incredible planes.

There are so many pictures for me to share, I even thought sharing them with you through a slideshow(because I think that they are all worth looking at) but you will be a sleep as I have close to 100 and yes I did try and make a slideshow but it was way to LONG.....So I thought I would share a few with you all.

McKahl is standing against one of the tires, there is probably at least another 10 to 12" above her yet.

The next one is interesting as you are to cut the hole in case of an emergency...are they serious..with what? and have the considered how far up in the air you might when you have an emergency?

The next picture is a P-51 Bomber. This is the only plane of it's kind left in the world. It is a dual cockpit (meaning it has two pilots). At the end of the show all but this plane took off, they ground this one because of how rare it is and the storms that were brewing over the mountains. They didn't just let any one by this plane, but as you see with a lot of help from Jeff, Mark and Joram where able to get up close enough to get pictures taken and Joram even got to look in.

The next few photos are from the inside of a couple of the planes. Since I wasn't the one that took these pictures on my camera (Joram was kind enough to be the shutterbug). I am not sure which ones belong to which plane.

But as you will with Mark in one of the pictures, these plane were NOT built for a large man of any sort, there is barely any room for him to fit through this opening.

Then you will see a black box...communcation....what no cell phones?

How would you like for this to be the dashboard of your car...it might weed out the stupid drivers...probably not

These are names of men that flew on the same mission as this plane and lost their lives. May they never be forgotten for what they did for our freedom and our country. Thank you!!

The Fourth of July through a little ones eyes..

Well...I hope everyone had a great 4th. Mark worked, Sierra and Jeff went to the Rockies game and watched a great game. Erin, Joram, McKahl and myself stayed at the house to do our own thing. Erin and Joram went in together and got some really great fireworks, it was hard for us to wait until 9 or dark just to get going. But once we did it was worth it!






Got to love the 'snakes', they really don't do anything. But a little one will get close to the ground and watch it to the end.....about the only patients that a almost two year old has most days. But we kept pushing through. Between Joram lighting off fireworks and the neighbors across the street....the nine o'clock start time had a 10:17 finish time. And believe it or not McKahl stayed up for the entire show. It really wouldn't have been a show with out her.


She watched each and every firework go off, she would then tell Joram that he did a 'great job' and 'thank him'. But any time the firework would make a popping noice or crackel "she would hit the ground" and the whom ever else was sitting close by she would move right in next to them until the firework was done. We did have to laugh as it was so cute. What a huge difference she is from last year to this year.






We hope that each and everyone you had a great
4th of July.

Like Son.....like father

OK so I laughed with hysteria when I am reading the blog about the shoes that Turreal has bought. Velrco...only moms and dads that have small children and not enough time on their hands and OLD people buy Velcro shoes. But my son who has a great sense of who he is....doesn't care. He finds shoes that are practical and wears them with PRIDE.

So, today Mark sets off to find some shoes to golf in. He is going golfing for the first time in...well lets see.....well it has been so long ago that I truly can't remember when it was last. I have to say at least 15 years. So off he goes to get him some shoes...some sandals or something comfortable. I am sitting at the computer doing work (yes I was working and not blogging...) and I asked to see his new shoes, he says to me "let me go try them on for you"..........

Yes I started laughing, here is the 'old man' with the same shoes that his youngest son just purchased a couple of days ago and that we laughed so hard at. Then he says to me " you know they are really comfortable and you can feel the support in the sole" OK now I am laughing with tears rolling down my cheeks. I now know what tree Turreal truly fell from. Got to love the fact that these two men are totally OK with who they are.

If you go to Turreal and Kim's blog you will understand the pictures even more. Thanks boys for the laugh and being such strong men.