The Baker Bunch: May 2012

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Our Spontaneous Trip!

Mountain coming off La Veta Pass

Route 66 Sign

Saturday morning I woke up at 7 a.m. and COULD NOT go back to sleep! I was super annoyed since it was my day off! So I woke Preston up about 8 and told him "let's go" and he replied "go where?". I said I don't know or care I just want to go! So we got up and got ready, I packed a bag just in case we decided to spend the night somewhere. We headed out at about 10:30 that morning. Preston already had an idea where we were going but I didn't really have a clue, I just sat in the passenger seat and enjoyed the scenery.

Old tractor

After a few hours I saw a sign that said "New Mexico the Land of Enchantment". I was a little surprised just because I really wasn't paying attention to which direction we were going. Husband and I started to get hungry so we stopped in a little town then we decided to keep going. Finally we hit Clayton, NM. Preston had lived in this little town for a few years when he was younger. We drove around town and husband told me stories of his childhood. It was super cute because you could see his eyes just light up as he talked. Most of his family is from Clayton and still live there to this day. Preston had me take pictures of a few things then we decided to drive to the town (if you could even call it that) where his "granny" is buried. We drove for just half an hour or so and came upon this sign that said Hayden. Preston informed me that it is a town. This so called town consisted of a trailer house (his cousin lives in now), his granny's house, a cemetery, a church, a school and also a gas station. All of the buildings were run down and in shambles. Again, Preston told me stories about his summers in this little town. Then we decided to go to the cemetery where his granny and other family members are buried. Being out in the middle of nowhere was so relaxing and calming. There was a little breeze and you could only hear the birds chirping. After driving around and looking at everything there was in this little town, we both decided we still didn't want to go home.

72 oz steak

The house Preston lived in

Cadillac Ranch

Us at Cadillac Ranch

We continued south to another place where husband had lived when he was young. This town was Dalhart, TX. When I saw the Texas sign I flipped out because I had no idea how we ended up in Texas! It really hadn't seemed like we had been driving that long! Husband and I pulled into Dalhart and Preston took me around town. The town was pretty neat because they had BRICK streets! Yes BRICK it was so awesome. The town wasn't big or anything special but it was just nice to see something different. When we got done with Dalhart, both of us did not want to go home yet. Husband asked "Have you ever been to Amarillo?" and I hadn't so he drove me there! I love Amarillo! It is such a quaint little city. As we were driving around we decided we'd spend the night since we wouldn't be able to see all of Amarillo since the sun was going down. I booked us a room downtown Amarillo. It was awesome! We stayed at the Marriott courtyard, it was an awesome building. We were on the top floor and we could see all of the lights from the city and we also could see all of the club hoppers. Before the sun went down husband had mentioned the Cadillac Ranch. I had heard of it and husband had driven by it many times but never stopped. So on our way to dinner we decided to stop at the Cadillac Ranch. It was pretty interesting. There were a bunch of Cadillac's buried in the middle of a cornfield with free roaming cows. We could pick out who was a city person and who was a country person. The city people were terrified of the cows, not to mention it was super entertaining to watch them! After that we got back in the car and headed to the restaurant "The Big Texan". This restaurant is famous for their free 72 ounce steak.... It's only free if you eat all 72 oz of steak, a baked potato, 3 jumbo shrimp and 2 jalapeno's in an hour! When we got there, there were 4 people attempting this feat, none of them finished though! We had a good time just looking around at the gift shop and all the people. Husband and I decided to call it a night after that. In the morning we woke up and headed for home. Preston took me down the Route 66 since I had never been on it, that was pretty cool to experience that piece of history. Him and I were total tourists. We stopped at almost every single shop down Route 66. I kept seeing signs for Hard Rock Cafe in Albuquerque. I was super excited because I think Hard Rock Cafe has good food and they are fun. So I told husband we HAD to go, we pulled up to the Hard Rock and could not see a cafe anywhere so we went in. Sure enough it was just a casino and hotel. By the time we got out of the casino I think I had emphysema (thank you Colorado for your non-smoking laws!). I was super bummed but we decided to go to Olive Garden which was the next best thing!
After eating dinner we headed home to get ready for the start of our work week! This trip was really fun! I got to learn so much more about my awesome husband, not to mention he is really nice to travel with because he is so knowledgeable about so many different things. I learned a lot about him as well as a lot about the different states! Thank you hubby!

The church in Hayden, NM

Preston hanging from the Texas sign!

Monday, May 7, 2012

WORK

Some days I love my job (when things go as planned, and smooth) other days it's like why do I bother?! Friday was a mess literally! Friday was the 5th day of work in a row.... for those of you who say oh that is a normal work week... not for me... I work 12 hour shifts at a fast paced high stress job. So I was exhausted, not to mention I had not seen hubby all week due to our different schedules and all of his other jobs. Anyways, Friday I go into work and I already knew it was a hectic day by the look on everyone's faces. Come to find out that one of our patients had C-Diff. For all of you who don't know what that is here is the definition "Clostridium difficile (klos-TRID-e-uhm dif-uh-SEEL), often called C. difficile or C. diff, is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon." Yeah it is GROSS! Not to mention this patient wanted to share it with all of us. We had to straight bleach EVERYTHING. The patient did not have any other clothes either so he just sat in it his whole treatment which is 4 hrs long! After he left he stunk up the whole office again! But that is just the beginning. The day continued to get worse. One machine went down, we had people come in late, people bleed forever and it just went on and on. So by the time the last patient left I was EXHAUSTED! I called hubby ( he was in Sanford being a cop). He told me to come down, so I went and picked up some dinner and headed down there. I hadn't really seen him at all that week so he wanted me to come ride along with him in the cop car. That's exactly what I did. It was prom that night so he had to do security checks at the high school where prom was taking place. When we went in it brought me back to how awkward those dances were and high school was. Can I just say how glad I am that those days are over... for me anyway.

After riding around with him for six hours I decided to call it a night since I had to work the next day. Preston stayed out and patrolled until about 3 a.m. I went to work again Saturday it was nothin special, text husband and he told me to come down again. I like riding around with him, we get to talk and I get an insight to what he does. Preston and I only stayed until 10 that night because Preston had only got 4 hours of sleep the night before. Those couple of nights were pretty uneventful for me but for Preston they were pretty busy.

Sunday came around and we were both pretty exhausted but we were ready to tackle the next week! We hope all of you guys have a great week!

It's That Time of the Year!

     Two weekends ago Preston and I were getting spring fever! So, we decided to do something we both enjoyed doing.... 4-wheeling! I love taking out the 4-wheeler and just roaming around. It was set, Preston and I and one of his co-workers and his friend were going on a little adventure! This was my first Saturday off in a month! I was so stoked and so was Preston.
     Saturday morning Preston got up and gathered all of our gear ( we had packed the night before). Husband loaded the 4-wheeler into his big pick-up and then he decided I needed to drive... I think he wanted me to drive is so he could see how I drive his pick up, since I'm used to my car. So with a little hesitation I jumped in, started it up and we were on our way. First, we had to make a stop at Subway. This is where we always stop to get a meal for our 4-wheeling trips. After that Preston decided to drive so we could get there faster.
     We finally got to the Sheriff's office and met up with his co-worker. After that we headed out! We went south into New Mexico and rode on a bunch of different trails down there in the Carson National Forest. It was a very nice, warm day! The mountains were so pretty. A little after noon we decided to stop and eat our lunch. We had lunch by a river on a rock that stretched out over the river! It was so pretty! We packed up and headed out again. Preston being crazy as always decided he needed to "wash the 4-wheeler" what that really means is he wanted to play in the water. Without me knowing really, he took a sharp turn into the river and we went across. Me, being a little bit paranoid about getting wet, I got the tip of my big toe wet! At least it dried fast!
     Preston and I explored some new trails and then met up again with his co-worker. There was still plenty of daylight and warmth so we headed back towards the Sheriff's office. We took a detour to these dirt pits. It is always a fun time to ride at these pits, the downside is the amount of dirt that gets in my eyes! Even with sunglasses on, I still managed to get dirt in my eye... so not thinking, I rubbed my eye! While in the process of doing that my contact fell out! For all of you who don't know I'm literally blind as a bat! I had packed contact solution but no extra contacts, so I was blind for about an hour! After that took place, husband said he would take me home. So that is exactly what he did! When we got home we both discovered we were sunburned! How the heck did that happen? I applied sunscreen like every 2 hrs... maybe it had to do with being over 10,000ft? Who knows, all I know is that I hurt like crazy, got tan for a few days and now I'm back to being white as white can be.... crazy how that works huh? Hope you all are having a great spring!

Preston's Big Birthday Weekend

On top of Pike's Peak

Preston and I at the Royal Gorge!

Preston and I have both been working a lot of hours. Preston has a full time job as well as two part time jobs. Preston runs the jail as well as does court security on Thursdays after work, then he also works in Sanford whenever the police chief needs him (which seems like all the time haha). So I told him for his birthday we both needed to get away and do something fun. We had already been to the Cheyenne Mtn. zoo (btw its like the best zoo I've ever been to). Well we get a call from his dad, his dad said he would like us to come to Pueblo and we all would spend the weekend together. Preston and I both were a little bit iffy about all of this, but we decided to go because we were planning on getting out of town anyways. So, I had requested Friday the 16th off (the day we were going to head to Pueblo). I had turned my phone off the night before because my phone makes weird noises sometimes. Anywho, I turned my phone on that morning and not even two minutes after doing so I get a call from work. They asked if I could come in, so the nice person that I am I went in. So I worked (so did Preston) we both got off around 4 came home showered, packed and we were on our way. We got to Pueblo around 7 that night. His dad and Rose had cooked us dinner. We all just sat and visited and watched a movie.

Our View on the way down to the bottom

The Sky Tram

Royal Gorge

Us at the Royal Gorge


John F. Kennedy!

Saturday morning Preston and I got up and got ready to go... all his dad would tell us is that we had an awesome weekend planned. I think Preston and I both had our doubts but we kept positive. Saturday the 17th we drove to Canon City and drove Skyline drive. That was pretty cool, its a small very narrow road that is on a ledge as you drive you can see all of Canon City below you. After that, Keith (Preston's dad) had informed us that we were going to the Royal Gorge Bridge! Preston and I had been talking about going there. If you don't know Preston, Preston LOVES historical, informational things so this was a huge moment for him! We arrived at the Royal Gorge. I on the other hand, was a littlIe apprehensive about this. I have this fear of heights due to my brother (thanks a lot Jere!). But I thought I was going to be ok because the wind wasn't blowing and we were taking a little train down to the bottom to see the river. That was really fun.... a little scary at first, but fun. We got to the bottom took a few pictures, watched a few kayakers then took the train back up. It was time to face my fear... THE 1,000ft bridge! I thought "Ok you can do this the wind isn't blowing and there aren't that many people" We start on the bridge I was practically walking in the middle of the bridge and Preston kept trying to pull me over to the side "because he couldn't see" I don't know what he wanted to see all that was down there were rocks and water what's the big deal?! But he slowly got me to overcome my fear he was very patient with me! That's why I love him! About half way over the bridge here came the Colorado wind! UGH really the bridge started to sway and all I wanted to do was book it off of that thing! Unfortunately, Preston had a tight grip on my hand... he must have read my mind haha. Finally we made it off the bridge! We went up this little trail where there was a little ghost town as well as a few animals. I thought the bridge was going to be the worst part of that experience... oh boy was I wrong! Keith told us that we would be taking the tram back across the gorge... ummm a big cart on a little thin string.... I DON'T THINK SO! But I did not voice my concern. We got on and went across I do have to admit it wasn't that bad... I was in the middle and I'm short so I couldn't really see but husband being so thoughtful kept inching me towards the front.

There is still more! After the Royal Gorge we hopped back into the car and drove to Manitou Springs.... I LOVE THIS PLACE! It reminds me of when I was little my parents would take us there and we would play at the penny arcade (which is no longer there :( ) It is a super neat town though very old victorian houses and very clean! We checked into our hotel there, then we went to dinner at the stagecoach inn. It was busy since it was St. Patty's day and all. We had reservations there but they kind of just shoved us into a little corner where the waiting area was. But still, the food was good! Preston and I being the old couple we are decided to call it a night after that.

My cold little feet and Preston's nice toasty warm feet!

Our ride in and out of the mine there were 6 of us shoved in there!

On Preston's birthday we were going to drive to the top of Pike's Peak, but when we got to the booth they said the road wasn't open all the way to the top. Keith turned around and drove us to the cog! We took the cog to the top of Pike's Peak... I would highly recommend this! We got to see a lot of wildlife and the lack of snow! I had packed for summer pretty much, but you know how Colorado weather is (if you don't it can change so fast) So, the weatherman said it was going to be 60 degrees so I wore flip flops! Boy was I stupid! We got to the top and it was -9 up there plus the wind was nuts! It was so pretty up there though! You can see five states from the top! We spent a little time at the gift shop then headed back down! After we got back down we drove to a famous gold mine. It's called the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine. All of us took a tour... 1,000ft underground! This mine still has gold in it but they no longer mine it. We had to all be shoved into this little cage to get underground. The tour was pretty awesome, it's amazing to think how smart people were back then and how they figured out how to mine. After the tour was over we were all shoved back into the little cage and went back up to the surface. When we got back to the top there was still daylight to burn! Keith decided he wanted to take us to Cripple Creek. For you who don't know Cripple Creek is an old mining community now that is a big gambling spot in Colorado. Keith took us to dinner, after dinner he gave us $10 to play the slot machines. Husband and I played the nickel slots... I won an extra $9, not too bad for my first time gambling! I cashed out just in time, the snow started to fall like crazy so we decided to head back to Pueblo.

Inside the mine

When we got back to Pueblo Preston and I had planned to go back home, but after all that driving we decided to stay the night. I called my sister Amanda and she got us a hotel room. Monday, Preston and I decided to just window shop. Well I'm a girl I can't just window shop! I bought Preston some new cowboy boots! I had tried some on and he has been trying so hard to get me to wear them! So, we left and went and looked a few other places. Then we came back and guess what.... Preston bought me some extra cute cowgirl boots! I was actually really excited. Husband and I just had one more stop... COLD STONE! Preston LOVES ice cream no matter the time of the year. After that important stop, we headed home to get ready for the rest of the week! All in all I think Preston and I BOTH enjoyed this awesome weekend!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The Beginning

      Well, several people have been bugging me to start a blog! So here I am! I guess I should give you all some background, so let me start from the beginning! My now husband (Preston) and I were set up by a mutual friend. At first I wasn't too crazy about the idea because I was not looking for a boyfriend or anything like that because I was allllll about nursing school at the time. But, my parents happened to be in Manassa with me at the time. As always, I went to my mom looking for advice. She told me to go out with him and at least try it. I thought "oh of course you are going to say that!" Preston and I had NOTHING in common at the time, besides us both being human. Let me just say here and now I'm so happy I listened to my mom this time!
   Our first date was dinner with Preston, me and our mutual friend (awkward I know but SHE INSISTED SHE COME!) We had dinner at a yummy Mexican restaurant. After that, we ALL went for a ride around the Valley. Preston showed me a lot of different parts of the Valley I didn't even know existed. After a few hours of driving around our friend got tired. Preston and I took her home. When we dropped her off we decided to drive around more. Preston is very knowledgeable about history and such. He told me many interesting things that night. I learned a lot from him. Preston dropped me off at my house, as I got outta his huge pickup I thought to myself "You blew it". I was thinking that because I kind of had a bad attitude and very shy.... yes shy. But a few days later he called and asked me out again. This continued until May of 2011. I then moved back to Sterling with my parents because things were just not working out for me in the Valley. Preston came to visit me in June. We went to go see his sister(who happens to work at a jewelry store) in Loveland. While we were there his sister's co-workers whisked me away and started showing me all this stuff and asking if they could clean my necklace. I found out this was all a cover up.
   We said goodbye to his sister and we headed to Sephora, where I wanted to just exchange an item. Preston said he wanted to just wait in the car. I didn't think anything of it. I came back to the car and we were on our way home. When we got back to sterling he said "Let's go to a park or something". I thought that was kinda weird because him and I were pretty tired. So, I lead him to one of my most favorite parks, but when we pulled up he said "There are too many people here." I thought to myself "well there are like 2 people here... somethin is up". I directed him to another park and he was anxious I could tell because he kept saying "Did you have to take the long way?" When in fact it was the quickest way there.
   Preston and I got out of the car and walked up a nice little wooded path as we got to a little river Preston looked at me and said "Sorry I couldn't afford the ring." Then he got on one knee and pulled out a RING! I was pretty shocked! Come to find out while I was in Sephora Preston had called my dad and asked if he could marry me. As you all know, I said yes!
   I came home and nonchalantly held out my hand on top of a box of shoes I had bought that day. My mom's expression was PRICELESS! My dad was out of town at the time visiting his mom and dad in the Valley. They both were so happy.
The planning started right then and there! I have some awesome sisters they are pretty creative! They helped me plan my wedding in 8 weeks! Preston and I were married on August 12th, 2010 in Sterling. We had an awesome time and I was so happy all my family could be together again!