Denver Update (be warned of hugeness)

I've been home since Sunday Night, and just kept neglecting to update my blog on my trip! Denver was amazing, as it always is. Going to Colorado still feels like going home. I had SO much fun, and it was SO GREAT to see my friend Kathy. Kathy lived with my family my freshman year of high school as an exchange student from Germany. Let's just say I think of her basically as a 5th sister. I visited her in Germany for 2 weeks following my Junior year of High School, she came to my wedding, and she was in Denver doing an internship at a hospital just recently. Hence, the main reason for my extended trip to Denver. I planned to arrive there on the last day she had to work, so we were able to spend the whole week together. It was sooo much fun, really. And of course, it is always so good to see my family.

Just because I am horrible at doing day by day recaps (especially since I procrastinated a week...), I'm basically just going to list the things we did, and of course, provide some lovely pictures.

• Ate WAY too much cheesecake. Between Kathy making a German Cheesecake, eating at the Cheesecake Factory, and getting New York Cheesecake Frozen Custard from Good Times. Let's just say I was amazed I didn't gain weight on this trip. Seriously.
• Going to Flatirons mall with Chrissy, Kathy, and my mom. Just walking around up there, doing some window shopping mostly. It was fun to just hang out with the girls (:
• Getting some exposure to the Gilmore Girls (though they were watching the 6th season - I really should start from the beginning). I must say, I found myself really enjoying the show, despite not knowing much about what is going on. Kathy had bought the 6th season to take home - in Germany, it was just barely starting on the actual networks. A year later.
• Mom's Lazy Lasagna. I just need to write that recipe down. It's my favorite lasagna, because it has no ricotta cheese. Just cottage cheese. And it's delicious.
• Hanging out with my sister Mary at her new townhome. She is such a fun person to be around. She's taking guitar lessons, and I had the chance to hear her sing and play some tunes on her "sweet ax." (: Her kids are so cute too - Joey even gave me a hug, woohoo!
• Also hanging out with my brother Rod and sister in law Andrea. It was definitely good to see them. I finally met their "new" puppy Kimi, that they have had for probably a year. We watched Anchorman at their house, as well as a selection of music videos Roddy has on DVD, such as "Weird Al," ABC, and New Order. So fun!
• Eating out at many of my favorite places: Chipotle (twice), Old Chicago, Good Times, Table Mountain Inn, Paradise Cafe, The Cheesecake Factory, etc. Also tried one of my dad's "regular" places, Joe's Cafe. Which has amazing pancakes. Sadly, none of these places are in Utah *sigh*
• Seeing my good old friends, the Flammers. Seriously - it had been ENTIRELY too long ago that I hung out with these guys. Kathy was also good friends with them when she lived with us 8 years ago, so her being in town also provided a good reason for me to freaking finally get together with them again! The last time I had seen Amy and her mother was at my wedding reception. The last time I had seen David and Gordon could quite possibly have been early high school. Way too long. It was SO much fun hanging out with them a few times while I was home.
• Such as doing Karaoke. We went out to this Asian Karaoke place in Aurora, and it was a blast. If only all you faithful blog readers could have heard our rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody." Just...wow. Haha!
• The Coors Brewery Tour. I grew up literally 5 minutes from it, seriously. Growing up, I always hated the smell of the hops that would waft throughout Golden. Going home now though, ironically, it's a smell I miss. Smells like home. Kathy had never done the tour (which is honestly, quite interesting), so we decided to go for it. Some people just go just for the free 3 8 oz. samples at the end (or just take the "short tour" straight to the lounge). I was just fine with my free Dr. Pepper, thanks (:
• The Denver Aquarium. Another attraction Kathy didn't have a chance to visit when she was in CO 8 years ago, as it was still being built. It has been since bought out by a Seafood Restaurant (there is something inherently disturbing about that...), but is still an AWESOME aquarium! I think so at least, for being in the Rockies ;) Rod and Andrea came along as well, and it was just so fun!
• Our little Boulder day out. Boulder is definitely an interesting place. Some even refer to it as the "People's Republic of Boulder." But I think it is great. We walked around Pearl Street Mall, and met up with my friend from high school Jules and FINALLY met her fiance Daryl. Such an awesome guy! We all ate at the Cheesecake Factory, stuffing ourselves silly. Mmmmmmmcheeeeeesecake. And I was amazed - no free spirit college students asked me for my leftovers afterwards! It was a first!
  
• You know those little sponge capsule animals that you put in warm water? Kathy had never heard of those. I decided we needed some to ensure she wasn't entirely deprived of this childhood delight.
  
• My poor dad having to get a shot IN HIS EYE the day I got there. Poor Guy. He has bad glaucoma/complications resulting from diabetes in his right eye, and is doing everything he can to help his vision. I sure hope this shot clears it up for him. It was so sad :(
• Tennis on Saturday afternoon. Once again, with the Flammers. Just awesome (:
• Getting to see my mom's new "boobs." I think I have mentioned this before, but my mom had a full masectomy when she first had breast cancer in 2004. I have gotten pretty used to seeing her "boobless", so it was quite humorous to me that she went and bought some new ones! They are these cool silicon inserts that are really quite realistic. She wanted them to help fill out some of her dresses and such, since they don't fall quite right otherwise. I think it's great (:
• The Classic Car Club Fall Tour. My dad is a total car nut, seriously. And one of the clubs he belongs to had a little tour where we went to the Golden Railroad Museum (which is really neat, btw), and drove up Golden Gate Canyon to see all of the beautiful changing leaves. It was seriously so amazing driving up there. We had lunch at the Black Forest Inn, which was delicious! One of my favorite things to do ever since I was little was riding around in my dad's old cars. I'm glad I had the chance to while I was home (:
• I finally bought myself a new cell phone. It was about time, for sure. My old one had been around for 5 years, and had reached "crap" status. My new one definitely has no frills, but it's like a new technological wonder for me. I mean, it's COLOR. Color! Wow.

I am sure I am missing some things. Curse my horrible memory! Chrissy or Kathy(when I finally email her my blog URL), if you happen to think of anything I am missing, please comment with it. Because my brain struggles.

Alright, I am now thinking I will do a separate post with pictures, as this one is long enough already.

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