Kings 117

King Scoopers is also been a very good store on the route the last several weeks. Here are a few displays that we currently have set up in the store. It's been fun seeing the employees dressed in their Broncos shirts this month while the team keeps winning. They have also started adding "Hurry!! Hurry!!" to the end of announcements made over the intercom.  It was also the only store in town that has handed out the 9News window clingy thingys. 

Wal-Mart 980

The excitement continues to build in Colorado for the little football game that will be played this coming Sunday in New York. The excitement is also building here at Frito-Lay. The displays are massive, the product is beginning to move, and it's all hands on deck! Here are a few of the displays at our Wal-Mart in Greeley. Pretty fun stuff! 

TBT

A young couple in the spring of 1996 in front of Harrison Hall on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado.  

Published

Sarabeth and her 3rd grade class recently published a book of their pictures and stories. She did a very nice job on both. The books were delivered yesterday. Here they are. 

Book Club

For a little over a year now, I've been involved in a monthly book club here in Greeley. The Civilizing Book Club has become a very special part of my life. That months host or hostess gets to pick the book, and the meal is designed around the food the characters in the book ate, maybe the geographic region of the world the book is based in or a combination of the two. The books chosen have covered a wide range of topics and styles. The conversations and discussions we enjoy together are always wide ranging and heartfelt. It always amazes me the topics that can be covered in a three hour discussion. The food is also always amazing and diverse. Here is a sampling of last months group discussion of "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Can't wait to discuss next months book by Neil Gaiman. 

AFC

It's been a very good month for Denver Broncos fans here in Colorado and around the country. Winning the AFC over Tom Brady and the Pats on Sunday night was especially fun. On to the Super Bowl!! Which also means that it's going to get a little crazy for this Frito Lay guy over the next few weeks. The craziness began right away on Monday morning when 9news handed out 1000 window clingy thingys at my King Scoopers. There were already 100 people in line when I arrived at 5:20 AM. But I got my clingy thingy! Lots of big Frito displays going up the next couple days in preparation for the game. Also found matching AFC champions hats for Wes and I. 

TBT

Who's this guy rocking the tux on the red couch for today's Throw Back Thursday picture?? I'll give you a hit. He got his drivers permit today after a week long drivers Ed class at Frontier for E-Week. 

33!

Happy birthday to my favorite brother! Seems like I have known you all your life! I am so fortunate to have such an amazing man as a brother. Thank you for all the encouragement, support and love you have showed me this past year. It is so awesome to see the father you have become to Kaleb and the husband you are to Kim. I look forward to many great conversations about all things Broncos and politics in the coming year. Keep feeding the Drudge machine and reading those books. Happy Birthday. 

Honesty

Sarabeth has started off the year by posting reviews on Amazon for the games and books she has been playing and reading. So naturally, she has carried that one step further by reviewing the job her parents are doing. Here is the report card I recieved. I'll ask Jen if I can post hers. Looks like I'm doing ok. Need to broaden my cooking skills this year it seems. 

Ski

It was quite an adventure for Noah and Nathanael last weekend as they headed to the hills for their first ever ski trip. They traveled to the Granby Ski Area with some friends from school. Nathanael used his 5th grade adventure pass for a free lift ticket and Noah earned a free lesson, so away they went. They skied both days and had a blast. The first thing Nathanael asked when he got home was when could he go again. 

Books

Well, here's the stack of books that I finished in 2013. The final talley was 32. There are 30 books pictured here, plus one library book that I returned and one book that Baxter used as a chew toy. Hard to decide what was the best book I read. I really enjoyed "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed. I cried at the end of "The Book Thief." I know it's Young Adult fiction and all, but it was still an overwhelmingly powerful book. Still waiting to see the movie. The two short story collections were also fun. "Tenth of December" made several Best of Lists for 2013.  George Saunders will be appearing at the Tattered Cover in a few weeks. Would love to make it down to meet him and get a book signed. "Praying Drunk" hasn't even been released yet. It was the featured book for my Rumpus Book Club in November. Book Riot called it one of the top 15 book releases they are anticipating in 2014. 

Worst book of the year?? Yep, one of the books I was really looking forward to reading. Colin Cowherds "You Herd Me." It was just terrible. Short little chapters of things he says all day on his radio show. I was hoping for some more in-depth insights into the world of sports and culture. 

Best book?? Can't pick just one. "The Corrections" was strong. Not suprised it was a National Book Award winner. Thanks to Uncle Ed for encouraging me to read it. The other best book I read in 2013 was a selection for my monthly book club here in Greeley. In April we read Wendell Berrys "Jabber Crow."  Wow. Who would have thought that a book about a barber in the rural south in the early 1900's would be so powerful? Looking forward to reading more of Berrys books in 2014. 

My reading goal for this year? I'm going to shoot for 35. Twelve each in my monthly book clubs, and 11 I find on my own. I'll keep you posted on how things go. 

2014

Happy New Year to everyone from those of us here at Campingdad! Pretty big party tonight at our house, as you can see from these pictures. Here's to a happy, healthy, blessed 2014!