"There are two things in life for which we are never truly prepared: Twins."

Going Solo Again

2012-02-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

Another double anenoid surgery was scheduled for Copper and Hudson on Friday. However, Hudson again had a cough leaving Cooper to go solo as well, and he had no problem with being the only one. He loves any time he can get on his and own and and loves to say "just mommy and coopey doop!"

I did not have concerns about Cooper having surgery as he has not been scared at all to get his adenoids out. And even when I told him he was getting ear tubes as well, he just "ok mama." When we first arrived at the hospital, the nurse took him to get weighed and he had no problem leaving my side. I was so proud of him for being so brave.

Even when he came out of surgery, he was still brave, and not crying at all. He did have the biggest turned up lip and sad eyes when he saw me, and I could tell he was trying not to cry. When I finally got to hold him, he let out some tears and said "my hand hurts." and showed me his wrapped up hand with the IV in it. Then he just laid in my arms and snuggled with his new Teddy.

This morning only 24 hours after the surgery he is up and running around. The first thing he said to me is "mommy, those ear tubes made me feel better".

We are so proud of you Copper for being so cooperative, confident and brave!

Going Solo

2012-01-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

Today was surgery day for my 2 oldest to get their adenoids out. Because of a slight cold, doctors orders sent Hudson home and no surgery. So Claire was left going solo.

I had been a little concerned about her having surgery, since she becomes very worried and scared, way before anything has even happened. Once she cried so hard when Hudson got a shot, everyone was consoling her. However, there was no need for concern today; we were surrounded by prayers and Claire handled her self like a mature little girl. When she left me to go into the surgery room she was calm and wanted to push the button for the doors to open. When she came out, she hated the taste of the anesthesia and a had a few tears, but she still wanted to press that button. She recovered better than I have ever seen. She really enjoyed that it was, "just the girls at the hospital" and told me that, "I will tell the boys all about surgery for when they had to have their surgery." And on our drive home she said, "Mama, it's not fun having surgery, but it's good they make you feel better."

Way to go Claire! I am so proud of you for being so brave and being so polite to others, even when you just didn't feel right.

Christmas Time

2011-12-31T16:57:00.001-07:00

We started celebrating Christmas on Thursday this year by opening 1 gift a day from those far away. It was really nice taking time for the kids to enjoy the presents that someone had taken time to pick out. We Skyped with Tom and Fran in Kalamazoo and then with Scott, Lisa, Hazel and Zane in Nashville. It is so great that we can be far away from each other, but still celebrate Christmas "together".

Starting Christmas early meant we had time to play with each toy,

and practice our smiles by the Christmas tree.

Christmas Eve we went to church where all the kids were going to sing. However, the two littlest ones prefered to sit in laps and

Cuddlle with dad,(Tucker was so tired he slept through the whole service)

and Claire and Hudson sang their little hearts out.

Then home and one last gift opening before Santa came. (Tucker gets the most excited about opening gifts, even when they aren't his!)

Then plenty of stories to end the night.

Christmas day was a blast. We opend presents ALL day, played games and just enjoyed the day being together.

(Tucker wondered where all the cookies went too)

The boys loved all their present s but really loved this wal mounted race track,

and Claire really loved the big box Dan and our gifts came in.

When it was time for Emmie and G to open presents, EVERYONE had to help.

And once the living room was cleaned up, time to try out the new pogo sticks.

Christmas Day ended with a nice dinner and fond memories of a fun filled Christmas!

More than Just a Christmas Party

2011-12-20T12:12:00.001-07:00

I LOVE parties. I love going to them and I love planning them. The past few weeks we have gone to a work party, a North Pole party, 2 school parties, and even decided to have our own Christmas party. We weren't planning to have a party, but Thursday I decided that we should have one, on Saturday... and I am glad that we did. Everyone had such a nice time and it really made me think about what parties are really about.

To me, parties are a gift. A gift of food and fun. A gift of laughing and singing children. A gift of time to be joyful. A gift of listening to others and hearing their stories. A gift of laughter.

Christmas Parties are more than just a party, they are a gift that bring people together and build friendships.

I am thankful for...

2011-12-03T19:39:00.001-07:00

Dads

Moms

and Time with Family and Friends,

Final round 3

2011-11-15T12:58:00.001-07:00

We do not remember days; we remember moments. ~Cesare Pavese

Thanks to everyone we saw in Tennessee for providing lots of moments to remember. From Halloween to Hayrides, we had a blast!

Thank you!

2011-11-11T15:47:00.001-07:00

Today we remember those who have served our country and we THANK YOU!

Round 1 and 2

2011-11-02T17:46:00.003-06:00

Our first stop on our world wind trip started in Chicago with a visit with Mike, Joy, Conley, Chris, Kim, Jack, Natalie, and of course grandma and papa. It was the first time that we were all back together in 2 years. Chris and Kim were kind enough to open up their home for our rambunctions group. The days were filled with pumpkin patches, fair rides, slides and the largest "corn box" you have ever seen. The kids found plenty to do and had fun playing with thier cousins...it was great to see everyone again.

Then off to St. Louis by Train for the zoo, the arch, City museum and the main event, the wedding celebration of good friend of mine from college. Grancy and Hiland made their way up to gewt us and hang out too.

Next stop Tennessee!

All you can say is WHOA?!

2011-10-18T21:59:00.001-06:00

Whoa, is what Cooper said when he saw the basement at the church house. And that is pretty much what Dan said too when we went to hang insulation on Saturday, and probably the same thought goes through mom and dads head quite often:-)

The good thing about working on a renovated Church house is, that you work hard and most of the time, you can see what you have completed. At least that's how Dan and I felt after a couple of hours hanging insulation in the basement. And when our work was completed we were rewarded by enjoying the pristine scenery Colorado has to offer and a picnic by Trout Creek.

This day was a perfect blend of work and play!

What does fall mean for us...

2011-10-03T06:41:00.001-06:00

Crab Apple Picking

Scenic Drives by Sarvis Creek

Freedom

Hiking

Peaceful

Exploration

Adventurous

Enjoyment

Crystal Clear

Family Picnics on an "island"

Happiness

Love

Aspens

Cotton Candy??

Fun

On a new journey

2011-09-07T15:38:00.001-06:00

The time has come for our youngest to go to Preschool and they were raring to go. They were so excited to pick out their own shirts for the first day and couldn't wait to get ready this morning.

Cooper thought that he needed to bring his lunch, and was a little disappointed when I said he would not need a luch box. He then decided that he needed to atleast to take a snack and piece of candy. Finally he realized that he would be getting a snack at school, and he was eager to head out the door.

All Tucker thought he needed was his cell phone and backpack!! He also thought he was ready for school because, "I have strong muscles, mom!"

Once at school they acted like old pros, hanging their jackets, washing their hands, picking their names and job, and finding their journal on the table.

As I watched them walk into the classroom ready for their new adventure, I felt a little sad, but mostly:

Proud of them for not being afraid to try new things.

Proud of them for the confidence they showed.

Proud of them for being ready for the next step in their life.

Proud of them for being happy boys.

The school journey begins for you two, enjoy the ride!!

Coke in a bottle is a good way to start!

2011-09-06T12:52:00.002-06:00

Nothing better than starting the weekend out with Coke in a bottle! G shared a child hood memory with us...Coke in a bottle, add salty nuts and drink! Then you have one free hand to play. Pretty tastey:-)

An airshow is always a great time for the kids!

Oak Creek knows how to celebrate labor day! Movie in the park, parade and just good family fun.

Finishing up the weekend down by the river with friends is always special

and ending the night with smores makes this weekend complete!!

The oldest are off to school

2011-08-31T15:48:00.005-06:00

Claire and Huds started school and they were super excited. This is the first time they will be eating lunch at school, gone for 5 hours most days and someone else is comforting them with their boo boos.

POOF!!

They are growing up and getting more independent.

I love that, I look forward to that. And even though I shed a couple of tears, I look forward to their adventures with their new teacher and new friends.

Camping on the Crystal River

2011-08-30T12:28:00.013-06:00

We were able to fit one more camping trip in before school started and the kids were so excited!

It was one of the most beautiful places in Colorado. With 5 adults and 8 kids, it was alot of fun with extreme off-roading, playing in the Crystal river and all the other great things camping brings. Unfortunately, we had a another fire incident. Tucker was rocking back and forth in his chair and fell into the fire and burned the palm and thumb of his sweet little had. He was a such a tough guy and after we got him all bandage up, he was of and playing with the others.
Except for that it was great, or in Claire's words, "This was the best camping spot ever!"

We were also able to make it back just in time to see the Pro Cycling Challenge, which was very cool.

We have 5 year olds!

2011-08-17T08:54:00.003-06:00

5 years ago, Claire and Hudson started us on this new journey of parenthood. It didn't begin the way we had envisioned, but I guess that was God preparing us for our future;to accept that we don't know how things are going to be, but we need to be able to handle the unexpected.

From the minute they arrived here on earth our world was opened to things we had never experienced before.

From the beginning we all learned that we are strong and together we can make it through tough times.

From the first time we got to hold them, they taught me that we are totally and completely blessed.

In these short 5 years they have shown us how to love deeply and laugh everyday. We look forward to learning more from them and exploring this world with them and celebrating with them which is what we did this past week!

The celebration started a week before the big day, with a party and sleep over at the Church house with Emmie and G.

Then continued with a visit from Grandma Fran and the outdoor concert on the mountain.

Dan and I decorated their cakes to look as close to Izzy and Jake as we could. (the theme of their party was from Jake and the Neverland Pirates)

We started their special day with doughnuts, swimming ad crazy noodles for lunch.

Then time for the big pirate party.

We played walk the plank,

Pin the Parrot on the pirate,

Pirate ship pinata,

and cakes!

They had a special guest come as well, Lisa!

It was a wonderful party and celebration of 2 of my favorite little pirates!!

Things don't always go as planned

2011-07-31T13:58:00.006-06:00

This post was meant to be about our camping trip a few days ago. About being away from the real world, drawing pictures in dirt, exploring nature, eating by the campfire, telling stories, looking at stars, hiking, roasting marshmallows and enjoying eachother. And while that all did happen....

...there is always a little more to the story.

These are just a few of the things that didn't go as planned and the lessosns we learned:

1. One wrong turn added quite a bit to the trip. ALWAYS look at the map.

2. We had no cell phone service and tried to meet up with Dan to show him where we set camp. Luckily God answered my prayers and showed him the way just in time:-) ALWAYS have a set place to meet!

3. It rained at night and since we didn't cover the wood it took a really long time to start the fire for breakfast. ALWAYS cover the wood.

4. We had to move all of our stuff after our first night to the closest camp spot because someone reserved ours. So, we dragged our tent across a meadow and threw all of our stuff in the car. No telling what people thought if they saw us. And our kids just kept saying. "Why would someone take our camp spot? That's not nice." ALWAYS reserve your spot the night you get there.

5. With 4 young kids, you can hardly go a few steps befre someone needs to go potty or someone is hungry, which makes hiking a quarter of a mile take a really LONG time. ALWAYS make everyone go potty at the same time and eat at the same time.

6. Dan and I sat back and were enjoying the fire, the kids were all playing nicely and having so much fun. Dan and I looked at eachother and said this is awesome! ALWAYS be ready for life to change.

This is where things really didn't go our way and changed the course of our trip.

My story:

20 minutes after Dan and I had that feeling of peacefulness and an hour after this picture was taken, Cooper was screaming about a tummy ache and we couldn't comfort him for hours.

I finally took him for a drive to find any place to get medicine. Cooper continued to be in excurisating pain. I was stuck in a dilema; do I head to the closest town for a Dr. which was 20 mins away or do I go back and get everyone I left at camp. A park ranger passed me just at that time and I asked if a Dr. was in walden. She said that they closed at 5, it was 8pm, and the next closest Dr. was in Steamboat. Well, I knew I had to go back to the camp site and tell everyone the trip was over we needed to head home. I just invisioned how sad everyone would be when I had to break the news. After all, when I left them, they were the happiest little kids in the world.

Dan's story;

After Angie left with Cooper me and rest of the crew bonded over the fire. The kids played hotel in the woods and birds in the tent, we even all took a loop on our bikes around the campsite.

So just as the sun was setting and the crisp in the air was amongst us, I decided it would be an oppritune time to start getting the fire roaring. so I placed 3 new logs on the fire. shortly after that an ember flew out of the fire and landed right into Hudson's rain boot. Hudson screamed, and I did all I could do to comfort Hudson and try to perform some first aide. We had a few medical kits for some burn cream, gauze and an ace bandage to get Hudson some relief until Angie's return with Cooper. Angie arrived back to the camp 5 minutes later, and we started to frantically pack up camp to get some medical treatment for Hudson. We threw everything in the car and had everything packed up in minutes, a new world record.

We left just enough room for the kids to breath.

So the ER visit confirmed that Huds had a 2nd degree burn. He was a very brave boy for waiting 2 and half hours before receiving additional medical attention.

And the next day was completely opposite of the camping day we had originally planned. We watched TV and movies, we ate popsicles and played inside. Even though it was not what we had planned, we still enjoyed the time together and have some new rules to make our next camping experience a little less eventful!

Time Treasured

2011-07-20T15:16:00.007-06:00

Lisa, Hazel, Zane and occasionally Scott spent June 22-July 17 hanging out with us. I really looked forward to having them around and seeing our kids share in the fun times that I remember with my cousins. We did it all, hiking, concerts on the moutain, movies, the lake, BBQ's, gondola rides, picnics, swimming, soccer and even a road trip to Arizona.

I truely treasured our time together and feel so fortunate that Scott and Lisa want to make opportunites for our family to be close. Thank you for taking the time to be away from your home to share ours and I look forward to many more summers being together!

And because of our road trip to AZ, I had some unexpected treasured time with my girlfriends and their kids too!

Soccer Time

2011-07-18T04:35:00.000-06:00

This summer all the kids choose to play soccer, which was really fun to have them all in one activity. Dan and I enjoyed watching them play around and after every practice we would get a pizza and head to the park for more play time.

Our little lady has been talking about playing soccer since Hudson did it last year, and she loved it!

We are proud of you sweetie for following instructions and doing your best at everything the coaches asked of you.

Huddy Buddy was excited to play again and really looked forward to showing his brothers and sister how to play soccer.

We are proud of you for being a team player and participating fully every practice!

Our youngest was really into playing and was very skillful and focused when it came to kicking the ball.

We are proud of you for your endurance and doing your best.

And our Coop. He started out very excited to play soccer, but soon realized that this was not the sport for him. He needs a little more excitment!

Even though you needed a little coaxing, we are proud of you for completing what you started and hustling when you knew it was snack time.

I love the USA

2011-07-04T14:18:00.000-06:00

I always feel a little emotional as we celebrate the fourth of July, and this 4th was no exception. While we watched the parade, I was struck with emotion as a float, filled with our Vetrans sang,God Bless the USA. I was emotional as I saw the crowds of people stand up, put their hands over there hearts, remove their hats and listen as our Vetrans sang the beautiful song.

I stood their and thought about how blessed we are.

Blessed that today;

Dan got to celebrate with us this year instead of being at work,

We are allowed to particiate in fun events in our town,

We can be together as a family,

We can hear loud booms and see bright lights and not be afraid they are bombs,

We can eat, drink and laugh with friends!

God Bless the USA!!

Togetherness

2011-06-30T13:02:00.010-06:00

June was all about togetherness.

Togetherness with our family,

With daughters,

With sons,

With brothers,

With Cousins,

And with friends.

The boys are 3!

2011-06-12T20:33:00.005-06:00

Today the youngest turned 3! They were so excited about their birthdays. Coop kept wanting to open presents and Tucker mastered making a 3 from his fingers. We started with doughnuts, shoped for balloons, went to church, lunch at McDonalds, swam at the hotsprings, then enjoyed hot dogs and cake with friends.

We feel totally blessed to have had 2 handsom, healthy young boys and are enjoying watching them grow.

Coop we love your free spirit and zest for life. To be able to start the day with your laughter and smiles is an absolute joy.

Tuck we love your genuine care of others and the passion you show for things. To end each and every day with your big hugs and big kisses will be treasured forever.

Happy Birthday Boys! We love you so much!!!

And now there are 2!

2011-06-04T21:04:00.003-06:00

This evening became something to celebrate. Claire has been practicing on her glider for a few weeks now and really wanted to try to ride on Hudsons 2 wheel bike. I was a little hesitant, but decide to let her try while she was eager. Sure enough, after a few trys and help from Dan and I she was off, riding on 2 wheels all by her self.
If you ask her, she will tell you that "Hudson taught her how to ride a bike!"
If you ask Hudson, he wanted to teach Claire, "How not to crash."

She did both and we are so proud of her and so were all her brothers! There is something so special about seeing you child accomplish something they have been working for. The confidence they have and pride they feel is just awesome!

So now there are 2. 2 kids on on 2 wheels!

Congrats Claire! Ride on!!

Where did the time go

2011-06-01T14:19:00.002-06:00

Here I go again, another month passed by and I didn't have a chance to blog. Why you might ask? let me tell you; visits from Grancy, Tom and Fran, Mother's Day, Road Trip to Az, Started our second course for our master's, G had surgery to get the pins and plates out, Grancy flew out again to AZ, Dan had 2 week long business trips to CA, Road trip back to CO, Claire and Hudson finished preschool, Big presentation for for school, Lisa 2 moved to...and all the other things in life. While we were busy, as always, we managed to have LOTS of fun!

All about Claire!

2011-05-10T21:33:00.012-06:00

Claire had her second dance recital this past weekend and what a crown she drew. Emmie, Grancy and Grandma and Papa all flew in to see her show!

This year was so much fun, as Claire was so confident about being on the big stage at the high school and even eased the nerves of the other dancers and even had time to draw them some pictures.

The day of the dance, Claire was so excited that she did not want to take a nap (not that she ever does:-)) I told her that if she didn't nap she may fall asleep and not pop out of the box on stage. She promised me that she wouldn't fall asleep on stage and that she would pop out, and she did. After the show she said me "see mom, I popped out of the box!"

The brothers all loved seeing big sis up on the stage. Everytime she would come out, they would all smile, point and say "Claire Louise!" They were so excited for her and couldn't wait to give her flowers after the show.

Claire, Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you and the confidence you had up on the stage and being just who you are. We love you so much and are thankful for all the fun and dance you bring to our lives. Keep on dancing!

Pura Vida!

2011-05-01T21:19:00.001-06:00

Our trip began with the worst snowstorm of the season. We had given ourselves 6 hours to get to Denver, but after a 2 hour wait because of an accident,

no snowplows on the roads and roads covered in ice, we were pushing to make our flight. We arrived at the airport at 11:40 parked, went through security and made our flight that left at 12:10!

Once we arrived in Costa Rica, it was time to live the good life; pura vida!

We hiked to waterfalls where we swung on a rope swing into the pools of the waterfalls,

layed on the beach,

read a book in hammocks,

had a masquerade party,

went on a skywalk,

And of course the main event, was when our goof friend Dre got married to Bryn. It was an absolutely beautiful wedding and the venue was stunning! It was so nice reconnect with some old friends from our Aspen days.

And before we left our friends, we enjoyed a catamaran cruise to Tortuga Island then off to San Jose

We missed our kiddos deeply, but were grateful for the time together and with our friends. It was refreshing to feel the warmth of the sun on us and to be free from the regular responsibilites our days hold. Without the assistance and encouragement of Emmie and G, this trip would not have been posssible. So thank you!

Happy Easter

2011-04-25T08:25:00.006-06:00

It just happened!

2011-04-02T14:13:00.003-06:00

Yesterday we had the small town quintessential day. It was sunny and warm, we walked and rode bikes and threw rocks by the river, the kids stared in the window of the candy store, we hung out at the barber shop and we ate pizza. It was just one of those days where it was so unexpected that it just felt like a fairytale. Then to top it off, when we got home, Huds hopped on our neighbors 2 wheel bike and with a little help from daddy, he started riding. It just happened, our little boy was riding a 2 wheel bike! It was so unexpected and he rode with such ease that I was in a little bit of shock and almost forgot to grab my camera. Luckily he wasn't stopping anytime soon and he rode and rode around our cul de sac. We took off his training wheels on his bike and he was so proud and we are too! Way to go Huddy Buddy, keep on rolling!

Just a summary

2011-03-19T14:18:00.011-06:00

Road tripping, sunshine soaking, wagon riding, doctor visits, a bevey of birthdays, one room sleeping, study time, airplane making, grapefruit picking, crazy cake eating, bike cruizing, paper writing, doctor visits, scooter riding, memo writing, hanging with friends, doctor visits, studying, pool playing, sand creations, tie wearing, ski perfecting, presentation making, doctor visits, paper writing, snow melting, fun times...phew! And that's just a summary of what we been up to the last month! I'll let the pictures do the talking!!

"Above all else, Love..."

2011-02-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

I am currently in a Bible study of 1 Peter, and it is all about LOVE. Reading this has made me ponder what it means to love and why we should love, and "above all else, Love..."So on this Valentines Day, we want to celebrate all of those that we love. No matter where you are, we are loving you here deeply!

Other than skiing

2011-01-29T14:04:00.008-07:00

Alot of people wonder what do we do with 4 small children when we get over 250 inches of snow, and it's not even February.

We...

...make snow angels

... go sleding on beautiful blue sky days,(even when it is only 17degrees outside)

...drink LOTS of hot chocolate and hang with our friends

... sing with daddy and wear matching clothes,

...color

...take naps

... had Hiland come visit, and put her to work

... paint the snow

...and sometimes we even go hiking

But most of we shovel and blow ALOT of snow:-)

At Ease on the skiis

2011-01-19T20:02:00.011-07:00

Cooper and Tucker have been so excited to ski since before they even really knew what skiing was. Every time we would get Hudson and Claire ready for ski school, Cooper would say "me ski too." and look heart broken when we would leave without him.

So Monday was their day, the start of the next generation of skiiers in our family. From the moment we slapped on their skiis, they schussed over to the chairlift like they were naturals, and it continued from top to bottom. Cooper immediately felt comfortable skiing fast and even let go of my hands on the first run, our little dare devil. Tucker too felt at ease on the skiis and was soon gliding down the slopes with out assistance.

Claire and Hudson have been enjoying their second year of ski school and we have had some opportunities to take them out one on one. They both enjoy it and have improved so much since last year.

The other day, it was "just the girls" ski day and Claire didn't want to stop skiing. I finally had to tell her that it was getting late and the lifts would be closing. She said "ok, but can we come tomorrow after my nap?" :-) Gotta love that!

Later in the week, just the boys went. Dan said that each time they would get down the hill Hudson would look up at what he accomplished and he would just be smiling ear to ear.

It has been a dream of mine to live in a ski town and now to be able to share something I love with my kids, is another dream coming true. As the old saying goes..."a family that skiis together, stays together!"

We know how to celebrate

2010-12-31T08:31:00.004-07:00

December has truely been a month of celebration and fun. It all started with us trekking out in the woods with some friends to pick out the perfect Christmas tree...well, more like the closest most decent Christmas tree:-) (After all, there were only 4 adults to 7 children under 5!!)

The one thing we will have to do better next year is, tying the tree on!

With the Christmas tree up, it was time to celebrate an early Christmas, we'll call this Christmas #1, with Fran and Tom. We decorated a gingerbread house and went sleding. Fran gets the award for the fastest and most air that day:-).

Then on to Tennessee were Grancy had set up a wonderful girls only tea party. I believe that Claire's favorite part was putting the sugar cubes and liquid sugar in the teas. After all, Tennesse is all about SWEET tea!

One of the main reasons for the trip to TN, was to celebrate a HUGE a accomplishment with my brother. He graduated with his Masters in 1 year! WOW, just writing that makes me very proud of all his hard work. That was truely a happy day and reason to celebrate.

An unexpected treat was that Dan and I were able to fit in a little football time with Hiland.

We also had some quiet, sweet moments with my cousins.

And plenty of sweet, wild momens too:-)

The night before Christmas was so much fun since this was the first year that the kids were really excited for Santa. They set out cookies and carrots for Santa and the reindeer, and we tracked him all over the world on the Santa Tracker. Right before bed, Claire hugged Hazel and said "I'm so excited I can't sleep!" ...Luckily they did sleep and were up in plenty of time to skype with daddy to walk downstairs and see what was in the Christmas room. With so many kids and presents and paper, i have no pictures, plus Cooper found it his duty to open any present that was in sight, and if you were taking too long to open it, he would be there to assist.

After Christmas #2 it was onto Christmas #3 at Aunt Patsy's and a fun time visiting, eating and just being together.

While here, we began a new tradition, the Candy Cane hunt.

With all this celebrating going on, there was a little time to just chill.

I also had a very dear friend of mine come visit from St. Louis. It had been 4 years since we had seen each other, but felt like no time had passed at all. Don't you just love those friends:-)

A couple days after the official Chrismas day, it was Christmas #4 at Aunt Netties and Uncle Davids. What fun to be blessed with so much family to be around!

The other main reason for the trip was the celebration of Zane turning 1! We celebrated big time with a party then dinner.

At the end of a wonderful trip, it was just the kids and me for a flight back home to see daddy and time to celebrate our Christmas, Christmas #5. The kids believed that Santa had also deleivered toys to our house in CO, so we had to sneak them upstairs so they wouldn't see what santa brought them till the morning. Since I had done all my shopping in TN, we stayed up late wrapping, and the kids woke up super early,just like the official christmas day:-) We had a lot of fun being together as a family and being back at home.

So here we are in a new year, and even though I did not make it up to midnight on NYE, looking back at this month and this year, I think I can safely say that we know how to celebrate !

November??

2010-11-30T19:33:00.009-07:00

Wow, the wonderful month of November has already come and gone. I can't even really think of what we have been doing...there was lots of fun, lots of cooking, baking and of course Thanksgiving at the Church house, oh and dad broke his ankle on our ice covered parking lot, and we decided to paint our cabinets, then paint the wall...all while the kids were napping:-)that's just a quick recap. Here are some pics that captured the fly by month of November, not too many as my camera was broken the first part of the month...again...anyone know of a good kid proof camera ha!

Halloween Moments

2010-10-31T17:20:00.001-06:00

I love the fall and all the festivites that come along with this time of year, and preparing for Halloween is just so much fun when you have kids who are so excited for carving pumpkins, dressing up and getting candy (I actually may be the one most excited about all the candy!). Having family to share these moments with is what life is all about, and that is exactly what we did Halloween week; we shared lots of little moments with our family....

baking,

carving pumpkins,

trick o treating and

getting lots of candy!

Just the Girls

2010-10-24T14:37:00.005-06:00

Claire and I have been wanting to do something "Just the girls". When asked what she would want to do, she responded, "Stay in a hotel, go to the zoo and then to the candy store." So, that is what we did!

Then we had a nice dinner out, where us girls got all dressed up and went out for a nice dinner.

It just so happened that this weekend was also sisters weekend and the church my mom attends was having a mother daughter dinner on Sunday. So we got all dressed up again and went to that along with a friend of mine Caroline.

It was such a nice weekend and as much as I love hanging with the boys, it was great to be "Just the girls!"

WOW, Yellowstone!

2010-10-09T09:01:00.012-06:00

A couple months ago, Dan and I had decided that we should head up to Yellowstone as we may never live any closer than we do now. So we started planning our trip and decided that we would camp in the park. We knew that we would require additional assistance, so lucky for us, experienced campers G and Emmie, who have also wanted to always see Yellowstone, and Grancy, who has never camped before in her life, where in too! So we all prepared and gathered information about the park, however, alot of people were skeptical of us camping with kids, in bear territory. Everyone had stories to tell or of others getting attacked by the buffalo. I beleive that some of my crew too became a little anxious about camping in a park known for all its wildlife. But we were in, and no turning back and I am pleased to announce that we never had a bear encounter and no one was bumped by a buffalo (although we saw quiet a few people who at any moment could have been attacked by a buffalo and then we would have had a story too).

We all meet up in Yellowstone on Thurdsay where Emmie and G had already set camp up for us. We did not have much time to sit back and relax at our camp site though as we had many things to do and see. There were mud volcanoes, geysers, fumaroles, canyons, buffalos, and mammoth hot springs. This is a one of a kind place, seriously, there is no other place in the world you can see the things we saw in one area. It was an added bonus that dad is a geologist and he was able to explain to us how this was were the earth crusts is the thinniest you will find, or that the magma is closest to the surface here, or that the water fall was eroding the canyon back and all that other stuff:-) Thanks dad we really did learn alot!

Here's a little glimpse of all there is to do and see in Yellowstone;

Grand Tetons

Claire thought many of the geologic areas smelled.

Walking over thin layers of the earths crust at Green Thumb Basin

The boys were amazed at the sites and sounds of the mud volcanoes

And of course we saw Old Faithful, it did erupt!

Coop always along for the ride at the mammoth Hot Springs

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Claire and Hudson enjoyed exploring the Porclein basin, which was covered in fumaroles and Geysers.

And finally some reading by the fire.

After 3 days of camping and exploring the beautiful park, it was time for some pampering and relaxation in Jackson, WY. I think that Grancy did a fabulous job camping, but I think she was ready for nice bed and to sleep where she couldn't hear the animals outside her tent.

At the Four Seasons

Enjoying a dinner cooked inside.

What fun we had in our 5 days to Wyoming and we look forward togoing back and seeing all the other stuff we didn't have time to see! If you haven't ever been, you must!

We finally camped!

2010-08-25T15:15:00.001-06:00

We haven't been camping since before the kids were born. We have been wanting to so bad but have been a little hesitant that we couldn't handle it. Well, I am glad to say that we have camped twice this summer, and we can handle it! As a matter of fact, it was AWESOME, we loved it and the kids loved it even more! There is something so peaceful and special about camping and enjoying what nature has to offer. There was nothing to organize, no need for trips to the store, no TV to watch and nothing to clean up, (besides the last meals dishes). It was just us, hanging out as a family.
There was plenty of good eating

cuddling time,

roasting marshmallows,

sitting on rocks,

Walking on logs,

and playing in water.

What fun! Now we're ready for the big time camping...Yellowstone in October!

Time to Celebrate we're 4!

2010-08-21T20:11:00.009-06:00

Last weekend we celebrated Claire and Hudson's 4th Birthday in Denver. It is hard to believe that 4 years ago, we were in Denver, living at the Ronald McDonald house and waiting daily for the Doctors to say our little twosome could go home. While we didn't know it would be 3 more weeks until we would get to go back to the mountains, God did. And we are forever changed for what we experienced and that our sweet set of twins were born, a little early, but healthy and they got to come home with us!

So with reason to celebrate, we took them to the circus,

then Tom and Fran came to visit a little early.

Then off to celebrate with Emmie, G, Grancy, Tom, Fran and Hiland in Denver.

We stayed in a hotel (which makes Hudson so happy), had cakes

and then went Waterworld.

What fun celebrating! Happy Birthday to Claire and to Hudson who have shown us so much in there short little lives and we are truly blessed that they made us parents!!

And off we went..

2010-07-31T17:52:00.012-06:00

So one day we got an invitation to Hanks graduation from University of Phoenix in Tennessee. What a big accomplishment, we must go to celebrate and spend time with Scott, Lisa, Hazel, Zane and Grancy! So, 4 days later Mom, the kids and I were on a flight to TN. (I love how spontaneous our family can be:))
Once in TN, there was lots riding in the golf cart,

Reading books with Grancy,

Celebrating Hank's accomplishment over dinner with the fam,

and of course, the graduation. Way to go Hank!!!

After the graduation on Saturday, we were planning on chillin and getting everything ready to go to NC, Sunday after church. How quickly things can change for us. Sometime in the afternoon, Grancy informed us that there was a plumbing emergency. Mom, Lisa and I decided it best to hit the road as soon as possible. So,we started stuffing suitcases, filling coolers with food and throwing everything into the cars. As soon as the plumber got there, we were in the car and gone!

Because of our quick departure, it allowed us to stay in a place we might have never stayed before,

but also allowed us to visit Rock City, which a really cool and beautiful spot in Chattanooga.

After a day of sightseeing and driving, we arrived at our destination in Whittier, NC. It felt really good to be in the mountains and share so many memories I had as a child with my kids and see how much fun they had playing with their cousins. We even did something I never had done before, blueberry picking!

After 4 days in the luscious green mountains, it was time to head back to TN for the rest of the crew and I was off to IL for a previous trip Dan and I had planned to see our newest addition to the family, Natalie. We were able to have a day to ourselves in Chicago first

Then off to the burbs to visit with Chris, Kim, Jack and Natalie. Mike, Joy and Conley were also able to come out and visit. It was great to catch up with everyone.

Time to go home, which left mom to fly with all 4 kiddos by herself to Denver from TN. (Wish I had some pics of that trip:)) She knew she could do it and she did! She even said she would do it again. Wow, way to go mom and way to go kids!!

Now we are back enjoying our home, but you never know where we will go next!

Time with dad

2010-07-12T20:59:00.007-06:00

Angie and I have always valued the individual time we set up with our kids. So within the past couple of weeks we have setup some time to do this with our guys. A few weeks ago Angie, Cooper, Tucker and I spent the morning at the park before heading to the best rock throwing spot in all of Steamboat, it is truly one of those places, where the time can stand still.

This past weekend Hudson and I went to Denver to spend some time together. Hudson G and I headed off to America's pastime as the Rockies battled the Padres. The outcome was not ideal, but we had a great time. After the game we spent time in the pool, dinner with Emmie and G and then it was off to Toy story 3 in 3-D. This was Hudson's very first movie, and he loved it...Hudson kept telling me on the way home every few miles that He had lots of fun and so did I.

Tonight Claire and I went putt-putt golfing ...she found a pink ball and orange putter and was ready to go. We didn't keep score but it didn't matter, we had fun anyway. We also headed into the maze, where we got really lost, but we shared lots of laughs as we kept hitting dead ends, after-wards it was off to Johnny's for vanilla shakes....it was a great night.

Tennis or Soccer?

2010-07-10T10:47:00.001-06:00

That was the question we asked a couple of months ago and Claire said tennis and Hudson said soccer. They both changed their minds a couple of times when they would see the other one having fun at their sport, but I was firm and said that they choose what they wanted to play and they had to finish what they started, and they did.

Claire's tennis was every Tuesday morning. We all would take her and watch her do drills and learn basic concepts of playing tennis. She really enjoyed when they hit balloons up in the air and she always did exactly what the coach told them to do. I think her favorite part was wearing her tennis skirt and making sure that everything matched :-).

Hudson's soccer was on Wednesday nights, and we too made this a family affair. On the first day of soccer, Hudson was so excited and as soon as we got there he was running around kicking the ball and scoring goals. However, when it was time to start, he said " I'm too tired mama". Well, with a little water and a fruit snack, he was off for some more. He even ran around at the end helping the coach pick up cones.

After each practice, we started a new tradition of going to Pizza Hut for pizza.

Way to go Claire and Hudson! We are so proud of you guys for finishing what you started, having great attitudes and being good sportsman!!

God Bless the USA!

2010-07-05T20:51:00.013-06:00

We are truly blessed to be living in the USA, and we had so much fun celebrating that this weekend. It began with a brunch at Emmie and G's, then down to Yampa for an old town family fun parade.

There was no fighting for candy at this parade, the kids had to dodge the candy that was thrown at them:) Hudson did not discriminate, he picked up everything that was thrown at him and fast,

Claire would analyze the pieces and if she liked the type that was thrown.

Cooper would pick up as many as he could hold and not let go, until he found out he could store it in a cowboy hat,
and Tucker would wait and watch and grab what ever pieces were closest to him.
After the parade, the weather turned from perfect, to cold and almost snow like conditions. We thought fast on our feet and decided to put up the tent to watch the fireworks from. And since the tent was already up, we decided to camp. As Claire said "the kids are SO excited!!"

So, with Coop and Tuck already in bed, we got an extension cord hooked up the monitor, grabbed a few more blankets and camped! The next morning when the boys woke up, it was time for breakfast in bed!

After waffles and sausage, we continued to enjoy the outdoors and took a hike to Fish Creek Falls. It was the first time we had hiked without our kid backpacks and everyone did great. Yes, there were times when we were each carrying two, but overall it was wonderful to be out and enjoying the great USA!

The Beach Trip

2010-06-16T15:18:00.002-06:00

Wow,we had so much fun at our recent trip to the Florida, I'm not sure where to begin. Let's start with this, the crew; G, Mary Jo, Hazel, Aunt Lisa, Zane, Me, Hudson, Grancy, Cooper, Emmie, Claire, Dan and Tucker!

We all meet in Florida and stayed at a gorgeous hotel right on the beach. This was Cooper and Tuckers first time to the beach and they loved it, we all loved it!

Once on the beach, Grancy was our baby whisperer. She put Cooper and Tucker to sleep on the beach everyday. I have never seen 2 boys who loved to sleep on lawn chairs more than these two.

It was so much fun having the cousins all together.

With all the helping hands around, Dan and I got out a couple of times for dinner and were able to catch up with some old friends from our Aspen days the Twitchells. It was so great to see them and their new surroundings. They too were part of the crew!

Lisa and I had a couple of nice dinners out as well, which was fun to be just the girls.

We also took a trip to the everglades, for a boat ride and alligator sightings.

Emmie and G had stocked us up with floats and toys for the beach and these floats were a favorite of everyones.

We tried to have a photo shoot on the beach, which did not go as we had envisioned. Everyone was hot and tired and wanted to go to the pool. These are some the best ones we got. The one of all 4 is a good visual of how everyone felt.

I think one of the best things about this trip, was seeing my parents having so much fun with our kids Floating in the ocean, building sandcastles, swimming at the pool, just enjoying!

It was truly one of the best beach vacations I have ever had, and look forward to many more!

Yeah we're TWO!

2010-06-12T19:12:00.008-06:00

Today is Cooper and Tucker's 2nd birthday, and we have had so much fun. Emmie had Claire and Hudson over for a slumber party last night, which gave Dan and I some two on two time with the boys. They were able to help bake their cake.

They 0pened a few presents and played just the two of them

and then this morning we took the birthday boys out for pancakes.

Then back home to party all day with the whole crew. We started the day playing out side, then a big storm blew in and we headed inside and opened some more presents. Claire and Hudson were really excited to be having a party, so we even played a few games of duck duck goose. When Cooper was picked he just went around tapping everyone on the head and said "duck", Hudson and Claire would just keep running around, and Tucker would just sit and watch ever one running around. The hit of the party would have to be this bubble machine which kept the kids quiet while waiting patiently for the bubbles to come out.

Then it was time for dinner, and Hudson was the only one who wore the party hats.

And then there where the cakes. I always do a cake for each child, but this time we decided to do a bonus cake! It just seemd to fit our sports theme:-)

And after cake, we had a few more presents. The boys were so excited about the new scooter Emmie and G got them that they couldn't wait to ride them. Even with out the wheels.

And after a full day of partying, the birthday boys went to sleep
.
Happy Birthday boys! It has been a wonderful, fun, crazy 2 years and we have loved every minute of it. We love you so much and are so thankful you came into our lives!!

The Dance Show

2010-05-15T20:47:00.013-06:00

Tonight was Claire's 1st dance recital. She has been taking dance since October and it all lead to this big moment. She was SO excited to be dancing on stage at the high school and to be able to wear makeup. We had a photo session before the dance show and Claire was all smiles.
Then off to the high school and her first show. She was in 3 dances and so cute in all of them of course! The first dance she came out and was totally into it, happy,smiling dancing,
Then the second dance came and something had happened, Claire was not happy, not smiling and not dancing. The older dancers tried to coax her into dancing, but she was not having it. I felt so bad, because I knew something had happened to make her sad during her big show. I wanted to go backstage and give her a big hug, but I knew this was something she would just have to do on her own.

And she did. The third time she came back on stage she was slightly happier and did her foot positions and curtsy.

After the dances were over, I picked her up and the first thing she said to me was "Can I have my flowers now?" Good thing we had some for her:-) Then her stage mother told me that she had fallen down the steps backstage. Claire told me that she "Hurt her side really bad." Ahh, so that was what happened. What a trooper to get out there in front of everyone when you are hurt. Way to be strong Claire! The show must go on:-)

Then we went and had a cupcake at intermission. After she devoured her cupcake, she sweetly said to me, "I want to give a flower to her and her" And then proceeded to share her flowers with Emmie, Grandma Kakabeeke, Hudson and G. Then Hudson seeing, that I did not have a flower, handed me a flower. What sweet hearts! It was really sweet to see Claire sharing her flowers on her big night. After watching a few of the second act dances, we went for ice cream! The night was perfect. We are so proud of her for getting up on stage and preforming for all of us. Congrats our sweet ballerina you are a beautiful shining star!!

Ahhhh the sun

2010-04-30T09:50:00.010-06:00

What a wonderful and beautiful time to be down in AZ. The desert was blooming, the sun was shining and we were loving it all!

As soon as we were at Emmie and G's house, bathing suits were on and we were in the pool. Some might have thought it was a little to cold to swim, but not us, 70 was just perfect:-)
The first full day there we decided to take Lisa out to see the desert and Saguaro Lake. As we drove around there we thought how much fun it would be if we had a boat, so we rented one.The man we rented the boat from flew through instructions about the lake and driving a boat. I didn't catch a thing, but Captain Dan seemed confident that he knew all he needed to know; after all, his grandfather was a captain of a big ship, it runs in his blood, right? So we were off on the open waters, feeling the fresh air, enjoying the scenery, trying to keep the kids from falling off the boat! At some point we slowed down between some buoys that we thought meant "no wake", as we were putting along, Lisa said "Wow, we are really shallow" Then all of a sudden, you hear this loud scraping sound...we had hit bottom. Captain Dan reacted very quickly, shutting the engine down, tossing Lisa the paddle and jumping in fully clothed, with camera in pocket:( into the lake to push us out of the shallow waters. After we were safely back in deeper waters, we all had a good laugh about it. After all,we were on a boat on a beautiful day!

The remaining days in AZ were spent by the pool and hanging with friends. Claire and I had a girls day out shopping, which was a first for us and she loved it. She said "I love hanging out with just the girls!" and wants to know when we will do it again. Probably a good thing we don't live near a mall:-)

And Dan took Hudson to a Diamond back game, just the boys!

And Cooper and Tucker showed us that they don't need two beds!

When our time in the sun was over, we hit the road to head home taking in the sights at Monument Valley
and a stay over in in Moab.
As we drove back to Steamboat, the weather took a turn, it started snowing...Dan said "let's turn around" Ahh the sun, "we should have," I thought, but we are thankful for the family time we had with each other and the sun on our faces felt so good. Time to put the flip flops away and get the winter coats back out, we are home!

Father & son road trip

2010-04-25T20:34:00.003-06:00

Hudson and I had a chance to drive to Phoenix together from Steamboat; which is over 600 miles of open road. We had built this trip up over the last month and had even been practicing our trucker talk; saying things like breaker-breaker and 10-4 good buddy. Unfortunately, once we hit the road we discovered that trucker s no longer use CBs, so we never heard anyone. Hudson was as happy as could be in his car seat looking at new scenery and giving me words of encouragement as we drove. We of course would stop every so often and stretch our legs and take in the surroundings.

Towards the end of our trip we ended up taking a wrong turn which added another 50 miles on an already long journey. Once I realized my error I told Hudson that we had to go back, his only response was” I love you daddy”! Thanks Hudson this was a great experience, and one that I will truly cherish forever. Love dad.

End of Season

2010-04-11T19:51:00.006-06:00

Blue skies, t-shirts, and ski burned faces, must mean end of season! The mountain closed today, and it was an absolutely perfect weekend to end on. Dan and I got to go snowboarding together on Friday after a foot and a half of snow fell on Wednesday and it was phenomenal! We cruised down almost empty ski runs, and it felt as if we rented the mountain for ourselves. Such beauty and peace to be riding on top of a mountain and feeling the warm air on your face and surrounded by Gods beauty!

After enjoying a few runs, we headed down to the base where Lisa brought the kids for an end of season apes ski.

Another winter behind us and we are ready for for the snow to melt!

Last Night

2010-04-03T13:29:00.007-06:00

Last night, we went downtown for a hometown heros celebration of the Olympians. They lined the streets with snow for the parade

and had the olympian's pulled by horse drawn sleighs
(which mom was terrified of:-))
,
future olympian's skiied down the street and they even had a band on skiis.

It was a fun event and really great to see our community embrace and celebrate those athletes and their accomplishments!

And now, what you all have been waiting for, the lofts are FINALLY finished, (well almost besides a little touch up painting). Yeah!! We did it! and I will have to say, that while it took us a week longer than expected, we are very happy with them and the kids are too...all of them:-)

As it was time for Claire and Hudson to sleep, we gave them each a little push night lite, and this is how they use them..

Sweet Dreams!

First Surgeries

2010-03-30T16:07:00.002-06:00

Our sweet little boys had their first surgery today, ear tubes, and they were so brave. They were the happiest little patients for being woken up at 4:30 am and were willing to do whatever the nurses needed to do.
.
After a little relaxing at home,

it was time to play.

It's amazing how fast they recovered!

The Idea?

2010-03-26T13:25:00.007-06:00

So yesterday began as any normal day would around here, we took Claire and Hudson to school, then took Cooper & Tucker to Gym. On the way to gym, I just casually mentioned to Dan, that I had a great idea, instead of buying bunk beds for our eldest 2, we could make them a loft ourselves.

After gym, Dan's says"let's build the loft today, instead of going snowboarding!" My reaction..."really?" So, off to the lumber yard. An hour later, and a truck full of lumber we were ready to get started!

Just one problem, Dan and I have NEVER done this and we aren't quiet sure where to begin with ALL this wood the guy at the store said we would need.... (There is something about Dan and I that think we can do pretty much anything and that we can do it with out much preparation.EX: When we paint, we don't use tarps or tape,and when we decide to build a loft, we do it without figuring out HOW we are going to build it)

This still doesn't stop us, we get to work and fast, because we only have a couple hours of help with the kiddos, so we better get this done...what do we think we are, HGTV professionals...YES, of course! We get an idea of how this needs to be assembled. We start measuring and cutting, then painting, then drilling and nailing semi wet boards up on the wall,(after all, the kids are going to want to sleep in there new loft bed tonight.)

"Hmmm," I think to my self as we are on the home streach of getting this project done..."Where are we going to attach the plywood to hold the bed up? How is this post going to be secure enough so it won't crash on the kiddos?" AHHHH, we should have done this and that, and this and that! So, off comes everything, and everything needs to be remeasured, and cut and painted. Well kids, your sleeping in the book room tonight, Mommy and daddy will finish this tomorrow...

Well, here it is tomorrow, and I am still trying to figure out how we are going to get this done. Dan's at work and no one to help me today. So I painted while everyone was napping and I guess we will work late tonight. We obviously don't think that hammering and drilling will bother any of the sleeping kids;-) , but at least we have a plan now....I think? Or do we just have a lot of pink and green painted wood???

The Cuz,the in-laws, the bros & the wives

2010-03-16T15:13:00.006-06:00

We got to see all of these people in one week, and it was a fun blur:-)

The Cuz-
Hiland came out for a quick weekend, and we were able to go sledding, dinner and the hot springs at dark. Always good to see your cuz.

The In-laws
Tom and Fran made a quick trip as well, for 2 days. The kiddos have a new found love of the camera and this is what they captured.

The Bros and the Wives
Closing the week, Chris, Kim , Mike and Joy flew to Denver to celebrate Dan's birthday. Where we were able to catch up and share in some good times.

"Big Boy Mountain"

2010-02-25T18:53:00.005-07:00

Today we tested Claire and Hudson's Skiing skills on the "big boy mountain". We took the gondola up to the top of the mountain and had them ski all the way down. Dan and I were a little apprehensive about how the day would go, especially since they had been up since 6am, school, and no nap. As we went up the gondola, Hudson was really excited and Claire was pouting because I put her ski harness on. When we were getting our skiis on, Claire was refusing to ski saying I don't need this", so I told her I would take the ski wee off, but if she couldn't stop, then it would have to go back on. That made her VERY happy and off she went. She was right, she didn't need the harness. She did her pizzas and french fries with out any problem. Hudson didn't need his either, although he was happy either way, as long as he got to go fast. He took some diggers, and got right back up and would say "did you see that mommy". We made it from top to bottom with happy kids and a happy and proud mom & dad. God blessed us with a good ski day, so that we definitely want to do it with them again!

(This was Claire unhappy about her ski wee)

Mom and Me

2010-02-12T20:32:00.003-07:00

Today I had the pleasure of skiing with MY mom! It is a very rare occasion that I get to just hang with my mom with out any of the kiddos around, and it was really special! The conditions were just perfect; fresh powder and snowing just enough that you could still ski down the mountain and take in all the beauty. It was peaceful, it was fun, and it was just with MY mom! Thanks for a great time mom, you still got it!!!

Proud

2010-02-07T14:15:00.008-07:00

Claire and Hudson completed their ski school this past week and they both did an awesome job! Claire enjoyed going really fast and felt no need to learn to stop, while Hudson felt that he could be doing more and could go bigger:-) It was not always the easiest to get them to ski school,(especially when it was -9 out and even I stopped snowboarding,), or when Claire didn't want to wear the green vest, and Hudson didn't want to wear his boots, but we did it, they did it and I am so PROUD of them for completing this class and Dan and I look forward to sharing this sport with them for hopefully, the rest of our lives!

This week we were also able to have fun at Winter Carnival and send off 15 athletes to Vancouver, Canada for the 2010 Olympics. Steamboat has been known for producing the most Olympians (86 to be exact) than any other place in America. Watching the community celebrate these athletes achievements, made me proud to live in such a supportive community and proud to be an American! Go team USA!!

The Boys

2010-01-26T15:02:00.010-07:00

Cooper and Tucker are 19 months now, not so much babies anymore, but still such bundles of joy and energy!

Tucker is the sweetest, with all his kisses and hugs and how he has to wave Hi and Bye to everyone he sees, even photos of all our relatives. He is the soft spoken comedian of the family, but he is loudest if he doesn't like what is going on.

Cooper is sweet as well, just a little rougher with his head bumps and run right into you hugs and kisses, he has a mischievous laugh and a confident can do anything attitude!

Dan & I have had the joy of some time with just the boys this week, and it has been very special to see these two and the individuals they are becoming and the relationship they are building with each other.

I love peering through their door and listening to them talk to each other and laughing at each other back and forth from their cribs. I have also enjoyed some not so precious moments as I walked in on them throwing everything from the trash in to the toilet and then pulling it back out, ( and them acting like they the were helping me by getting it out) or pulling all the food out of the pantry and emptying the Costco size bag of Crasins. All of these things make me laugh...
now, and I am truly blessed they make me smile everyday.

A repreive from the cold

2010-01-12T19:51:00.001-07:00

The kiddos and I were able to head down to AZ for a few weeks, to enjoy Christmas with the family, play in the sun, hang with the girlies and meet our newest member of the Slusher crew, Zane. Even though the kids were sick for most of it, Hudson wrote H's on the carpet in their room, Claire had her first hair cut from Hudson, and Cooper and Tucker would not stay in their beds, we had so much fun! There is just something about getting away from below freezing weather that puts a smile on your face. We missed Dan, but he was able to come out for a few days and enjoy as well! And we are already thinking about the next trip down!

Welcome to the World

2009-12-28T19:52:00.003-07:00

Zane Scott Slusher

December 28th, at 7:13pm
8lbs 7oz 21 inches
Welcome baby Zane, we're looking forward to sharing in your journey of life!
And Congrats Scott, Lisa and Hazel!!

Christmas a little early

2009-12-21T14:08:00.007-07:00

We get to celebrate Christmas twice this year, and let me tell you, the kiddos are stoked! We decided that the the kids and I would go down to AZ to see Scott & Lisa's new baby...who is not here yet:-) and celebrate with everyone down there. So we had our Christmas early, as Dan would not be able to come down since it is the busy season and he would be working all throughout Christmas and the week thereafter.

So on Friday, "Christmas eve", we baked cookies,

went looking at Christmas lights and read the Night before Christmas.

Then Saturday, was the big day. The kiddos let us sleep in luckily and then we had our Christmas, which was like a whirl wind, I didn't even get out from the tree.

After the kiddos enjoyed playing with their toys for a while, we took our traditional dip in the hot tub...

And then we had a wonderful dinner with everyone all dressed up...

This was a really fun Christmas, and it did not matter to anyone that it was not the 25th.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-29T20:37:00.001-07:00

What a wonderful and beautiful thanksgiving we had this year. Scott, Lisa, Hazel, Mary Jo, Rick, Bryan & Calyn all came up from AZ for a week to celebrate. We had a lot of fun cutting down Christmas trees,(http://adventuresofthechurchhouse.blogspot.com/), playing and just being together. We are so thankful for the time we got to spend with everyone and thankful they were able to make it up for the first Thanksgiving of many at the Church house!

It's Back!

2009-11-13T14:46:00.006-07:00

The snow if finally here to stay, and after our first foot of snow fell, Hudson said "go skiing mommy?" and Claire said "Is it ski school day" And then continued to get dressed...
I remember the excitement of the first snow when I was a kid, and even though I know how tough the winters can be, I too feel the excitement of the first snow and thinking of all the fun to be had in the fluffy, cold, sparkly, white stuff and all the wonders of it!

snow angels are always a favorite."What is this stuff on my mittens?"

"This stuff taste good" I think this year we may be able to recruit some help shoveling 300+ inches of snow!

The memories continued in Tennessee

2009-11-04T08:35:00.013-07:00

Memory making continued another week as we traveled south to Tennessee. We stayed with Grancy for a fun filled week; a trip to the zoo, a hayride and bonfire,

pumpkin carving,

golf cart riding, tire swinging
and lots of dressing up for Halloween.

We also went to Murfreesboro, where Aunt Patsy had everything ready for our crew, lunch, a day out in Murfreesboro and a huge feast for dinner.

We were so busy having fun, you would hardly know that our kids all made a trip to the Doctor and had the flu or strep throat. They were the happiest sick kids I have ever seen. (I contribute that to all the Elder berry we were taking.)

It was so much fun to be in Tennessee and see our kids having fun in a place that holds so many fond memories for me as a child. Thanks for making it so special for us and keeping the memories going!
Now, back in Denver, and only a 3 hour drive home! Good traveling kiddos!! You all are the BEST!

Off to London...I mean Michigan

2009-10-14T09:00:00.017-06:00

On Wednesday 10/14 at 6pm MST we left for Michigan; our travels began with a 3 hour Drive to Denver, then a stay over night in Denver, up early for a 1 1/2 hour plane ride to Chicago, then 1 hour subway ride to Union Station, 3 hour train ride to Kalamazoo. Thursday 10/15 at 7pm EST we finally arrived... It might be quicker to take a straight flight from Denver to London:-)

No time to stop, Friday 10/16 left Kalamazoo, for a 4 hour drive up North to Petoskey, MI for one of Dan's college friends wedding and a bit of relaxation. We rented a house and invited Dan's parents, Aunt Di, Uncle Mike, Aunt Joy and Conley to come along as well. We were able to enjoy the beautiful lakes, sandy beaches,pumpkin patches and colorful fall scenery together.

For the main event, we took Claire and Hudson with us to the wedding, and they loved it! They were all about the dancing and Claire was mesmerized by the bride, whom she thought was a princess.

And Dan was able to have some fun with a bunch of his old Fraternity Brothers.

Back in Kalamazoo, we enjoyed playing outdoors,

playing with cousins,

jumping at bouncey houses,

visits with old friends,

and plenty of family time too.

As we travel, people are always amazed that we travel with all of our kids. We travel so much because we want to make the effort so we can make memories for us & for our kids, because if you don't do it now, you may never have another chance. It is not always easy to travel, but the memories and relationships you build from doing these things, makes it worth the trip. So, thanks for all the fun in MI and look forward to the next time we see everyone.

Golden Glow to Snow

2009-10-08T14:14:00.015-06:00

It's hard to believe, but fall is almost over around here. The leaves are past their peak and snow is already beginning to cover the mountains. Luckily, we have been able to get out on the beautiful days and enjoy the golden glow of our surroundings and breath in the cool crisp mountain air.

And as we watch the first snow fall,

we know our days of running in the backyard barefooted, are over.

But we are finding joy in our home, being together.

So bring it on snow, we are ready...almost!