NEW ADDITION!!

Big News!!! We have a beautiful new addition to our home. Please help us to welcome McKinley Grace to our big happy non-traditional family. McKinley was born on November 3rd an was &lbs 1oz. and 19 inches long. Michele and Abby have a long foster/adopt road ahead. Let's all send out positive energy and prayers into the universe. Michele and Abby are hoping that eventually McKinley will be adopted and become a part of their family permanently. Although we adore Charlotte's (Annabelle's) family and feel that she is in a warm, wonderful loving place, we miss her terribly and hope that we do not have to go through another loss like that one.

Currently, McKinley is still in the hospital. When she was born she aspirated a little merconium and was put on oxygen for that as well as having a small infection she is on antibiotics for. She should be able to come home on Wednesday when she completes the antibiotics. She was weened from her oxygen over the weekend.

Day Trip

Hey everyone! Well today we decided to take the girls to Tiny Town. For those of you who do not know, Tiny town is a place up near Morrison and Conifer Colorado. It has little tiny houses, some replica's of Denver historical places or business'. Some are donated for a particular person or place, some are decorated inside and some are just cute from the outside. They have a few that the are a little bigger and the kids can play in them. They have a really pretty picnic area and playground and they have a couple little coal fueled trains the kids can ride on. We brought a picnic lunch road the train saw all the little houses and had a great time. When we were done with that, we went to see the changing Aspen leaves up at Kenosha Pass. They were beautiful and of course my favorite part of the day. Kenosha pass looked like a sea of aspens. Mostly gold but speckled with a little red and orange. This had to be the peak weekend, because they were awesome. Now the girls are at Grandmom Judy's having a sleepover. It was the perfect day for this, the weather was nice and we had a phnominal day! I love beautiful Colorado!!!

This last week we took an extra long weekend and went up to Grand Lake with some of Michele's family. The kids had a blast. Michele and I took Brie and Abby on a peddle boat on the first afternoon. That was sooo scary for me, because I have a bit of a deep water fear! The fear is only there on little boats like that, I am usually okay on bigger boats. But the girls did great and they both kept telling me it was okay. They loved it and were both far braver than I was. The next day we met up with the rest of the family and we took a bigger boat tour. It was great, I loved that one. It was so pretty and it got really cool and breezy. After that we took the kiddo's to the stables for a little horse ride and then went back to the house and had a camp fire. We roasted marshmallows and made smores, but I don't think the girls wee impressed with the smores. They preferred eating the cold marshmallows in the bag. On the next day we went over tail ridge road and I got a little altitude sickness... LOL... Then we headed into Estes Park for lunch and then Michele and I headed home with the girls. We were all very tired and I had a house full of kids the next day, but it was great to get away. We really need to vow to be better about enjoying this beautiful state we live in.

Brianna and Abby riding horses! Brianna loved it!

The kiddo's enjoying the boat tour.

AAaaahhhhh can you feel the love? Just look at 'em!

Mommies baby girl!

Little boaters! How cute are they in the little vests?

It is a beautiful lake! Did you know Tim Allen owns a house on this lake?

Beach babes!!!

As Promised!

Well, as promised here are some pictures of Brianna's first day of preschool. She is so big and she has been so excited every day to go. She has been going a little over two weeks now. She takes the bus to and from, I think that was much harder for me than it was her. Her teacher is Mrs. H (short for Hughet.) I already went to her open house at school. They told us all about the class and had us make little paper dolls that looked like our children...LOL She also got to order books from a book order, just like a big kid and we have our first field trip coming up this next week. She is taking a lot more interest in letters and writing her name even in this short time. She talks about her new friends like Lily and Jaxon and all the things they do at school. She has already decided which child in her class is "a little but naughty", LOL! Grandma Deana came over and stayed with the other kids her first few days so I could take her and get her acclimated, the Bus followed that next Monday. I think she is going to do great, I have never seen a kid so excited about school!!!

A new season, blogging and school!

Well, we are creeping up on a new season. My favorite season, FALL!!! I cannot wait for lower temps. changing leaves, the smell of fireplaces and all the holidays that are coming!

Brianna is so excited to be starting school tomorrow. She actually just goes in to meet her teacher and see her classroom. She has been anticipating this day for over a year! Ever since Cooper and Abby went off to preschool Brianna has just been dying to go. We bought a whole lot of new school clothes and some new shoes. We even got a pretty new big girl back pack. We have all of our paper work in order and we are all registered, so she is good to go! Mommy might cry. I will take lots of pictures and post them tomorrow!!!

Wish us luck!!!

Summer Fun

"Fun at the Spray Park"



Well, with the cooler days we had for the first part of June, it has taken a bit longer for the fun of summer to kick in. But it is here. BBQ's, water play, vacation days. Schools out and the kids are ready to party. I have had 2 sunburns in a matter of 4 days. Hopefully they will fade to a golden brown...LOL...
"First tries at the slip and slide"


I turned 38 on June 11th. I cannot believe I am almost 40 years old. I never thought I would be 40. I remember when people my age seemed old...LOL Oh well, it happens to the best of us I guess. No avoiding it!

We seem to have lost our cat Zeke. He got out about a week and a half ago and has yet to come home. We have posted flyers all over, so hopefully he will be returned. We really miss him.

The girls started peewee soccer last Saturday. They both did very well and seemed to enjoy it. Brianna needs to pay less attention to her surroundings when she plays but other than that they both did really well.

" Our big grown up soccer players"

New Addition! My new nephew Tait!

My brother Josh and his wife Ambyr have added a new bundle of joy to their large brood! This is Tait, and hopefully he will be a permanent addition to our family soon! Pray for his adoption to be finalized as soon as possible!