It's the Final Countdown!

26 days & counting until we head HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!

Thanksgiving wasn't quite the same not being with the family. We had a few sad moments, but I have to say that the Martins are a pretty good substitute. They were all so welcoming to us and made us feel like we were part of the family. Gary was even assigned the job of carving the turkey (which is always his job at home)!
The kids had soooo much fun with Brenda's kids. Chance and Malik are both 6 and the two quickly became best buds! Jackson and Rhys were like two peas in a pod! They liked each other and enjoyed the company, but sometimes they were a little too alike to appreciate the other one. We had to break up a lot of arguments. (Of course the fact that they were exhausted had nothing to do with it! HA HA HA). Then there are the little ladies! Ella Bella automatically took on the role of big sister to Miss Jorie! When she wasn't looking out for her, she was bossing her around, just like a big sis should.
Brenda and I picked up right where we left off. You couldn't tell we hadn't seen each other in 4 years. You can always tell the makings of best friend! We didn't skip a beat! It was like we had been together every day for the last 15 years. I am really excited that we are going to see so much more of each other.
Corey and Gary survived it all. They really were good sports to put up with all the running around Brenda Jean and I did. They missed quite a few games on TV, including the BYU vs. Utah game that was just as important as State/Ole Miss. We got to listen to the first half thanks to XM radio, but missed all the good stuff while we ate lunch. However, I have to give a big shout to Kim for keeping us posted. The girl sent me a text anytime something happened. We got a play by play via text messaging. It wasn't quite like being there, but it was the next best thing.
We love and miss you all and can't wait to see everyone in less than 4 weeks. Please keep praying for us and our house. We have yet to sell the one Madison, but are still hopeful. Maybe the Christmas season will be good luck for us. See y'all soon!

Happy Thanksgiving

Well, it's here! Our first holiday away from home! I have been really down about it. I want to be there for the food, the family, the egg bowl, and of course the Friday morning shopping! Going to see Brenda is helping though. The kids are really excited. They are so much like Gary and I...everything is an adventure.

We have packed and prepared everything ...Just In Case! It is supposed to snow here tonight. The high tomorrow is only 28! We will be driving through snow most of the drive. Won't that be fun? We will get lots of pics over the weekend and will have tons to post when we get back.

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Think of us because we will be thinking of all of you.

Alive And Ticking

Sorry it has been so long! We have been busy little bees here in CO! Gary just got back from Montana. (Or as Chance says "Hannah Montana"! He just can't understand why we didn't see daddy on tv while he was gone.) The trip was to Glacier National Park. He got some great pictures and I will put them up as soon as I can.

You all will be happy to know that we will not be alone on Thanksgiving. We are going to Vernal, UT to spend time with Brenda and her family. For those of you who don't know, Brenda is my best friend from highschool when I lived in UT. She has 3 kids right around the same ages of Chance, Jackson and Ella. We are looking forward to a great, long, relaxing weekend.

I have started my job training and things are going well. There is a lot of information to learn and practice. I think I am really going to enjoy the work though. It is a lot of problem solving which is right up my alley.

Chance is doing great in school. He is in the top math group and next to top reading group. His vocabulary is unbelievable. He is definately growing up....TOO FAST!

Jackson is.....Jackson. Actually he is doing great. He is starting to listen a little more. He is helping out more...especially cooking! He loves to help me cook. He is also showing more empathy for others! All in all he is growing too and not just physically!

Then there is my Ella Bella! She is talking up a storm! Right now she is really into copying everything we say! And talk about attitude! She is quite the little diva! We can't wait until Christmas to see her little face!

I guess that is all the updates for now! I promise to try and post more often! We love and miss you all!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!! I hope you all had a great night with your families. We had fun! It was cold! The kids enjoyed getting all the candy! I have to say though, I missed Halloween in Harvey Crossing: Kim & Corbin, Kids in Wagons, Trailers pulling families, and wine in plastic glasses. I think last night was the first time I was really homesick. AHHH the good old days. Either way though, my kids had a blast and that is all that matters.I think Chance had just as much fun handing out candy as he did getting his own.

That was short lived though because he woke up vomitting last night so he has been home all day. He's fine now. Only got sick once.

Ella is another story! I don't know what we are going to do with her. I think she has toddler insomnia...is that even a real thing. We put her bed about 8 and my best guess is that she fights sleep for an hour or two. Then she is up anywhere between midnight and 2 and stays up for a couple of hours. The worst part is: if we don't hear her door open or the tv turn on, we don't know she's up. She just roams the apartment or sits on the couch. It is scary! There are so many things she could get into. I don't know what to do. If you have any suggestions, let us know. We are exhausted and frustrated.

Here Goes Nothing!

Well, it is official...I have a job! I had my first training walk through today. I am working with a research company (From Home)! I have a month of training and probation before the real work starts, but hey you gotta start somewhere.
Keep me in your prayers and I will be sure to keep you posted.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Well we haven't had any snow in Denver yet, so we
set out to find some on our own. Saturday, we grabbed
our hats, gloves, and boots; and we headed to the
mountains. It took a while, but we finally found a
good patch of snow for the kids to play in. Okay, so
Gary and I played a little bit too. There is nothing like
snow to bring out the kid in you. We should have
brought the snow bibs and coats because we were all
soaked when we got back in the car, but as Nanie would
say, "We made a memory" I don't think Gary and I will
ever forget the pure joy on our kids faces when they
finally got to play in snow for the first time! For all
you skeptics out there, this is why we did this! I hope
the pictures bring a smile to your face and that you have
as much fun looking at them as we did taking them.


Are You Talking To Me? Boys Will Be Boys



MY SNOW BUNNIES!!!

Home Again Home Again Jiggety Jig

Okay we are back home safe and sound for all of you who were worried. We had a wonderful time with Nanie and SuperDaddy. The drive was a little long, but nothing we couldn't handle. The kids did great both ways.

We did a bunch of relaxing. And of course we made the mandatory trips to Toys 'R' US and Mr. Gatties. The kids can't go to Midland without visiting each of these at least once.

We also got to go to a pumpkin patch, well, the boys did. Ella fell asleep in the car and missed it. The boys picked her a pumpkin though. The best part was watching them all decorate their individual pumpkins (we painted them so they could make the trip home).

Jenny was in town visiting Webb, so we got to see her too. All in all it was a great trip.