...Morrow Moments in the Making...

Just Let Them Play

2011-08-31T20:28:00.000-07:00

I'm often cleaning. It is pretty impressive how many toys can be out of place at once. It's not just toys, but dishes, mail, laundry stacks that were once folded - all that good stuff. Recently I have been pushing harder to get a little cleaning help from the kids. This particular day I encouraged them to "wash" the scribbles of chalk off the patio with one cup of water and a sponge for each kid. I ignored the dripping water from the kitchen sink to the front yard as they refilled their cups over and over. I tried not to care that their clothes became soaking wet and I would have extra laundry. I let them walk in and out with dirty barefeet, laughing and having a great time "cleaning." I went ahead and focused on a different task, all proud of myself that they were helping me move forward.

As you can see, when I came back to check on their progress, they had done a very thorough job of cleaning the mess. They took every single towel they could find and soaked it in the chalky water. I just laugh that I thought I was creating less work for myself, when really I created more. At least they tried to help...and more importantly, they had fun playing together.

Road Trip! Beautiful Durango

2011-08-21T01:17:00.000-07:00

Jake and I have been in absolute awe of Durango's beauty for years. We talk about how peaceful Grandma's house is, and how we look forward to each time we get to sit on their deck and watch the birds. On our way home from our Army Reserve Duty trip to Colorado, we stopped in for a visit...

Although over a year has past since my last post, as you can see, my growing children still hold our hands...and I can't stop taking pictures of it.

Next to the park was a fun creek. Conner thought it was perfect for throwing rocks.

Grace thought it was perfect for showing everyone her ballerina (or cheerleader) moves.

Also, Great Grandma took the kids on a pinecone hunt. They each carried their bags proudly. It was super cute - and a wonderful memory for the kids.

And again with the moves...

OK, so I know you probably want to see smiling happy faces...but sometimes the real life moments are even better. My Grace is such a sweetheart. So full of life. So fun. So beautiful. And lately, so hard to put down or a nap. So the poor girl gets very very tired...and sometimes that leads to a time out. Bet even still...how cute is she?!

Would it be ok if i took a minute and showed a couple...or a bunch...of the pictures of Gianna taken in Grandma's yard? :) Please help me decide which shot is best. And by the way, she took her first steps during our Colorado trip (YES - SHE WAS 9 MONTHS OLD!)

All in all, it was a lovely time. Hopefully we can visit again soon. Love you, G & G!

Conner Update...in progress....

2010-03-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

Preschool

Halloween

An Update on Gracie...Now 16 months old

2010-01-25T11:37:00.000-08:00

Hello again! It's been since September that I have updated this blog, but don't worry, I didn't stop taking pictures! Like you were worried about that. :) So I'm going to try to catch you all up to speed on our lives...and first up is Grace. In September she turned ONE, and is quickly trying to blend in with the big kids. She is playful and funny, and never wants to sleep. She loves pushing her baby doll's stroller all over the house, climbing anything she can, coloring whenever she finds a pen or crayon, emptying drawers and baskets that I just loaded, cuddling for a few seconds before running off to play with whatever Conner is into, feeding herself using a plate and fork, echoing words or sounds, singing songs we sing, playing in her pretend kitchen with her adorable apron, pouring us tea from her cute teapot, and dancing in circles. My favorite thing to watch her do is carry her baby dolls around everywhere. She feeds them, gives them rides on tricycles, and even picks them up before I can pick her up in her crib after a nap. She is my sunshine...and I sing that to her every day. Here are some pictures from the last few months...

Christmas Morning:

Quick illustration of our two children: Grace got into my wallet and took everything out. Conner came in and noticed that she was doing something she shouldn't do and told her "Grace, you can't do that. That's Mommy's wallet!" (He's often my rule follower.) So Grace looked up at me, took a credit card, and ran the other way laughing. She got passed Conner and tried to hide in the kitchen, but I could hear her laughing. Conner chased her down and ended up taking care of the situation for me. :) Maybe I should put the camera down and teach her the lesson...but I just had to capture it just once. :)

When we say "No, Grace." she sometimes melts into the cutest pout I've ever seen. It's so funny. It's hard not to laugh.

Here is Grace in her couple seconds of cuddling.

And off she goes!

I took Conner to a friend's birthday party and Grace tried her best to fit in with the 4 year olds.

She wasn't happy that I wouldn't let her in the jump house with all the big kids.

Here are just a couple cute shots:

I bought these shoes before she was born because I thought they would be adorable on my little girl someday. Now they fit, and I was right. :)

This is an antique rocking chair that Jake and his sisters used growing up. We thought we'd get a picture of Grace on it, but of course she wanted to sit any direction except the way it's intended. :)

That's it for now...an update on Conner is coming next. Check back in a couple days!

Speaking of Conner...

2009-10-06T14:55:00.000-07:00

Speaking of Conner and all his changes, I thought it was a great time to have a professional picture taken of him. The pictures were taken by the amazing Tori Wible. Here are my favorite shots of Conner at three years old:

Conner Began Preschool

2009-10-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

It's official. We have a school-aged child. Conner began preschool this past Tuesday and absolutely loved it. We couldn't ask for a better transition for him to begin his schooling experience. We are now in California closer to family, and his own Grandma is his preschool teacher! He was so cute on his first day because he was super excited as we got ready, took pictures, and walked from the car to the classroom. He was all smiles and chatty... until we got to the door. He stopped in his tracks and was silent for a while. He leaned in and looked around, but wouldn't cross into the classroom. He eventually asked me "Where's Grandma?" When she came over he went in and began to observe more...smiling. He was introduced to other kids and I showed him where some toys were. He started to play with me...and then took a toy and walked away from me. He went to another part of the classroom and began to play...and yes, I just sat there...realizing that was the moment I was waiting for. He was ready. I could leave. Of course I wasn't ready. :) I stayed and watched him get involved in their Friendship Marble Painting activity. He said "You'll come back later? OK." He was totally into it, loving preschool already. He's off to a great start.

When he saw me at the end of the day, he dropped what was in his hands and RAN my way...then stopped, turned around to go back and get what he dropped. He was so happy to share that he got to be the student to take home the "share can." He walked to the car proudly and told me about his day. I'm pretty sure where all going to enjoy this preschool adventure.

Happy 1st Birthday, Grace!

2009-09-07T22:31:00.000-07:00

Grace turned one, today. The year has gone by very quickly, but it has been so fun to watch her blossom into such a lively, funny, sweet, smart, active little bundle of joy. She is adorable in headbands and ruffles, giggly and active around Conner, and curious in all situations. I'm excited to someday see what color her eyes will end up, and at what age we can clip a barrette in her hair. :) I'm in no hurry for her to grow up any faster, though. We adore her each day for who she is now. Happy birthday, Sweet Cheeks. (Click on the photos to see them larger. Pics by Tori Wible)

We've decided to hold off on a birthday gathering for now...but Grace sure didn't mind. She's as happy as can be these days. Today was a simple family day, doing our usual thing - packing the house for a big move. :) In the process, I found a picture of me sitting in a bowl when I was a baby, and so of course I had to test it out. Grace got a kick out of the photo shoot...and so did the neighbors. :)

Yesterday we went to the Blackley's home for dinner and Conner and Grace had a great time playing with their girls!
I took over a last minute ladybug cake so we could sing and celebrate.
Then today, her actual birthday, Jake didn't like that we weren't giving her a cake on her real birthday, so he came home with a flower ice cream cake...ah, a Daddy's girl for sure.

I'm pretty sure she'd like some finger paint for her birthday. :)
Of course... the plate didn't last long.
Happy birthday, Pretty Girl!

Katie's Triathlon - August 2

2009-08-03T21:19:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know me, know that I am not much of a writer, and even less of a “blogger.” However, this last weekend I was so proud of Katie and her accomplishments that I wanted to be the one to write this post. On Sunday, Katie completed the “Tri For a Cure” at Cherry Creek State Park to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Katie and about 3,400 of her friends swam 750 meters (twice the distance that I swam in my triathlon), biked 11.6 miles, and ran 3.1 miles – mostly up a long hill. Katie did AWESOME! She beat the time she was going for by almost 30 minutes! I was very proud of her and glad that all of her hard work and preparation had paid off.

All prepped for the big race. We woke up at 3:45am and drove up to Aurora. Katie woke up energized and ready to race. It may be the only day of her life that she woke up a “morning person.” The bikes and transition stations had to be set up before 7am, which is when wave one began the race.

One of these things is not like the others. Katie was ready for victory before she even started.

Its like “Where’s Waldo?” …except it is “where is the really beautiful mother of two?”

This is a stick-up! Just kidding, just a group stretch to calm everyone’s nerves.

And they’re off…

As Conner would say, “Go Mommy, Go!”

I looked closely for Katie coming out of the water. As other girls slowly walked up the ramp Katie came running full steam. What a stud.

Katie was so fast on her bike that I missed her at the start but saw her finish strong.

Ok folks, does she even look tired? WOW!

Our friend Dave encouraged Katie to crush her competition. These next few pictures demonstrate “the evolution of the crush.”

Eyeing the finish line.

Both kids were very proud of Mommy. Grace was sporting her “My Mom Tri’s Hard” shirt and was so happy to see her smiling face. Conner thought Katie’s medal was sooo cool.

My wife is AMAZING. I was so happy to be there and show how much I loved her. Great job, Babe!

Conner Turned 3!!!

2009-07-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Connner's third birthday in Granite Bay, CA...and Conner was especially happy to celebrate with family. For days leading up to our drive out to California, he had been asking it was his birthday party yet...and when it finally came he enjoyed every minute of it!

Three legged race...
and the photo finish!

I had tried to set up cup pyramids for the kids to squirt down, but Conner kept shooting them down before I could finish. It was his party, so we played his way. :)

He opened gifts. I love this shot of him with his first camera. Oh, my little apprentice. :)
Cupcakes! He asked for an "M&M cake."

Happy Birthday, Bud!

Other July Moments

2009-07-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few favorite memories from the month so far. The first picture is of Conner and Allie at the America the Beautiful water park. Conner has become less shy around water...and girls.

This was taken just this week. When Jake gets home from work, the kids love to follow him around - no matter what he is doing! (It gives me a little break, too.)

How sweet is this? She has become such a Daddy's girl. She's watching him mow the lawn.

Just thought I'd throw this picture in to show what I've been up to. The Susan G. Komen TRI FOR THE CURE Women's Triathalon is August 2nd, and Jake's been helping me get ready for it. It'll be quite a challenge, but I'm still excited I decided to do it. I'll let you know how it goes - it's less that 2 weeks away! I'll be racing 1/2 mile swim (harder than it sounds), 11.4 bike, and 3.1 run. :)

On our drive home from CA this month we drove through Utah and stayed the night with my grandparents. Grace was a ball of energy, cruising around all furniture. Conner ran around showing off his new batman PJs - with a cape! It was so nice to visit with you guys again! So sorry we missed you, Aunt Lisa and Muncle!!

Peas Please!

2009-07-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

It was finally time to harvest some of Conner's veggies! After checking on the various rows we had planted, we discovered that the peas were the only crop ready, so we helped Conner get the peas prepped for dinner! He was very proud to have grown them all by himself. :)

What I Learned This Week

2009-06-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

1) One can go to Grandma's house in a matter of minutes. All it takes is a kitchen chair (airplane seat,) a plastic toy with rolly wheels (suitcase,) a cup for juice (drink served on flight,) and the "pilot voice" preparing you for take off. :)

2) According to Poison Control, Sunsilk Captivating Curls is not poisonous if a small amount is eaten by a two year old. Conner learned that it doesn't taste very good either. I also learned to move the hair products to an even higher location.

3) My children are fearless. These pictures were taken at the Dinosaur Museum - our Father's Day celebration.

4) Conner can jump as far as a Triceratops.

5) I can never get tired of the swings. Not with these happy faces.

I Mean, Really.

2009-06-14T14:48:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't noticed, I'm the kind of mom that adores her kids. I think I have the greatest babies in the world...and the cutest. I never want to forget the little moments, the slobbery fingers, the curled under toes, and all of it. Here is yesterday...

Lil' Cupcakes

2009-06-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

We're used to the military lifestyle of moving around every so often, but when our military friends move before us, it's just as difficult to say goodbye. The Robbins family left for Washington the other weekend, and we missed them right away. Just before they left, when all their belongings had been loaded and their home was empty, they stayed over at our house for their last couple days in town. Thanks so much for your amazing friendship, guys! We're looking forward to visiting you in Washington!

Just some fun "sleepover cupcakes" for the five kids - Can you tell which one is Grace? (The bald one) Can you tell which one is Conner? (The one with spiky hair, book, and open eyes since he never sleeps.) hehe The other three are Hannah, Josh, and Sarah. :)

"Daddy's Awesome"

2009-06-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, Jake is amazing at so many things. He, however, does not claim to be a great swimmer or runner. That didn't stop him from completing his first (and yes I have a feeling he'll do more in the near future) TRIATHALON! He did a great job and was happy with his time. I ran the kids around to each leg of it so we could cheer him on... and let Conner even run a few step with him. :) Way to go, Babe! You ARE awesome....like Conner loves to say.

Mama's Month of May

2009-05-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

The month of May has been going by so quickly...so I'm sorry I've fallen behind on this blog! :) Here are a few cute pics from the last couple weeks. The first set is of Mother's Day. I had a wonderful day from beginning to end - I have the best kids in the world!

By the way...click on the pictures if you want to see them larger. Also, be sure to read the "Favorite Connerisms of Today" on the right hand column because I added a couple.

Conner is trying to put the flower back together for me. It broke when he was holding it. He's such a sweetheart, always.

And this little cutie was super smiley for our Mommy's day photos.
I just loved this sweet outfit, so I took a few...
...until she had had enough. Even starting to cry she's darling, isn't she?! :)
Conner walked around the house on the phone and made me realize how quickly he's growing up. He reminded me of Jake, who walks around the house with the headset on too. :)
Here are some pics of a Sky Sox game we went to with some friends the other day. It was really fun...and a little scary every time a foul ball came our way.

Random night- Just thought they were cute in their footed PJs.
Ok, so we decided to plant a few rows of vegetables in the back yard. Conner now loves to go out and check on the garden. He's very responsible with it and loves to be in charge, watering it and making sure it's ok. We'll let you know if anything grows! (By the way, don't expect carrots like Luke's! This is our first vegetable garden ever.) We're trying another angle at getting Conner to eat more veggies. :)

This was just a regular weekday walk at Garden of the Gods with my good friend Kristi and her handsome little guy Cameron. Aren't they cute together?
I wonder how long I walked around with her hat like this!! Oops.
OK, so aren't babies so sweet in bubbles? Here are some shots I just think are super cute.

Grandpa Time

2009-05-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

Grandpa missed his grandkids too much - so he flew out by himself to visit! Conner ran him all around the zoo, of course, - including through a very tiny tunnel. We played in the backyard a lot, and also worked on potty training (no clothes on Conner method!) The famous Broadmoor Hotel was quite a different experience than when we first visited back when Conner was only weeks old - and not running around playing hide and seek. To top it off, we toured a ghost town museum just to try something new in town. Of course the funny mirrors were a hit. It was great to have you join us to check one more Colorado attraction off the list!

Happy Easter

2009-04-13T23:08:00.000-07:00

It was a White Easter out here in Colorado. Notice the snow behind Conner? It didn't stop me from dressing Grace in a sweet little pink and white dress, though. :) We went to church and then went to Shawn and Kristi's house for dinner and games. It was a nice relaxing day...I even got in a nap!

Sprinkle Donuts with Mom

2009-04-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

Mom came out to visit the day we got home from Utah. I think Conner and Grace must think we live by most of our relatives because we end up seeing family quite often. It's wonderful that they can have these experiences, so thank you for making them happen. Here are some favorite pics from Moms visit. One of the highlights was our donut stop in Woodland Park, where we ate donuts (chocolate with sprinkles, of course) and flew a turtle kite. It's the first time we'd ever flown a kite with Conner, so he loved the whole day and talks about it still.

The rest of the week, we mostly stayed in enjoying each other.
Kiss from Grandma
I did, however, have a portrait session planned for Grace turning 6 months old, so I had Mom help me try out a few outfits. Here are some cute shots of my little doll.

Utah or Bust

2009-03-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts of being a military family is the traveling we get to do. Jake had a work conference and test for certification in EMGs (and passed with flying colors,) so the rest of us tagged along and made a trip of it. We visited my grandparents, Aunt Lisa and Muncle, all whom live in Tooele, Utah.

I'm now going to join the crowd and write my captions UNDER the pictures and see how I feel about it. :) So, here you go. Let the road trip begin... ice cream in any form = our road trip tradition.

We spent most of the trip playing and relaxing.

There was just enough snow to get in a snowball fight with.

They were hilarious to watch as Grace splashed water everywhere. Grace's expression cracks me up!

Center of attention

Everyone loves to see her do her crunches.

View of Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City behind Aunt Lisa and Me. Good Times.

Happy St. Patty's Day

2009-03-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

We were driving home from Utah to Colorado on St. Patty's day, but we took a detour to visit Arches National Park for a bit to stretch our legs and enjoy the outdoors.

Don't the kids look happy to be there? :) (That is "Landscape Arch" behind us.)

A Whole New World

2009-03-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

Oh by the way, Grace has a new prospective on the world...from a sitting viewpoint.

First Bite

2009-03-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

Here is Grace taking her very first bite of food...rice cereal from a sterling silver cup.

Think she is still hungy? :)

I do. :) (Anyone remember when I used to be able to put my fist in my mouth?)

Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Gray stopped in for a quick visit to meet Grace and play with Conner.

Pitstop: Durango

2009-02-28T22:05:00.000-08:00

And Yet ANOTHER Birthday Celebration - Happy 30th Jake!

2009-02-28T20:56:00.000-08:00

The weekend before the Daytona 500, we went to the Las Vagas Speedway for an experience to remember. For Jake's 30th, he got to drive a stock car at 134 mph for eight laps around the Speedway!! It was insane to watch, knowing he was alone in the car and driving it so close to the walls! Jake's dad did the same, which made it a lot of fun for them to compare stats for each lap at the end.

When we arrived there was a short video and quick instructions given, then those sexy driving suits were given out, and off we went. Yes...I said WE. I got to ride-along with a professional at 165 mph, and it was awesome! Sorry about all the blurry pictures - it's hard to capture such insane motion. Hehe :) Thanks again Bill and Susi - it was such a blast all weekend! Vegas, Baby!

Ready for the first ride-along
Feelin a need for speed

In Awe (It was really loud.)

The guys drove behind a professional, setting the pace at a max of 135.

Whoa - Look out for the wall!

ME!

Me going 165! I win.

Studs, I know.

A delicious dinner afterwards...
All you can eat meat.

We all stayed in a 2 bdrm condo in Vegas for the weekend...which was such a fun way to spend time together. Thanks for the experience Bill and Susi. Love you guys!

Double Take

2009-02-28T19:56:00.000-08:00

Do our children look alike, or what? It's a good thing they are adorable. :)

This is a picture of Grace (5 months) in front of a picture of Conner (4 months.)

Thirty and Still Rockin

2009-02-28T19:24:00.000-08:00

So, Jake's birthday passed not long ago and he hit the big 3-0. After our Disneyland birthday bash, I guess he just hadn't had enough feeling young...so we got together with some friends and played Guitar Hero late into the night. Even the kids got to be in the band. :) Happy Birthday, Babe...I'm looking forward to your next thirty years!

More Firsts for Grace

2009-02-25T14:45:00.000-08:00

First swing ride...and not a bad view, I must say. The swing set is out on the beach in San Clemente, CA. Nice choice, Gracie.

Haircut by Gramps

2009-02-25T14:27:00.000-08:00

Disneyland Birthday Celebration

2009-02-17T14:10:00.000-08:00

We just returned from a two week vacation, driving to and from California. The kids did great on the drive, sleeping most of the way and being entertained by lots of toys, snacks, and songs, which Conner found to be even more entertaining when he could hear his voice echo in a cup. I sat between the two carseats in the back for most of the drive - always the best seat in the car.

The day after we arrived we met up with my family to go to Disneyland. We had several reasons to go - my nephew Daniel had just turned 6, Conner and Ellie were still 2 and therefore still qualified for free admission, and Jake got in free for turing THIRTY on the day we visited the park. Happy Bday!!! Love you guys!!!

Grace's first ride ever As usual, he was very serious, taking it all in.

Here's a classic family picture...notice the smiles, the phone calls, and the picture taking. :)

He was unsure about this ride...but by the end of the day...well, you'll see.

Conner was as serious as could be ON the rides, but excited to talk about them afterwards.

Still kids at heart

Autopia was one of the hits of the day...and I LOVED riding with my niece in our PINK car!

Conner was proud to be tall enough to drive a car.

One handed driver

It started raining, as expected...so we all got ready to go out and brave the downpour.

By the time we got out, it had stopped raining! haha

Still our little Yoda.

Even Grace got a poncho.

Buzz Lightyear was the favorite ride of the day. I'm pretty sure they went on this ride at least eight times.

Then at the end of the day, they kids had enough courage to try the Matterhorn!

EVEN CONNER!!!

"I did it!"

Fun to the very end...

After the day at Disneyland, we all headed back to Bill and Susi's for the night...Yes, 13 people in one house for a fun family sleepover. How cute are these cousins?! Thanks for the memories!

Super Bowl Babies

2009-02-05T14:24:00.000-08:00

Just thought this was cute. This was my view watching the Super Bowl. Though it was a good game, I found the babies to be just as entertaining.

Memories for Me

2009-01-30T09:47:00.000-08:00

Her sweet baby face - 4 months old

The horses that gather in view from my backyard

His excitement every time we play outside

Making snow angels in our backyard

This Afternoon

2009-01-27T21:10:00.000-08:00

EVERY SINGLE TIME Jake comes through the door from a day of work Conner runs screaming towards him, they tackle each other for quite a while, and eventually mellow out and try to calmly say hello to Grace and I...usually with Conner still hanging on to Jake's back or arm or leg. It's the cutest...and loudest...thing you've ever seen. Conner has been doing this since he could walk! Heres what it looked like today...

And here are two random pictures also... this one is just showing that Mr. Bubbles is just as fun as I had remembered.
Aunt Jenny gave the kids the cute animal slippers, so I thought I'd let the kids show them off. Such hams!

Music and Meatloaf Madness

2009-01-20T13:23:00.000-08:00

We gave Conner's Aunt Katie "Guitar Hero" (a game for the Wii) for her birthday and of course Conner couldn't get enough. He kept wanting a turn...but then so did we all. You rock, Bud!

Aunt Katie thought it would be fun to include Conner in the mashing of the meat for our meatloaf dinner. At first he thought it was gross, but once she showed him how much fun it was, he dug right in and made a big mess.

I had seen this cake in a magazine and just had to try it. Who wouldn't want to eat a cake that looks like a giant Oreo? As I thought, delicious. Happy belated Birthday, Katie!

Bald is Beautiful

2009-01-20T12:48:00.000-08:00

Grace is all smiles these days. She loves interaction and has the cuttest little giggle. She has grown into wearing mostly 6 months size clothes, but don't be fooled, she's still small. She weighs almost 13 pounds, is 24.8 inches long, and is still completely bald. It's alright though -Bald is beautiful.

Marking a Milestone- Rolling Over

2009-01-13T14:11:00.000-08:00

Grace has officially rolled over (and over and over and over.) She went from back to tummy first, then tummy to back, and then just kept going. By the end of the day she was rolling to the left and right forwards and backwards. I now have two mobile children. Ahhhhhh! Oh, and can you believe it...I don't have a camera in the house to document this. Oh well. :)

Courtney Driscoll Does Colorado

2009-01-12T12:15:00.001-08:00

Courtney was a high schooler back when I worked with the high school youth group at East Lake Community Church in South Carolina. She is still an amazing person... only now she is into her college years. Jake and I really enjoyed having her out for a week, and although we had a blast out and about, the best part of her stay was our heart to heart talks day after day. I just love this girl!!

When she first got here, she reallllly wanted to play in the snow. It was beautifully sunny...which meant it was melting quickly, but at least we got out before it was all gone.

One the warmest day of the week (65 degrees) we went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Of course we had to show her the amazing giraffe experience.

And meercats...

And elephants...

And hippos...

And the awesome view of Colorado Springs (behind us.)

We did spend quite a bit of time just enjoying each others company at home, watching movies and old Friends episodes (can't go wrong with that,) and adoring the kids.

Court brought great gifts for the kids.

Of course she didn't know exactly what she was getting herself into...

Then again, neither did Conner. :)

Don't worry...they were good friends in the end.

We spent a little time trying to encourage Grace to roll over, but she's still content just moving all around on her side.

Do you remember that Grace was Little Bo Peep for Halloween? Check out the bib Courtney brought her! Adorable.

After being home with the kids a bit, we decided we needed to get out and have some adult time...and be as fabulously feminine as possible. So we went had got our hair highlighted!

After all that time messing with our hair, it went into a ponytail.

Courtney used to live here in the Springs when she was very young, so I drove her by her old home. Sadly, She didn't remember it.

And finally, of course we took her to Garden of the Gods, the best attraction of Colorado Springs. It's simply beautiful every time we go.

Our 6 Year Anniversary - The Royal Gorge Bridge

2009-01-11T13:59:00.000-08:00

Jake and I decided a long time ago that we would celebrate our anniversary at a different bridge each year. This year, since we may never live in this part of the world again, we felt that we had to do the Royal Gorge...even if I don't like heights. It is the HIGHEST suspension bridge in the world.

It was VERY windy and cold.

Happy Anniversay to us. :)

Christmas 08

2009-01-07T21:35:00.001-08:00

On Christmas Eve we ran through the mall to see if we could find Santa. :)

He was very excited...until we actually went downstairs and asked him to sit on Santa's lap and smile. He didn't want to sit on his lap at all, but talked about Santa quite a bit and was up very late that night knowing that stange man was coming to his house while he slept.

Here are a few favorite shots of our Christmas Morning. Mom, Dad and Grace were up first.

Here is Conner coming down to see what Santa brought during the night.

I do love Christmas music. :)

Conner gave me some warm green socks for Christmas. He picked them out himself and was very excited for me to wear them. In fact, every time I have on other socks he pulls them off my feet and tells me "you want your green socks, not purple socks ( or whichever color I had put on.)" It's so cute!

More Fun

2009-01-07T21:08:00.000-08:00

My brother Jeff just got promoted to CAPTAIN in the Air Force, so Conner dressed the part in support of his uncle.

Just a happy baby waking up from a nap...

They were all wearing hoodies, so I thought it was cute.

I couldn't resist. She had to be part of the hoodie crew. :)

Thanksgiving Finally Came

2008-12-31T09:59:00.001-08:00

It felt like forever waiting for Thanksgiving this year. We'd been talking about our trip to California for months because Jeff and Kitty were coming home to Cali from England! The last visit we had with them was a while ago. Conner, Jake and I briefly saw Jeff (not Kitty) in an airport in Chicago during Jeff's layover on his move to London in May 2007 (we were on our way to South Carolina from Colorado.) That was before Conner could walk! Before that, Conner and I saw Jeff and Kitty at their wedding in December 2006, while Jake was serving in Iraq. Needless to say, it was time we all got together!!

PICTURES IN PROGRESS HERE...

Family Picture

2008-12-31T08:27:00.001-08:00

Are you kidding me? Of course we bribed them with treats to get the group shots. :)

How awesome is that?

And the Vacation Continues

2008-12-28T23:05:00.000-08:00

Conner, Grace and I stayed at my parents house until Dec 10, so we had some time to just kick back and relax. Here are a few shots of us during our stay. Jake was there most of the time, but flew home a week earlier to go back to work.

Here's us at a park in Pleasanton. This slide is really fast if you go down on a sheet of wax paper! :)

One of the best ways to spend time with a kid... a walk in the park.

Sometimes it's fun to give a baby a bath in a sink just because you can. :)

Angela holding Grace and her twins due in January!

Mom was in the room putting Conner to bed and he tried to lay just like she did, with his arm holding up his head. Super cute.

Just helping in the yard

Dad cut holes in a box for Conner to play in, but it was more fun to be chased by Grandma in the box!

Mom and Dad remodeled the back half of their house and they put in a huge tub, so of course we had to climb in and play hide and seek.

Just some T.V. time together. think they're watching Cars.

We found a place to take Conner to see lots of Christmas lights. "Bob's House" in Livermore had about 300,000 lights!

Mom's tradition with the kids is to bake a train cake and decorate it with candy they choose out at the store. All the kids LOVE it and it's fun to see how different the train is each year.

Party at Eric's

2008-12-28T14:26:00.000-08:00

We played at the arcade and had pizza at the bowling alley. The kids were very cute to watch. Conner loves to carry his own ball out to the lane. I bowled one of my best games ever, too. It's always more fun to do well. :)

We celebrated Jeff's birthday early (his b-day is Dec. 24,) and since he got a decanter for his birthday, we had to try it out.

How many men does it take to drain a pot?

At least everyone had a good time.

And here's just a little football in the front yard...

Bill and Susi Come to Play

2008-11-07T17:19:00.000-08:00

Bill and Susi came out to Colorado Springs over the Halloween weekend. It was Bill's first time meeting Grace. She sure gave him lots of pretty smiles!! She loves to be on her changing table, especially when there are friendly faces adoring her from above. (DON'T FORGET TO CLICK ON EACH PICTURE TO SEE THEM LARGER!)

We all decided to take a drive through the mountains to enjoy the beauty of Colorado and look for animals. Grace slept through most of it, of course, but the rest of us came across quite a bit to look at!

Eventually we stopped for a picnic lunch. There was some pretty neat old mining equipment there to look at...and climb on.

Conner was very intrigued by this "broken house." When we asked him later that what he saw on our drive he remembered the "broken house." Then again when he and I were playing yesterday, and I asked what he wanted me to draw with the chalk outside, he said the "broken house." Isn't it interesting what sticks in their little minds?

Before leaving we had to take couple group shots. Conner was also fascinated by the blinking light of the timer on the camera. Here he is checking it out as Bill sets it up. Such a cutie.

On the road again...

We were mostly looking for long horned sheep, and check it out!

Yes, these were actually that close. They were right on the side of the road.

Bill was being so nice to sit in the back for part of the drive. Unfortunately for him it was the most exciting part, and when we all jumped out to get a better view of animals, he was sort of left behind. What a good sport. :)

We did let Bill out eventually. :)

These next picures were taken at a park near our home. It's a beautiful time of year to be outside.

Nobody told me it was black shirt day. :)

Halloween Fun

2008-11-07T16:11:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty sure that Little Bo Peep and Yoda were the cutest things on the block on Halloween night.

He was the perfect height to be Yoda this year. The costume was a hit.

We made the whole weekend a holiday. I made pumpkin cupcakes, which we decorated like pumpkins and cats, and Conner and I made placemats with his handprints. I inked certain parts of his palms to create Halloween scenes. I then had them laminated so we could eat off them. His favorite was the owl.

Susi came with lots of fun ideas and of course Conner loved it all. They read Halloween books, made cookies, and made these fun spider hats!

A Day in the Life of Conner

2008-11-07T14:58:00.000-08:00

Conner's favorite thing these days is to play outside. He wanted to go outside so badly that he got himself dressed all by himself for the very first time. He put on his shoes first without asking for any help. Then his pants, which he managed to get over his shoes. :) Of course I then had to go otside to play. How could I not?

I love to watch him be creative with cups, bowls, water, paintbrushes, chalk, his cars, and any oher toy we bring outside.

Grace generally enjoys just watching. :)

Conner and his friend Hannah decided it would be fun to jump from the deck to the grass...and boy were they right. They did it over and over and over. I think he's practicing for skydiving.
Like I said, these are a RANDOM assortment of photos from the month...so here are a few more. First, another typical day in the life of Conner - spending the evening in a moving truck. We helped a friend move this time. Military life is fun if you ask Conner. :)

Here is a picture that takes me back to the days of Conner being a newborn. I just love having a tiny baby in a boppy.

And again, random. I just wanted to show a picture from the very sweet baby shower our church threw for Lisa, Ashley and me. It's been such a blessing to get to know the women in the church.

OK, so here we have a few typical shots of how Conner loves to be involved around the house. He loves to help make food...especially if it's messy or if he can sneak a bite now and then. This tater tot casserole dinner was more of a tater tot mound after he was done, but it tested better than ever.

I made apple pie with Conner the other week. He used the measuring cups and...well...yes, took bites of the apples. I tried my best not to let the bitten ones into the pie. Thankfully our guests that night didn't complain. :)

Although this picture is somewhat blurry, I had to add it because the moment was hilarious. As a reward one day, I let Conner help make cookies for Daddy. Notice the shape of the cookies? It's a hand squished ball of cookie dough, which made for super cute cookies. As I went to take a picture of him, he picked up a cookie and ate it. I asked him not to touch any more until we were done. I could see him thinking, "Hmm. How am I going to eat that without touching it?" Well, my genius child did this...

One more cooking activity Conner loves is in the backyard with Jake. He can hardly wait to go outide to help Jake BBQ chicken. It's great father-son time, especially when they dress themselves (gotta love it) and play football as they BBQ!

And after all that fun...the best part is that at the end of the day he is still amazed by everything around him. He is such a joy to be around.

In this last photo, he called us into his room after he had gone to bed because he was so excited to discover that he could see the moon through his window. He kept saying, "It's the moon! Wow! That's so cool!"

Sneak Peek

2008-10-31T23:05:00.003-07:00

Here's a couple pictures of at Yoda and Little Bo Peep getting ready for Trick-or-Treating. :)
Lots more pictures to come over the next week! Must go to bed now...a toddler on an all-day sugar high is exhausting. ;)

Grace in Lace

2008-10-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

Jenny came out from CA and met Grace this weekend, as Grace turned seven weeks old. How sweet is Grace's tiny hand holding onto Jenny's? Also, check out the framed art in the background. Jenny made it to match Grace's bedroom! It's super cute with a felt bird and buttons in the flowers.

Grace got all dressed up for Aunt Jenny's visit, and the lace shoes completed the outfit. I wore these shoes as a baby also.

Conner and the Cutest Wagon Ever

2008-10-20T18:43:00.000-07:00

We decided to go out and play with Conner's new wagon. We drove a while struggling to find a few colorful leaves to play in. (I think we were just one weekend too early because now they are all over the place!) Anyway, he had a blast. I wish I could say the same for Gracie...I'm pretty sure she didn't love the bumpy ride in the wagon. Maybe next time. :)

I gathered a few things for the outing and put them in the basket to throw into the car. As you can see, we planned to take Grace, too. She's five weeks old here.

One Month Old Today

2008-10-07T20:54:00.000-07:00

Here's our pretty little girl...turning one month old. :) I wanted to get a picture of her sleeping, so as soon as she fell asleep on my shoulder I set her down for a photo, and she flashed me this quick smile. This was the first picture I took. :) (Click on each picture to see them bigger.)

Aunt Katie and Grace

Don't worry. Conner is getting plenty of attention, too.

Grace's First Real Bath

2008-10-04T22:17:00.000-07:00

Aww, the sweet smell of a freshly bathed baby. I just love it. Here are some shots of her first bathtub experience.

When we told Conner we were going to give Gracie a bath, he went and started putting toys (including his wooden puzzle) into the bathtub for her to play with. :)

Two Weeks Old

2008-09-28T13:41:00.001-07:00

Even Aunt Nina came to visit fo a couple days!

Grace Comes Home - Sept. 9

2008-09-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

We brought Grace home from the hospital on Tuesday night. We were all very ready to begin our life at home as a family of four. Conner waited at the window for us to pull up, and once we did, he kept repeating "Hi Gracie! Hi Gracie!"

I wore this dress home from the hospital as a baby, so I thought it would be fun to have Grace wear it too. (CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO MAKE THEM BIGGER.)

After being home for one night, the doctor called with test results and told us we had to keep Grace under a bili light for her jaundice. They delivered it to our house and she had to stay under the light except when nursing. I think it was harder on us than her because all we wanted to do was pick her up and cuddle her.

Since she was born a couple weeks early, we had not yet washed all her baby clothes. It sure seemed funny doing all that laundry for a tiny naked baby.

I was sooooo excited when the doctor called to tell us she could be taken out of the light!! That meant I could dress her and hold her and cuddle her and rock her and ... yeah!!!

He kisses her every chance he gets.

Uncle Matt was teaching Grace all about Fantasy Football. It's very important stuff for a one week old.

Here Grace is being introduced to her future husband or best friend. We'll find out in December!

Shawn and Kristy are expecting their first baby in November. This was good practice for keeping a baby away from the velcro on his uniform. :)

Welcome to the World, Grace!

2008-09-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

Grace was born on Sunday, September 7th at 2:35PM, two and a half hours after we arrived at Evans Army Community Hospital in Colorado Springs. She was two weeks early. I woke up around 8:30 and felt a little different. I could hardly call it contractions, but I decided not to go to church so I could just take it easy and not go into labor since our family was not in town yet. Jake went to church, but took his cell phone just in case. I ended up calling him to come home halfway through church. He finished packing our hospital bag and fed Conner breakfast. We were told we wouldn't be admitted unless I was in enough pain that I couldn't talk through the contractions. It never got to that point, but we went anyway. We got to the hospital at noon, and discovered I was already at 7 centimeters!!! They admitted me quickly and rushed around making sure we were ready for delivery. I did not get an epidural, but I got a "block" which is like an epidural but lasts only for an hour and a half instead of a constant drip. The pain relief was wonderful. They soon broke my water, I pushed for 10 minutes, and Grace was born. The cord was wrapped around her neck twice, but the nurses rubbed her vigorously, she lost the blue color and let out a sweet baby cry. They immediately placed her on my tummy, and from that moment on, we haven't been able to keep our eyes off of her.

There was so much excitement, he had a hard time containing himself. He pressed the call button one too many times. Oops...here he is in time out. :)

Friends from the hospital came upstairs to meet Gracie.

Such a sweet face

We have a hard time waking her up to nurse since she is so peaceful when she sleeps.

She's the most content little baby.

Hawk and Hallie's Wedding - Sept 14

2008-09-10T16:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know this post is out of order, but I'll move it at a later time.

Steve and Hallie got married on Sunday the 14th, and we couldn't miss it even though we had a 7 day old baby. My mom babysat her in a room upstairs for a couple hours so we could attend the event. It was so much fun to see a bunch of college friends and introduce them to our newest baby. I even felt good enough to dance a bit. It was a beautiful day and beautiful wedding!

Camping at 37 Weeks Pregnant

2008-09-05T12:43:00.001-07:00

Everyone says to take it easy so I don't go into labor yet. Isn't fishing a relaxing sport? :)

When Conner woke up he was all confused, but even more excited. He came out of the tent and said, "Sleep in a tunnel!"

Learning to make breakfast while camping - it's a very serious responsibility.