Castlewood Canyon

While my family was here we decided to go for a little hike at Castlewood Canyon after church on Sunday. This place is great and its literally only 5 minutes from our house. There are a ton of trails and its an easy hike so my dad could do it with no problem. It had just snowed about 2 feet the week before so it was really really muddy that was the only down fall. We let the kids just run down the trail and took some fun pictures along the way. It was a great day and was fun to all be together outside and enjoy the beauty of Colorado. I really do love living here I just wish I could have my family a little closer.

Aubrey and Boyd looking down into the canyon

My beautiful sister Michelle and niece Olivia

My mom and dad

Olivia and Aubrey

Us

Sunset of Pikes Peak as we were leaving

This is why I love living in Caslte Rock. We get to see this every day

Aubrey's Baptism

Aubrey was baptized today by her dad and it was a great day. My mom and dad and my sister Michelle and niece Olivia came out to be with her on her special day. Dave's parents and sister holly and Lynsay and her family were there as well. Dave's mom talked to Aubrey about baptism and my mom talked to her about The Holy Ghost. It was very special to have both sets of our parents be here with her. Aubrey is a very special girl and I am so lucky to be her mom. She is a great sister and friend to everyone. After her baptism we all had a big ham dinner at our house and it was delicious. We are so lucky to have such a great family and friends to share her speacial day with.

Aubrey and Boyd with my mom and dad (meme and pepe)

Aubrey

She's so excited

Aubrey and Dad

Our family

Boyd and his Pepe

Boyd loves his pepe! While they were visiting for Aubrey's baptism he got Boyd this helicopter that he's been wanting for a few months. I didn't buy it for him because my dad really wanted to get it for him. So the day after they flew in they took him to "the red store" aka Target and he walked right over to the helicopter and showed my dad. So they spent pretty much the next couple hours playing with it. Figuring out all the tricks to pick up the toys with the chopper and teaching Boyd how to fly it. It didn;t take long for him to figure it out and now he's hooked. Boyd loves it and boy does he love his best friend, his Pepe!

Boyd and his best friend

Try and get this one

That's awesome pepe

Happy Birthday Punky!

I can't believe Aubrey is 8!! Today was a day of reflecting for me. Remembering how important Aubrey is to me and how much I take her for granted at times. Fearing I'll not be the mom I need to be for her and realizing I need to make every effort to let her know everyday how much I love and how grateful I am for her.She is growing up to be such an amazing young lady. She had a great birthday today with a fun party tonight. We ate corn chowder for dinner with "bone" bread sticks. Had some fun finger food snacks and then went trick or treating. She was able to have a few of her friends from school and church come and that was very fun for her. Kelsey, Clara and Allison were able to come along with he usual Abbey, Collin, Holly, Aya and Cade and of course Boyd. Aubrey was Cat in the Hat and a very cute one if I do say so. Boyd was a boxer but refused to wear a jacket so he was Dash from The Incredible's for trick or treating. They scored some serious loot tonight. Here are some facts about Aubrey at 8:
1. She finally weighs over 40lbs. 44lbs to be exact
2. She is taking horseback riding lessons
3. She is the most caring person I've ever known
4. She has lost 6 teeth to date
5. She is very brave
6. She is a hugger and gives the best loves around
7. She passed the swim test at the pool this summer
8. Her favorite food is Top Ramen

Kelsey, Clara, Aubrey and Allison
Friends

Boyd as Dash

Malarie and Boyd the boxer

Best Friends

Cade, Boyd and Aya cousins

The cake

To my sweet Punky,

This is a letter for you on your 8th birthday. I want you to know how lucky and privileged I am to be your mom. Heavenly Father has given me the greatest gift in all the world and that is you. I'm not sure why I was so lucky to be chosen to be your mom but I could never ask for a better daughter than you. I want you to know that I am very proud of all you do and what a sweet girl you are. You are one of the most thoughtful people I know, you put a smile on everyone's face who gets the chance to be around you. You have been through a lot in your short life and have proven to be a fighter. Don't ever stop fighting for what you want or believe. Please dream big! I want you to always have dreams no matter how silly or big they seem. Always know that daddy and I are here for you always and we will do anything to protect and care for you. I want you to have the world. You will have to work hard in your life but you can do anything you put your mind to. You are a leader not a follower so don't be a sheep and follow the crowd that is not who you are. You are a very special person and Heavenly father has great plans for you. Know you can always count on Him to help you through anything in your life. We love you more than I can ever tell you.

I love you always

Mommy

Snow, snow and more snow!!

Yikes the snow hasn't stopped for 3 days now and we have over a foot. This is craziness! Aubrey's school has been cancelled for the last 2 days and we're still waiting to see if she'll have school tomorrow. We had to venture out today to get Boyd some snow pants since he played in the snow yesterday in his sweat pants. He didn't care though, he had a blast. Not so fun the second day though so we got him all set up. Here are some pictures of them in the backyard. Aubrey thought it was fun to go down the slide like she was on a skateboard. They had a blast "skating" in the driveway after Dave shoveled it. The shoveling job lasted a whopping 30 minutes though so he's given up until the snow stops for real.

Crazy lot of snow

The kids running out to play

Boyd sliding into a pile of snow

Aubrey surfing down the slide. She loved doing this

On the tramp. No way to bounce but way fun!

Aubrey and Boyd

New Furniture

So I'm loving our new house and we got to get new family room furniture and I LOVE IT!! It's so big and comfy. We got it back in April but I am finally cathching up on my blog. Next all we need is a new TV we can actually see. Soon I hope.

Dave's Buck and Antelope

Dave had a very successful hunting season this year. He was able to go to Wyoming and shoot an antelope which we brought to Steve's Meats and had made into his delicious Italian sausage and breakfast sausage. (Otherwise antelope is nasty!!) Then he had the opportunity to go down to Southern Colorado for a whole week with his friend Kye (his clone) and shoot an very nice buck and a doe. He and Kye missed "The F'n Toad" and say that after seeing the size of that buck killed the excitement they would've had for these nice bucks they killed. Dave said it was the biggest buck he's ever seen in his life but the story is way to long for me to type. It was basically everything that could happen did and everything that could go wrong did. But none the less we have a freezer full of meat now and that should last us until next season. Good job babe! I give him a lot of grief about hunting but I'm glad he is able to relax and enjoy himself. He deserves it.

Dave and his antelope Sept 09

The buck he "settled for"
Kye and Dave with thier bucks

Aubrey flashback

I was just thinking about how Aubrey is turning 8 this week and wanted to just post a few pictures from when she was little. I wish I had a scanner to put her baby pictures and up on here but until then here are just a couple of her over the years. She'll always be our miracle no matter how big she gets. I'll never forget the day she was born or all that she went through to be with us. I'll always try to be the kind of mother she deserves. She is a great example to me and is truly a fighter. I hope that she never stops dreaming and always knows how much she is loved.

Me and Aubs 3 yrs old

Aubrey riding Simple 3 yrs old

Aubrey 4yrs old holding Boyd for the first time

Aubrey age 5

Her 6th birthday

Pumpkin carving

We had a good time carving pumpkins this year and Aubrey did hers all by herself with only me helping her cut out the top. But I only cut about 1/3 of it that she couldn't get by herself. I am so proud of how well she did. Dave helped Boyd with his he wanted a spider web and 1 spider. I just did a classic Jack-o-lantern for ours. It was a good time and I also roasted the seeds for the first time this year and they turned out delicious! Pretty fun night.

Aubrey working so hard

Doing it all by herself

Dave carving a spider for Boyd

Boyd while Dave was carving his pumpkin

Aubrey's pumpkin with eyelashes

A spiderweb and spider pumpkin for Boyd

All 3 finished

Our classic Jack-o-lantern

Monster grub and fun

While Dave went hunting for a week down in Cortez with his buddy Kye the kids and I decided to head to Montrose and hang out with Tiff and the kids so we weren't both alone with our kids. So we went to the park and took the kids bowling had a movie night and had a fun spooky dinner one night. It was alot of fun to be ablt to just habg out and relax and know that there is someone else who knows exactly what we go through when hunting season rolls around. The guys did come back a day early for us and took us out for a nice dinner so they do get kudos for that however now Tif and I have to live with the fact that they could've killed a nice bull the next morning had they stayed. So much for that. They did kill two nice bucks and each got a doe as well. So they shouldn't be too upset with us.

Heres the spooky dinner. A brain, mummy's withches fingers, monster mouths and swamp juice. the kids loved it all

Swamp juice with worms

Monster mouths

Kids showing their fangs

Aubrey, Jayden and Boyd

The withches fingers

Aubrey and Jayden at the park

Boyd


Jayden going down the slide. This picture doesn't give this slide justice it is the steepest slide I've ever gone down at a park and even gets my stomach!

Tiff and Emry