Last week with McKenna before college!

We are trying to fit it all in before we take our gem to college. I took the kids to the Royal Gorge and of course they were too practical and didn't want me to pay the 50 bucks a person to walk across the bridge. So we admired from afar and went to a great burger joint. 

We took the kids to Cave of the winds. They did the zip line, rock wall, and obstacle course.

We also tried to enjoy the last few summer nights on our porch with my new favorite set up. We have a huge deck and for years I couldn't pick furniture. I finally did and Nate set up twinkly lights and I got a fire pit. It is my new favorite thing. Sitting outside as a family, enjoying the night and talking. I am going to miss McKenna so much!!!

 

Best Mothers Day gift!!

My dear friend Julia gave all of her friends the best gift for Mothers Day, a drive by photo shoot!!

With the current pandemic and state order to stay at home, it has been a tough time to say the least. This meant everything to me, she is such a talented photographer. It was touching that she would take these for free for all of her friends. I will forever treasure these photos of me with my kids. Oh how I wish I had Sage here for these! But he is thriving on his mission and changing lives, so I guess thats a good trade off. 

Nothing stresses me out more than picking outfits for family photos, so I went with white and simple. 

McKennas Sr photos

My friend Julia took McKennas Sr photos. I just started bawling, like literally cried as I watched. I was overcome with how amazing McKenna is. Julia was complimenting her and I just couldn't handle it. I was flooded with emotions at the beautiful girl standing in front of me. I first of all, have no idea how she is mine, second of all...how is she graduating this year? She is everything good in this world and more. She is graduating with an awesome GPA and lettered in Cheer. She has worked for years as a lifeguard at the school and Chick-fil-A. I just couldn't be more proud of her. She is honest, can't get mad (Sage and I try and laugh because its not possible) and is worried about everyone before her self. She has no gile, is deeply compassionate, and just plain good to the core. She is my right hand girl, best friend, and luckily my daughter. 

Hike to Pikes Peak

I hiked my first "14er"! It was amazing. I went with my friends Amelia and Marie. It took me five hours and 45 minutes to get to the top. Nate was a dream and drove and hour up to get us! I was so excited to see him standing at the top waiting for me. It was so beautiful, I couldn't get over it. It was quite a bit easier than I expected it would be.  My feet did start giving me issues at the very start. I could not even feel them at all. We had to stop so I could rub them to get the circulation going again. Other than that....I felt really good. I am so grateful for the friends I have made in Colorado Springs. I have a group of friends that is more than I could have ever dreamed to have. We meet three times a week in the mornings to do crossfit. It has gotten me in great shape. We get together Monday or Tuesday nights to watch the our favorite TV show. We have a meal prep group, we mountain bike and road bike together, hike, shop, go to the temple, make salsa, and so many more amazing things. I have learned so much from these incredible women. I have been very blessed. I have come to develop a greater love for the outdoors, what my body allows me to do, and mountain biking. I couldn't have asked to live in a better place.

McKenna turned 12!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had the best Thanksgiving! We went over to Brent and Laurie's house for the big meal. It was amazing food and tons of it. We had everything you can think of from the Turkey to all the trimmings. We had about 6 or 7 pies just for our two families. We had lots of good laughs and watched Funny Farm after. 

 We tried really hard to get a good family picture. Drew makes that really hard these days. 

 We forgive him because he's so darn cute. 

 Our kids LOVE their cousins. They can't go more than a few days with out seeing them. They are SUCH a blessing to have so close. I am so lucky to be an Aunt. It is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. 

It was crazy to think that a year ago we drove out to Colorado Springs for Thanksgiving and this year we live here. I didn't know a year ago that this place would be my home. Crazy how time flies. Laurie and I go shopping for Black Friday every year. For some reason they keep making the shopping start earlier and earlier. We left her house about 7:30 pm Thanksgiving night. We got back about 5:30 am. We had a great time like always and spent a lot of money to save alot. Ha! But it is always worth it. 

We are so Thankful to live in such a beautiful place. I can't get over how wonderful the weather is. I am obsessed with it. It is so warm compared to Utah. Its the best. We went around the table and expressed what we are grateful for.....

1. Our Family
2. Our Church and all the blessings that come with that
3. Our health
4. Finding our harp teacher and piano teacher. We are truly blessed living so close to them.
5. Living such a wonderful life with so many fun things to do and enjoy as a family
6. Living in Colorado so close to the Morrills and Egberts. We are so lucky to have family here
7. All the amazing friends we have made
8. Our amazing school that we some how got into
9. Our testimonies
10. All of the little things that are such luxuries

There are so many more things to be thankful for, but those were the ones that we said around the table.

I love Thanksgiving and spending time with family. This year, it was just as wonderful as always. We missed our family back in Utah but we all did better being away than I expected.

Sienna's Birthday party

We went to the Morrill's house to have the best cake ever and celebrate cute Sienna's 9th birthday. We love her! What can I say, Laurie and I were pure genius when we had kids so close together. All four of our kids have a cousin buddy. It's the best thing ever. It is kind of crazy when we are together and there is only four adults and eight kids. 

 I love McKenna and Aspen and feel so lucky to have my two girls. They are both playing the harp and getting ready for Christmas with 6 Christmas songs each. I love hearing them practice. 

Drew's first day of preschool

My babe started Preschool! I didn't even know what to do with myself for the three hours I was alone. It was pretty lonely   I found out about this place that has a co-op and its free. So I checked into it. Drew gets to go once a week (twice was to much for me to handle) and I help out once a month. He goes for three hours. It has been good for him. Drew is so much more attached than the other kids were. He has a hard time not being with someone from his family. He sat on my lap the entire first day. The second time he went, my friend took him. He had a hard time. The third time he did so much better. I just love this little guy so much. He tells me all the time that I am his side kick. We are kind of a big duo. And I wouldn't change it for the world. He is such a huge part of our family. I thought it would be good for him to be around kids his own age. In our home he is too spoiled. The kids give into him for everything. He has them wrapped around his finger. McKenna can't stand the sound of him crying and will do anything that it takes to make him stop. He doesn't need to learn to share, because they will give him anything he wants. School will be good for him to learn that he does have to share and take turns. 

 He was so so proud of his backpack and his own lunch. Every day he has to say goodbye to his siblings when they go to school.  He begs to go with them. He always wants to be with "his kids". 

He is at such a fun age.  He loves costumes. He wears  either Spiderman, Ironman, or Batman every single day. His world is fantasy and reality combined. We have to be careful what he watches on TV because he thinks everything is real. He is really scared of spiders and has a lot of nightmares about them and his costumes being taken away. He has the cutest laugh you have ever heard. He adores his siblings and they are such a huge blessing in his life. He worships the ground Sage walks on. He loves to copy them. At night he won't go to bed until he too practices the harp , piano, and does his "homework". He is really into giving lots of kisses and hugs. I hope he keeps that up. Drew is all boy. He loves his toys, loves boating, and horses. He has an amazing memory. He remembers so many details about when we lived in Utah. He likes to talk about his Grandparents and cousins. It makes me sad he misses them so much. 

Our little harpist

Our cute McKenna played the harp at the our Relief Society meeting tonight. She played "Teach me to Walk in the Light" and she sung along as she played. I wanted to cry. She is getting so good and memorizes her songs each week. I just love her!!