It's Hunting Season....

The temperatures are dropping....



Our freezer is empty......



The elk are bugling.....



The camo is coming out.....



It's time for my dear sweet husband to head out to the woods and "blast one." In all seriousness, it is not a sport but simply food on the table for this household. I think Dave is feeling the pressure since we have a few steaks left, a few packages of hamburger, and maybe one roast. Let's hope it is a fruitful year for us. I love feeding my kids "all natural, organic" meat. Doesn't get better than that. Good luck honey.

Wordless Wednesday

There's No Going Back Now

I did it everybody! I can't believe I did - but it is done. I pushed the button, I completed the transaction and......

I just registered for my very first half marathon. After taking 4 weeks off due to a nasty cold/sinus infection, and heel injury, I decided to jump right back in and see if I could in fact pull it off. After not running for nearly a month, I came back to have a 25 mile week and felt awesome about each run - so with less than 7 days to go, I decided to commit.

I am extremely nervous about this event since in all technicality I have never run 13.1 miles before but.....

I got through childbirth so I can do this right?

I'll let you know at the end of the race which one is worse.

Philippians 4:13 will be my motto!

Wish me luck!

Mattea Moments

After lunch today, Mattea was bouncing around the house in her pretty new shoes - feeling so proud and so cool. I turned to her and said, "Mattea - you are cuter than pie."

She turned around and said, "I'm cuter than Paloma" than proceeded to walk upstairs.

Paloma just stood there and I just laughed.

I May Be Biased...

but Dave and I make beautiful babies!!




I think both my children are absolutely gorgeous but Paloma simply takes my breath away...

Too Funny Not To Post

Who can resist a little Creedance Clearwater.

Wordless Wednesday

Mattea Moments

Today, in preparation for a scrapbook layout I'm working on, I asked Mattea a few questions. With absolutely no prompting from me, these are the answers I got. Thought I'd share them with you. Enjoy

I love: my sister, my dad, my mom, and me, and my puppies like Kody and Cora, my aunt & uncle and two cousins, my aunt's dad, grandma and grandpa and I love when we go to Disney, Colorado and camping. That's it.

I wonder: that I want to be a nurse when I grow up and check moms - like parents and sick kids and people who broke their legs and I want to check babies

I hope: that I'll get a girl and a boy and my boys going to be named Brennan. I hope I'll do a spaceship room for Brennan and princess room for Erin.

I wish: for a Merry Christmas and 'My friend Rabbit' movie. I wish I get one princess thing to keep headbands in and high heels, and a baby computer.

I don't like: a green room, when the sun gets in my eyes, chicken, yucky chicken, tomatoes, onions, and 1 more thing but I forgot.

Favorite food: grilled cheese, lettuce and spinach to make me strong.

Favorite color: pink and purple

Thoughts on God: thought that we have to pray for everything. I think in my head and then I pray to God.

Is there a heaven?: when you die and you get old and when you are a grandma.

What's in heaven?: Jesus and God in heaven, and a park and I think there's swings but I've never been there. maybe a slide. that's it.

Where Does Satan Hit You?

Funny question isn't it?
Yeah... kind of.

Many of you may know or not know, but during my adolescent years I participated in karate. Obtaining my black belt while I was 15 was a huge accomplishment. I loved the sport, I loved the discipline, but most of all, I loved the competition. I remember going to tournaments and preparing both physically and mentally for your sparring (fighting) matches. I vividly remember one particular tournament in which I was matched against a very dear friend of mine. We hung out and worked out together but on this particular day, we were out to get each other.



It was a good match. The fight was good but then all of a sudden, I kicked, she went down, and I was asked to bow out. I had hit "below the belt." Illegal in this sport. I would be penalized.

I think back to the match and many others in which I was the offender and also the receiver. Many times I received blows "below the belt." Didn't feel so good.

But I have to say that the blows I received below the belt stand nothing in comparison to the blows that Satan dishes out "above the belt." See, Satan knows right where to attack me and where my weak spot is - and that is my mind. My mind can be a vicious and dangerous tool. He knows how to slither in, manipulate, and twist my mind to play all kinds of games.

See, lately I have been analyzing my life and the elements within in and have completely realized I've allowed my mind to become captive to Satan's grasp. I have on many occasions felt like a failure in the many different roles that I "play" on a daily basis. Just when I think I am doing a good job with the kids, working and playing with them, teaching them, nurturing them - Satan walks in and shoots that idea down in a heartbeat. I begin to second guess myself - wondering why Mattea can't write her name, why Paloma refuses to learn her letters, why Paloma hits and bites and seems to have no remorse, why Mattea throws tantrums like a 2 year old monkey, why there are times of outright disrespect, why, why, why..... And that's not all. He doesn't stop with the kids, he infects all areas - my marriage, my job, my house, my life in general. He is so self defeating and can take a good day and make it rotten in the matter of minutes - if you let him. And that is the problem, I've let him. I have allowed Satan to overtake my mind and beat me down to such a point that all I have begun to see is failure. Instead of seeing the good, all I've been concentrating on is the bad. What I'm not doing instead of what I am doing.

I know that there is no such thing as a perfect wife, perfect daughter, perfect mother, perfect friend - I will never live up to those kind of expectations. I, on occasion, miss a friend's birthday, leave the house a mess simply because I am too tired, plop the kids in front of a movie rather than read to them because I'm too lazy, ignore aspects of my marriage that I know need to be addressed simply because the confrontation seems to stressful, ignore the laundry piles, pretend the grass hasn't grown in the last week, feed the kids macaroni 2 days in a row rather than make the effort to cook something healthier, choose to run on a day where the kids would rather go to the park. I could go on, but I'm thinking you might be getting the point.

What I have come to realize - although it hasn't been an easy task - is that the mind is such an intricate and delicate organ. It can be your best friend - but also your worst enemy. If you allow yourself to hear the self defeating, negative noise that occurs through Satan, you can be brought down to your knees in a matter of minutes. But, it doesn't have to be that way.



Recently, I've drug out the head gear - that's right, head gear. During our sparring matches, we made sure as competitors that we wore plenty of protective gear. An important piece of that gear was a head piece. It protected your head and face against illegal and potentially deadly blows. Well, since Satan has taken a liking to hitting my mind, I have brought out the head piece. May not always be pretty to wear, but I have it on. My head gear is not red and spongy like my karate gear but rather it is invisible. I know the only way to fight off Satan is through Christ. One whom I know I can't see but feel often. It is through His words and His teaching that I will defeat and win over Satan during this all too important match. I will be the one left standing.
How about you?

Food For Thought

There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Proverbs 6:16-19

Wordless Wednesday

Squash Anyone?

One Of A Kind

1st Day of School

Preschool that is.



Mattea started 3 day a week preschool on Wednesday. After a long, relaxing, loose summer, our family jumped right back in to the rigorous routine that is the school year. That meant early bedtimes, early wake times, strict morning schedule, and that usual rush to get out the door on time without forgetting anything or anyone.




Wednesday went well. Mattea was tired because she hadn't fallen asleep right away on Tuesday night but she was generally in a good mood. Taking time to pose for some pictures she eagerly made her way to Mrs. G's class.





The preschool was able to accommodate the classes so that many of the children could stay with many of the same friends from last year which was nice. I don't think it was as scary to enter the new bigger classroom when so many familiar faces were there.







Here are a few shots of my beautiful baby on her first day back at school. She said she had a good time when I picked her up and was most excited to head back on Friday.











We are excited about what the new year may bring.

Aquarium

Here are a few pictures from the Denver Aquarium. I thought this place would be a hit with the ladies - they thought otherwise. Mattea was afraid to go in and only peeked her way in when a lovely old grandmother invited her to walk behind her. And they were bored by the fish, sharks were of no interest, Paloma was scared of the big fake monkey, and the real live tiger they had was an interesting as a rock to the girls. So I think they spent more time staring at the silly sponge bob cartoon outside than they did of the attractions inside. Oh well, live and learn....

Reliving Denver - Part 2

Since David was consumed with his conference in Denver, the girls and I spent the day cruising around together looking for fun things to do. We chose the aquarium and the Children's museum. Aquarium pics to follow soon, but both girls seemed to really enjoy the Children's museum. We were running short on time so they only got about an hour to play, but they utilized every single minute of that hour. Here are some of the pics to prove it....



The firetruck was a huge hit. They loved playing dress up and calling 911. Paloma thought it was so stinkin funny to pull the rope that initiated the siren inside of the truck. Over and over again, she pulled that rope. My head was throbbing a bit after that.







After the fire station, we moved on to shopping. Both of my girls love to go pretend shopping and both love being the check out lady. Since it was later in the day, we had basically the entire run of the place. So they could shop till they dropped. I had fun being the "checkout lady" while they enjoyed pushing their carts shopping for tofu and chicken.









The closest I came to an oven all week.



The cutest little bunny that I have ever seen.



Took me awhile to figure out what Paloma was dressed as but finally I caught on - she's an ant. Can't you tell.



We had a fabulous time and can't wait to hit up the Children's museum in LaCrosse when we head home this winter.

Reliving Denver - Part 1

Well, I have all of about 15 min. before I need to jump in the shower and begin preparing for our "anniversary date," but thought I would try and get a post or two in of our travels last week. I have soooooo many pics to post that I just thought I would break it up into several posts. So, if you aren't that interested in what we did and what we saw while we were away last week, hang tight, new material will come next week.

Now onto Denver.....



Truly - it's all about friends - right?



I sure think so and that is why I considered this trip to be such a blessing. We were able to connect with two very good sets of friends that we haven't had the chance of seeing in years. One happened to be a good friend of mine and the other a very good friend of Dave's. Yeah!

I began working with Dena back in New Mexico when we both had finished up nursing school and took on our very first nursing job in Labor and Delivery. What a flippin nightmare that job was but looking back - it makes for some really good stories to reminisce over while pounding a bottle of wine. Yikes. Our kids hung out a lot before we both decided to leave New Mexico. In fact, Mattea and her youngest daughter Kayleigh were supposed to be born on the same day - coincidental?



Anyways. We were excited at the opportunity to hang out and even spend the night. The kids played, the adults talked. It was great. Good friends are hard to come by and we were very sad to say good bye again to this great set. Thanks again for opening your home and let our family bust right on in. We love you!



The following evening we traveled to Firestone to visit Dave's old friend Curt and his family - who since the last time we have seen them added two kids to their family. Issac and Mattea were hilarious and played so well with each other. Not being able to spend a lot of time with them was a bummer but it certainly was nice to catch up and hear about their lives and the changes that have occurred since our last encounter. They have a lovely family whom we'd love to get to know more - it is just that distance thing.



We miss you guys and hope that we will be able to rendezvous again soon....

Where in the world is????

I can't believe I've been so disconnected from email, facebook, twitter, blogger. Wow, I have to say that I love my technology but I have loved my free flow, hang with friends, eat at fun deli's, tour beautiful Colorado life that I have been living for the last couple days. I must have at least 100 pictures but failed to bring the adaptor (divine intervention) which means I'll have quite a few posts to do when I get back. But to catch everyone up...

Travel day went well. My kids did great. I even had a gentleman stand up after the flight to come over to me and tell me my kids were "a hoot." They laughed and giggled for the entire flight from Salt Lake City to Denver. They have been troopers and stuck with this crazy whirlwind travel itinerary that we had planned.
The second day meant running daddy to and from meetings in downtown Denver. During that time, the girls and I visited the aquarium and Children's Museum. They had fun but man they were tired.
As the day was coming to a close, we packed up the car and made the drive to Boulder to visit my long time friend Dena and her family. I have a ton of pictures to post but of course the adaptor is sitting at my house....

It was so nice to see her and her family again. When we lived in New Mexico we saw each other several times a week, attended weight watchers together, had many a play dates, frequented Starbucks together and swapped babysitting on more than one occasion. I met Dena while starting out my first nursing job in Labor and Delivery at University of New Mexico Hospital. Since then, we have became friends, despite each leaving New Mexico for other states. Her girls are growing so fast and become quite a bunch of young ladies (4 to be exact).

After spending the night and all day yesterday with the Nichols family, we are now back in Arvada running around the condo - laying low today. The girls desperately want to go back to the Children's Museum today, but Dave and I simply want to sleep - so we'll see. This evening we are headed to Firestone to visit another set of friends that we haven't seen in awhile. We are excited to see them and meet their two new children.

We are having fun - kids included. The older they get the easier travel becomes. I have packed no diapers, bottles, sippy cups, special snacks, etc. The girls each packed a backpack of toys, books, dolls etc. I'll hopefully update soon and load some pictures as soon as I can. Can't wait to share our travels. Adios!