Little Blessings

Tomorrow starts the journey of Little Blessings Kids Consignment, LLC!! I have rented the Lions Club building in Bayfield and have 17 contributors bringing their stuff tomorrow. I am so nervous about it all. I have invested ALOT into getting this organized and am so afraid that no one will show up to buy the stuff that these 17 have brought to the sale so PLEASE, if you are reading this on Friday or Saturday, pray that people will come on Saturday and buy their stuff! Don't know what's going to happen but I am here for the ride! This is my (Christian) friend Sandi....aka my aerobics partner...and her precious son Jonah.....she's one of my contributors.....

Thanks for the prayers!

4 Wheeler Riding

Saturday we went up Middle Mt. on our 4 wheelers with Amy and Jason Knox and their kids. They moved here from Texas and are living with Amy's mom Janie who is our music leader. They "think" that the economy is responsible for them having to move here but we really know it was God putting them here for us! They've been such a blessing to us as they have a son (Cooper) and a daughter (Tommy Jane) who make church a little more fun for our kids. They also carpool to school with us in the mornings.
Anyway, the ride up was fun but got very dusty and cold. It actually started snowing on us and you can see in the picture that there is still some snow up there. We stopped at the gravel pit where there are hills and bumps that almost gave me a heart attack! (Landon is wild!!)
Mason and I were partners......

This is Jason and Landon......

Cooper and Mason at the gravel pit.....

Amy and Tommy Jane......

Mike and Mason......

Mason's friend Clyde came along with us on his dirt bike....

Please pray for me this week.....my first consignment sale is this week end and I am very nervous about it. I am suffering from anxiety over it (stupid I know but I've invested a lot into this) and just would like to shut down.....but I'm not going to with God's help! Thanks!

The Magic Swing

Sandi Wray, my friend and aerobic partner, has this wonderful swing at her house that the boys think is the greatest invention on earth! Every day they ask if they can go over and swing and it drives me CRAZY! Why is this swing to great? Because you swing off of a platform that's a little over 6 feet tall. This is our new tourist adventure so if you ever come visit, rest assured that you will get the chance to swing on this magical swing!!

It gives you butterflies in your stomach every time!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY APPI!

MY FOREVER FRIEND APPI PATE HAD A BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK AND I FORGOT TO POST A HAPPY BIRTHDAY MESSAGE......SO....HAPPY BIRTHDAY APPI! I DID AT LEAST POST A BIRTHDAY WISH ON FACEBOOK AND TRIED TO CALL HER SO I DIDN'T FORGET HER BIRTHDAY...JUST AM FORGETTING TO POST BIRTHDAY BLOGS!

ANYWAY, APPI AND I HAVE BEEN BEST FRIENDS SINCE KINDERGARTEN. I MARRIED A "MIKE" AND SHE MARRIED A "MIKE"......WE BOTH HAVE 2 BOYS AND A GIRL, ALL OF WHOM ARE THE SAME AGE. WE KNOW EACH OTHER SO WELL THAT WE CAN FINISH EACH OTHER'S THOUGHTS! ALTHOUGH WE DON'T GET TO SPEND MUCH TIME TOGETHER, WE HAVE A CLOSENESS THAT IS UNIQUE AND I CAN'T IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT HER. SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME AND GAVE ME THE TRUTH, WHETHER I WANTED TO HEAR IT OR NOT. I LOVE YOU APPI!

Wax Museum

So the 5th graders had to participate in what they called a Wax Museum on Tuesday night for the family and yesterday for the school. Each kid was assigned a historical figure, write a report about them and say a small speech telling about their life. I thought it was adorable! They were all seated in chairs along the wall and each had a button above them. When you mash their button, they have to stand up and give their speech. Granted, they had to repeat this speech over and over and over so Mason was a little worn out by the time it was over. Here are some pictures of the historical figures......see if you can guess who they are......

Introducing Mason Owen as............

WALT WHITMAN

Cash as Lance Armstrong

Here's Sitting Bull

Mason's buddy Clyde as John Paul Jones

This was hilarious! It's Martin Luther King!! (no black kids are in this school so that's all face paint!)

This is Nicolas who has Downs Syndrome. He loves Mickey Mouse so he is actually Walt Disney. He did an awesome job with his speech!

Calamity Jane

Sydney as Abigail Adams

Mason's friend Brandon as Charles Shultz and last but not least........................

AAAHHHHHHHHHH...it's ELVIS!!!

Spring has Sprung!

NO...WE DO NOT HAVE SNOW!!! I hear that my family has been asked several dozen times by people if we had snow and I am so thankful to report that no, it is north CO and we are south CO. There was a flurry or two last week and it did snow two nights but both days the snow was gone by lunch. We had a beautiful weekend and today it was up to 72 degrees. It is kind of windy near the lake but still our weekend was full of out door fun! We played kick ball, rode four wheelers, and went swinging on an awesome tree swing at Sandy's. Here are some pictures from our four wheeling on Sunday....
This is out behind the house at the end of the lake bed.....

We also found back there a huge meteor hole!! No, it was really just a hole someone dug out but it looked like one! It had soft dirt in it so the kids had as much fun playing in it as they did riding the ATV....

Mason jumping over Landon.....

And at Mason's request, he wanted me to post a live jump for whatever reason.......

The Silvey's are gone!

I'm sad that the much anticipated vacation of the Silvey's is over and gone now! I think they enjoyed the area and beautiful scenery. To pick up from the last blog, we spent the next day in Durango doing a little shopping. We ate at the Carver Brewing Co. (sorry, every restaurant has a bar) and I actually went in some shops that I had never been in. We got a little Starbucks coffee, a little Cold Stone Creamry, and a little Rocky Mt. Chocolate!! Yum!

They left out yesterday morning, heading to Albuquerque for a 3:50 flight. And again, I had to fight sadness all day as I hate living so far from these loyal and fun friends of ours. However, I felt really blessed to have 5 days with them and even though there are miles between our homes, there's no miles between our hearts.....we love you Tammy, Jeff, and Tyler!

Mason is spending the night away tonight with his friend Chance. This is his first sleep over since we have moved here and it is very quiet around this house tonight. We have a busy week next week because his ballgames start, he has Wax Museum...along with guitar lessons and baseball practice. We get out of school on May 13th and they have a 4 day weekend next weekend...yea! Tomorrow we plan to take the kids swimming at the rec center since they haven't got to swim since all of Haven's broken bones! It has snowed the last two nights but the snow is always gone by lunch. Starting Sunday, we should have a week of sunny days so I can't wait! By the way, I am proud to say that both boys got in to the gifted program....I don't want to sound like I am bragging but I am a very proud Mama!!

The Silvey's are here!

Tammy, Jeff, and Tyler got here Sunday around 5!! They flew in from Albuquerque and went straight to the lake for some Easter fishing! Yesterday, we took them to Silverton and Ouray and the ride was still gorgeous. Lots of snow up there so Tyler got to try snowboarding....

Tammy survived the very treacherous drive around curvy, winding mountains roads to get there....Mike made her VERY nervous!

Today we went to Mesa Verde National Park...a place where the Pueblo Indians created cave dwellings under alcoves back in 1100 AD. It is a huge tourist attraction and was pretty neat to see. Tammy didn't make the tour of the Cliff Palace because she didn't want to be cold! (it was only 52 degrees!!) Here are some shots from the day.......

There were a couple of tight squeezes and several latters to climb to get in and out of the Cliff Palace........

The most fun part of our trip thus far is listening to Mike and Jeff who THINK they are so funny....the reason they are such close friends is because they understand each other's humor and laugh at each other's comments since no one else does! (Just kidding guys..you really are funny together!) We're having a blast and I Praise God for such wonderful friends!

Happy Resurrection Day!!

I sure hope everyone is having an awesome Easter! We attended the Vallecito Service League's Easter Party (next door at the bar!) yesterday and had a wonderful time meeting new people. All of the snow was gone on Friday and we woke up Saturday to 3 new inches so we had an INDOOR hunt. They really know how to throw a party for kids......we came home with easter baskets full of little toys, money and candy in our eggs and 3 cakes from the cake walk! Haven got her face painted and here she is with her new buddy Tommy Jane......

"Look at all the eggs I found Mama".....Isn't her hair cute? I cut it when we got home from Alabama last week.....bet you didn't know about my hidden talent!! No...I REALLY have to take her somewhere to get it straighten out in the back but I love it....it is so cute!!

The snow was still around this morning when it was time for church....this is a shot of the kids before church......

We had a breakfast first this morning that was awesome and had several guest come to it. The service was great also has we had as many visitors there as we had members. Here is our annual family portrait on Easter......could we be more mis-matched????
The snow is gone again and it is a gorgeous day.....

Now we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Jeff, Tammy, and Tyler Silvey!!! What a sweet end to a great Easter!!

HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY HAIDEE!!

MY NIECE HAIDEE TURNS 14 TODAY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAIDEE!! SHE IS ONE OF THE SWEETEST KIDDOS I KNOW!! VERY KIND HEARTED AND COMPASSIONATE.....WE LOVE YOU HAIDEE!! HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

Good Friday to everyone! (Lori)

I know this is kind of late in the day so many of you will not read this until next week but I had to comment on Good Friday. Maybe it's because I have more time on my hands today or I watched a kid video about the crucifixction/resurrection last night or women's bible study was great today or it is an absolutely gorgeous day so I've been outside more then usual OR ALL OF THIS COMBINED, but I have really been meditating today on what Christ did for us on the day He died and praising HIM for the sacrifice that He made for ME....and YOU....and everyone else! I am so unworthy of the redemption He provided for me on that day. It was a day filled with "sorrow and love", sorrow that our Savior had to suffer for doing nothing wrong, sorrow that He had to pay for MY sins, sorrow that it only took 30 silver coins to crucify the Savior of the World......and love...love that God showed in giving up His only Son, love showed by Jesus who didn't desire it but was WILLING to do it if it was God's will, love to give ME eternal life in heaven.
What are you WILLING to do for Him?

May this Easter weekend be filled with the abundant grace and knowledge that HE did this for YOU! Love you all!
Lori

Congratulations to Mason!

Congratulations goes out to Mason for getting Citizen of the Month in his room for the month of March for PERSEVERENCE! His teacher picked him because he has persevered a move across the country! His teacher obviously knows Mason's love for Alabama as he wears an Alabama shirt at least 4 out of 5 days a week!! They had a special breakfast for the families to come to and a presentation to the students on Tuesday morning this week. My pictures are fuzzy for some reason

We're proud of you Mason!! (and feel Landon deserved it also!)

We're back...(Part 2) Lori

So to pick up where I left off....

We left Cullman and headed to Tuscaloosa to pick up the much awaited, much anticipated PUPPY at Uncle Bill and Aunt Rose's house. She is so cute!!! Uncle Bill has been holding her for us for 5 weeks and I believe he may have been a little sad to see her go! So this is our Lucy.....

Tuesday was a day of rest for me.....I was so super tired because we had been on the go none stop for 4 days. We spent some time with Mama Kaye and Pop and then Nuna when she got off of work. Wednesday, Denise was off work so we went to Fayette to their nice park for a picnic and to play on their playground. Denise checked Sydney out of school and Hannah, Haidee, and Hallie met us there so the kids got some special time with their cousins! Here are some shots from that day....

.

Thursday, we met my brothers Mike and Kerry and their family in Vernon for supper. The weather was really bad, tornado warnings out and all so thank you for "risking your life" to meet with us!! It was an awesome seafood buffet......they don't have buffets out here so I loved it!!

Crawfish anyone??? ( Is crawfish seafood?? I know it LOOKS like a lobster but...)

On Friday, Mom took the boys to see a movie and I met Appi and Lillie for a little shopping and Chuck E. Cheeses.....

Friday night, the kids got to see Carter and Caleb at Mama Kaye's who prepared a feast as always! Mike's brothers wanted in on pics.....

Somehow I seem to always miss Caleb for pictures....he's just so quiet and hidden in the back room most of the time with my boys! Sorry!!

We left out Saturday morning with tears in our eyes to begin our journey back to a far away land! Mike had a very long week and definitely does not like being alone. We picked up Robyn around 3:00 and met Meghan Bishop Preston in Tyler, TX, for a quick visit with her and her sweet baby Preston. He is so adorable and she is as tiny as ever!! I'm jealous!

We made it to Vernon, TX, to spend the night. I felt like I would NEVER get out of Texas!! But we finally did around 12:00 on Sunday!! We made it home at 7:30 Sunday night to a very happy-to-see-that-we-came-back Daddy!! It was tiring and my legs really need an SUV if I ever do that again..... but a small price to pay to see people that I love!