Here's a quick video of Jordan walking. Just yesterday , he started walking like a pro! A'int he cute?
Friday, September 12, 2008
Funny Kids
It seems like this is the week of laughs. I thought I'd add a few posts of the kids making me laugh! Enjoy!
Aspen and Kyler enjoying a cantaloupe smile!
Jordan "loading" the dishwasher, complete with Daddy's shoes!
Ryden and the smile reformation. For those of you who have tried to take pictures with Ryden in them, you'll be glad to know he's starting to master the picture-perfect smile! Enjoy this video.
Aspen and Kyler enjoying a cantaloupe smile!
Jordan "loading" the dishwasher, complete with Daddy's shoes!Ryden and the smile reformation. For those of you who have tried to take pictures with Ryden in them, you'll be glad to know he's starting to master the picture-perfect smile! Enjoy this video.
And....(drum roll, please!)...Here it is, the photo we've all been waiting for! Ryden's smile on camera!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
New Home
Where do you even start when SO much has happened? I'm just going to jump to August 13th, when we finally found a home. We'd been searching for awhile, but couldn't quite find something that "fit". But, then we found it...a beautiful home in a great neighborhood. We love everyone at church and feel right at home. We've already gotten to know most of our neighbors and absolutely love them.
Two of our favorite features of our home:
And, the basketball court in the backyard for Enoch. Now, he doesn't have to make mid-day runs to the church to shoot some hoops when his brain shuts down while working. Keep in mind these are all pre-weeding. The house was vacant for 2 months before we got it, so it's still needing some help.
I've had so much fun trying to fill this house. We moved from a much smaller home in Reno and decided to leave most of our old furniture behind. We came with just 1 couch, a coffee table, the piano, the kitchen table and our beds. That's it. We assumed we would move into a house of comparable size or smaller, so we figured we didn't need much else anyway. Well, instead we got a bigger house and have been living with it half empty. Well, like I said above in the "I've been Tagged" blog, I started making a list of everything I would love to find for free for this house. Then, I started checking craigslist periodically. The two things I wanted the most were carpet for the basement and furniture for the family room. Well, last week, I found a couch for the family room. Mind you, most couches listed for free on craigslist really should be free. They're dirty, falling apart, etc. Well, I found a Broyhill couch that looked really nice. The problem was that it was listed a week prior, which generally means there's no way it's still available. But, I called on it and it was. The catch was it was really heavy and was on the 5th floor, with stairs as the only way to move it. Still, we went for it. Enoch moved it with a friend and said it was very light and very easy to move. Here's the crazy part....our family room has Terracotta colored walls and green carpet. I know, gross and really doesn't match. Well, they brought home this couch and it has a plaid pattern of terracotta and green. I couldn't believe it. It actually makes the room look like it was meant to match. Then, that same night I was checking craigslist for a chair to match. I found one that was supposedly sitting in an alley not too far from here. So, Enoch headed out at 11pm (aren't we pathetic?!?!) to get it. It was gone when he got there, but there on the dumpster was just enough great carpet to fill our basement. I told my brother about it the next day and told him I was adding more things to my "free" list. He asked me what I had up there now. I responded, "2 bar stools..." He quickly interrupted and said, "oh yeah, I meant to call you. I found 2 bar stools in our storage that we aren't using...do you want them?!?" I had to laugh. So, now I have bar stools, too. This morning I woke up and thought, "I sure would love a bedside table for my scriptures, phone, etc." I added it to my free list and tonight a family down the street put a bedside table out for free!! Crazy! I'm really having fun with this.
So, we're in our home, love it and can't wait for all of you to come visit!
Two of our favorite features of our home:The awesome playset for the kids!
And, the basketball court in the backyard for Enoch. Now, he doesn't have to make mid-day runs to the church to shoot some hoops when his brain shuts down while working. Keep in mind these are all pre-weeding. The house was vacant for 2 months before we got it, so it's still needing some help.
I've had so much fun trying to fill this house. We moved from a much smaller home in Reno and decided to leave most of our old furniture behind. We came with just 1 couch, a coffee table, the piano, the kitchen table and our beds. That's it. We assumed we would move into a house of comparable size or smaller, so we figured we didn't need much else anyway. Well, instead we got a bigger house and have been living with it half empty. Well, like I said above in the "I've been Tagged" blog, I started making a list of everything I would love to find for free for this house. Then, I started checking craigslist periodically. The two things I wanted the most were carpet for the basement and furniture for the family room. Well, last week, I found a couch for the family room. Mind you, most couches listed for free on craigslist really should be free. They're dirty, falling apart, etc. Well, I found a Broyhill couch that looked really nice. The problem was that it was listed a week prior, which generally means there's no way it's still available. But, I called on it and it was. The catch was it was really heavy and was on the 5th floor, with stairs as the only way to move it. Still, we went for it. Enoch moved it with a friend and said it was very light and very easy to move. Here's the crazy part....our family room has Terracotta colored walls and green carpet. I know, gross and really doesn't match. Well, they brought home this couch and it has a plaid pattern of terracotta and green. I couldn't believe it. It actually makes the room look like it was meant to match. Then, that same night I was checking craigslist for a chair to match. I found one that was supposedly sitting in an alley not too far from here. So, Enoch headed out at 11pm (aren't we pathetic?!?!) to get it. It was gone when he got there, but there on the dumpster was just enough great carpet to fill our basement. I told my brother about it the next day and told him I was adding more things to my "free" list. He asked me what I had up there now. I responded, "2 bar stools..." He quickly interrupted and said, "oh yeah, I meant to call you. I found 2 bar stools in our storage that we aren't using...do you want them?!?" I had to laugh. So, now I have bar stools, too. This morning I woke up and thought, "I sure would love a bedside table for my scriptures, phone, etc." I added it to my free list and tonight a family down the street put a bedside table out for free!! Crazy! I'm really having fun with this.
So, we're in our home, love it and can't wait for all of you to come visit!
Fixing Up the Yard
Well, it's been quite a feat trying to get the yard up to par. The house has been completely vacant for 2 months and the yard wasn't cared for much by the renters that were here until then. So, needless to say, the yard has needed some TLC. I've spent several days trimming bushes, pulling weeds, and mowing. I even pulled several stalks of milk thistle that were taller than me!
For family night, we challenged the kids to see who could get the biggest pile of weeds. These pictures were taken near the start of the night. By the end, we had had filled 2 of our huge garbage cans with grass and weeds!
Kyler weeding the sandbox!
Enoch got the task of mowing the long grass! The mower stopped several times in some sections. Finally, we gave up and resorted to weed wacking the area first so the mower could make it through! We finally got it done, though, and after a few more trimmings over the past couple of weeks, we finally have a great yard! As for the weeds, I still have a bit to go!
For family night, we challenged the kids to see who could get the biggest pile of weeds. These pictures were taken near the start of the night. By the end, we had had filled 2 of our huge garbage cans with grass and weeds!
Kyler weeding the sandbox!
Enoch got the task of mowing the long grass! The mower stopped several times in some sections. Finally, we gave up and resorted to weed wacking the area first so the mower could make it through! We finally got it done, though, and after a few more trimmings over the past couple of weeks, we finally have a great yard! As for the weeds, I still have a bit to go!Jordan....So Cute
You just have to check out this video. Jordan has a habit that we love. And, at the tail end you'll see him trying to walk. He's such a cutey!!
A New Year of School
Aspen's first day of school.
I drove her to school. She couldn't wait to see her teacher again and meet all her new friends. I can't believe I'm sending another one off to school!
Aspen outside of her school.
Aspen waiting in line with her classmates before entering school for the first time. You could tell the veteran mom's from the first timers. The first timers couldn't leave while the veterans quickly left. One woman exclaimed, "Freedom!" as she left the playground. I have to admit, I was a mixture of both. I can't believe she started school. I'll miss her, but I also look forward to spending some focused time with the younger two.
Kyler started 2nd grade this year! Our school is significantly far from our home, so the kids get to ride the bus this year! Admittedly, I have loved the chance to walk with them to and from the bus stop. It's just a nice chance to stop what I'm doing and focus just on them. We get to talk about all they're excited for and all they did at school when they get home. Kyler loves to take Jordan with us. His longest goodbyes are with Jordan in the mornings.
Aspen and Kyler coming home on their first full day together.
I drove her to school. She couldn't wait to see her teacher again and meet all her new friends. I can't believe I'm sending another one off to school!
Aspen outside of her school.
Aspen waiting in line with her classmates before entering school for the first time. You could tell the veteran mom's from the first timers. The first timers couldn't leave while the veterans quickly left. One woman exclaimed, "Freedom!" as she left the playground. I have to admit, I was a mixture of both. I can't believe she started school. I'll miss her, but I also look forward to spending some focused time with the younger two.
Kyler started 2nd grade this year! Our school is significantly far from our home, so the kids get to ride the bus this year! Admittedly, I have loved the chance to walk with them to and from the bus stop. It's just a nice chance to stop what I'm doing and focus just on them. We get to talk about all they're excited for and all they did at school when they get home. Kyler loves to take Jordan with us. His longest goodbyes are with Jordan in the mornings.
Aspen and Kyler coming home on their first full day together.Fun In Colorado
Since we moved here in July, we have had SO much fun. So, following are just a few glimpses at some of the fun times we've had.
We love the weather here. It's almost always perfect weather for a BBQ outside for dinner. Of course, Jordan wasn't expecting the shower he got when Dad bit into his burger!
Shortly after we got here, we went to Lakeside Amusement Park with my brother, Brent and his family. We had a blast!
The entire group taking a train ride around the park
As the other kids got in line for the ferris wheel, Aspen announced she hated ferris wheels. But, just as it was getting ready to go, she changed her mind and wanted to get on. It only took one turn around before she decided she really didn't like them. The attendant tried to stop the ride, but the cart behind Aspen was carrying an older, heavier girl. Each time Aspen's cart would come back to the bottom, gravity would take over and the girl's cart would spring forward, pushing Aspen back up in the air. Poor girl. She got more and more upset until finally after another 4 or 5 rounds we were able to get her off the ride!
Ryden, on the other hand, has no qualms about falling from high heights (nor does his cousin, Sierra for that matter). On this ride, they went way up in the sky and then did a series of free falls. I was shocked they loved it! And, with no hands! I would have been holding on tight to the bar, myself.
Speaking of Ryden and Sierra, they're like 2 peas in a pod. They're such good friends. Ryden wakes up every day begging to play with Sierra. And, when they play, they get along so well. I love living by cousins!
The first day of the Olympics, we held an Olympics of our own at the park by Brent's house. The USA had four athletes representing them and, incredibly, all 4 qualified to compete in several events. Congrats to Renen, Kai, Kyler and Aspen who all received medals that day!
Aspen throwing the Javelin
Kyler on shotput.
Aspen on balance beam
Renen and Aspen racing in the relay races
Kai on hurdles.
Kyler and Aspen on the bike section of the triathlon.
Kyler finishing up his triathlon by diving into the water for his final swim of the triathlon! (what do you do if you dont' have a pool?)
A few weeks after we arrived, Littleton celebrated "Western Welcome Week". There were lots of fun things going on nearby.
The kids got their faces painted.
Shortly after we got in line for the face painting, the line grew exponentially. We called over to make sure Kyler didn't want to get his face painted. He didn't. But, when he saw Aspen and Ryden's faces, he changed his mind. But, by now the line was 45 minutes long at least! So, we improvised and stuck Elmer's glue on Kyler's face followed by glitter! It worked. He thought he had the coolest paint job of anyone!
Aspen and the mask she made.
Daddy, Jordan, and Kyler panning for gold and coming up with a bunch of fool's gold!
The Zoo!! I loved the Zoo. Let me just give you a taste of the zoo life we've experienced for the last 2 years. You park outside a home, enter an office located in the original living room/entryway of the home. Walk out the back door where you'll find a peacock to greet you. Then, you walk around dirt paths where panthers, lions, tigers and monkeys are all separated by chainlink fences. It's neat, but freaky at the same time. You're just not too sure a chainlink fence is going to keep that panther away from you! Going to the Denver Zoo was like a dream come true! We got to see so many animals! Of course, I haven't been able to figure it out. Why did I feel safer now that the animals had NO fences to keep them away from us?!?!
Sierra, Ryden and Aspen, acting like bears!
And, finally, Taste of Colorado. Admittedly, it's a bad picture, but I needed to include the memory of us going there. Here the kids were dancing along with a man doing a One-Man Band. They were doing the funky chicken. Aspen is in the middle with her head turned in white. Ryden is squatting in red.
We love the weather here. It's almost always perfect weather for a BBQ outside for dinner. Of course, Jordan wasn't expecting the shower he got when Dad bit into his burger!
Shortly after we got here, we went to Lakeside Amusement Park with my brother, Brent and his family. We had a blast!
The entire group taking a train ride around the park
As the other kids got in line for the ferris wheel, Aspen announced she hated ferris wheels. But, just as it was getting ready to go, she changed her mind and wanted to get on. It only took one turn around before she decided she really didn't like them. The attendant tried to stop the ride, but the cart behind Aspen was carrying an older, heavier girl. Each time Aspen's cart would come back to the bottom, gravity would take over and the girl's cart would spring forward, pushing Aspen back up in the air. Poor girl. She got more and more upset until finally after another 4 or 5 rounds we were able to get her off the ride!
Ryden, on the other hand, has no qualms about falling from high heights (nor does his cousin, Sierra for that matter). On this ride, they went way up in the sky and then did a series of free falls. I was shocked they loved it! And, with no hands! I would have been holding on tight to the bar, myself.
Speaking of Ryden and Sierra, they're like 2 peas in a pod. They're such good friends. Ryden wakes up every day begging to play with Sierra. And, when they play, they get along so well. I love living by cousins!The first day of the Olympics, we held an Olympics of our own at the park by Brent's house. The USA had four athletes representing them and, incredibly, all 4 qualified to compete in several events. Congrats to Renen, Kai, Kyler and Aspen who all received medals that day!
Aspen throwing the Javelin
Kyler on shotput.
Aspen on balance beam
Renen and Aspen racing in the relay races
Kai on hurdles.
Kyler and Aspen on the bike section of the triathlon.
Kyler finishing up his triathlon by diving into the water for his final swim of the triathlon! (what do you do if you dont' have a pool?)
A few weeks after we arrived, Littleton celebrated "Western Welcome Week". There were lots of fun things going on nearby.
The kids got their faces painted.
Shortly after we got in line for the face painting, the line grew exponentially. We called over to make sure Kyler didn't want to get his face painted. He didn't. But, when he saw Aspen and Ryden's faces, he changed his mind. But, by now the line was 45 minutes long at least! So, we improvised and stuck Elmer's glue on Kyler's face followed by glitter! It worked. He thought he had the coolest paint job of anyone!
Aspen and the mask she made.
Daddy, Jordan, and Kyler panning for gold and coming up with a bunch of fool's gold!
The Zoo!! I loved the Zoo. Let me just give you a taste of the zoo life we've experienced for the last 2 years. You park outside a home, enter an office located in the original living room/entryway of the home. Walk out the back door where you'll find a peacock to greet you. Then, you walk around dirt paths where panthers, lions, tigers and monkeys are all separated by chainlink fences. It's neat, but freaky at the same time. You're just not too sure a chainlink fence is going to keep that panther away from you! Going to the Denver Zoo was like a dream come true! We got to see so many animals! Of course, I haven't been able to figure it out. Why did I feel safer now that the animals had NO fences to keep them away from us?!?!
Sierra, Ryden and Aspen, acting like bears!
And, finally, Taste of Colorado. Admittedly, it's a bad picture, but I needed to include the memory of us going there. Here the kids were dancing along with a man doing a One-Man Band. They were doing the funky chicken. Aspen is in the middle with her head turned in white. Ryden is squatting in red.
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