Family Fun - Mustaches

A while back I found these mustaches before Halloween and thought I'd pick some up for us to play with. Riann is obsessed with mustaches and loves to point them out on anyone who is wearing one with in 10 feet of us. She gets so excited when she sees one on someone and is very vocal about it. We've occasionally had people think she was making fun on them as she excitedly pointed and told us what she saw but once we explained to them that she was just admiring their mustache, most often with envy, they always seemed to enjoy her excitement as much as she enjoyed their mustache. With her love for them I decided I'd pick these up and surprise her with them and she LOVED them!!! I was also surprised at how much fun the other kids had with them too. We really had a great time playing while they lasted.

Each kiddo with their 'stache.

I don't know if you can tell but Roslyn has "sideburns" on too.

So glad she enjoys participating in stuff like this. Best smile EVER!!!

A little family time. The picture on the top left kills me every time!!!

The cutest "hairy" kids in the world!!

Colby News!!!!

I just got a phone call from Colby's doctor at Primary Children's and he no longer needs his oxygen machine!!!! I'm anxious about stopping it but this day has been a long time coming. We're very excited!! Thank you all for your prayers and support over the last two years. We wouldn't have gotten to this point without it.

Sleep Study #3

Colby had his third sleep study this weekend and he did great. Paul got to do this sleep study with him again and they both did great. It's so hard for me to let go and let someone else do these appointments with Colby because I know how hard they are but I couldn't leave Roslyn because she's still being breastfed and so far wont take a bottle for anyone. We got to go down to Salt Lake City for most of the weekend because my brother Jake graduated from his masters program and everyone came out for it. It was so great to see almost all of our family again. It had been a while.

The day of the sleep study was a little chaotic. Paul was in Texas for training the whole week before so I took the kids out and stayed with Jake and Amanda for a few days before everyone came into town. We tried to schedule all of Colby's doctor appointments at the same time while we were there so we met with his ENT on Thursday, played with family on Friday and Saturday and then on Saturday night we had his appointment. Saturday was a fun day for everyone. We got up early to catch the train into Salt Lake and spent the whole day there. We went ice skating, finally met back up with Paul, ate at Tucanos, did a little shopping at The Gateway, saw the lights at Temple Square and then sent Colby and Paul off for the study. It wasn't until Paul and Colby said goodbye before I realized I hadn't packed a single thing for Colby the night of the study. Paul had a few things for him because he still had all of luggage from his trip but because we were spending the whole day in Salt Lake in the middle of December I was more worried about making sure everyone was dressed warm enough for our activities and completely forgot that Colby wasn't coming home with me before he was going to check in at the hospital. After a brief break down everyone reassured me that everything was going to be okay and thankfully it was. There are so many great programs that these (Primary Children's) hospitals provide and I am so grateful to them for making sure Colby had some of the comforts of home while he was there. Because I had forgotten to pack him a blanket and other comfort things I thought he'd might need, the hospital gave him a donated a beautiful quilt from the "Pillows for Patience" program that provides pillowcases and blankets for young kids who are "stuck" in the hospital. It was such a relief when Paul told me how well he was being taken care of.

The had a bit of a rough start getting everything set up on Colby. He wasn't too happy about all he wires and because he drinks milk now we had to save his milk for bed time and couldn't give him a bottle during set up because I was only able to send two bottles to the hospital with them. Once all of the wires were on and Colby was able to cuddle with Paul again he calmed down and was good to go. Thankfully it didn't take Colby too long to get to sleep, we're thinking that doing so much during the day probably helped him settle a lot faster than he did with past tests. He slept great through the night which means they probably got a good reading on him and hopefully we'll get good results. His ENT said that his laryngomalasia looked great and because he sounds great we should expect good news but we're still praying everything goes well and his apnea is gone. His doctor did say that Colby's androids were a little on the larger side so if he doesn't pass this test we might have to schedule an appointment to get those out but for now everything should be okay.

Paul always rolls his eyes at me when he does the appointments because I am very concerned about getting pictures but thankfully he knows how much it matters to me and he knows how bad I want to be there so he updated me with texts/photos as much as he could while they were away. Here are a few of the pictures he sent me.

Paul and Colby at check in. As you can see Colby wasn't too happy about the wires right after they added the nasal cannula but Paul was able to calm him down and they had a "good" time after that.

Getting started. This photo breaks my heart. He knows he has to do it but he sure isn't happy about it.
My little guy is so strong. He really is one of my hero's.

Getting ready for sleep and finally passing out. Poor guy. I have no clue how he sleeps with those wires on.

ALL DONE!!! Those wires are MESSY but its nice to see them off of him. I was so happy when he finally came home and we could get him all cleaned up and I could cuddle him.

This was the blanket and pillow the hospital gave to Colby. I'm so grateful for these programs and knowing my baby is being taken care of when I can't be there with him. This simple gesture means so much to me.
More than any of those who donate know.

I love this little guy so much. He has been through so much in his short life so far but still brings so much joy to those around him. He makes everyone smile and has a laugh that is so contagious. I can't wait to see what he grows into. He's going to do great things!!

November, A Month of Gratitude

On Facebook last year a bunch of my friends listed all of the things they were grateful for daily for the month of November in honor of Thanksgiving. I can't remember why but I didn't get to start on the first day of November last year so I skipped doing it. I'm a little bummed I didn't just catch up and do it but for some reason I have this terrible "all or nothing" outlook on life and I copped out. This year though I wanted to make sure I participated and it was so much fun. It really was a challenge for me and I'm so grateful I completed it. In doing the challenge I also wanted to make sure that I actually put thought into it and that I didn't just come up with the things I always seem grateful for. I wanted to find a lot of hidden blessings in my life and I found SO many bright moments that a lot of the time it was hard to pick just one thing to give thanks for each day. It also made me think, "is this going to be something I'll be thankful for later?" and just approaching the day like that made me more aware of my blessings and my attitude was often much better as the day went on. So with no more explanation for why I found this a great experience here are just a few of my blessings I'm thankful for!!

November 1st: I'm thankful for my little man who turned two today. Even on his worst days he still brings light to my life. Love you Colby. Happy Birthday!!!

November 2nd: I'm so grateful for older kids who sleep in. Roslyn sleeps in pretty good too but I could certainly go for her cutting out her 530am feeding. After long nights, with undetermined numbers of feeding, it sure is a blessing that everyone gets up later than your average child does.

November 3rd: I'm thankful for a husband who lets me vent, yell and cry when I'm stressed out and upset. Even though sometimes I want him to be mad with me and it frustrates me even more when he's not, I'm grateful that he is able to calm me down and helps me look at the brighter side. I know everything is going to be okay when he's around. I love you Paul!!

November 4th: I'm grateful for parents who taught me right. That French toast, pancakes and waffles should all be eaten with peanut butter and maple syrup on top. The other options are "okay" but peanut butter and syrup equals heaven on a plate.

November 5th: I'm grateful modern medicine and the role it's played in our lives. Without the today's medical devices and testing options I don't want to think about where Colby could possibly have been in the first few months after he was born. We were able figure out what was wrong and take corrective measures quickly when we knew there was a problem and not have lasting medical problems because of the help we received. I'm grateful for the equipment/medicine that has been able to help children of my friends have a fighting chance or give other friends the last few precious moments they needed with their child. Whenever I get frustrated with the oxygen equipment here at the house or see our power bill that could be lower if we didn't have to use it or I'm tired of making the next appointment to follow up on things with Colby, I am reminded that we are blessed to be able to have equipment here at home and hospitals "near" by that keep my child healthy and that we don't have to check in or stay in the hospital every day. My heart goes out to those whose children are in the hospital or the NICU and have to travel and spend days, weeks and months away from their kids. I'm grateful that we are living in a time where science can advance enough to give a child born at 20 weeks an honest chance at life and thousands of people more time to achieve their goals every single day.

November 6th: I am thankful to know where I can look for guidance during uncertain times when it's hard to find light in the world.

♫ We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays.
We thank thee for every blessing
Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee
And love to obey thy command.

When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliv’rance is nigh.
We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.
We’ve proved him in days that are past.
The wicked who fight against Zion
Will surely be smitten at last.

We’ll sing of his goodness and mercy.
We’ll praise him by day and by night,
Rejoice in his glorious gospel,
And bask in its life-giving light.
Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go,
While they who reject this glad message
Shall never such happiness know. ♫

November 7th: I am grateful today for the extra sunshine we've had over the last few weeks. I knew winter wasn't completely ready to settle in but the last week or two have been wonderful and a true blessing with what is going to potentially be a really hard winter.

November 8th: I'm grateful for cameras. As most of you already know I'm a little obsessed with taking photos (as I have 13,253 photos loaded on FB alone) but I am so grateful I can take pictures of my kids and our lives and document the things that are important to us. I'm also grateful that I can upload them in places like FB because our families are so far away and we hate how many things they can't see in person but being able to document life with photos and things like that makes it easier for everyone to enjoy life with us.

November 9th: I'm grateful for my little family. Sometimes these kids drive me crazy but each time I watch them accomplish something new, take pride in something they did, listen to a "command" or say a new word, it brings me joy and increases my love for them exponentially. I love seeing their determination, even if it gets them in trouble, but know that it will make them a better person later in life. It's amazing to know that I helped create them but know that they are "on loan" from the Lord and that He is trusting me with a great responsibility. I take this seriously and know that I will be accountable for helping them develop into the person they'll become some day. I only hope that I'm doing a good enough job, especially on days that seem the hardest.

November 10th: We watched Battleship tonight and I was going to post this later but between the movie, Veteran's Day coming up, and it being the Marines Birthday today, it has been stuck in my mind, so I'm just going to say it. I'm grateful for our troops. They perform a duty that I don't think I could ever do myself. They risk their lives to protect my freedoms and my family and they do it without ever having met me. They sacrifice time, holidays, big events and memories away from their families to protect, honor and serve our country. They are our strongest warriors and some of my biggest heroes.

I also am grateful for our Veterans who have sacrificed the same time away from family but have helped protect my future and have helped lay the ground work for the future of my children. May we not let their sacrifice be in vain and may we pray for our country, our freedom and for those who keep us safe every single day.

November 11th: I'm thankful for laughter today. When Colby and Riann really get playing, they have the BEST laughs in the world. It is so contagious and it can't help but put you in a better mood. I wish I could get it on tape but usually we're enjoying ourselves too much to change directions.

November 12th: I'm grateful today for this girl. Sometimes she drives me nuts and we are still learning to get along here and there but when I look back at pictures like this I have to remind myself, "No wonder where she gets it..." Love you babe!!!

November 13th: I'm thankful for my gym membership. I was thinking about it on the way to this gym today that it's wonderful to not have to go at 5am or at 9pm when the kids are down and I'm positive Roslyn wont wake up for Paul. I wish the prices were better but it really is a blessing to be able to take the kids with me, to a place they love to play, and get a little me/physical time in during the day. Now if only I could get more focused and make all of this physical time count!!!!

November 14th: I'm thankful for the snow. My snow gratitude comes and goes but I really do enjoy the kids getting excited every morning when they see it, even if we don't get new stuff. Seeing the world through their eyes really does make it better.

November 15th: I'm thankful tonight that I'm going to bed early-ish and get to enjoy as much sleep as I can manage, between feedings, and that I'm not at the theater trying to watch the newest Twilight movie with a million crazy women, of all ages, crying out for Jacob and Edward. Sweet dreams all!!!!

November 16th: You all knew this was coming... I'm thankful today for hot water!!! It's been a rough week here at our place but I know there are plenty of people who don't have the luxury of hot, or even running, water. I'm so grateful to have our hot water back and working. It really is a blessing that water is so easily accessible to our home and family and not something I take for granted.

November 17th: I'm grateful for family time. Tonight was wonderful. We got to simply hang out, let the kids run crazy and play, and laugh at all the silly things they did. Nights like this are good for the soul.

November 18th: I'm thankful for eternity. Some days it seems like forever but most of the time eternity doesn't seem long enough. I'm grateful for a church that believes in eternity and teaches you to plan on eternity. I love my family so much and the promise that we can be together for time and all eternity, not just until "death do you part", is something that keeps me going every single day. I'm grateful that I don't have to worry about those I love when they pass because we will be together again.

November 19th: I'm grateful for my in-laws. ALL OF THEM. I've been given some of the best sisters-in-law in the world and it's been a blessing to have them as a part of my life. I didn't get sisters by blood and these girls really make up for the years I went without. I'm also grateful for my brothers-in-law and the chance to get to know them better. They're so much cooler than I originally thought they were and so easy to get along with. I'm also VERY grateful for Paul's parents. I've known Paul and his family for 20+ years, with the majority of that time being closest to his parents, and I couldn't be more blessed. They are amazing examples of love and patience. They have always accepted me, good and bad, and I've always felt loved and accepted in their lives. I just might be the luckiest girl in the world for the extended family I've got.

November 20th: Today I'm thankful for the rain. It's so different living here where rain is such a necessity for the area and you can't help but pray it will come. As opposed to living in Seattle where you just wish someday it'll stop. Rainy days out here are rare but I appreciate them so much. It makes me feel closer to home and more at peace than I ever thought a rainy day could.

November 21st: I'm grateful for my neighbors, both next door and around the corner. I live next to some of the most amazing people in the world. I know I can ask them for help anytime of the day, or night, and that if I'm ever in need of protection, they've got my back. I'm grateful for their friendship and kindness and it's a joy to be outside or walking through the neighborhood(s) knowing that we're surrounded by some pretty awesome people.

November 22nd: I'm grateful I know just enough about cooking to pull off a decent Thanksgiving dinner. It wasn't fancy, or perfect, but it was good and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. It was a little harder this year not celebrating with other people but we had a good time. I'm excited to not have to work tomorrow (for the first time in 6 years) and that I get to spend more time with my family. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope you all had a great day!!!

November 23rd: I'm grateful for Paul's job. We've been so blessed by the place Paul's been working over the last year. They have been great to work with and they did so much for him while he was in school and they've been a great spot to get started in "the business", however after they lost their rights to the Volkswagen franchise it was time for us to start looking for a new place to work so that Paul could follow his passion and continue on with Audi/Volkswagen. After about 3 months of looking over different options, Paul has been hired over at Teton Toyota and will be starting Monday as one of the two new technicians over at the new Teton Volkswagen. Within the next year they will have a brand new dealership and service department and we're so excited for the opportunities this is going to open up for Paul. We're grateful to be back on track and back in a position for growth and development.

November 24th: I'm grateful for the time we've gotten to have Paul hang out with us this week. He's going to be pretty busy over the next couple weeks starting his new job and the last few days have been great having him around to play with. And I can't complain about being able to sleep in a little bit each morning either. Love you babe!!! ;-)

November 25th: I'm grateful that my kids love each other so much. They have the normal spats every now and then but its never as bad as it could be, and never in a spiteful way. They are always excited to see each other again anytime they've been apart, even after something as simple as sleeping at naps or bed time. They enjoy playing together so much and even Roslyn gets excited when they involve her in what they're doing. I can't wait for them to get older because I really do believe there will always be an underlying love for each other that will trump all hard situations later in life and I'm so grateful that they're developing this love now because it's only going to get harder from here.

November 26th: I'm grateful for nap time and the few moments of peace it brings me each day. Nap time is my time and I eat it up!!!

November 27th: I'm thankful for all of our grandparents (the kids' great-grandparents). We are lucky to have all 8 of them alive and that the kids have been able to build memories with all of them. I'm also specifically grateful for my grandparents, for their love and direction in my life. I've taken different paths here and there in life but always found their love unconditional and at times that's exactly what I needed to get back on track. There are many lessons left to be learned from all of them.

November 28th: I'm grateful for sleep, which I don't get nearly enough of. I might elaborate more tomorrow but for now my bed is calling my name... G'Night all!!!

November 29th: I'm so grateful for Colby's speech development over the last little bit. I've been so worried about him for a while now but in the last few months his speech has blossomed. It's wonderful! The world is amazing through his eyes and it's so great to have him tell me all about it. It's also fun watching his eyes light up as he thinks about words and how they need to be used. It's amazing how much understanding comes from just one word here and there and it has been so fun to watch him get excited about talking to us, even when he knows he's in trouble and asks "why?" NONSTOP as you try to explain it all to him.

November 30th: I'm grateful I did this challenge. I know it drove a lot of people nuts that we were all doing these posts and I want to say thank you for bearing with me. It reminded me how blessed I am for the many things I have both temporally and spiritually. Sitting down every night and really thinking about what I've been given and truly understanding where these blessings come from gives me a new perspective on where I am in life and how much potential each day has. I am truly blessed.

Dinner and a Walk Down Memory Lane

We've been trying really hard to overhaul our dinners and start eating a whole lot healthier. We're still working hard at it but a few months ago we had this for dinner and it was WONDERFUL!!! The kids loved it because they could pick out exactly what they wanted and got to customize their own plate. They also got to eat as little or as much as they wanted and that made them very happy, mostly because I tend to over serve them.

This meal was also fun for me because I have fond memories of when Paul and I first started dating and our early months of being married and we'd be over at his parents house and his mom would pull out a few blankets and a collection of things like this from the pantry and fridge and everyone would join together and have a great time eating and talking and laughing. I remember the first time we did it Kathy started pulling out the blankets and everyone seemed to know what was going on and I just sat and watched as everyone got together and waited for the snacks to arrive. It was so fun to watch a different tradition and it's something I hope we do together in our small family as we grow up too. So far we haven't had a "picnic dinner" in the front room because the kids are too small but we try to have a meal like this a few times a month and we try to keep it really relaxed and just let the kids eat and enjoy making whatever meal they want for the evening. So far it's been a lot of fun.

Our trip to Washington from July

Right after Paul's graduation he was supposed to resume his training with work and was scheduled for a trip to California. I wasn't prepared to be home alone with all three kids so we planned a trip home to Washington to play with family while Paul was off getting his work stuff done.

It was quite the adventure for us and we learned a lot about flying with kids AND traveling with oxygen equipment and all of that fun stuff. It took a few weeks and lots and lots of phone calls to get everything organized but come the day of the flight we were ready to go.

When we got to the airport the kids were so excited to help and get going. Riann was responsible for a suitcase and Colby was responsible for riding along and staying put! Everyone loved watching Colby ride on him suitcase and he had a pretty good time being toted around.

Riann walking around with "her" suit case and Colby hanging on for his ride. The bottom two pictures are from lunch after we checked in and got to the gate. Glad they were just happy to be there!

Once we finally boarded the plan the kids had a great time checking everything out. Thankfully Roslyn was asleep before we got going and taking off made Colby a little queasy but he was able to rest for the first thirty minutes of the flight and sleep it off. It was fun having both babies cuddle me while we were in the air. Once Colby was back up and we had our snacks everyone was pretty happy. Riann and Colby had a great time looking out the window and playing around with everything they could. They were great on the way there and it was so fun to watch them explore our seats and be interested in anything and EVERYTHING they could get their hands on.

On the plane resting just after take off and during the flight while the kiddos checked out everything they could.

After we landed we waited until everyone was off the plane to get off. We had to carry on Colby's oxygen machine and getting it down and off the plane with all three kids was kind of a pain. I had LOTS of help from the flight staff though. As we were getting down the isle to the door one of the flight attendants asked if we wanted to go visit with the pilot and check out the control panel. I remember getting to do that as a kid so I was excited to be able to take the kids to check it out. Both of them LOVED all of the buttons and the pilot was wonderful and was so kind as they knocked over and pushed around all of their charts and maps. He kept telling me they were okay and he let them touch just about everything they could get their hands on. I'm glad some airlines still let kids do this. It was really fun for me to watch them from the parent perspective.

We had just landed and the kids got to check out the cockpit and see what it's like to fly a plane. I can't imagine how they know what to do with all of those buttons!!

One of the first events we got to participate in when we got home was the missionary farewell for my cousin Jeremy. It was great to attend church with family and to listen to Jeremy speak and to hear him and my other cousins sing. We got to spend the afternoon at my aunts house and it was great to get to say goodbye to him before he left on his mission. Later that afternoon we got to go to my brother, Tanner's, Court of Honor for his Eagle. We are so proud of him for this big accomplishment and it was great to be there with him and to get to participate in it all. It's hard for me to be away from family, especially with all of these big events going on in their lives and not being able to readily help or participate in them. We were very lucky that Tanner's Court of Honor and my cousins farewell fell on the same weekend as Paul's training so that we could participate and be there for all of it.

Tanner getting his Eagle's knot and the awarding of the pins to both my mom and my dad. It was a really fun ceremony. He's a good kid.

Right before left on our trip Colby had gotten the flu but I thought it would be okay to travel the day we left because he was doing lots better and no one else seemed to have gotten it. After we got to Seattle and got settled in Riann ended up spending our first full day there sick. She was such a trooper and did a great job handling it all and was able to sleep it off by the next day. After we got passed her sickness and realized no one else was going to get it she was happy to get out and play. It was so nice having a fenced in backyard that the kids could just go out and play in without me having to worry where they were and what kind of trouble they were getting into. They also loved the freedom. Colby isn't a huge fan of trampolines yet so he didn't go out and play too much with Riann but he had a great time running around and playing with as much dirt as he could.

Riann loved jumping on the trampoline and even did her first back flips. She's my little dare devil!! 

This trip home I wanted to make sure I saw a few of my really good friends because the last few times we've traveled home there just hadn't been time to see everyone we've wanted to see. I was able to meet up with some of the friends I used to work with at Red Robin, before Paul and I moved out to Idaho. I met up with Reyna and Kacie for dessert at Shari's (they're one of the few places that stay open late enough for me to get away) and later my friend Lyndsey for lunch on a different day. I'm so bummed I didn't think to pull out my camera while I was visiting with Lyndsey. She took me to lunch at the Seattle Brewery and it was amazing!!! I'm still craving the sandwich I got there!! It was great to finally catch up with everyone and there were many other friends I didn't get to see. I've missed them so much being away. Hopefully we'll get more time together next tine we're in town... whenever that will be...

Reyna, Kacie and I at Shari's. Roslyn was great and tagged along too.

Later in the week we planned to meet up with Granny and Papa and headed out to Centralia, Washington to see them. Centralia is half way in between Renton, WA and Scappoose, OR where they are from. I was kind of hoping I would have the time to take the kids all the way to Scappoose but with Riann getting sick and everything else going on we didn't get the chance to go all the way down. It was still great to see them and I'm so grateful they were willing to travel to see us. We stopped at a cute little mom and pop restaurant just outside of the outlet mall right there in town. I want to say it was called Country Cousins but I'm not 100% sure. The kids had a great time visiting. The restaurant had an old tractor that they were able to climb on and a chicken coupe with a really sad looking rooster living in it. The kids loved checking it all out and Roslyn loved the cuddle time she got from both Granny and Papa. Also before we had to pack ourselves back up in the car we headed over to a park across the street and they were very happy to get out and run around. They were pretty worn out for the trip back.

At the restaurant with Granny and Papa. Colby loved making faces at Granny and they both had a great time checking out the rooster. Colby, my little car man, LOVED climbing all over the tractor. I'm surprised I didn't have to pry his hands off to get him back into the car for the trip back.

Playing at the park. Colby wouldn't sit still for a picture. There was just way too much to do and see. Roslyn was happy to just snuggle with Granny and she got her to sleep pretty quick. Riann was just happy to be out of the car and in a place where she could go crazy and be as loud as she wanted.

On the way home Colby crashed pretty quick. His car seat looked pretty comfortable!! Riann was my little helper in the back seat everywhere we went. She loved sitting so close to Roslyn and did her best at keeping her as happy as possible. It was fun to watch them interact when I could sneak a peak while we were driving.

After our trip out to see Granny and Papa we stopped back off at Paul's parents house because we were nearing the end of our trip and I wanted to spend a little more time with then I had gotten to. It was hard to fit everything in in just a week and I still feel bad we didn't get to do more with them while we were in town. I'm so grateful Kathy was on top of everything and made sure we were able to see as many people from Paul's side of the family as possible while we were there. I love that she made sure that happened. Where we can't head home as often as we'd like we're so grateful for the moments when the kids get to see and build memories with their great-grandparents. We are so blessed to have all of our grandparents still with us and we want to spend whatever time we have left with them while we can.

On the left are Kathy's mom and dad, Grandma and Grandpa Leavitt and on the right are Dave's mom and dad, Grandma and Grandpa Vreeken. We love spending time with them!!

After visiting with the great-grandparents, Papa Dave took the kids out to play with some of the toys they have there at their house. The photos from below are actually a mixture from the two different days we spent time at their house but the kids had a blast playing on the forklift and the 4Wheeler. Colby is just like his dad and loves anything with an engine so as soon as grandpa offered him a ride he was ready to go. I think the forklift was their favorite part and I think grandpa had just as much fun, if not more fun, taking them around and lifting up anything big he could find. I can't remember how long that tree has been there on their property, I know it's been used as seating during quite a few dances and it was fun to watch the kids "inspect" it after he picked it up.

Playing on the fork lift with Grandpa. Riann had to be told a few times not to touch certain handles but Grandpa let her lift and lower the tree on her own. She was pretty excited about that.

The first thing Papa did when they got there was pull out the 4wheeler and take them for a ride around the yard. Colby was in motor heaven and even got to push the throttle himself... even though the results from that adventure were a little scary.

Before Grandpa got the forklift out for our second trip up to their house he pulled out the hot wheels jeep they have there for the kids cousins Jackson and Jeffrey. Riann doesn't know her controls very well and also wasn't listening to Papa's instructions and "accidentally" ended up driving the jeep into their mailbox, causing Colby to bite his lip. Even though it seemed to hurt he was a trooper and smiled for a picture once they moved over to the forklift and lifted the garbage dumpster as high as it would go. He was just happy to be using a big machine again..

In the middle of our week in town my mom worked on some crafts with the kids and they made these hats. Riann was so excited and I often find her playing with her's here at home. They also made one for Paul. I wish I would have gotten a picture of him in his once we got home.

Showing off their hats. Colby kept his on for maybe 10 minutes, Riann kept her's on for a few hours. Even now no one is allowed to wear it.

We took our trip the week before my birthday and as a gift to me my mom and step-dad took the kids and I out to dinner. I've never been to the Rainforest Cafe and my mom had suggested it so I was excited to give it a try. I didn't get any good pictures of the kids inside because they were a little crazy but we got a few out at the tanks in the front. It was a lot of fun watching them get excited about all of the decoration and animals they had there.

This fish was so funny. Colby loved to watch him because he was right at his level but when we finally looked at him up close we noticed that he was hanging out at this vent eating the bubbles. He wouldn't leave it alone and even fought off a few other fish to keep his place. It reminded me of the shrimp on Finding Nemo that was obsessed with the bubbles.

Colby loved raiding my mom's pantry and was even happier when he could get his hands on her bags of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Half way through the week you couldn't find him inside at my mom's house without a bag of cereal in his hands. He was so funny and would get pretty upset when we had to put it away for meals.

In these photos I had just taken away the bag he had been working on for most of the afternoon not knowing there was another bag in the pantry. After he got his emotions in check from the loss of the first bag he wandered back to the pantry to see what else he could find and to my surprise he found another bag. Unfortunately he brought it right to me to have it opened and wasn't too happy a second time when I said no.

Sadly our trip came to an end a week later. It was hard to leave and the kids really didn't want to say goodbye. My mom took us to the airport to drop us off and getting to the gate was a little chaotic but we made it on time and everyone was all in one piece. I wish I could say the flight home was as easy as the flight there but I think everyone was a little over tired and sad to be leaving. Riann was a pill the whole way home and I'm so grateful we sat next to come pretty sympathetic people because she made the flight a little hard to handle. Thankfully it wasn't a super long flight and it was great to be home, once we finally for there.

Saying goodbye to Grandma at the airport.
The kids were excited to see the plains again but not as excited to get back on them.

On the flight home. Riann wasn't too excited to let me take photos of her on the way home. We also had a little bit of trouble with her sharing the window and throwing tantrums but we made it home and when we finally landed everyone was happy and glad to be home.

When we landed in Salt Lake we asked to have a cart come pick us up to take us to baggage claim. They didn't have any trolly carts like they do in Seattle but they offered to bring us a wheel chair that the kids could ride through the airport. The kids were excited to be pushed around and had a great time sitting together while we walked through the airport. It was hard to keep them in their seat when we had to stop in the elevator because they really wanted to push the buttons but we made it through the airport quickly and together. The guy who helped us get through the airport even walked us all the way to the curb and it was wonderful to have the extra help.

Our trip to Washington was a lot of fun, although we wish we could have had Paul there with us. It was wonderful to see all of our family and we are grateful for the time we got with them to build memories. We don't see our family and friends in Washington often enough and we hope that things will change for us sometime in the future so that we can be a part of more of the things going on there but for now we are happy with life and so grateful for trips like this that we are able to take the kids on. It is a blessing to see everyone there and fun for us to have the chance to build and recreate some of the fun memories we have gotten to experience when we were kids.

Race #2 - Teton Road Runners Zombie Chase 5K

This was my second 5K this year and we, Adele and I, decided to do another one that was really different. I had heard of this one for a while and had always thought it would be fun so we decided to give it a try. It's called the Zombie Chase and its held right around Halloween every year. We were also able to talk a few more friends to do this race with us this time because it was local. It was so fun to do it with our little group. Racing is a lot more fun when you do it with a "team". We also liked the idea of this one because when you sign up you choose wither or not you want to run as a survivor, they get a 1 minute head start, or a zombie. They also "suggested" that you dress up as whatever you decided to run as. How fun is that?! We had a great time and even though I wasn't one of the fastest people, the first person to cross the line did theirs in just over 15 mins - EAK!!, I was happy that I ran the whole thing without walking. That was a big deal for me. It was also nice to do the race in the evening when it wasn't as hot, or as early, as most races. That kind of seemed to set the stage for a good time as well.

Here is a little overview of the fun time we had.

My race tag.

I asked Riann if she wanted to join me for our "face painting" party over at Audra's house. She was really excited to come and participate. This was her before we got started.

And her during and after. She's got a great "living dead" face.

Finally done! She had a lot of fun posing for the camera.

This was my before shot. Pretty zombie already like if you ask me. Haha.

My during shots. I didn't get 100% finished until we were about half way there.

DONE!!!! Am I Zombie enough?!

Adele and Audra just about done with their looks. Audra had t he great idea to paint our shirts which I think added a lot to the look. It also made it more fun and felt like we were more in "character".

Just before we walked out the door. We're all squatting a little because Riann was our photographer at this point.

Frank and Christi and their kiddos met us at the location to do the race with us. Everyone but the two youngest dressed up too. It was fun to have Frank and Paul there to watch the kids so we could hang out with them after. Riann, Leo and Frankie also got to run in the free kids 1K and Colby met me just before the finish line as I warmed up with Riann and he finished with us so everyone got special medals for participating.

Christi and I crossing over the finish line. Audra and Adele were just in front of us.

The race map and my finishing times.
You can also kind of see everyone else's times there too, I just didn't circle them like I did mine.

Before and after the race. You can tell we were much happier to get done than to start. These girls are awesome!!

All of us together after the race. So glad my family is willing to come do all this stuff with me. Love these guys so much!!

Finally home and all cleaned up. I SURVIVED THE ZOMBIE INVASION.... well, sort of.