Evening Hike

We have decided that we are going to try to break out of our night routine of vegging out. It helps when the weather is nice enough to actually get out and do something! We have a canyon close to our house so we have decided to start going there more often during the week. The girls really enjoy it - even though I carry Hailey most of the way. Even Max likes it - there is water!! Although I think he is the only Yellow Lab that can't swim! He sure tries - the last time we went Larry had to "fish" him out of the stream by the leash otherwise he would not have made it! Scares the crap out of me! Yet he keeps jumping into the water!

Larry, Ashley and Max at the beginning of our hike

WHAT? an actual picture of me?? Yep - and Hailey!

Max before Larry had to rescue him again!

On the ride home - having fun with the camera

Hailey letting us know her feet stink - GROSS!!

Praying For Whitney!!

Juella's daughter Whitney was in a very serious car accident early Saturday morning. Her car hit an elk, the elk came thru the windshield and Whitney's face took a direct hit. Amazingly she survived the crash but is in bad shape. She has over 40 fractures in her face. The most amazing part is when I went to see her on Saturday she was alert and talking - just like Whitney always is!! She went in for surgery on Sunday but they had to stop because her eye is in worse shape then they first thought. They transported her to a different hospital and is supposed to have surgery again on Monday. It's going to be a very long road ahead but we are just so thankful that she is still with us and amazingly enough there are no injuries to her brain, neck, etc..
With all of this going on we are so blessed to be a part of Juella's life - along with her extended family. Ashley heard the 1st phone call I received from Juella and has been very concerned. We took the girls up to the hospital on Sunday to see Juella and Brad. Ashley and Hailey were so happy to see them - along with Grandma and Grandpa Dewey - and Mandy (Whitney's sister). We are so blessed to be a part of this amazing family - the love my girls are showered with is amazing - even thru this tough time!
We are sending Whitney and the family good thoughts always and praying for a quick recovery for Whitney. This is going to be so hard on her being the teenager she is and always talking!! We love her so very much!

Ashley's Preschool Graduation

My 1st video attempt - Ashley's class singing!

Ashley has made it thru her 1st year of Preschool!!! I remember dreading even taking her at the beginning of the year - of course there were lots and lots of tears (OK that was only me!). She has had a great time - looking forward to every day she went. I'm so proud of her and everything that she has learned this year!!

Ashley on her 1st day of preschool

Ashley and Hailey getting ready to leave for her graduation!

Spirit Fingers!!

She can climb the rock wall with no help now!

Ashlley getting her diploma from Miss Kelly

Ashley is 4 years old!!

How in the world did this happen so fast??

I so remember the day she was born and for the life of me cannot comprehend that it has been 4 years. I am so proud of her! She is such a sweet, kind, beautiful, smart, funny, (ok I could probably go on for hours!!) Ashley has had such a busy year - each day she has some new phrase or funny comment. She started preschool this year and she is really doing well. We also started her in dance - I think she loves the outfit more then the class - but who can blame her. It is really great to see how nice she is with Hailey - even when she doesn't really want to be. I love the fact that she is a "big girl" but will still want to cuddle in my lap!! She is and always will be my Little Ashley booboo - just ask her!!

We had a birthday party for her this past weekend - Tinkerbell!! She was very excited and thrilled when she saw all the decorations and presents! It was a great time - we even dared to have a pinata!! It was the first thing she asked for - of course the thought of it and the reality is pretty different. My little petite girl tried to hit that thing - but at last daddy came to the rescue!!

New Party dress!! Thank you Freddie!

Ashley opening gifts with the help of Aubrey

Happy Birthday song (Hailey does not enjoy this part!)

Brad checking on the girls - he is Hailey's Favorite!

Aunt Shari not sharing her cake with Baby Payton!!

Juella and Ashley posing for a picture!

Ashley's attempt at the pinata!

She is a rockstar! Thanks to her Hannah Montana dress up set.

Sad, Sad Tears

As most of you have seen - Stellen is doing really well - which is such a miracle. From the times I visited his blog, I also ran into the blog about little Kayleigh's story. http://www.kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com/ I didn't see it until after her last surgery which had a traumatic outcome. This couples little girl was born at just 1lb.!!! She made it thru so very much and was a miracle in the short time she was with her family. Her family is amazing!! Unfortunately her battle came to an end and this poor, poor family was never even able to take her home to the wonderful room they made for her. My heart just breaks everytime I think about how heavy their hearts must be. I wish all the strength possible to this family and pray they make it thru this time!
We all need to be thankful for all of our healthy kids, family, and friends!!

Busy Time!!!

For some reason everything has been thrown into warp speed around here. Just some updates on what everyone in our house has been up too:

First and foremost everyone really needs to send thoughts and prayers to Stellen (little boy in the picture in the corner of the blog) He's not doing great and it seems as though it's going to be a long time in Boston's Children's hospital for him and his mom - away from the rest of the family. Can't even imagine what they all must be going thru.

We got our biggest snow of the whole year - I would say season but it is officially spring now! You would have never known around here on Friday and Saturday. We probably had about 2 feet of snow if not more!

Friday morning when I was dropping the girls off at Juella's, Hailey had a big fall. She went to meet someone at the door and went from the carpet to the hardwood and went down on her head. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and scared us all. We couldn't get her to focus very well after that so I took her home and called the doctor. They had me take her to the ER. I called Larry and told him that she took a fall and we were headed to the ER - he was going to meet us there. Of course the weather was horrible so it took me awhile to get there. Poor Larry was in a panic and beat us to the hospital. Had everyone at the hospital ready to take her - lucky for us she was fine. (She gets this stuff from Larry!)

Monday the 20th was Larry's birthday - Happy Birthday!! He's feeling old! From all the snow work was not fun for him so he was happy when he got home to see the house decorated for him. Me and the girls sat on the stairs to jump out and surprise him when he walked in - Hailey couldn't control her self though and went running when she heard the door - so then Larry of course heard Ashley and I laughing. It was a good effort! We had Larry's favorite pizza followed by cake and presents - it was fun!!

Little did we know our night was quickly going to change!! We were going to settle in for a movie and Larry wanted to run downstairs first, followed by Hailey. All of a sudden I hear Hailey screaming and Larry yelling for me - there was water running in from the window well downstairs. Half of the room downstairs was flooded!! And of course we don't have flood insurance - we live in Colorado - why would we need flood insurance?? Larry got the rest of the water out with the shop vac - kind of humorous if our basement wasn't flooded - him in the window well with the vac. Woops - to heavy to lift once he sucked up most the water - had to get a bucket and dump some - all the while me and the kids are watching this while I try to dry the carpet a bit. We ended up pulling up the carpet and the pad to dry - hopefully we can get back down ok. So his birthday didn't go as well as planned......

Tuesday I was one of the lucky ones pulled for Jury duty - ugh!! I had to go in at 8am and fill out a bunch of questions - finally at 10am we were pulled up to the courtroom. There were 24 of us seated in the jury box. The judge came in and explained we would be questioned by the lawyers to see if we would stay or go - ok no big deal. Then he dropped the bomb - the guy sitting across the courtroom was accused of soliciting child prostitution!!! OH NO!! I am all about doing my duty and being a part of a jury but when it is something involving a child - that is where I have an issue! I know the law says innocent until proven guilty but I don't always agree with that. They read off the witness list and there were probably 7 police men, the witness and then probably 6 other people. My thought is the state and the police are not going to waste their time if this guy didn't do something!! When I was asked some questions I made it clear that the defense needed to also prove innocent - obviously I was let go by the defense lawyer. Just looking at the guy I thought he was creepy - it's hard not to judge someone who is on trial for that kind of a charge.

Other then that things are good - snow is melted for the most part - now it's been almost 80. We are all dealing with some kind of spring cold - except Larry for once. He went to a new sinus dr. and it seems to be helping. He can actually smell for the first time in years - Yahoo!!

Happy Easter!!

Where does time go?? I was such a slacker this year with Easter! All of a sudden it was the Friday night before Easter weekend and I hadn't even bought our eggs yet! In my defense it was an unusually crazy week. Larry was gone all week up in Steamboat for a training class. In the middle of the week Hailey spiked a pretty high fever - yes my little girl who hardly ever gets a fever!

We did eventually dye the Easter Eggs Saturday. Ashley was very partial to the blue and green - no pink, yellow, brown or even purple - strictly blue and green. Hailey didn't like the idea of getting her hands in the dye???? WHAT? A chance to make a mess and she didn't join in. Well a trip to the ER after that finished out our evening! (Hailey is doing much better - and I'm sure she would jump for an opportunity to get her hands dirty now!)

Easter Binky!

Easter morning was great! Ashley and I stayed in bed until Hailey woke up and then Larry came up and we all went downstairs together - to the screams of excitement from Ashley! She realized the Easter bunny had been there and there was Baskets for everyone and lots of eggs to be found! We had to make sure that she let Hailey find at least one egg.

Hailey on Easter morning - not sure what the excitement is for?

Ashley - ready to dive into the chocolate (and she did for most the morning!)

Oh and by the way - it snowed almost all day on Easter - I think we are finally having winter!