Swimming

One reason we chose to build where we did was so we could have access to a pool that was close. We have been going swimming almost everyday. The kids are having a blast. They beg everyday "please can we go to the pool?" It's really nice being able to go in the middle of the day and have the entire pool to ourselves because everyone else is at school. I know we won't have the pool to ourselves in the summer!

My pretty little girl

I think I might have mentioned before somewhere on my blog that when I was pregnant with Brenalee, I really wanted to have another boy. I had dreams of two little boys in overalls, playing trucks, catching worms, etc. We didn't find out what she was until she came out. I was only sad for a very split second she was a girl. After that split second, I was ecstatic I had a little girl. I love that she is such a girly-girl. She is all girl. She wants to wear dresses every day. I love having a girl. And, I have gotten over cutting off her hair. I really like her cut, it is so adorable on her. Plus, it is 100x easier to care for.

I spy

My latest quilt - I spy. It's for Brenalee's preschool teacher. Once again, I'm making a quilt I can't keep! One day I am going to make one to keep.

Popcorn popping on the apricot tree

As you probably know, one of my favorite things about Colorado is my parent's orchard. Of course there was nothing ripe, but there was popcorn popping on the apricot tree! This is a favorite children's church song. I sang it when I was little, my kids sing it now.

The kids with their beloved Gigi. This is my grandma. Now she is known as Gigi to the great-grand kids. She lives right next door to my parents. Tyler loves, loves, loves his Gigi. If I couldn't find him, I knew he had snuck over to Gigi's. She cooks him breakfast, plays dinosaurs, pirates and so much more. Thank you grandma for being who you are.

I just found this picture of my grandma and I when I was probably about 2. We were dancing around the room. Now she dances around with the great-grand kids. She has always been this fun.

Grandpa's grave

I can't believe it's been almost two years since my sister called to tell me my grandpa had passed away in his sleep. I haven't been able to see his gravestone yet because it took a long time to get it made. I finally was able to see it on this last trip.

The pictures show the cabin my grandparents had up on the Mesa. On the right hand side is a picture of grandpa herding the cows. I miss my grandpa but I know we will see him again one day.

Hair cut??!!

I usually get Brenalee's hair trimmed while we are in Colorado. Kayleigh needed a trim too, so Kim, the girls and I all went to get their hair trimmed. Brena has been begging me for awhile now to cut her hair. I have always told her no. I can't seem to cut all her hair off! It's so long and pretty. It's fun to braid and curl and just play with. Kayleigh went first and Brena kept saying she wanted hair like Kayleigh's. I gave in. I can't believe I let her do it. Her hair was so long!

She smiled the entire time!

There's the pony tail!

I can't believe how different she looks! I thought she could pass for a totally different kid!

These two love each other!

We called daddy on skype when we got back and showed him his new little girl.

Dinosaur Museum

We had been studying dinosaurs for science. I knew when we went to Colorado we would have to check out the dino museum. There have been thousands of dino bones found right near our city of Grand Junction. It was fun to take the kids there. To be able to see and touch the actual dinosaur bones we had been reading about was an awesome experience.


Digging for dino bones with cousin Levi.

More Easter

One of the benefits to having two families in the same town is getting to do things twice! On Easter Sunday we went down to visit our other side of the family. We had a wonderful ham dinner. I was wanting ham sooo bad, thank you Carol! Then the kids got to do another egg hunt with their cousins.

Easter

As per our usual tradition, the Easter Bunny came Saturday morning. The kids were delighted to find out the Easter Bunny knew they were in Colorado so they could get a basket. It was so fun celebrating with all the cousins.

We dyed eggs...

and had an Easter egg hunt...

the kids had a great time.

Birthday celebration in Colorado

We had a little birthday celebration for Tyler while we were in Colorado.

Tyler had fun opening presents with all his cousins. It's funny he didn't get one toy. Everyone knows he likes to learn so he got a lot of educational things. One really fun game he got is called Word Pirates. It's kind of like scrabble with a pirate twist. It's a lot of fun and really helps with spelling, which is another favorite of his.

Girls in dresses

My mom made all of my sisters and my clothes when we were little. There were pictures of us 3 girls in matching dresses all the time. My mom decided to make the 3 little granddaughters matching dresses in those colors we wore when we were younger.

Brena of course is my little girl. Kayleigh who is pictured above is my sister Kimberley's little girl. Kayleigh and Brena are 2 months apart. Takiah (missing) is in a purple dress.

1984?
My sister Stephanie is the one in purple and we met her and her daughter Takiah at the photo shop, where I didn't have my camera. So, I didn't get a picture of all 3 little girls. But, their photos were adorable! Takiah had on a matching purple dress just like Stephanie does here. I'm in pink and Kim is in blue.

Spring Break in Colorado

I am SO happy we got to see snow! It snowed the day we got there. It didn't stick and it didn't snow again. But, I'm happy for the snow we did get.

USO

We left for Grand Junction on Thursday, April 1. We flew into Dallas and right outside of our gate was a USO. We haven't ever been in one, so I didn't really know what it was. I thought maybe we could watch a movie or something because we had a few hours to kill. Wow, was I surprised when they said they had free food, movies, beds, internet, and much more. It was so nice to be able to put our bags up and relax. The kids loved it because the volunteers doted on them like crazy, giving them everything they wanted. They ate all kinds of junk food. I told Tyler he couldn't hate the NAVY anymore because the only reason he got to go into the USO was because his daddy is in the NAVY. I also was able to bribe him to not fight with his sister on the plane ride home or else we wouldn't go to the USO. Thanks to all who make the USO possible, it was a treat to visit.

In the kids area watching a movie.