Is it almost Christmas?

Can't believe we are half way through December.

Still unpacking but almost settled.

Have just started my Christmas shopping (better late then never).

All 3 of us have just recovered from the stomach flu. Not pretty.

Tree is up and decorations are out but I am pretty sure that is as far as we will get this Christmas.

Christmas card is not looking likely. If you have managed to get your act together on this front and need our new address please e-mail me. I am weird about posting it :)

We are alive. I haven't forgotten you all. Just really, really busy :)

Pictures...I promise...they are coming...sooner than later :)

things are looking up...

hunter is sleeping soundly (at the moment) and on the mend from his cold.

michael is feeling better and gaining strength for the big move.

walk-thru is scheduled today for our new home.

close on the house wednesday the 26th.

will be moving wed and thurs a little but the big move is on friday.

very excited to be in our new home and have our things again!

lots of pictures will soon follow. can't wait to have my beloved computer back!

attitude check

sick baby.

sick husband.

screaming baby (who should be sleeping).

sleeping husband.

5 loads of laundry and it isn't even 9am yet.

this could be a very long day.

water4christmas

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

(The format of my blog is not allowing me to show the full screen of this video. Argh. If you want to see it bigger go to this link: http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=751890139edc05518c3b55&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url)

I have been wanting to blog about this for awhile but feel totally inadequate to motivate and inspire by my words. So instead of stressing about what I should write I am simply going to give some facts, copy and paste from the main website, and pray that you are moved to participate! This idea comes from a collection of people who want to do something positive for those in need of basic necessities like CLEAN WATER! This is a very reputable organization and a tremendous cause.

What is Water4Christmas?
charity: water is a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. We give 100% of the money raised to direct project costs. With the help of exemplary organizations on the ground and individuals here, we can drill wells and provide people with this basic, essential need.

Facts: unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease, and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. ONE IN SIX PEOPLE ON THE PLANET DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

Builidng Wells: The local community is engaged in the well building process, carrying out small tasks for free to reduce labor costs. This also encourages community participation and ensures community ownership after the project is complete. When the well is built, a water committee is formed. It generally consists of 6-8 people, half of them female. In the case of hospitals, the committee will generally consist of nurses and hospital staff. In schools, the committee would likely be comprised of teachers. Since charity: was founded and began activity in August 2006, we have funded the construction of more than 600 wells that, when completed, will provide clean drinking water to 250,000 people. We're just getting started.

YOU CAN HELP: $2o can give a person in Africa clean, safe drinking water for 20 years. 100% goes to direct project costs.

IF YOU ARE ON FACEBOOK: Please join the water4christmas cause and every friday you can help us build 2 wells by contributing $10!!!! There are nearly 1,000 members on facebook and if each gave only $10 we could provide 2 wells for people in need of CLEAN WATER every Friday!

What can you go without this week/Christmas season to contribute??

Check out www.water4christmas.com for more details and to donate. Also see www.charitywater.org

Also check out www.jodyrlanders.com
Jody is one of the inspiring individuals behind this who is instumental in the organization of this project (she went to my highschool and is an amazing wife/mother/servant)



(video and pictures taken from www.jodyrlanders.com)

fall foliage

Just as I was feeling bummed that I didn't get my act together to get fall photos this year, I discovered that Granny Judy had TONS of leaves still in her yard! Hunter wasn't all that interested in having his picture taken but we were able to get a few grins out of him. He loved crawling through the leaves and touching them. We have been enjoying the 70-80 degree weather and can't believe that we are already in November!

carving and costumes

This Halloween was fairly uneventful since Hunter is still a little young to enjoy the festivities and overload of candy. However, we did manage to have lots of fun carving pumpkins and dressing Hunter up for sheer joy and giggles.

Enjoy... Oh yeah, and get out there and vote!!! This is a VERY important election and there is much at stake! Hummm...I wonder who Michael and I think is the best candidate for America!













Below is the best out of 6 family photos taken...look closely and you will see the death grip I have on Hunter, my fake smile, Hunter's meltdown, Michael's exhaustion, and our dog's annoyance....LOVELY :) Oh well, we tried.

full circle

Life seemed to come full circle today with a trip to Focus on the Family. I met some friends for a play date in the Toddler Room, one of the many projects I completed while working at Focus. The room that I spent months creating (with help from MANY others!) was enjoyed by my own son! Who would have thought that 2 years later I would be experiencing "Camp What-A-Nut" through totally different eyes! It was great to spend some time with other moms and let the kids roam around. I am so thankful for friends and playmates for Hunter!

Hunter had a blast crawling through the log tunnel...

Avery Houle catching a ride on the friendly fish...

Asher Finzel was ALL smiles for the camera...

Hunter was very serious about his canoe ride...

The amigos in tow...




PS - For all my focus friends who I didn't see today...I will come back soon to visit! We were in and out...long enough for the kids to climb all over each other and get them back for naps before MELTDOWN!

house update

For those of you who I have failed to update (most of you), I thought I would take a moment to let you know that we have finally settled on a house and we should be closing in about 30 days! We held out as long as we could on the short sell in Glen Eagle...aka my "dream home"...but decided that it wasn't really looking all that promising. SO... we are buying a spec home in Northgate that is almost complete. Love the house...don't really love the small yard...but it will be a fabulous home and we feel blessed to have found something. We feel like we got a great deal (because we have the best Real Estate Agent EVER!!!) and we are fortunate to have locked in a fantastic interest rate. Mostly, we are just super excited to have our own home and belongings again! What a whirlwind the last month has been! We are taking sign-ups now for really awesome friends who want to help us unload the PODS :)

good sport

It was inevitable. I knew I would eventually be "tagged" to participate in the game going around in the blog world (thanks, Jen!). The rules are as follows: if "tagged" by a fellow blogger you have to write 6 random things about yourself and then tag 6 of your friends. I wasn't all that excited about doing this myself but I have enjoyed reading everyone's random facts about themselves so I thought I better be a good sport and keep this going...

Without further delay...

1. I am obsessed with lotion...and when I say lotion, I don't mean any kind of lotion, I mean the thick, creamy, buttery variety that comes from Bath & Body Works. Every time I step out of the shower I have to immediately put it on. Every minute that passes without the luscious lotion is agony. I feel my skin cracking, drying, and shriveling up. I honestly get stressed if the lotion is not close by.

2. Nothing gets me more fired up than politics. I am a staunch Republican and have great pride in our nation, our military, and our President. My blood boils and my temperature rises when engaged in "debates" over issues surrounding both parties and who is best for the future of our nation. I have resolved, as of late, that it is best not to even go down this path with me (unless, of course, you agree with me!). My passion is nothing new and is certainly not because of the present election. I have been a bit antagonistic about this since I can remember.

3. I hate feet. They seriously terrify me. The only feet I can handle are my own and those of little babies.

4. I am addicted to Photoshop. This stems from owning my own photography business and spending countless hours "correcting" images. I have been known to waste entire evenings obsessing over ONE photo. My poor husband has literally had to pick me up and remove me from the computer to get me to STOP working on an image. I will say ridiculous things like, "just 5 more minutes" and "I just have to fix one more thing." Never believe what you see in my photos...unless they are from my last few posts!

5. My favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice. I can't get enough of it. It makes my stomach turn and my heart flutter :) I dearly love to laugh and while few people can make me laugh as hard as my old college buddies, this movie makes me laugh out loud. Few people catch the humor in this movie but it's there.

6. I am a hopeless "messy." My mother says that she could never get me to keep my room clean so she finally gave up and just made me shut the door. I LOVE to be organized and have a clean home but somehow it always winds up destroyed. I am obsessed with tupperware totes, baskets, and shelving but somehow it never seems to be enough to keep it all together. Come over announced and it will be spotless. Come over unannounced and you may not want to be my friend :) I think I have multiple personalities as I can be totally OCD sometimes and other times not seem to be bothered by it at all.

Alright...that's it. Fairly boring and fairly unexciting. I tag JULIE JOHNSON, JESSICA MCCLENAHAN, JACQUE KOSINSKI, MANDY SELEY, and GINGER SKILLEN. Ready, set, go. Post 6 random facts about yourself...and yes, you have to do it :)

barnyard party

Well, Hunter is officially one today!!!! I can't believe it! We celebrated yesterday with an outdoor party and we were surrounded with many friends and family. I think Hunter enjoyed all the children and attention! It was a BEAUTIFUL day but true to Colorado weather the cold front moved in moments before the party started! The kids didn't seem to mind the frosty air and the occassional huddle around the BBQ and fun was still had by all. Aunt Kendra made 3 adorable farm animal birthday cakes (sheep, pig, and a cow just for Hunter!) which were a big hit! Hunter was spoiled rotten and had fun playing in his new tent from Grandma Judy, watching his cousins and grandpa play football, and getting lots of love from all his friends and family! What a blessing Hunter has been this past year. Michael and I are truly grateful to the Lord for entrusting him to us!

Hope you enjoy the overload of pictures below!


Cousins Mackenzie and Braden




Mandy and Avery Houle helping Hunter bowl


Sweet Bailey Spriggs showing off the puppy balloon she made!

Aunt Kendra and cousin Sawyer

FOOTBALL! I believe Uncle Ryan is on the bottom of the pile!

Bailey Spriggs, cousin Mackenzie, cousins Sarah and Teresa Ngo

Avery Houle and Bailey Spriggs

Focus On The Family friends!

Jarred Silverio









Great Grandpa keeping cousin Sawyer warm with kisses

Inside pic with Aunt Sue before the party