Half way through April!

The past few weeks have flown by. Which is good and bad! 

Our 12 months of Christmas in March continued with all the kids enjoying lunch out with us.  Mark forgot pictures from his date with Kale (who picked Dairy Queen because he wanted ice cream) but totally went overboard with Jack to make up for it. ;)  Jack also picked Dairy Queen for the same reason. 

Kate and I enjoyed our first date of the year at Denny's.  Once she heard she could have a shake she was sold. Haha! 

We are plugging along with our move. I found a four week packing plan and have been doing well sticking to it. Each week packing a little more so that the final week won't be as overwhelming.  Everything keeps going well, only a few hiccups.  Our closing date is May 5th and I think we're all ready!  Living in a half packed up house is interesting. 

Especially with a leg and a half. Just over a week ago I either stood up or sat down and something just didn't feel right.  For the rest of the day it would lock up and buckle.  I almost fell a couple times.  This led me to borrow some crutches and make an appt with an orthopedic dr ASAP.  Thankfully we've kept my knee brace from 1998 when I first torn my ACL. It's helped support it a lot! 

I met with the dr and they took X-rays.  The X-rays showed bone fragments moving around in my knee.  One is under my patella and probably giving me the most problems.  It is something they can scope and remove.  They still had me get an MRI (did it today) to see if there's more tissue damage that we need to address.  My hope is that whatever is wrong can be fixed with a simple orthoscopic surgery.  We shall see! 

I am feeling better though.  Not as dependent on the crutch. It still locks but not as frequently.  I can make it around pretty easily which is a relief.  I can still pack! 

Last night was the much anticipated 5th annual Daddy Daughter Dance.  I think Kate's been talking about it since last year's got over!  This is her date for the month of April. 

The boys and I stopped by the church yesterday to pick up a couple other boys whose parents were helping and attending the dance. I snapped a few pictures, in awe of what this team of people do each year! 

The theme was Moonlight in the City.  They wanted to do kind of a formal, elegant environment where the girls were escorted to the tables, chairs pulled out for them, food served, and waltzing!  They had almost 275 people attend this year which is by far the largest attendance in 5 years! 

Isn't this incredible?! This is the stage. All made out of cardboard boxes!! And lots of glitter :)

They had a 6 ft chandelier instead of a disco ball over the dance floor.  Gorgeous! 

Kate was so amped up to go that she barely stopped for pictures.  I made her! 

I love her cute little sense of style. 

I hung out with my boys and 2 other boys. There was lots of Lego playing, shooting and running around.  Finally got them settled to watch a movie.  

Here they are at dinner.  The stillest they were all night. 

Jack and Tatum 

Kale and Toby 

It was great to have the boys have friends over.  They all played and I relaxed! Great night. 

Tomorrow is Mark's 40th birthday.  I promise to post pictures of the celebrations.  It's gonna be a fun day! 

Marching through March!

I need to do a catch up post for you all before I post about our 12 months of Christmas in March. So much happening! 

I don't think I've updated you on our house.  It's under contract and we are supposed to close on it on May 2nd.  We are also under contract for a house to move in to up in Durango West 2 (west of town) Also set to close May 2nd.  At this point we are working on inspections, appraisals, inspection objections and financing.  Let's just say there's a reason Mark and I haven't moved in 12 1/2 years!  And we haven't really even packed yet!  Lots to do. 

This past week we had a septic guy come and pump our septic tank, a HVAC guy came and clean our furnace (both on the same day at pretty much the same time--see pictures below). 

We also had an appliance repair man come to fix the stove and a plumber come and inspect our hot water heater.  We will be tearing down a shed and packing up the house in the next 4 weeks.  All while Mark finishes what has been his toughest class so far.  And Easter AND Mark's 40th birthday! Whew! One day at a time. 

We had to take our van in this week as well to have the door fixed so while it was at the shop the kids and I headed to Durango Joes for drinks then to the library to kill some time. 

My sister, Kelly, her husband, Carson, and their 11 month old, Gavin, stopped by on the way down to Phoenix and the way back.  It was Gavin's first time at our house and the kids went nuts (as they usually do with cousins). I think Gavin loved the attention. 

Here he is tackling Jack. 

All to get the iPad and the kitty. 

Speaking of the kitty, we found a nasty tick on his neck! Ew ew!!  We got it out and he's fine but boy was that our Friday morning entertainment! 

Friday after lunch at Serious Texas we took our guests up to see our new house. It was great to have other eyes walk through with us.  We can't wait to live there! 

Kate fed Gavin...

2 people wrestled him to get boots on his feet...

We took the little stud for a walk...

And introduced him to a trampoline.

He was so fun and giggling!  And close to walking but isn't yet.  Instead he crawled on my carpet and collected dog hair for me :)

We are celebrating God's grace in our lives whether things are tough or good. He's given us new revelation of all He's done and we are so thankful!  I will do another post soon so I can share about our March dates with the kids.  We are loving time spent with them! 

12 months of Christmas -- Kale

Two days ago Kale and I got to go on our  fancy dinner date.  He picked Ken and Sue's.  

I didn't think I needed to make a reservation for a Thursday but alas I was wrong.  We decided not to wait and sat at the bar instead. A first for me! 

Kale was quite impressed with the amount of wine bottles on the wall.  

We talked and talked about everything. I explained to him the bar and the dark lighting and 2 forks, ordering a hamburger medium...he was so much fun.  Near the end of the night one of the waiters came behind the bar and told Kale that his mom was so cool.  He thought it was neat that we went out together.  He said he'd wished he'd have done it more with his mom. It made me so happy to hear. Kale smiled. :)

He ordered the hamburger and it was huge!  It was even off the kids meal. He could only finish half because he was saving room for dessert. :) He was picturing a huge piece of ice cream pie like Jack had but no such luck here. 

So we had fro-yo instead. 

On the way home from dinner we were talking about God and church and I asked him how Legos and church were the same (just for fun).  He went on to explain that people in a church are like the Lego pieces.  Each one had a special place and when put there it makes up a neat bigger picture.  Something unique.  And God is the Master Builder. How awesome was that?!

I'm looking forward to future conversations with him. 

When we got home he opened a box from my parents for his birthday.  His first Rockies gear.  Doesn't he look grown up and handsome? 

Last night Kale and Kate had a pre-summer camp sleepover at the church.  They for to go and hang out with friends and hear about summer camp. 

Mark, Jack and I got a pizza and watched Frozen (Mark bought it on iTunes). It was different having just one kid.  It was a nice change. 

This morning the 3 of us got up early and finished getting the house ready for a showing today.  We headed to bountiful baskets to get our food (the food co-op we do every other week) and then went to town to pick up the big kids. 

While we were in town our realtor called and said another realtor wanted to show our house today too. Couldn't say no.  The house was already clean!  Show away! 

We decided to kill time and have brunch at CJs diner.  We've had a really wet, sleety snow today so there were huge puddles in the parking lot. 

After we were done the big kids wanted to watch Frozen so we went back to the church and watched it in Mark's office.  Kinda nice have another "home" to go to! 

Hopefully all these showings turn into something more.  We shall see! 

12 Months of Christmas - Kate

Thursday was Kate and Mark's date night. They had originally intended to go out for Italian but apparently Kate was very against the idea when the time came. So they headed to Ken and Sue's where the hostess was thrilled to see a dad take his daughter to dinner.  She found them the perfect table for 2 up by the front window.  Mark said everyone around them thought she was adorable.  We know one of the chefs here and he came out and said hello.  I think Kate loved the attention. :)

After dinner they had dessert at Top That Frozen Yogurt. 

Mark said it was even better than their last date.  Kate seemed to be more comfortable talking and enjoying herself. 

I think they had a good time.

12 Months of Christmas - Jack

I could wait until all of the kids have had their dates like last month but I thought naw. Let's give them each their own post (and it helps me blog more!) 

Last Thursday night was date night for Jack and I. We had a blast!  This month's dates for all the kids is dinner out at a fancy restaurant.  One we'd not normally (or ever!) take them. 

I took Jack to the Red Snapper.  This has, in the past, been one of Mark's and my favorite places to go for anniversaries and birthdays.  They do a lot of seafood and steak, have a fabulous salad bar and delicious, huge desserts!  And they have salt water fish tanks. 

It's been awhile since Mark and I have been there. They changed their menu a while back and some of our favorite meals were taken off. :( but Jack and I decided to try it again.  I convinced him that the fish tanks would be cool.  

He and the big kids had tried on their fancy clothes more than once in preparation for their dates.  I even found them "practicing" their manners the day of. 

The big kids were helping Jack remember how to behave in a fancy restaurant. 

We got all dressed up and took our pictures.  

I had reserved a table by the fish tank so that Jack would have something to look at during the dinner.  I'm so glad I did!  He was fascinated all night.  He named the fish and crabs. 

During the meal I was trying to come up with a cute lovey name for him.  Babe came out and he immediately said no but I could call him my little love.  So that's what I did.  I went out with my little love. :) 

He decided against the salad bar but picked fish sticks for dinner.

 He ate a couple.  Just enough to make it to the dessert he'd heard all about.  He didn't pick death by chocolate but it was close. He wanted the big piece of mint chocolate ice cream pie. 

All of a sudden he was hungry. Haha! Notice how big the pie was!  And his cute little crooked clip on tie. Love! 

I had the salad bar and tequila shrimp.  It was good. But not as good as my old favorite that's no longer there...

Don't ask me why I took pictures of the food.  I figured you'd really want to know what it looked like I guess. 

Overall he was great.  He behaved like I would expect a well-behaved 5 year old to behave at a fancy place.  We had a good time.  Kate and Mark are this coming week and Kale and I are at the end of the month.  We are all looking forward to our dates. Such fun! 

January - 12 months of Christmas

This year Mark and I decided to give our kids 12 months of Christmas with us.  I had heard about this idea via Pinterest or something and I knew it would be so much fun!  Truthfully the kids weren't uber thrilled when they opened it but I figure after a couple months they'll get the idea and start to love it as much as Mark and I do.  

Here's what we did.  Each kid is going on one date a month either with Mark or I.  6 total with each of us.  We've got lots of things planned.  Breakfast, fancy dinner, fro-yo, hiking, picnics....just purposeful time alone for each kid.  I am planning on blogging each month about it so you can follow along with us.  Unfortunately I didn't warn Mark about this and he went on dates with the two youngest so I don't have pictures from their dates. 

Kate and Mark went to breakfast at CJs diner and then went exploring at the fish store.  They also had to stop and get some pellets for our pellet stove.  Kate was less than thrilled about that stop. :) 

Jack and Mark's date was an assignment.  They needed to find someone to bless.  They wandered downtown looking for an opportunity.  They stopped at the candy store and got an Icee for Jack and a juice for Mark. Both Mark and I are fasting during these dates :(  They prayed about it and decided to go to Durango Joe's drive thru. They left a 20 and didn't buy anything.  The barista was thrilled to pass the love along.  Super fun!  Jack loved the Icee. Haha! 

Kale and I went to CJ's. We had a blast.  The kid ate stuffed French toast, a side of bacon and a big glass of milk!  I, of course, had tea and juice. Then we went to the fish store and dreamed of future pets. 

After the fish store we picked up dog food then got an oil change and a car wash. 

It was really fun having him all to myself.  I'm looking forward to the next few months!