What year is it?

Oy. The last time I posted was last year.  How am I doing ;)

We were in Golden/Boulder over break then came home and things took off!  I'm blessed to be able to go to Denver and kind of turn off my brain. The trouble with that is restarting it when we get back.  Especially when you come home with a cold you can't shake.  

I caught something at the end of our trip. I was totally on the mend but today feels like 1 step back. I'm hoping I can kick this thing this week!  We've got lots going on! 

Mark called a 21 day fast for our church when we got back.  It starts this Saturday.  Mark and I are juice fasting.  This is a first for me (to do it this long). You'll remember Mark's a pro ;)  I started early because of my cousins wedding I will be attending at the end of the fast. I wanted to be able to get back to eating before attending the wedding.  I am on day 4.  I think part of my feeling bad has to do with my body detoxing.  Sadly I didn't put the best stuff in it over the last couple months.... I'm hoping to feel better soon.  In actually excited for the health benefits of juicing!  My body needs a reboot! 

The kids and I started up school this week.  We all loved and needed the break.  We didn't go full on.  We're kind of easing our way back into it.  I seriously love homeschooling! 

Here's a few pictures from our time away.  We had so much fun with aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandmas and grandpas. 

This was Christmas morning at our house. 

This was taken at our friend's house.  We've spent the last several Christmas' with them.  They're family!  We played games, ate food, went sledding.  Had a good time. 

Our friend Kim gave Kale a Last Supper Lego set.  He was thrilled to have real disciples! 

This was the beginning of the mountain of presents up in Golden.  We arrived there Thursday night and had Christmas with my family.  7 nieces and nephews create tons of presents! 

Jack got a big Darth Vadar.  Yes.  Yes he did. 

Kate's big present was a bed for her American Girl dolls and matching outfits for them.  She even got extra money to go shopping with her aunties for more clothes.  She doesn't look disappointed does she? 

Lilah saw Kate getting her picture taken and wanted part of the action. 

Kale got a Lego Clone Gunner Ship.  He had another perfect, thrilled reaction to yet another Lego set. 

This little cutie pie was who we got to shop for this year.  She's my brother's daughter Emma. She liked our gifts :)

This is my niece Ashlyn.  And this is her Chandler smile. (Hopefully you've seen Friends and know what I'm talking about)

Some more adorable pictures. 

Aunt Katie and Gavin. 

Gavin with his hat on that I made for him. 

All the babies fascinated with Kate's toy. 

This one is just too hilarious!

Ashlyn, Gavin, Lilah and Emma. Oh and the dog Cutler. 

One night we attempted to see Zoo Lights.  We underestimated the crowd! Our second attempt was successful though. Here's a few pictures from there. 

This is my nephew Gavin.  At first I didn't recognize him. He's usually always smiling! 

The crew looking at elephants. 

Jack, Lilah, Kale and Kate. 

The crew looking at giraffes. 

The whole crew. 

I was supposed to have LASIK surgery that day to correct my right eye (that got over corrected in July) but I had some crazy, freak allergic reaction to who knows what and my eyes swelled.  I decided to skip the surgery...

The second half of our trip we headed to Boulder to hang with the cool kids. 

Kieran 

Sweet Alannah

And um Kale ;) 

We did Christmas with the Palmers on New Years Day. 

Grandpa reading the Christmas story. Doug, Kale and Jack

Julie, Mike, Grandma and Mark

Kate, Alisha and Chad 

The great hat from Aunt Julie and Uncle Mike. 

We only got to spend one day with the Palmer cousins.  :( a little here and there with Allanah as we arrived and left.  They're starting to warm up to us and it's so fun! 

The last night we were there Mark and I weren't feeling well (the start of the awful cold!). We watched Return of the Jedi.  Jack hadn't seen it before and I didn't even think about how he'd react to the movie.  I figured he'd love it.  I think he did but the sweet boy cried when Yoda died and he went and snuggled Kale.  You would've thought that would've clued me in to the final scenes but no.  Still wasn't thinking.  Poor guy had to watch Darth Vadar die and it about sent him over the edge.  Lots of tears then! His favorite character was gone.  Broke his sweet little heart :( 

Especially after he got his own Darth all ready to watch the movie...

If you made it this far you're amazing.  I think I'm all caught up now. 

Happy Thanksgiving

I almost wrote happy turkey day but then I realized that makes thanksgiving all about the turkey.  Which it isn't :) So happy Thanksgiving to you! 

Our Thanksgiving started a few days ago.   Mark and I were able to get away for a night last Friday.  I am so thankful for friends who took our kids and enabled us to have alone time.  So grateful for family of choice!   

We left for Denver on Sunday morning (skipped church).  I'm so thankful for a staff that is highly capable and willing to let us leave early and beat the weather! 

On Monday I had a follow up appointment for my LASIK surgery.  I have to get my right eye redone.  Unfortunately it got a bit over corrected.  Not super excited to do it again BUT I'm so thankful that I can see, that I had the surgery done (goodbye glasses and contacts!!) and that this second surgery is part of the warranty on my eyes ;) 

After the appointment I took Kate clothes shopping.  I'm so thankful for pastor appreciation which allowed us to get all 3 kids some clothes they all needed.  I also got alone time with each kid individually which was precious and a blessing.  I took Kale later that afternoon and Jack on Tuesday. 

After shopping with Kate, we met my sisters and my nieces and nephew for a picture with Santa.  We've not actually ever done that with our kids but it turned out to be a cute picture.  I'm thankful for family, for sisters, for beautiful, healthy kids.  Kale holding my nephew, Gavin, is hilarious! 

Monday night we had my in-town siblings over to my parent's house (my folks were in Texas) and had a big Chinese dinner and then did our annual Thanksgiving candy turkeys.  I think we've been doing these since I was in kindergarten.  I'm thankful for old traditions with new family. 

On Tuesday we headed up to Mark's parent's house in Boulder.  I'm thankful that although our families live far away from us (or we live far away from them which is probably more accurately how they feel) that they live close together so we can see everyone when we come up. 

The kids got to do art at grandma's house.  Thankful that they are creative!  Aren't they cute?

We had our Thanksgiving with Mark's family on Wednesday due to everyone's schedules.  That's why I'm able to blog today.  We already did our thing! 

We spent the whole morning cooking which makes me thankful for electricity, stoves, microwaves and dishwashers.  And many hands making light(ish) work.  I'm thankful we didn't have to hunt, kill and dress our own turkey....or grow our own potatoes...so much thankfulness on Thanksgiving! 

We made pilgrim hats on Tuesday so we could wear them at dinner while we shared what were thankful for.  I'm thankful for a husband who will have fun with me. 

We had a good time eating, laughing and sharing with family.  I'm so thankful to have married into a fun family that loves each other. 

Today we are sitting around recovering.  We watched the Macy's parade and a few Duck Dynasty episodes.  All while the rest of the country is either eating or shopping.  We, of course, had to have fun with beards. 

Happy Thanksgiving y'all! 

A memorable trip for many reasons

This trip was quite memorable.  I mentioned last week that a dear family friend past away.  Her name was Shirley Brewer and she was like my third grandma. The kids and I headed up to Denver for the memorial service which was held on Saturday.  

The kids wore their hats that I made them :)

Mark followed us up in his truck.  He had a district meeting on Saturday and then he headed back to Durango Saturday night.  It was too much for the kids and I to go up and back that quick so we stayed till Monday.

Friday night I got hang out with my newest niece, Emma.  She and I were wearing matching shirts so we had to get a picture taken. 

Saturday morning my kids were outside playing with the neighbor kids and Jack had a jeeping accident.  He fell off the power wheels Jeep.  Nice lip huh?

Saturday afternoon was the service.  My sister, Kelly, and I each shared some of our memories and my dad shared as well.  It struck me as I was preparing for this, how special this couple was to me.  I guess I always knew but when I had the chance to reflect on the impact they had on my life I was truly blessed.

Here are my siblings with Don (her husband). Don't mind our crazy eyes. The lighting was bad and this was the only picture we got of us with Don. 

And just us "kids".  I love my brother and sisters.  And yes I am the oldest and the shortest. 

We spent the rest of Saturday with family and friends celebrating Shirley's life.

Sunday morning the kids and I went with two of my sisters to Flatirons Church.  It's really a neat place. And I've never heard a bad message when I've visited.  I think what I appreciate about the pastor there is that he doesn't shy away from Truth or making you uncomfortable.  He's real. I respect that very much. 

This is some of the artwork on their wall. Crazy huh? 

After church we stopped for lunch and Katie, unknowingly, ordered a sandwich the size of second base.  It's hard to appreciate the size of the sandwich in this picture but we tried :)

I got some snuggle time in with my nephew Gavin.  He wasn't feeling well so he was especially snugly here.

We introduced football to Kale.  He watched the Broncos beat the Chiefs (we don't have live tv so this was a treat). He actually stayed for the entire game.  And I think he liked it. In the middle of that, Mark called to tell me that Mishka got skunked.   Poor Mark washed him 4 times then went to the store to get special shampoo.  Thankfully he smells amazing now! 

We left Monday morning to drive back to Durango.  Unfortunately Kate caught a stomach bug.  She was sick twice before we left.  I had hoped she had gotten everything out of her tummy.  Nope.  Poor thing got sick about 7 more times on the way home.  Thankfully she's big enough to make it into a bag.... I thought the trip was gonna be miserable but it actually went well despite the yucky circumstances.  She was a trooper!  

She's feeling better today but we're still taking it slow and gonna work on a bit of school and cleaning up.  The house was beautiful and spotless when we got home. Now not so much.  And we are leaving again for Denver on Sunday after church for Thanksgiving.  Lots to accomplish before then! 

Palmer Vacation - Part 4

Monday was our final day in Crested Butte.  It was probably my favorite day because of the weather and the views. I'm sorry that my pictures barely capture the breathtaking scenery we enjoyed this past weekend. I almost get disappointed after I take the picture. Nothing quite captures the amazing-ness of God's creation. 

We decided to go on a little hike just up the road from our house in the tiny town of Gothic. The drive there was wonderful. 

I'd totally love to spend all fall in that little house. 

A picture that doesn't quite capture the beauty of this valley. 

The local wildlife ;)

We hiked a 1/2 mile to Judd falls. The kids did great. Only a small issue with Jack and his legs being dead on the way back. Thankfully a story about my broken thumb (from high school) brought his legs back to life. 

We stopped to take a big family picture and Mike found a very dead tree. He decided to help it fall. 

Judd falls. 

Cool man Jack. 

Kieran (22 months), Mike and Julie.  

Looking at the falls. 

Alisha, Chad and Allanah (21 months) 

Hanging out with grandpa. 

We stopped for lunch with a view. 

And a nap :)

The original 5. I love this picture. Such a great family. 

Doug, Mark, Julie, Chad and Margie. 

I can not believe the blue of the sky. I love that about Colorado! 

"Mom. There's cow poop on this log."

More sky. 

Stopped at the Gothic visitor center on the way back. 

We go out to dinner once while we're on vacation. We chose a pizza place called the Secret Stash. It was good pizza. Took a while though. So we took pics to document. 

Julie and Margie. 

Uncle Chad and Kale

Jack and Doug

Kate, Mike and Kieran 

Us. Mark and I tried to get one of ourselves at first but the older two didn't like that. 

So we took another one. 

Alisha, Allanah and Chad

Jack pulled into his clothes in hiding. 

This is very random but I had to show what the bathroom was like. It was crazy decorated. I'm not a fan of this kind of decoration but it definitely made a statement! 

We decided to leave at 8 Monday night and drive home so we could be back in time for the funeral today. We got all the kids together with grandpa and grandma for a quick pic before we loaded up and drove home. 

We got home around 1am and it reminded Mark and I that we aren't as young as we used to be. But we were so glad to be here for the service. It was beautiful.

We heard this afternoon that our nephew Kieran had a seizure after lunch today on their way home. He was taken to the hospital in Salida. He's doing much better but it was scary for the family. They think it was related to a fever he's had this past weekend. At least that's the initial thought. He will hopefully go home tomorrow. 

Not excited for the way the trip ended but we had a great time. Wonder where we're headed next year!