December 10

Happy birthday to our sweet and spunky Livi!  She is such a fun girl and has loads of personality.  She is very creative and some of her outfits are different, but so creative.  She loves to rearrange her room whenever she gets a chance and is finally out of Primary and in Young Womens!!

Thanksgiving

We went to Idaho for Thanksgiving.  The roads out there were ridiculous.  There was a 1/2" of ice and the wind was blowing 50 mph in Wyoming.  Needless to say, it was pretty scary and there were some white knuckle moments.  

 

The 1 picture I took of our table. 

Grandma and Grandpa B come to visit

I was ecstatic when my dad told me they were planning a trip in October.  It didn't exactly coincide with our Fall Break, but it was well enough that we spent some good time with them.

We ate out and had dessert brought in.  (how can you go wrong with 10 different types of ice cream, right?)

Grandpa and Livi in deep convo

Late night fun ;)

Garden of the Gods NEVER disappoints and we spent some good time there.  

We love when G&G come to visit.  Until next time!

Update and then conference

Things have been going pretty well for us.  Luke got a 2nd weekend job, to get us through the 2 mortgages/electricity/gas, etc.  It has been a bit nerve wracking, but we know that the Lord is mindful and of us and loves us.
The kids are loving school.  It has been challenging, but good.  Livi is in advanced math and debate and they moved Spencer to Junior Great Books.  It is a program that dissects a short story and they discuss it.  It has been a great opportunity for him to really read and comprehend what he is reading. 

Livi is in Choir, Spencer and Mac are in Science Club.
I wanted Livi to do Band/Orchestra, but it costs $350!  EEK!  Next year it will be free, so I am excited for her.
Spencer is doing flag football and caught an interception AND a pass from the QB this past weekend.  It was a stellar game.  NO ONE cared that they lost because it was such an amazing game.  He is also in Green Club (Recycling).
Mac is doing soccer and is so, so good, but has a hard time being aggressive and TAKING the ball.  He loved science club this past week and can't wait til next month. 

Rosie hasn't stopped moving or shaking.  She LOVES Frozen and sings it all the time.  IN the car, she used to sing I am a Child of God, but now she likes "Tis a Gift to be Simple".  Most mornings she comes into our bed, nurses (yes, still) and then ssays "T.B?  T.B?"  (T.V.)  Ahhh, she is growing up too quickly. 

Today we went over to the Held's for the 2nd Session of Sunday Conference.  We ended watching a few Studio C's, playing a game...and Rosie flooded their upstairs bathroom...and it leaked all the way to the downstairs bathroom.  Thankfully Hailey came and told us that the ceiling was leaking..otherwise it could have been so much worse. 
We found her in the sink, with hot(ter) water and she was completely soaked.  We changed her out of the clothes and her legs were pretty red.  Livi hadn't been watching her, but was instead playing/watching Minecraft with the other kids.  I will say that I have been pushing the burden of Rosie on her a bit.  I feel like Luke and I deserve to have some time off, but that doesn't mean that our almost 11 year old should shirk her duties. 

Conference was great.  We missed a few sessions, but were so filled with love and the Spirit.  It was so wonderful.  There was a moment when Pres. Monson slumped over during his talk and it seemed like someone may need to go and help him.  Instead, he finished his talk and sat down.  It scared me for a bit.  We have lost 3 apostles in the past few months and those 3 were replaced today.  It will be wonderful to hear their testimonies and feel the love they have for us. 

The Lord's timeline vs. our timeline

"Patience—the ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now....Nevertheless, without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace."  -Elder Uchtdorf, April 2010 Conference

If there was ever a time that I needed to hear this quote, now would be that time.  Our house went on the market at the end of May.  A few months later and it is still on the market.  We have completely moved out to Denver, still in a hotel and our entire house is in storage. 

We actually have had 2 offers, from the same person, all contingent on them selling their own home.  We signed the papers, they have had the house tested for Radon and the inspection was on Monday and then we found out today that their home fell through...and therefore, so did ours.  We are stressing a bit.  We have enough in our savings to get us through to October on 2 mortgages, but it won't be easy. 

We need to remember that the Lord's timeline looks very different from ours and that there is a reason this sale didn't go through.  We will continue to pray and rely on the Lord to figure out what he wants us to do. 

Lots of traveling!!

We have had quite the whirlwind of traveling!  We moved from Ohio to Colorado over Father's Day weekend (Happy Father's Day Luke!).  We spent a few days in Colorado before traveling up to Idaho for a wedding and 2 reunions.  I'm tired just remembering all the traveling we have done! 

First thing we did when we arrived in Colorado was go to the Temple grounds.  It has been WONDERFUL to live so close to a temple!

Beautiful landscape

Heading up to Redrock Amphitheater

We found a really cute town called Morrison to hang out in.  We have been back a few times.  It is nestled into the mountains and is very charming. 

The "dive" we ate at.  The Burgers were amazing!

 

Look at this view!  It was breathtaking!

We were housesitting/pet sitting for our friends.  Their cat is absolutely gorgeous.  Unfortunately, Jaffa and Joey don't get along. 

Back to the temple we go.

This picture is specifically for Spencer.  He LOVES cars, but more importantly, expensive cars.

Fun in our friends' backyard.  It was nice for the kids to run around after the long trip out here.

Denver has some pretty amazing storms.  While leaving for Idaho (we left much later than we had planned), we ran into a flash flood.  Pictures truly do not do justice for what we drove through. 

 Rosie (and the other kids) had had ENOUGH of the car.  She screamed most of the 11 hours up to Idaho.  It wasn't all crying, just screaming.  Finally, I gave her a lime and she was content for part of the trip.  We also put Baby Einsteins on repeat...life saver!

Finally to Idaho!  Fun at Brian's house:

 Plum tuckered out.  She couldn't even make it from Brian's to Jeramy's house!

 

Whitney, our niece, got married on Friday and it was great to meet her new husband, Marc.  It was a beautiful (hot) day and she was gorgeous. 

Friday night was spent hanging out at Laurie's house.  It's great to be back. 

On Saturday, we spent the day cooling off at some new locations in St. Anthony.

 

Fun outside at Jeramy's place:

How most of the week went.  It was extremely hot!!