Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

I love animals so one of my favorite things to do is go to the zoo.  Noah loves the zoo too and Kaitlyn had never been so we wanted to get her to the zoo to see all the animals.

Chris had the day off from work and Noah was out of school because of Martin Luther King Jr. day.  It wasn't that cold so we figured we would spend the afternoon checking out the animals.  One bad part was the Elephants were not there because they are redoing their living area but the rest was awesome.

 Kaitlyn almost got licked by the giraffe.  It was funny.  She just looked at them all bug eyed.

 That tongue is nasty looking!  Looked like a giant slug!  GROSS!

Noah was having a blast too.  He made us all go on the ski lift to the top of the mountain.  I actually did really well and didn't have a panic attack which is a miracle since I am terrified, not just scared, terrified of heights!

 The wonderful ski lift.  We ended up having to sing to Katerbuggs cause she didn't like it about half way up and half way down.  hahaha

 Noah really likes the Okapi's.  In 5th grade he did a report on them so he likes to tell us all about them each time we see them.  He is just so smart and I love it.

 Checking out all the monkey's.  They had a ton of them and we got to see one picking fleas off the other one.  Kind of gross!  

 Boogs (don't ask, that is just her nickname we ended up for her) fell asleep before we made it to the bears.  That is the only thing she missed.  No big deal cause when we go home to Virginia this summer we are going to the Richmond Metro Zoo so she will get to see some there.

And of course we had to stop at the gift shop.  Noah got a tube full of sugar, Kaitlyn got a "Goodnight Zoo" book, and then we bought a HUGE panda for the kids to share.  It was a great trip. 

I love that Chris works for the Army.  He gets all kinds of holidays off so we are able to spend a lot of time together...well until he deploys that is!

Kaitlyn is 5 Months Old

Today Kaitlyn is 5 months old.  WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE? She is such a little ham.  She is full of smiles and giggles and is such a morning person.  She is eating baby food now and LOVES it.  She is trying to sit up but hasn't quite mastered that yet.  She is also trying to roll from her back to her belly but still needs more practice on that.  She loves to put everything in her mouth.  Her bottom gums are getting a little white so we should be getting some teeth here soon.  She loves to play with her toys.  Her favorite time is bath time and she loves to kick her little legs and make the biggest splashes.  She has a scream that is piercing but she does it just to be cute and well......it is.  She is such a good sport and lets me put her in tutus and take pictures all the time.  This baby is simply adorable and I love being her mommy!

Happy New Year....Bucket List!

Happy New Year!  Usually with a new year we all make new year resolutions which last about a few weeks and then we forget about them and end up living in the moment.  This year my Aunt Kandy had posted that she was making a 2013 Bucket list instead of making resolutions.  This way she can check off items that she has accomplished.  I love this idea.  I was much better at checking off a "to do" or "bucket" list than I am in keeping new year resolutions.  I wanted to share a few ideas that I have for my bucket list for 2013:

• Lose 40 lbs
• Exercise a few times a week
• Finish 2 cross stitch projects
• Get caught up on my scrapbooks
• Make birthday cards for each family member
• Read the Book of Mormon twice
• Read 6 books
• Learn how to use photoshop better
• Complete 100 hours of teacher observation
• Stick to a stick monthly budget
• Start the adoption process again
• Run one mile without stopping
• Plan an overnight getaway with Chris
• Learn 2 new piano pieces
• Have date night twice a month
• Save Money

I have a plan for a few of these times.  Some I got from one of my sister in laws and some I have actually gotten off of facebook.  I am using myfitnesspal.com to lose weight.  The program is great and it is free.  All I have to do is plug in my information and stick to the amount of calories listed to lose weight.  My total goal for the year is to lose 80 lbs but that number scares me so I broke it in half and am hoping for that number by June.  Then I can focus on the remaining 40.  I am working out at the gym with friends a few times a week.  One of my friends introduced me to Fit Mommas.  I get to take Kaitlyn with me and it works your butt off.  Then I have another friend and we go to Zumba.  The days that I do not go to the gym I am doing the insanity videos at home.  So far I have gotten through the warm up.  hahahha  I will eventually make it to the actual workout.  I also have this plan for saving money which is something that I got off of facebook.  Here is the schedule for saving (I am also going to put more in when I can for the most money saved).

All the others I just have to make sure that I am making myself a schedule and sticking to it.  We have some amazing changes coming for our family this year so stay tuned for what's to come!  

Trip to Utah and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Since leaving Utah in early September, our family has wanted to go back for a visit so bad.  We had originally wanted to go in October but weren't able to make it so we planned a trip for right after Christmas.  We decided to leave December 27th and stay until New Years Day.  We left right after lunch on Thursday and headed out.  We had a long 9 1/2 hour trip ahead of us.  It ended up taking us about 12 hours to get there because of the snowy weather conditions.  At one point as I was driving I was scared to death.  The snow was falling hard and we were driving through the mountains on a two lane road and I couldn't see the lines on the road.  It was dark and the only other drivers out there seemed to be tractor trailers.  It was scary.  We hit Provo and decided to eat dinner, yes at 1am, at the Ihop.  As we sat there we decided not to drive the remaining 35 to 45 minutes drive and just stay in the hotel across the parking lot.  It was a good decision.  We were so tired and were going to hang out in Provo the next day anyway while Josh slept since he works at night.

The next morning we woke up and got ourselves together to go spend the day with The Banks' family.  It was so nice to just pick up right where we left off.  There are families that you meet in life that make such a huge impact and go through so much with you that you consider they family.  That is what the Banks' are to us...Family!  Noah and Mason played in the snow, we ordered pizza,  and just hung out!  It was awesome.  We then headed over to see three more amazing friends who we also consider our family...Randall and Jess Raban and their brand new addition Holland.  It was so good to spend time with them.  They are amazing people and we adore them.  Then we headed to Josh and Jadey's house where we were going to stay for the next few days.  We went to dinner at Fazoli's and just hung out!  It was a blast.

We spent Saturday with Josh and Jadey.  We went to the movies and just hung out!  It was great.  Sunday we went to our old ward.  That was amazing.  They were so happy to see us and finally meet Kaitlyn.  Then we went over to The Banks' for dinner!  It was fun catching up and just being together.  Noah ended up staying the night with them.  On Monday we went and picked up Noah and Mason and took them to lunch at the mall.  We got Kaitlyn's blessing and sealing dresses.  They are beautiful!  Then we said our goodbyes to The Banks' and headed back to Josh and Jadey's for dinner and to bring in the new year.  It was fun!  Then Tuesday morning it was time to pack up and head back to Colorado and back to reality.

It is so nice to be home but we sure do miss our Utah family!  Kaitlyn is happy to be home and be back on her schedule!  Noah is happy to be home to play with his friends and new toys before heading back to school tomorrow!  I am excited to be home and to just take it easy and make some plans for our family for this new year!  I hope everyone had a happy and safe new year and may God bless each  and every one of you in the new year!

Kaitlyn is 4 months old...

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!  Does it get any cuter than this?  I think not!  

She is now weighing 16 lbs 8.1 oz.  She is growing so much!  She now eats cereal and is exploring baby food.  She tries to sit up on her own and plays a ton!  She is staying awake longer and going longer between feedings.  She sleeps through the night!  YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!  She is full of giggles and smiles and we love it.  She puts everything in her mouth and drools a ton.  Think we may be getting some teeth real soon!

Christmas Festivities...

We love Christmas in this house.  We put our tree up about a week before Thanksgiving.  We finally have a house instead of an apartment so we were able to decorate the outside too.  It was so much fun!  We spent so much time together as a family getting our house decked out.  It was great.  We went to Seven Falls to check out the fun Christmas lights and then drove around a few neighborhoods too.  It was cold but fun!

I spoiled my husband rotten this year.  He got a punching bag with the stand.  We have a two car garage so one side of that is being turned into Chris home gym.  He had mentioned that he really wanted to get a punching bag so that he could work out at home.  One gift down one to go.  Then we were talking a few weeks later and he mentioned how he wanted to look into getting a kindle.  I never thought he liked to read but apparently he just didn't have time since he has been in school year round for the past 5 years.  So that made me think that the gift from Noah and Kaitlyn to him could be the Kindle Fire HD.  HE LOVES IT!  He was totally spoiled.

And he did amazing this year for me as well.  When I was opening my gifts from him I burst into tears.  He put so much thought into my gifts this year.  I have been wanting to collect the willow tree figures for a long long time but just never have.  I made mention of this again not expecting to get them, but I did.  He got me the mother and son figure, the mother and baby figure, the mother, father, baby figure, and the forget me not figure.  They all have significant meaning to me.  Then the most romantic, sweetest gift EVER was when I opened the photo envelope that he had for me.  When we were in Vegas picking up our sweet daughter we took the family to Circus Circus which has an indoor amusement park.  I sat with the baby and Chris and Noah rode tons of rides.  They had a blast and I enjoyed holding my sweet daughter in my arms.  When you first go in they take your picture so that you can buy it on the way out which we did not.  He spent weeks working with Circus Circus to find this picture of our family as it was our 1st EVER family picture of 4.  I cannot even express the emotions I felt with the thought and effort he put into getting me the best gift ever.  He is too good to me.

The kids.......well I will sum it up for you...SPOILED ROTTEN!    Noah got tons of stuff which included Black Ops II, a tablet, a basketball hoop, spy gear, remote control everything..LOL, a pogostick and a ton more.  Kaitlyn got her 1st cabage patch doll, a kitchen set, books, a princess castle and so much more.  They were very happy kids this year.  They have been very good and it was so fun to have a Christmas with FOUR of us this year!

 They both got tablets!  LOL

 This is the face of one excited boy!  I love it!

Every year we also do a gingerbread house.  Last years was a disaster so I found this really fun kit this year that makes rice krispie treat houses.  They were so much easier and were a ton of fun.  They were also very yummy!!!!

I hope each of you had a great Christmas Season!

The true meaning of Christmas!

This month has been a super crazy month.  So many great traditions and memories were made.  I was very grateful for the opportunity I had to also reflect on the Saviors birth this month and to remember the true meaning of Christmas.  It is very easy to get caught up in the worldly idea of Christmas which is fun but I think it is very important to take some time to realize why we celebrate this special day each year.  We had a relief society lesson one week that was nothing but a reflection of the Saviors life.  It was incredible.  It was just what I needed to get me thinking and focusing on the amazing miracle of our Saviors birth.  Each year our church has an amazing devotional given by the Prophet of the church and his counselors.  It is always so uplifting and brings the spirit of Christ into our homes.  Here are some quotes that have been shared about our Saviors birth and about the Christmas season...

“When we keep the spirit of Christmas, we keep the Spirit of Christ, for the Christmas spirit is the Christ Spirit. It will block out all the distractions around us which can diminish Christmas and swallow up its true meaning.

“There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ.

“Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.

“Because He came, there is meaning to our mortal existence.

“Because He came, we know how to reach out to those in trouble or distress, wherever they may be.

“Because He came, death has lost its sting, the grave its victory. We will live again because He came.

“Because He came and paid for our sins, we have the opportunity to gain eternal life.” (President Thomas S. Monson, 2011 First Presidency Christmas Devotional)

The Christmas season is a time to reflect and act upon the blessings and opportunities we have because of the birth, life, Atonement, and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As our Heavenly Father “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16), we express our love toward one another and toward God and his precious Son by giving of ourselves.

What an amazing gift we have been given....A Savior!  I hope that each one of you took the time to remember this great gift and celebrated the true meaning of Christmas!

Here is the account of Jesus' birth!  I know that the Christmas season has come and gone but we can read and rejoice in this event all year long.  

Isa. 7: 14	(2 Ne. 17: 14) virgin shall conceive, and bear a son.
Isa. 9: 6	(2 Ne. 19: 6) unto us a child is born.
Micah 5: 2	Bethlehem . . . out of thee shall he come forth.
Matt. 1: 23	virgin shall . . . bring forth a son . . . Emmanuel.
Matt. 2: 1	Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Luke 1: 31	bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
Luke 2: 11	unto you is born this day . . . a Saviour, which is Christ.
John 1: 14	(John 1: 3) Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.
Rom. 1: 3	Jesus . . . made of the seed of David.
Gal. 4: 4	God sent . . . Son, made of a woman.
1 Ne. 10: 4	(1 Ne. 19: 8; 2 Ne. 25: 19) six hundred years . . . God raise up among the Jews even a Messiah.
1 Ne. 11: 18	mother of the Son of God.
2 Ne. 26: 3	signs given . . . of his birth.
Alma 7: 10	he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem.
Hel. 14: 4	sign . . . before he is born.
3 Ne. 1: 19	day that the Lord should be born.
D&C 20: 1	since the coming of our Lord . . . in the flesh.
D&C 76: 41	he came into the world, even Jesus.
D&C 93: 4	I . . . made flesh my tabernacle.
Moses 5: 57	(Moses 6: 57-62) Son . . . should come in the meridian of time.