Fall = Fun!!

 Hoo, Hoo, Hoo!!

Always such fun activities in the fall for family and friends.  We went to Colby's buddy, Haydens third birthday party.  They had a fire engine and the kids (especially CJB) were so into it and the fire men.  They even took them for a ride around the block!!  Next, we took an afternoon and went to the pumpkin patch, played games, climbed a straw mountain and dug in the tower of sand.

Hoo Hoo Hoo, happy Halloween from our little owl!  Mom and I made his costume and it turned out pretty cute!  It was so great because it was only the cape and hat.  No fuss and he didn't seem to mind.  Trick-or-treating was fun!  By the end, Colby would say "Hoo, hoo trick-or-treat" as he walked away....that's progress i guess.  He did smile at almost everyone!! Once he figured it all out, he kept telling us "One more house, mama....One more house, dada"!  We eventually retired and he handed candy out to the kids.  We had a very busy neighborhood.

We're back!!

I think my extended vacation away from the blog has ended.  Life has been busy, as it always is.  Somehow, I just kept putting off downloading the pictures, writing a piece, etc, etc.  And then I was WAY behind and I began to procrastinate even more.  Plus, we really did have a busy spring.  I was working more (4 days a week plus evenings) and Luke was as busy as ever at Pioneer.  We had visitors and we traveled down south to go boating on the river.  Life continued on…..Now I guess I will share a few of the tidbits. 

Breeding season and work was good for me.  The second year with a new manager/vet/friend was successful and even easier than year one.  Colby attended preschool 3 days a week and LOVED it.  His friend Galen and sitter Carrie came to our house on Fridays for a long-standing play date.  The boys really started having a great time.  Ringo, our horse was in training and is now a well started heading and heeling horse.

Colby had new ear tubes put in place in May.  We struggled all spring with ear infections, drainage, colds and then finally one day one of the tubes came out, so it was time to visit the ENT and get some new ones.  So far so good this summer and fall, no ear problems…keep your fingers crossed!

The biggest change came in June when we made the difficult decision to move back to Colorado.  Glenwood Springs is now home!  We always knew we wanted to come back this way.  Ever since Colby came into our lives, we realized how important family was to have close and enjoy and how much we needed their support.  So this summer seemed like the time to make the move.  It was an extremely hard decision.  Luke loved his clients, the cases he saw and the clinic he worked at.  I loved life on the ranch but that was changing too since the property we lived on was sold and bought by a cattle owner.  Things were changing…..it seemed like everything was lining up for us to go.  We said some very, very difficult goodbyes to some of the greatest people.  People I wish I could still see each day.  But the flip side is seeing the pure joy in Colby’s face now that he gets to see his Mimi and Papa at least once a month.  Oakdale, CA and all our good friends will always have a very special place in my heart. 

Luke’s job now is different.  He doesn’t have a clinic, but works primarily out of his vehicle as a mobile practitioner.  It has been good so far.  Just different…..I have been playing the stay at home mom part thus far.  Just like a lot of place in the country, jobs are hard to come by.  I will keep looking and trust that God will put me in the right job at the right time. 

We arrived back in CO at the end of July.  The move itself was TERRIBLE!  We had a horrible moving company, Allied and will never recommend or use them again.  Colby’s birthday was right around the corner.  Jack and Brenda came up and we were able to celebrate Colby’s second year with BOTH sets of grandparents and one great grandma.  What a treat!!  We had a slip-n-slide and train tracks throughout the house!  Colby had a fantastic time, played with all his gifts and loved the cup cake!

Luke and I have enjoyed reconnecting with friends in CO.  I traveled to the CSU vs. CU game to meet up with three of my bestest friends from college and we celebrated a CSU win in the luxery box at Mile High!  We celebrated a belated birthday gift for Luke at the LSU vs. S. Carolina football game in Baton Rouge.  What a treat!!  We stayed with some of Haley’s good friends (Thanks Emmy and Ray), tailgated with family and went to watch an awesome football game in Tiger stadium.  Definitely a highlight of whole this year.  And with that, I think we are up to date!!  Enjoy the collage of pictures.

 Makin' cookies!

 Aunt Haley!

 Oakdale rodeo parade.

 Oakland Zoo for CSU Alumni Day

 River trip!!!  Naked boy :)

He loves trains!!!

 Hike to Hanging Lake.

SNOW DAY!

The winter has been mild in CA to say the least.  The mountains finally began to get snow this month and we were able to take Colby for his first experience in the snow!  We wanted to go sledding...figuring this was the easiest and least expensive way to have fun in the snow.  Little did we know that the day we picked would be what us from Colorado call "prime spring skiing conditions".  Meaning even though we were in the snow and mountains, we could have been in short sleeves it was that warm.  Which also means slushy snow!  It was still fun despite the slush and mud.  Colby was not too sure this was for him in the beginning but by the time we left, he was having a great time!

Many new firsts and seconds

Can you believe that Colby is 18 months old?  It is hard to imagine that he has grown so fast in such a short amount of time.  With his 18 month half-birthday, we were able to enroll Colby in a toddler daycare program.  He is now attending Creative Christian Learning Center three days a week.  It is a nice, small program and he seems to be doing great.  Napping is the only real struggle at "school".  But he will get there, Im sure.  Colby gets to play with other kiddos his age, play outside, arts an crafts and we even pack his lunch for the day.  We have also started back with some speech therapy through play.  He will be seeing Ms. Debbie and Ms. Roxanne for this.
When I look back at the last 18 months I see how much our lives have changed for the better yet in many ways we are still the same, just plus 1.  Colby has added so much joy to our lives.  I am just humbled to be his momma.  We will continue to walk beside him and do all we can.

 Lunch packed.  Ready for his first day.

Showing off (unhappily) his George Washington hat.

 

The next set of photos is from a visit to Dave and Erica MacDonalds ranch.  They have 35 goats!  Lots and Lots of cute baby goats for Colby to play with.  He really enjoyed trying to pull their tails (gee, I wonder who told him to do that???) and looking into all their little huts.  What a fun afternoon!

 A visit with the baby goats, year two!

 This is Hannah, she was a very sweet baby goat.

 Oh no, watch out Colby.....

 And down he goes.  Darn mama goat!

 "Is there one under here??"

"I found one!!"

It's A Wonderful World.....

A special thank you to Hilda, my boss and a fantastic photographer for capturing these great pictures of Colby and the three of us as a family. We ran up to Knights Ferry one Sunday afternoon in hopes to capture a few pictures of Colby. There are so many great shots, it is hard to choose. Hilda did a great job!! Otherwise, we are all good. Work will begin to pick up for Luke and I both with breeding and show season right around the corner. Colby is 17 months, running and thinking he is pretty hot stuff these days. He is such a joy and a blessing for Luke and I. He constantly reminds me to be thankful for the little things....blowing bubbles, reading a new book, chocolate pudding, goodnight kisses and playing in the leaves.