Summer is OVER?!?!

Yesterday was the last day of Summer - can't believe how FAST it flew by.  =( Probably because we did SO many fun things!  =)

First off, our Arkansas Trip.  Boy, did we all have a great time AND a relaxing time.  Great Gran had a bunch of cars and trucks, a swimming pool, a squirt gun and bubbles waiting for Noah when he got there.  (Can someone say, spoiled?)  We also enjoyed doing s'mores out at her firepit, catching fireflies at night, hitting up all the flea markets, having fun shopping days, getting together with all the girl cousins, attending the annual reunion, feeding the ducks out at the lake, eating lots of fried food, helping Gran with chores and picking out things we wanted of Gran's to take home.  It was fun because Greg came out for a few days too!  (That was after he had surprise flowers delivered to the house for Jen.)  Auntie Cheryl also sent Noah a surprise package in the mail.  (Again, spoiled?)  Noah flew outstandingly both flights and was absolutely beside himself that he got to be in an airplane.  Couldn't ask for a better traveler.

So the rest of the Summer.... we did a LOT.  

We went to our favorite Rockhouse in Palmer Lake for ice cream quite a few times.  We also had to hit up a few fro-yo and slurpee places.  We went to Monument Lake and a few of the parks in Monument.  We visited Kyle at his new coffee shop in Old Colorado City and had an amazing latte!  Jen helped run VBS at church and Noah did awesome in the nursery!  We went to the Pueblo River Walk one evening after Noah's nap.  We've done a lot with our small group families and our neighbors.  Jen and Noah went up to Parker to go swimming with friends.  We went to Cave of the Winds.  We went to Evergreen Lake and did some paddleboating one morning.  We went to the Collins' house to celebrate Bob's birthday and Tucano's to celebrate Greg's birthday.  Greg and Noah went to the Father/Son campout at church one weekend.  We barely (and we mean BARELY) missed being 3 victims of a drunk driver one evening.  We had a fun bbq and did a little kids parade with our friends for July 4th.  We went to our neighborhood picnic and had fun hanging out with and meeting new neighbors.  We had a few date nights.  Greg biked Pikes Peak with a couple friends one morning.  Jen had quite a few playdates.  We hosted a bridal shower for Katy here at the house.  We had a few neighbors over for dinner, celebrating friendship and warm weather.  We mourned the loss of a friend at church who was killed in the war.  Noah had the honor of being the ring bearer (a.k.a. "ring security") at Katy's wedding, while Jen had the honor of being the wedding coordinator, and Greg got to run the sound.  To end the Summer on a VERY high note, Greg got a stellar promotion and a new position at work!! 

We've had a very blessed, fun and fulfilling Summer!  Maybe Fall will provide us with some down days.  =)

We took pictures of just about everything we did this Summer (no, really?), but instead of posting all our pics, we'll just post a few.  Enjoy!  Happy Fall! 

 

The Vacation of a Lifetime

The vacation we've been planning and looking forward to for over a year now, has finally come and gone.  We just got back from a week-long cruise to Alaska that started off by a 2.5 day sightseeing vacation in Seattle!  It was hands-down one of THE best (and most expensive!) vacations we've ever been on, but it was definitely worth it - and it really WAS "the vacation of a lifetime."

So first off, Seattle..... never been before.  Loved finally getting to see in person what we've always heard about and seen on TV.  (Instead of posting a lot of Seattle pics, just know we did all the fun touristy things: Starbucks, Pike Place Market, a ferry ride, the Space Needle, etc.....)

Next up?  Bon Voyage!  Alaska here we come!  (And since you already know what WE look like, we'll post pics that are mostly of the gorgeous scenery we got to take in - which is a hard task since we took over 700 pics!)  =)

 

 

Oh yeah..... one of the most fun parts about this trip?  Almost all of Jen's family on her Mom's side went!!!  =)  Such good times, lots of laughs, and amazing memories.  =)

 

 

P.S.  For more pics, look at Facebook.  =)

"Jesus Loves Me"

This was WAY too stinkin' cute not to post.  =)

He can also sing: "You Are My Sunshine" and "Soft Kitty."  We'll have to see about getting those on here too, one of these days.  ;)

The Waldo Canyon Fire

We no longer have a pre-evacuation status on our city, our home or on our lives.  God has been so good to us.

Last week was the most torturous and longest week of our lives.  Here is an idea of how it went for us:

Saturday - June 23rd - In the morning, we sighted a large, very dark plume of smoke from our upstairs windows on a mountain not too far in the distance.  Later that afternoon, we had dinner out with friends.  As we drove south on the Interstate, we could see the fire unfolding more and more on the mountain. 
Sunday - June 24th - The smoke started to become more and more intense around our home.  Noah woke up that morning with allergy-like symptoms from all the smoke.  He snotted and sneezed all day long.  There was no escape from it unless we left the city.  On the way to church that morning, the Air Force Academy was littered with all kinds of rescue helicopters, fire trucks, police cars and ambulances.  An unsettling sight.
Monday - June 25th - More smoke.  Much closer.  We could see flames from our upstairs windows.
Tuesday - June 26th - The fire was creeping more and more towards us.  All kinds of ash and soot made its way into our home - all over the floors, countertops and furniture.  Later that evening we had friends over for dinner and basically just sat in front of the TV and watched in silenced horror as the fire exploded and took many homes captive within a short amount of time.  Dinner was good, but we felt ourselves wanting to throw it back up.
Wednesday - June 27th - Jen cancelled plans with a friend for the day - too nervous to be too far away from home "just in case."  At 12:05pm, we received a pre-evacuation notice for the city of Monument - the whole area west of I-25.  We were packed and out of the house by 2pm, thanks to Jen's Mom and Brother.  During that time, our phones were ringing almost nonstop with calls and texts - all from friends making sure we were ok, that we had a place to go, that we had the help we needed to get out, that they were praying and that they loved us.  What a tremendous blessing and an overwhelming feeling to know you are THAT loved and cared for.
Thursday - June 28th - Jen cancelled plans with another friend, yet again.  She needed to be the eyes and ears of the home while Greg was away at work - "just in case."  ;)  The fire continued to rage north towards us. We started to feel less and less confident about things staying in just a "pre-evac" for us.
Friday - June 29th - In the morning, as Jen drove into town, she drove by (and with!) all of the National Guard emergency vehicles that were sent in to protect all the homes still standing and left under a mandatory evacuation.  Unnerving and reassuring at the same time.  Later that afternoon, at 4:35pm, both of us received reverse 911 calls from the Sheriff's department telling us to "prepare to evacuate."  As we stood and looked at each other, dumbfounded and numb, our dear friend and neighbor called and said it was a false alarm - that she had seen on TV that it was an accident.  Whew!
Saturday - June 30th - The fire containment went up and we were feeling more assured about the situation as the hours passed.  At 9:45pm, our pre-evacuation was lifted and we were able to return to normal.  For now.  We can breathe a sigh of relief.  No more being "on edge."

It was so surreal.  To have to go through your home in a hurry and start grabbing things you think you can't and shouldn't live without - all while looking around one last time at every beautiful thing that makes your house a home that will be left behind.  It puts into perspective very quickly what really IS and ISN'T important to have.  We kept saying, "this is just a house and it's just stuff - we just don't want to leave anything behind that was important during the rush to get out." 

Our home smells of smoke.  But at least we still have a home!  It's tiresome to constantly be wiping down things from all the ash and soot that blows in day after day.  But at least our home didn't burn down!  It's just so sad to vacuum, and think of all the people who don't have floors to vacuum anymore.  To dust the coffee table, and think about all the people who don't even have a table to dust. To mop the floors, and think about all the people who WISH they had a floor full of ash and soot to mop up every day.  That every little piece of ash and soot is a piece of someone else's home......

Life is not rough. Life is good.  And we are so very, very blessed.

 

"30 Days of Father's Day"

(By Greg)

Today was a good day!  Normally, I would enjoy hanging out with Jen and Noah, even if we did nothing exciting.  But today, we went up into the mountains by our house for a drive, we shot guns for a little bit, explored the area and then stopped off for some of the best BBQ in Colorado Springs for lunch!  We didn't do anything earth shattering, but just being with Jen and Noah made it extra special!  I thoroughly enjoy being a father to Noah and I am so thankful he is in our lives!

My amazing wife and son put together one of the most creative and thoughtful gift ideas ever for me this year - "30 Days of Father's Day."  Meaning, every day for the last 30 days leading up to Father's Day, a little bag was found waiting for me somewhere in the house with things in it that I liked.  Gifts, treats, etc.  It was kinda sad for it to be over.  ;)

It is such a joy to be this boy's Daddy.  =)

aMAYzing

It's been such a random and fun month.  "Crazy busy" doesn't even BEGIN to scratch the surface!

Here's been our month (plus) in a nutshell.  =)

Life is good when you come home to 3 large boxes of Pampered Chef stuff.  Jen's party was VERY successful.  =)

We spent our traditional Memorial Day weekend in Estes Park.

Greg is playing softball with his work friends up in Highlands Ranch this Summer - and LOVING it!

We went crawdad fishing one night up at Palmer Lake with Jen's fam.  Brian's the expert fisherman.  ;)

Noah always loves and wants to help us cook.

Painting with watercolors was a HUGE hit!

Noah and Mommy went on many a coffee/chocolate milk date.

He just keeps getting more and more adorable!

Mimi brought Noah back some Mickey ears and shirt from her Vegas trip - another HUGE hit!

LOVES playing outside with his new bug catching kit.

We had a picnic and watched the AFA graduation air show.  SO awesome!

Being a cheese and having fun with new toys in the bath.

Took Noah to his first Sky Sox game!  He loved it.  =)

Looking studly for the girls in Sunday School.  ;)

Some more about our month without photos:

* Jen's been prepping for VBS at church.  It's gonna be very different this year, but she's looking SO forward to it!
* We've been loving our Small Group at church and have been doing a LOT of stuff with them. 
* Jen's been playing Bunco with her new friends at church.  She's still keeping with the "winning a prize every game" theme.  =)
* Greg's been studying every spare moment for his CFA test.  He's burned out and ready to be done.  =(
* We've had fun out at Auntie and Bob's house.  Noah LOVES to explore and run around and collect sticks for the fire.  =)
* We're off to Arkansas soon!  Noah's thrilled to be riding in a "big airplane!"

Not sure if we missed anything or not.  We've done so much, so we MAY have.  ;)