CO, HP, and more...

Ok, so I am posting twice in one month, I know--amazing!! We have had a wonderful month, me especially, starting with my long weekend away in Colorado with my Messiah College friends. I realized we have known each other for 14 years this August. Wow!! It was so much fun and very relaxing. I LOVE Colorado and its no humidity.

Helen Hunt Falls (Cindy, Beth, Me, Mary Elizabeth)

Garden of the Gods (Me, Cindy, Beth, Mary E.)

Mary E and Cindy, it was VERY Cold!!

Beth was the hostess with the mostest and had everything planned out, yet it was such a relaxed schedule. We had a 6 hour day with a Mary Kay Rep and I now wear a little makeup. (Joe loves it!!) We hiked (some rough trails) drove to the top of Pikes Peak and visited some fun hang out spots and met some of Beth's friends. It was just so relaxing and we had such a good time reconnecting, which is always so easy.

BTW Joe and I "celebrated" our 14 year dating anniversary on June 4th. Actually, neither of us remembered it until later. That is amazing to me.

Here is an action shot of Lizzie on the new slip 'n slide, a favorite!

Hannah and her first "play date" working together to let the water out.

We are able to go over and enjoy Hershey Park a ton again this year with our passes from Christmas, thank you Carters!! Hannah especially is obsessed. She asks 5398 times a day if 1. "Daddy give you the passes?" (after I got home from CO and we were set to go over to HP and I realized that Joe still had the passes, she is scared since we ended up not being able to go) 2."I go on frog hopper?" every time.

Here she is on her favorite ride. She is fearless we are learning.

Another favorite, the truck convoy. Lizzie is a serious driver!
Jackson on the train. Just his speed!
Hannah and me on the train!

Finally, a new addition to the family. Baby Ryan was born on the 28th and is very healthy and going home tomorrow. Chris, Liz and Ben are very excited.

Quotes: Hannah, "Mommy, we go to Hershey Park later? Later Mommy?" Obviously, you can figure out my answer when she asks.

Lizzie informed me in the car today that she has all her dreams in her "noggin" and she has the bad ones in the bad box and the good ones in the good box. She also told me there are a lot of rules for her dreams. She then went on to tell me all the people in the good box. "Corbin Bleu, Nick Jonas, friends from school, you, daddy..." in the bad box two things "alligators and cheetahs!"

Sorrryyy!!

I am very sorry I have not kept up with this. No excuses. Here are some updates:
Let's see starting back in April we were busy with Birthdays. Lizzie FINALLY had her day after all the complaining about attention on Hannah. She had fun celebrating many times as we visited many family members. Man, I can't believe she is 6 already!! Her big accomplishment is jumping rope. Apparently, she is exceptionally good at this as I was told by her PE teacher on the side. She is very proud of it and has now moved to jumping the hula hoop we purchased. I can say, when she wants to do something, she works and works to do it the best she can and then some.

Joe started umping baseball again and has been busy with that when he makes his games. He has been so busy with work (thank the LORD) that he has even had to call out of umping. He has been able to squeeze in a few days of golf here and there though :0).

May came and went with a Mother's Day Tea, more umping and oh did I mention I started my 3rd season of soccer as goalie for the Just for Kixx team! I love it, every Sunday for 8 weeks in the evening. Jackson was last but not least with his birthday and loved it all. He is excited to be 4 because it means preschool and soccer in the fall (although it took a while to explain it wouldn't happen as soon as he turned 4). Now if we could be as excited about getting out of pull-ups!! We also had to trade in our leased Town and Country and decided to purchase a 1999 Dodge Durango. It is great and still seats 7. Joe likes it better than the van, and I am beginning to, also. Hannah is constantly singing "Happy Birthday to you" with all of the celebrating we did, so hopefully that will slow down too.

Birthday Girls at their Carter Family Party

Mom-Mom playing the pebble game (look at Hannah cheating and opening her eyes!)
AWANA graduation-Jackson Cubbies year 1
Lizzie getting her Sparks award, notice the heals
Aiden and Lizzie at the Reif Birthday Party
Hannah and Daddy relaxing on the swing.
Opening gifts at the Reifs
Cousin Ben playing with the new toys

June is here and maybe life will slow down a bit, I hope. Lizzie is done school on the 9th. We have already made 2 trips to Hershey Park with our passes. We were able to get some new furniture for our deck and have been enjoying eating outside and debating what is growing in the field behind the house (we have decided it is corn)!

I am preparing for a trip to Colorado this week to visit with my good friends from Messiah College, Mary Elizabeth, Beth, and Cindy! I can't believe it has been over 10 years since we met Freshman year. I will be away for 5 days while Joe is a full time stay at home Mom. He'll do great and already has stuff planned!!

I still love my job and I am excited as we move forward with more plans for the 2 year old area at church. Lots of change!!

Life is good and I am enjoying taking notes on the little conversations I hear in the car or while I am making lunches. It is really cool to see how the kids interact with each other now that they are a little older (sniff, sniff)!

New Birthday Shades

Some good ones:
Jackson and Hannah were doing errands with me one day and this is what I heard in the back seat--Hannah, "I love you one." Jackson, "I love you two." Hannah, "I love you three." Jackson, "I love you four." and so on and Hannah would not count right and Jackson would help her know what to say next. (of course this had all followed a screaming battle over a toy in the back a few minutes before, but that is what makes life so fun)

We buzzed Jackson's hair and Joe said one night after rubbing his head, "Oh, I messed up your hair." Jackson replied, "No, it stays like that!"

After teaching the kids the "real names" of their parts, Hannah now enjoys saying the names at the most opportune times, like in Giant or at dinner, of course it is not whispered either and doesn't help when the other two laugh at her.