First Real Haircut

I finally took EK get her first salon haircut. We went all out and got it done at Great Clips. Ha! I think I can continue to do it myself because the stylist didn't get it much more even than I can and she had to go about 3 inches past what I told her to get it even. Oh well!!! It's a cute little bob now!!!

it kind of makes me sad to see how long it was...thankfully it will grow back fast!




excuse the dirty face:)

Just In Case You Were Wondering....

I think Abigail may look a little like me...

I'm at my parents for a few days while Jeff makes the drive back from Colorado. I found some old pics of me and it's kind of scary actually how much Abigail looks like me when I was a baby. Although, she does have some of her daddy in her of course. Those beautiful blue eyes did not come from me!

I'll spare you the details, but it was an interesting day of travel yesterday. Aside from one employee who helped me with my complicated bag issue (changed my plans to get off in Atlanta on our layover instead of fly to Bham), pretty much everyone else was not very accommodating to our family. I actually lost it at one point. There is NO way I could have flown by myself. I am so so so thankful to Jeff's parents for doing it with me! The kids were pretty good for the most part, but it was so nice to have help during the long flight. So, now we are just enjoying some down time until we head back to T-town and begin a busy season of school starting!

With Great Sadness

Well today is the day that we leave the nice cool (well, cooler than Alabama anyway) mountain air to head back to the southern heat and humidity. Our time in Colorado has been so awesome, but I am looking forward to my own bed, my big kitchen, and seeing my friends back in T-town! The kids have had so much fun with all the other children here, I'm afraid they are going to be in detox mode when we get back. But we will return and have about 1 week before the craziness of fall begins when Samuel starts school and Jeff gets back into full ministry mode on campus.

So, I thought I would leave you with some pictures to see how much things changed between 2 years ago when we were out here and this summer. I love to see how our family has grown!!!!

does she even look like the same child?????

they have grown so much!

Samuel is growing up so fast! 

our family at Bear Lake in 2007 and then in 2009

Ellie Kate went from playing on the floor with her big brother to playing on the floor with her little sister

A few days ago Jeff took his parents and Samuel and EK back to Rocky Mountain National Park.  They drove all the way up to the Continental Divide!  

So, I'll end with a funny story.  Last night, we went to one of our favorite Pizza places one last time. Big Papa (jeff's dad) got a toothpick on our way out and was talking to Samuel with it in his mouth.  De-De told him that she wished he wouldn't do that...

Samuel (to big papa):  Why doesn't De-De like the toothpick in your mouth?

Big Papa: she thinks it makes me look like a redneck

Samuel: your neck isn't red!!!!!!

Good Bye Colorado!!!! We will miss you!!!! 

Rodeo Fun

We passed these huge buffalos on our way to Cheyenne, Wyoming on Friday.  Jeff's parents are now with us for the last few days in Colorado so we decided to head back to Frontier Days Rodeo.   And, oh my goodness, did we have a blast!!! The kids really loved the rodeo and we saw some spectacular cowboys and cowgirls.  Samuel was in heaven and once Ellie Kate got used to the noise, she really loved it too.  We had a harder time occupying Abigail (but that's par for the course lately with our fussy girl).  After the rodeo was over, we headed out to the carnival. 

Hope you enjoy the picture overload that follows!  I also did some fun editing with some of the pictures.  I'm still pretty obsessed with my camera, and photography in general.  It's also been fun to learn how to use photoshop! 

So, without further ado....our rodeo/carnival adventures...

Barrel Racing (this is what the cowgirls do)

My own sassy little cowgirl

Samuel loved this handgliding ride....we pretended we were like Peter Pan

This is what happened when EK had to get off the ride...bless her heart, she was having the time of her life! 

Busy, Busy!

So, this is a huge post because I have a lot to catch up on!

We are still having a ton of fun out here in Colorado.  Jeff's training ended last Friday so we had a few days of down time before our staff conference started today. We have to keep busy, otherwise the kids will drive us and each other crazy since we are living with just a few of our belongings in a small apartment. There have been days (like today) where I wanted to scream and throw things...mostly because my darling middle child is a strong willed monster sometimes (I still love her to pieces though)!

Anyway, we went to the park a lot, went to Cheyenne, Wyoming for a parade and Frontier Days, went to the county fair that our ministry puts on for us to kick off our conference, grilled out, did lots of laundry in the laundromat, etc.  In the midst of all that, I have been working on some blog designs and have been taking (and editing) pictures for some of my friends out here.

So, here are many many pictures from the last few days of our adventures...

The Bosleys...such awesome friends and so easy to photograph 

(I think they could all be models)!

 The Frontier Days Parade in Cheyenne...

it was a nice cool morning (I still can't get over that we have been wearing jackets in the middle of july:))

can you get over how cute these pink boots are?

don't be too jealous...but I got them for $5 at a consignment store out here

these horses were amazingly beautiful!

my little cowboy

playing in the fake jail at Frontier Days

After we got home, I played with Ellie Kate's hair...

then we went to the County Fair 

(as you can see the braided pigtails did not last, but she did leave in the regular ole piggy tails)

cutest.baby.ever

Samuel rode the roller coaster!!!!

and loved the petting zoo

they of course had to get some cotton candy 

(and the pig tails had come out...hence our 3rd hair style of the day) Ha! 

lovely garbage cans in the background:) but I just think her expression is hilarious!

it's really fun to be at the fair with lots of good friends! this is our kids with Grace who was actually in Samuel's class last year

This morning, we gathered with about 8,000-9,000 other staff in Moby Gym at CSU

What an awesome God we serve...it is truly a privilege to be part of such an amazing ministry who has taken (and is taking) the Gospel message of hope to a lost and dying world for nearly 60 years now! 

side note...Tim Keller is one of the speakers this year...WOOHOO!