Colorado Trip

I had to take a picture of my mountains as we were travelling through. Matt thought this one might be the one they were going to hike for High Adventure, and then he changed his mind. We debated back and forth for days if we should go to CO because I got really sick with the flu a few days before we left and had nothing packed. While Matt took the boys to the Ward Christmas Party, I decided to just start packing in case we decided to leave in the morning. It kept my mind busy and off missing the boys participating in some of their firsts...sitting on Santa's lap and Nathan singing in front of people. We decided to leave the next morning on Saturday, early early Saturday morning Nathan woke up with a high fever. Yes, we were the culprits. I bet we got everyone at church sick because we had no idea that Nathan was sick. It takes 14-16 hours to make it to Cedaredge. Those were some long hours as Matt got sick on the next day. They boys travelled well, and Jared stayed away from being sick until the day before we left for Dallas. Matt, Nathan, and I were sick as dogs and in bed most of the time. It was nice to be pampered by my parents and not have to cook meals.

Christmas Eve Day we woke up to snow. It kept snowing and snowing, so we had a white Christmas too. PERFECT!! Nathan was still really sick but wanted to play for a little while in the snow. I wish that he would have been feeling better. It was so good to see most of my siblings...we missed seeing John and his family but saw them twice already this year.

Bridgette playing outside with Nathan. It is so nice to have some older kids around to help with the boys.

Becca loved to play with Nathan and Jared.

Jared sandwhich in between some of his cousins.

Christmas morning at 6:30AM. Yup...even though Nathan was sick he woke up early and wanted to see what Santa brought him. He was so excited this year and it made Jared excited too. We had a family gathering the night before, and with Nathan being sick he went to bed at 7PM. He said, "How is Santa going to come with all of these people."  He would also tell Jared for months that he had to stay in bed and sleep otherwise Santa would not come.

Good thing they share their toys as Jared loved Nathan's bike. Toward the end of the week, Nathan was pedaling and riding all on his own in the house.

Nathan just chillin. You can tell that he is not feeling well. I felt so bad for him because he just couldn't get excited about much since he felt so rotten.

Merry Christmas Grammy and Papa.

The boys loved the miniature gumball machines that we got.

We had to get a snow shovel in CO since they are hard to find in TX. Matt wanted one to sweep off the nasty berries that we get in the winter on our sidewalk. It works like a charm.

Nathan a few minutes after he woke up...ready for bed again.

Santa brought Jared his own boots, so now Nathan and Jared can wear their own.

Susie Q is Grammy and Papa's cat, which the boys adored. She is a toddler herself and loves to get into mischief and play. Since Nathan was sick, he slept with Matt and i slept with Jared at night. The cat would come in and join us for naps and night time on the bed. The cat would entertain the boys for hours...maybe we should get one.

The boys loved the accessories (helmet, gloves, elbow pads, and knee pads).

Jared playing with the cat with Nathan's air compressor hose. He would run around the house, and she would chase it.

The boys loved to play on their pool table with all of the balls, and Nathan really liked ping pong.

Camping, Jared's B-day, and Santa's Village

We went camping with Kratz and Montague families. We had such a good time and the boys loved to be around older kids. I think that I have learned that I cannot sleep on the ground when I am pregnant now (man I'm old) because this time I was in bed for 2 days with back and siatic nerve problems. It was worth it...I would do it again for the boys. Nathan loved to play with Mike's shovel.

Jared adores Sam Montague. It was nice to give me a break, so I didn't have to hold him all of the time. With Matt working in the Young Men's the boys really like to rough house and play with them. A couple of the YM watched Nathan and Jared so I could go to a church activity, and Matt could play basketball. Nathan couldn't stop talking about his new friends.

Kids playing football.

I love this picture because you can see Nathan looking at Scott's feet trying to copy him.

Jared observing from the sideline. He stayed pretty close to either Sam or I.

Let's just say we didn't catch anything, but the boys just loved throwing out the line and reeling it in.

I love this picture of Jared concentrating so hard on what Livi is doing.

I think someone hijacked some pictures because the Montague's brought their dog Boomer, and I know that I took pictures because I am an animal lover like my boys. They loved to watch him fetch the stick from the lake and would hang out with him and pet her. A couple of times Boomer wanted off his leash to play with the kids and woudl start to bark a little. Nathan got so worried because Boomer had no friends and started to cry. What a tender-hearted boy.

Jared's B-day cake. Probably the reason that I was so sick after camping was because we had to rush home. Then, I had to get everything ready for Jared's party including this cake. I just had overdone it.

Jared loves Chuck E Cheese and probably asks to go about 5-10 times daily. He loves the basketball game and will stay their the entire time. In his prayers, he always mentions that he is grateful for Chuck E Cheese, hoops, baskets, and balls. What a sweet boy.

Nathan playing his favorite fireman game at Chuck E Cheese.

If you notice it is a #1 candle. My brother in-law pointed it out. If he wouldn't have said anything, I don't know that I would have noticed. Jared turned two and his dizzy, pregnant mother messed it up...it just makes these times more memorable.

Jared loves Elmo. Love this picture of my brown eyed boy.

Nathan snuggling with a puppy dog and watching some TV.

Santa's Village

Nathan was not shy around the goat at all. He would just go right up and pet it. The goat tried to jump on him once. That's my country boy.

 

I was not pleased when Matt took a photo of me at Santa's Village. You can just start to see that my tummy is a little bump.

I was sick, sick, sick and missed the boys seeing Santa the ward Christmas party. Yep...that's my Jared. Jared kept saying that he wanted a soccer ball from Santa when I asked him.

Last year, he would not even get close to Santa. When you asked Nathan what he wanted, he said, "Air compressor and hose, monkey wrench, finger paint, and bike." We went to CO for Christmas, and my brother David wrapped up a compressor hose and air gauge. Nathan was so excited to get it, and he plays with it all the time when he dresses up as a fireman, which is everyday.

Primary singing at the ward Christmas party. Nathan on the front left. This is the first time to see him sing in front of people because we missed his primary program. I was at home and sick...let's just say I cried many tears that night, not seeing some firsts of my boys.