Sensationally Six

We continued to enjoy our time in Colorado. The day that everyone did Epic Discovery was a highlight. We were all impressed with the bravery Bee showed as she gutted out the ropes course even though we know she was scared to death. She also did the trampoline, rode the Super Chair Lift with LaLa all the way up the mountain, rode the mountain coaster, lots! She also rode the Alpine slide, jumped in the bounce house, played mini golf and panned for gold (or maybe just cool rocks). What a day.

We continued to enjoy daily gelato as well as ride the gondola, which allowed us to spot a momma moose and her baby, also deer. We rode the gondola just to spot the moose. And on our way down the mountain in ROADA the baby moose and momma walked right out in front of us on the rodeway. We were so excited. 

I know it isn't the best quality pic but our eyes saw them and our memory will last a long time. It was very neat to see for sure!

The big horn sheep herd was WOW!

After the kids headed home MiRV and I stayed on a few days and made it over to Gunnison and Crested Butte. We were able to see a marmot, elk, big horn sheep, hummingbirds right in our campsite, woodpeckers, bluebirds and lots of ground squirrels. We have enjoyed some lovely weather and nice camp spots. 

Sensationally Six

We are over a week in to a ROADA trip but have taken a luxury week to meet up with the parents of our Bee. She left with us for a few days of roughing it in ROADA and checked off another state. Colorado was new for her and her daddy. What fun we've had with her and she is loving the "mountain house". She has also enjoyed riding the gondola, seeing moose, horseback riding, hiking and gelato.

She's tired, we are tired but we are having a great time in the mountains. One more full day and the adventure is still ongoing.  We've had mild temps, some rainy afternoons but that hasn't stopped us. MiRV and I will continue on doing some exploring as they head home this weekend. Nice to be escaping the excessive heat warnings in MO right now! We are enjoying 70's in the day and mid 50's at night. I may not go home til September!

 Happy, happy heart day to these two...N.I.N.E. years, unbelievable!

It's hard but you've stayed committed and you have a byproduct that is precious. It's never as easy as you think but worth it to stay the course. Keep on keeping on and enjoy the hard days as they are the memory makers.

Love you both!

Sensationally Six

Last week I think I failed to mention another milestone...she's now lost FOUR teeth. Licorice was the helper in this. It was already quite loose but a Twizzlers helped it make it's way all the way out! Tooth fairy found her at the Meadow (though she was a bit concerned on that front) and left $2.00. She was pretty excited!

Well, the fair has come and gone and ohmygosh we had sooooo much fun. The Northern girls loved it all. Next year could be her year to get to show something at her own fair in NE. Not sure those rules but I know she will be in it some way, some how. 

These little girls had lots of fun...playing in gravel, eating ice, skittles, nachos, popscicles and pie or cheesecake depending on the day as well as cinnamon rolls, pancakes and drinking lots of lemonade.

This weekl I'm somewhere in the heart of Iowa or maybe Minnesota today. I'm off on another girl's trip and then next week it is off to Colorado with Bee. We are excited to take her in ROADA again and she is excited to go. She would have liked to go to the ocean but we are taking her to the mountains instead. We will have a few advance days with her as we slowly make our way out then mom and dad are coming in for a week in a mountainside condo. 

Living the dream around here and loving it! 

Sensationally Six

It's fair week...we are exhausted and it's only Wednesday but the girl is having a ball! She's been a great cheerer at the SuperTeen contests. She is a keen observer and notices so many things. And last night she showed a goat in the PeeWee Goat Show. She and Sqeekers made a great team...

She has also been a great helper as we did some sprucing up at the Grands. She helped out and so did her momma. We are officially on the market with a real estate agent. Another hard but necessary step.

So we truly are totally exhausted to be honest but we are having so much fun. She loves country life and the fair is definitely her jam. Lots of pork burgers, lemonade and nachos are getting in our bellies.

Sensationally Six

 It was a Happy 4th of July here at the Meadow!

Family 4th

Deerfield 4th celebration

Stonegate 4th Parade

It was a boomin' good time. Best part the girls are returning for the VCYF!

Sensationally Six

Got our crew arriving tomorrow for the big boom holiday. So many choices to get in the celebrating spirit it is hard to decide where to go and what to do. Gathering with the famdamily will be Friday, probably will participate in the Stonegate Parade on the 4th but we are undecided on the 2nd as there are two great options, then we may just take the 3rd off and get back into celebrating on the 4th. We will also be trying to hit the farmer's market and hope for peaches and produce if not maybe we will run up to the Amish stand north of town.

It's been hot but Sunday was absolutely not and gorgeous and we enjoyed some patio time as well as biking. Monday we biked again all the way into town to the post office. It's been a slow week, I've been scrapbooking again but still feel so far behind and overwhelmed with all that needs to be done. I've made a plan but not feeling like it will be done very quickly and put that with life goes by everyday so will I ever get caught up???

Happy Early 4th to you and yours!

Sensationally Six

We were not together for Easter this year but they will be down tomorrow. This year too many different directions for others to go so we will gather this weekend. Praying for good weather so we can go to the farm. We did do a video call that was awesome to see their faces!

Sensationally Six

The BIG news this week is another lost tooth...yes, I know! And we were on a video call with her when it happened. This is the kind of technology I enjoy. She called to tell us how loose it was and before we hung up it was out. We suggested she eat a fruit rollup after just pulling it out with her fingers wasn't working and in no time it was out!

Losing teeth means growing up...hmmm...

The HANDFUL

What a week...shingles off when we returned and because we got in late they were not noticed until two days later! We were a plus one though and we will have her til her folks come for Christmas!

It looks like we might be good but we will be keeping on eye on things!

And Merry Christmas eve...we are winding down for the evening after a lovely full day of houseguests popping in and out. It's the season. We have had a revolving door today and now we have settled in after our traditional pizza dinner, Christmas book reading and donning new PJs. The anticipation of opening that snowman tomorrow was off the charts!

So from our house to yours MERRY CHRISTMAS! We wish you happiness and good health this season.

The HANDFUL

No Littles this week allowed us to go up North. However, there was a slight delay...when one needs to set their water heater on the patio at 10:30 p.m. chances are it's not your best day. After a load of laundry, I hopped in the shower and that is when there was quite a puddle in our laundry. Stepped in by MiRV. Water was quickly shut off and the assessment was made that the water heater has failed...

A quick phone call the next morning confirmed the unit was still under warranty. Armed with instructions of getting a replacement it's off to the local home improvement store we go. Mission accomplished, new unit installed and working. MiRV got a shower and off North we went. Quite a bold move considering we just installed the new unit. But, thankfully, we had checkers checking in to make sure we weren't leaking. All was/is good PTL. I'm just really thankful it happened before we left. Because finding 40 gallons of water on the floor would not be fun in anyone's book!

In Northern news much visible progress was made as the bathtub was set in place and the toilet was brought in along with the vanity to check spacing/placement. WooHoo this is exciting progress since it is so visible! Got smaller quick with all the hardware though! And some of the workers are nearly unable to move their bodies today. It's all MiRV can do to get out of bed the next morning after helping with this remodel. The drive home will leave him stiff and aching for days.

The plan is to head home tomorrow or Sunday and it appears we will be a plus one. The Bee has already ask if she can come back with us to the Meadow. Of course we said yes! Hard to believe Christmas is just a mere week away. Looking forward to our Christmas Eve tradition of pizza this year. Made possible since as our crew is gathering on Christmas Day for our family celebration this season.

The HANDFUL

We are extremely thankful that we had a really nice Thanksgiving Day this year.  With no gathering last year it felt extra special this year to be able to gather. While there is no turkey coma happening (cause I didn't eat any turkey; ham all the way!) we are all taking it easy today in our PJs. Lots of game playing. We've even learned a new one, Qwirkle. I'm still thinking about how yummy the gravy was as well as the stuffing, sweet potatoes and pie, oh my!. I had peach pie...and maybe a pumpkin cupcake...and maybe a piece of banana bread...

Someone got to have mashed potatoes!

It's our favorite crew...

We plan on a low key recovery this weekend. Hoping to get ahead of the holiday madness and finish the little bit of shopping I need to do and then just enjoy the season and pray for good weather. We don't have a solid gathering plan yet but there is a bit of a plan in the works. I'm excited for it already. 

The HANDFUL

We are back in the North. Started the week with the girls and then headed on to the continuing bathroom remodel project. Progress IS being made, woohoo, albeit slow, there is progress. Heading back to the Meadow and preparing for Thanksgiving If all continues to go well we will be gathering in our usual locale with all the family. Hopeful anticipation for that to work out.

While there is plenty of work happening don't even think that is is ALL work and no play...because that just would NOT be true. There is plenty of play and downtime taking place no matter what the others are saying! We've had several breaks and tea parties!

The work happening is not as evident with just a looksy into the space. But trust me there is A LOT of work taking place inthe walls and ceiling and floor. There are working lights and fans in both spaces and the plumbing and sanitary are well on their way to being complete in the hall bath space. There is a bunch of progress going on even if it is not seen. 

And lest you think all the work happened indoors you would be quite wrong. Leaves were raked before our arrival but we were in on the loading and haul away. New LED Christmas lights were also put up (though they will remain unplugged until after Thanksgiving; because in our world that is how it works)!

 

We head back South tomorrow and hoping for a plus one or two then for sure we will all be together for the Big Feast. Hope your day of thankfulness is good

The HANDFUL

We had a little houseguest this week and while it was just a short visit we had lots of fun. We are already back North with her where lots of bathroom remodel work is happening. We did a bit of visiting and had lots of visitors while she was here. Always fun to have her stay. I think the highlight of her visit if she were telling it would be having a weinee roast and smore night in the backyard!

She is growing up...

Having the cousins visit was also lots of fun...

Putting up the ceiling drywall is just one of the several task on the todo list for this weekend!

Total bathroom remodel of not one but two bathrooms iswhat Stumble and Bumble are currently knee deep involved in. It's not a quick paced job but progress is being made. Stay tuned.