Welcome to 2015!!

Welcome to 2015!! (Geez, 2015? How the heck is it already 2015??)

Seeing that it's a new year, it's time for goals. (I don't do resolutions, but I do set goals... less pressure with goals. More long-term thinking.) And one of my goals for this year is to update this blog more. Lots more. So much more that a year from now (January 1, 2016) I can click "ORDER" on a book made from this year's posts - photos included! Something I can keep forever. A journal for this year.

I also want to read books. Lots of them. (I read 215 in 2014!) But I don't have a number goal - instead? I have a reading challenge. A list of topics/ideas/items to check off.

So with those goals in mind? I suppose this post should be a jumping off place. A Who are we? What are we doing? What's going on in our lives? (So we can measure progress, right?) 

I am working on Ali Edwards One Little Word project - At this point? I can't really tell you what all it entails!! The workshop/project was a Christmas Gift from a friend! And I chose my word "Action" because it kept popping up in my life. So 2015 is the #YearOfAction (for those of you following my social media!) 

If I'm not at Skyler's Hockey Practice, or working on school work at home, or leading Girl Scouts? I'm probably at church, in the sound booth. The past year I spent a good chunk of the year learning how to run the sound board, and then the past few months I took over the computer in the booth! 

Honestly? A few years ago I never would have imagined I'd find a church I loved, let alone one I would be wanting to spend all my time at! But I have most definitely found that!! 

I'm still running (and loving) All Things Pueblo - although it's been a bit of a burn out lately! So I'm hoping to jump in feet first and revitalize the site this month! 

"Dancing is my talent!"

Skyler is full of energy - as every six year old should be! She loves to dance (and tonight, she announced that it is her talent, then promptly asked if I would take her video and post it on Facebook. I guess I spend a bit too much time on the computer!)

So here goes 2015!! Hope it's a good one!

December/January Recap!

It's been ages since I updated - I don't really have an excuse. I suppose for the most part, our lives are pretty routine and there's not a ton to share!  But, the more I think about it? December was a bit crazy! So, here's a photo recap of our last two months!!

DECEMBER 2012

My sister was the Queen of her Madrigal Dinners at Wayne State! I got to ride up with my parents to watch the dinner, and it was a lot of fun! (I even got in a few of the photos!!)

Three days later? I drove up with my parents again to see her Senior Honors Colloquium. (See, I know big words!! More importantly? People in Wayne Nebraska know big words!)

 

Then? A few more days later? My dad, Skyler and I drove up to help her move out of her dorm. (Yep - are you keeping track of our time on the road? There will be a tally! I promise.) 

Then we drove back to Wayne (2 days later) for her Graduation! (CONGRATS KID SISTER!!)

 

Total driving time (from Lincoln to Wayne in December) approx 30 hours! 

Total driving time total in December (up until now?) 35 hours! 

But, we're not done! See, Skyler and I drove back to Colorado! Where we got home just in time for a big snow storm, where a tree fell on our house! 

And then, Ryan got home and we turned around to head BACK to Nebraska for Christmas!

Total Drive time now? (December 21?) 55 hours! BUT WAIT!! We have a trip to Iowa, a trip back to Lincoln and a trip back to Colorado still to come!! (Are you tired of my car yet? I am!!)

So, I mentioned Iowa? We spent 2 days with Ryan's sister and her kids! (Which was an absolute blast, and now I understand how horrible it was for my parents to drag Kate and I away from our family on trips to Chicago!)

Then back to Lincoln where we did the whole Christmas thing - which included this awesome cake ball tree!! (Drive time now? 62 hours.)

Then, we had Katie's birthday! (Geez, she's 23... that's like... old!)

Then back to Colorado - Drive time total? 73 hours. Yep - more than 3 full days in the car. THREE FULL DAYS!! (Ok, that's not a huge deal - I did drive a truck. So, it was actually enjoyable. But wow... just now totalling that up? EEEK!)

JANUARY 2013

After a quiet NYE at home (where I was asleep before Midnight - thank you very much!) Ryan hit the road and life returned to normal in Colorado!!

There were trips to the Children's Museum

And the Nature Center

And the Children's Museum Again

And some bike riding and picnics at the park

And of course we stayed busy at home...
We baked

And made silly Finger Puppets

We crocheted - Ok, I crocheted... while Skyler slept.

We played Dress Up

A lot of dress up...

We went for walks (when it snowed again!)

And we colored. A lot. (Because it's our favorite thing to do!)

I think you're caught up on our life now!! (Hopefully my next few entries aren't as photo heavy!!)

Christmas Reading

 Yesterday we went to the library, we got a bunch of Christmas books, and the puppy puppet that Skyler is madly in love with!

She's named the puppet "Mr. Runaway" and is dead set on getting a dog just like him for Christmas. Unfortunately? This poor kid is going to be disappointed because we are NOT getting a dog for Christmas. But? She gets major points for the name - "Mr. Runaway" is the most AWESOME name for a dog I've ever heard! (Although I hope he doesn't actually runaway!)

This morning, we found Chip-Chip reading the Olivia book that she checked out yesterday! She thought it was hilarious!!

The Arrival of Chip-Chip

You may remember, in 2010 we had Elfred Jingle, visit us from the North Pole! He did such a good job visiting our house that he was promoted to head toy maker at Santa's Workship!) Last year, we had a new elf visit us, Skyler got to pick his name out and everything!

Well, this morning we were watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and they had an Elf on the Shelf Balloon!! Skyler was so excited, she asked if I thought our elf would be visiting us again this year. I told her that I hadn't yet heard from Santa, but he had promised us last year he would come back.

About halfway through the parade, we had to leave to take Ryan to the truck - he's gone until Christmas now. But on our way home Skyler said to me "Mommy, I miss Daddy, but I hope our elf comes while he's gone!"

Fast Forward to this afternoon, Skyler was watching a movie and I was cleaning the kitchen when the doorbell rang!! (We celebrated Thanksgiving last week, since we knew Ryan wouldn't be home today.) I told Skyler to go ahead and check it, and well... just watch the movie! 



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We had to open the book to check for sure, but it's definitely Chip-Chip! He's back to spend another Advent season with us, and Skyler couldn't be more excited!!

**Be sure to check back soon for more Chip-Chip adventures!**
 (I've already posted the 11/23 entry - complete with Skyler's reaction this morning as she found what Chip-Chip was up to!)

Stay at Home Sunday!

After a crazy week of running here and there? I've decided that we're going to have a lazy, at home day! (Although since I have a pile of laundry and a stack of dishes? It won't be so much lazy as it will be just a stay-at-home day!)

Today? I will...

... Finish my book
... Bake Brownies
... Watch a Barbie Movie with Skyler
... Wash the dishes
... Fold the Laundry
... Draw with Sidewalk Chalk
... Enjoy the day at home

What Have We Been Up To?

We've had a very busy two weeks!! I can't believe it's already July 14, but we've stayed so busy that it's just flown by! I thought I'd do a quick update with some photos of what we've been up to lately.

Skyler had her first Swimming Lesson at Pueblo County High School!   As expected, she loves the water and is just as fearless in water as on land! She's getting pretty good at the doggy paddle!

 

We had a pretty spectacular 4th of July! We started out at the Wet Parade in Pueblo West, which is basically just a city-wide Water Fight! And we came home soaking wet and ready for naps! After we refreshed, we headed down to the River Walk where we spent a good amount of time (2 hours!!) playing the fountains and then walked around a bit while we waited for the fireworks! 

 

We've spent quite a bit of time in the kitchen! Skyler helped make Pretzels - which were absolutely delicous!! (More info can be found on my 101 in 1001 blog - including the recipe!) 

 

For the first time since the Waldo Canyon Fire, we took a trip to Garden of the Gods! We met up with my good friend "Merica" (Erica, but Skyler prefers her version!) and hiked around the park snapping lots of photos. There are a few places from the park you can see the burn area, which is incredibly sad. But the park is just as beautiful as always.

 

We've made a few trips to the local splash parks! We've had a lot of 100*+ days, so we've had to find ways to stay cool! Luckily, the splash parks are a great way to kill a few hours!

We spent a morning in Beulah at Pueblo Mountain Park with Skyler's good friends (Mable, Avani and Abigail - in order pictured below from left to right) and went for a Preschool Nature Hike, then had a picnic and some good time playing at the park! 

 As you can tell, we've had a busy two weeks!! It's been a lot of fun and we've been keeping cool - despite the insanely hot weather here in Southern Colorado! Hopefully the second half of July is as full of adventures!

Puppet Shows!

We are so lucky that our town has such an awesome library program for children! This week they had a big Puppet Show at one of the libraries near by and so we went to watch! On the way home, Skyler couldn't stop talking about how she wanted her own theater, she wanted her own puppets, etc!

Of course, I told her to wait and see - she just had her birthday after all!

So we got home and I went to the kitchen to begin assembling our PB&J sandwiches, and she came dragging a HUGE box that we'd recieved from UPS a few days ago. She announced she was making it into a theater, so I agreed to help!

She set right to work coloring and telling me where to cut and what to cut! As always, I was impressed by her thought process as she worked out how to make this theater. She even asked me to show her a picture of a puppet show so that she could plan her project.

The final project is below - along with a quick video! Although it's only 24 seconds - she got distracted and then got angry that I was taking video and not being part of the show *lol*

Day 5: Gone Fishin!

It's already Day #5!! 

This morning we had a bit of a crisis! Since we adopted our fishy buddy (Button) I've often worried about Persephone showing too much interest in the fish. Guess I was worried for nothing, because she hasn't shown any interest. But Chip-Chip? Apparently he thought it was time to go fishing!

Day 4: Decorating the Tree!

Yesterday, we decorated our Christmas Tree! So it was only natural that Chip-Chip was perched near the snowflake when we woke up this morning!