Cady's Got a New "Friend"!

This little one is keeping me on my toes! Not only has she been going through a weird and frustrating phase where she suddenly cries when I drop her off at her school, Sunday School, dance lessons, etc. (she has been doing better the past few days - hopefully it was just a very brief phase), but on Monday evening, out of the blue, she started talking to me about her friend "Elo" (ee-lo), whom I quickly figured out was imaginary! Monday evening as we were rushing around the house trying to find soccer shoes, shin guards, and get water bottles filled up, she asked, "Mama, do you know my friend Elo?". There are some kids with different names in her class at school, but I hadn't heard her talk about Elo before. So I asked her if she goes to school with her, and she said, "No. She lives at home with her Mommy and Daddy. She is just a baby. I am bigger than her". She then proceeded to rattle on and on about Elo. Colton and I got a kick out of it! She was so excited! She told Colin all about her when he came home and then talked to Sherri about her at practice.

Here is what we know about Elo:

*She goes to school at a school by her house

*She is having a birthday party and Cady is invited

*She has a Tinkerbell dress that she is going to let Cady wear

*Her Mommy and Daddy are named "Elo" too!

*She has one brother and two sisters who are all older than her

*Her brother is "Junie" who was Mckaela's Imaginary Friend when she was little!!! (That is what she told Sherri when Sherri asked if Elo knew Junie!)

*She doesn't like football, t-ball, or soccer

*She takes dance lessons, but not where Cady does

*Her favorite singers are George Strait and Taylor Swift

*She likes to watch "Dancing with the Stars"

That just cracks us up. I haven't caught her playing or talking to Elo yet. Right now she just talks about her to us. Funny name, too. Can't quite figure out where she came up with that. I told someone the other day that maybe her name was Ellen or Elizabeth, but she goes by "E-Lo" a la Jennifer Lopez aka "J-Lo"!!

I will keep you posted on the adventures of Cady and Elo!!

Colton's Wonderful News

Colton had something special happen on Thursday night. Not just special - the most important thing of his life...he asked Jesus into his heart and was SAVED!
I wasn't even here when it happened! I had gone to the movies with some girlfriends and before Colin put him in bed, they read another chapter of the Sugar Creek Gang book that Colin had begun reading to him earlier in the week. The Sugar Creek Gang is a series of books that Colin read as a child, about a group of Christian boys and their many adventures. He had been talking about them for awhile and had looked in a couple of book stores for them, but with no luck. Last weekend, we were going through boxes, getting ready for a yard sale we are going to do with my grandma this coming weekend, and he found one of his old ones!
They read a chapter each night before Colton goes to bed and on this particular night, the chapter had to do with one of the boys being saved and becoming a Christian. Colin took the opportunity and turned it into a "teachable moment" (as he has all along) and stopped and explained things thoroughly to Colton. When Colin was sure he understood, he continued reading. Colton was quiet for a little while, but Colin thought it was just because he was listening to the story. Colton interrupted him a few minutes later and told him, "Daddy, I just prayed and asked Jesus into my heart"! My eyes fill up with tears and I get goosebumps just typing that!
I would have loved to have been there, but I know it happened the way it was meant to happen. I am as proud of Colin as I am of Colton. Many parents might have just read it and that was that. Colin took the time to really make sure Colton was understanding what it all meant and that makes me love him more than I already do, which I didn't even think was possible.

We have an appointment to take Colton into visit with our Pastor this week. After that, he is excited, but scared to go forward during the service next Sunday to announce that he has been saved and would like to follow that up with baptism.

We are so happy and proud!

More Fun for Mckaela's Birthday!

Well, the girls couldn't have all the fun celebrating Mckaela's 7th birthday, so on Saturday night we were invited to join Michael, Sherri, the girls, Sherri's parents and sister in El Paso. Mckaela chose to eat at Texas Roadhouse, where all the kids enjoyed a turn sitting on the birthday saddle. Then it was off to a place called, Bob-O's for some miniature golf and other fun stuff.Our family had never been there before and now we all can't wait to go back! We started out with a game of miniature golf, which was Cady's very first time to play.

We didn't finish our game, though, because the mosquitoes were so bad we felt like we were being eaten alive! We let Mckynze and Cady ride the little train where they got to sit up front and "drive" and toot the whistle. They were the only ones on it! While they did that, Colton and Mckaela, along with their daddies went over to the batting cages. Colton really enjoyed that and is already asking when we are going to go to the ones here in town! He did well, too, although it made me nervous at how fast the balls shoot out of there! It was a very fun evening, although Cady did start coughing while we were out and we are afraid she is trying to get sick on us now. Due to that and the pesky and persistant mosquitoes (they bit through repellant AND clothes), we didn't do the bumper boats or go karts this time. Cady is awake this morning and still coughing and not acting 100% although there are no signs of fever yet, which is good. They both have been healthy for so long, even through starting back to school and stuff, that I have been prepared for something, especially now that the weather is changing! Maybe I am wrong - we will have to see!

"I Come in Peace"

This afternoon as Colton and I were walking out the front door to go get him a haircut, he looked down at a basket of mini-pumpkins I have sitting on our front porch and saw a rather large praying mantis on the handle of the basket.We watched him for a long time and laughed about how alien-like they are - especially with their triangular-shaped faces and bulging eyes.
Colin put his hand out and let him crawl around a little and then Colton tried it, too. He laughed and said that it tickled. As we were watching (and I was taking pics), Colton exclaimed, "He's probably saying 'I-come-in-peace'" using his best alien voice. He did look like he was trying to tell us something, although my guess would be something along the lines of "Do you mind? I am just trying to enjoy a Saturday afternoon like you and now I feel like Britney Spears being hounded by the paparazzi! Thanks Mr. Praying Mantis for giving us a little amusement on this lazy weekend afternoon!!

Pajama Party!!

What a fun evening! Today was Mckaela's 7th birthday and she had a Pajama Party at her house. I had known for a while that they were planning that, but was pleasantly surprised when Cady and I were invited to go hang out with them! It wasn't an all night thing, due to an early morning soccer game the next day, but it was a lot of fun and Sherri had lots of neat things planned! Mckaela's rule was that you couldn't get through the door if you didn't have pj's on, so I was forced to go shopping for some new ones! You all know how much I hated that:)!! I found Cady some purple Tinkerbell ones and was excited to find me some purple ones, too so we matched.
The girls each got to decorate a bag to put all their goodies in and then they each made a sleep mask and decorated them with sequins. Cady had a great time doing that. I need to get a picture of her with her sleep mask on.
They played outside for a while and I love this picture of Cady and Mckynze helping their friend Tori out with a "push"!! They didn't get too far, but it was a nice gesture. These were the three youngest girls of the 11 that went and they stuck together for most of the evening.
Each girl got a boa and Cady picked purple. Besides just for looking cute and dancing, they were also used to cover the girls eyes when they played the "Kiss a Boy" game. Sherri had a poster of Nick Jonas from the Jonas Bros. on the wall and she put lipstick on each of the girls, blindfolded them and spun them 3 times and then they kissed the poster. Whoever got closest to the lips was the winner! We had asked Cady last weekend if she was going to "kiss a boy" at the party and she told us, "only my Bubba" which we thought was cute (Sherri asked Colton if he would just come to the party and be the "boy" which made him turn red and say "no way"...more on that later). Well, when Sherri announced that it was time for the game, all the older girls went screaming excitedly in the house and Cady came to me, crying. My first thought was that she hurt herself, but when I asked her what was wrong, she wailed, "I don't wanna kiss a boy!" It was pretty funny, but I knew her Daddy would be so proud! None of the three younger ones wanted anything to do with that game, but they all had a great time watching the older ones swoon and giggle!!!

Here is the birthday girl with her cool "Hannah Montana" cupcake cake! The girls also made individual pizzas, using canned biscuit dough as the crust. They had a great time adding their toppings and the pizzas were very tasty!
Here is Cady eating her cupcake and dancing along to a Hannah Montana song.
Towards the end of the evening, some of the girls started winding down as they watched the new "Cheetah Girls" movie. It never lasted, though, as they wouldn't stay still for long. During the movie, Sherri and Sharla (Mckaela's aunt) painted the girls' nails while I was in charge of the body glitter and later, the nail stickers. At around 9, with an hour still to go, Cady had had enough and asked to go home. She actually last about a little later than I thought she would, so she did really good. She was asleep before we even got out of their neighborhood!

It was so much fun and Cady and I think Sherri and Mckaela for including us! It makes me excited for when Cady gets to start having pajama parties!!

Honorary Red Ranger

Cady-Bug loves soccer! She gets so excited when we tell her to get ready to go to practice. I know some of it is because she gets to see Mckynze, Mckaela (just "Kaela", Cady calls her) and the other kids, and some is because she also enjoys sliding and swinging at the little playground, but most of it is because she gets to take her pretty pink soccer ball and run around the field kicking it like the rest of the team!
Colin is so good to let her practice with the team (during the drills, not during the scrimmages). He coaches the 6 and 7 year olds during practice while Michael coaches the 4 and 5 year olds, and Cady stays there with her Daddy and the older ones. I get a kick out of seeing her there with all those big 1st and 2nd graders! Below she is with Branson and Mckaela - doesn't she look tiny?
She really has the hang of dribbling the soccer ball! By next Fall when she is finally eligible to play, she will be more than ready! Right now, she will just have to settle for being an "Honorary Red Ranger".

Getting Ready for the Fair

The Southern NM State Fair is just around the corner, and the kids plan on entering some crafts in the Youth Department this year. The scrapbooks they made earlier this summer will be entered, along with the earring holder that Cady decorated. Today, we did some other things that they can enter, too. Grammy Sara had bought Colton a paint-your-own-horse kit at his school's book fair last Spring and he was excited today to finally be able to do do it. He painted the big horse like an Apaloosa and the little one like a Pinto and did a great job with all the detail! I am so proud of them that I wouldn't let him put them in his room and instead, found a place on a shelf in my living room where everyone could see him. He was ok with that decision and I could see how proud he was when I placed them there!

Well, if Bubba is going to paint, then Cady has to paint too! She tried to get him to let her paint his little horse, but that didn't work! So, I dug out the seashell frame I purchased at Hobby Lobby after our vacation and let her paint that. She picked her own colors and did a great job painting and then I found a picture of her at Huntington Beach to put in it. That didn't take as long as the horses, though, so I dug deeper and found some wooden doorknob hangers. She painted that and then we got my box of alphabet stickers out and added "Girls Only" (she thought that was funny and said that meant that only her, Mama, Mckynze, Mckaela and Sherri could go in her room) and "Cady's Room". Then I let her stick buttons and flowers to it to add the finishing touch. She was pretty proud of it and took it straight to her bedroom door only stopping to show her Daddy.

It was a fun time and I enjoy passing on my love for all things crafty to my kiddos! Colton has a crab frame he still wants to paint and he is going to do a garden display to enter as well. Stay tuned...

It was a nice weekend, although not real productive! Oh well! There is always next weekend (yeah right)! Hope you all had a great one and I wish you a wonderful week ahead.

Red Rangers Soccer is Off to a Great Start!

Yay!! Bring on the orange slices and shin guards - soccer season has officially begun! I promise, I am not being sarcastic! I really LOVE soccer season! Tee-ball was fun and I am glad Colton played this year, but I think soccer is so much more fun to watch, as a parent. It is a faster-paced game and we get to sit closer to the action. The games aren't as long either. Those who know me well, know I also love the time to visit and hang out with friends. It is actually through soccer that Colin and I met Michael, Sherri and the girls, which is probably another reason I like it so much.

We have 2 teams this year, 4 and 5 year olds and 6 and 7 year olds - both named Red Rangers. After having our old jerseys for 2 years, Colin decided it was time for a change and ordered new, fancier ones. The kids looked really sharp. Both teams play back-to-back every Saturday which is nice. They also play the first two games every weekend, except for one. We all agree we like those times even though there is no sleeping in on Saturdays anymore, because it gives us more time in the day to do other things, the kids are fresh and rested, and we don't have to put up with the afternoon heat. We really didn't have to put up with heat at all this morning, as we woke up to yet another rainy day that always reminds Colin and I of Seattle weather (we lived there for a year in 2001). After 4 seasons of soccer, this was our first rainy game! It had burned off a little by the time the younger team played, though. Here are Cady and Mckynze, sharing an umbrella and cheering on Colton and Mckaela as the older team played:

The older kids did great and showed great teamwork, which was exciting because only Colton, Mckaela and Ethan have ever played soccer together before! Our other team members are Branson, whom the kids go to Sunday School with; Colton's friend from school, Taylor; Jada who is the older sister of one of Mckynze's friends; and her friend, Jacob. Today we were missing Lauren, one of Mckaela's friends from school and Jagger who has played both soccer and teeball with us in the past.

It was kind of a rough game due to the size of one of the opposing players. He had a pretty good kick on him and got Mckaela, Branson, Colton and Jacob so bad that they had to go out of the game - and that was all in the last 2 minutes!! I really don't think he meant to (he told a couple of them sorry), but he was so big and had such a powerful kick that I don't think he could help it. The ref finally called the game with a few minutes to spare because it was getting so wild! Despite all that, we all think the game was fairly close and Colton scored two goals of his own.

After that it was the little kids' turn and they did great, too, especially because I think there is only 1, if any that has played before. This team is made up of Mckynze, her friend Brevin, Taylors little sister Cameron, Branson's little brother Canaan and his cousin Hannah, Luke who goes to our church (his brother, Jackson, played soccer with us last year), Emily who also goes to our church and her mom works with Colin and then Saxon, a friend of Cameron's, who wasn't there today.
They were so fun to watch and so tiny! That is the age that Colton and Mckaela started playing and we don't remember them being so small. They did great, though, and scored more goals than the other team.
As for Cady, she is having a hard time this season, since her BFF, Mckynze is old enough to play, and she plays with Cameron, too who is also old enough and she still has another year. She cried this morning when she realized she didn't get to play. Then, she went out on the field during half time to kick her ball, but was upset when I had to go get her because half-time was over. She wants to play so bad! Colin has been letting her do some of the drills at practice with them and she does really great - she sure knows how to dribble the ball down field. She should be playing great by the time she starts next year!! For now, she will just have to get used to cheering for her friends and Bubba from the sidelines!

Sharing My Ol' Stompin' Grounds with Friends

This past weekend, I got to show our good friends, the Hamricks, where I grew up and Colton got to share his "most favorite place in the whole world" with Mckynze and Mckaela. Michael and Colin drew for their elk hunt this year, in area 16B, which is the area where my parents live. So, they stayed there with them, leaving early, early in the mornings to go hunt, coming back in the middle of the day when it was too hot for the elk to be moving, and heading back out late afternoon and staying out until dark. They went up Thursday evening and just got home yesterday, but unfortunately came home empty-handed. They did see a bull Sunday night, but it was too far out and they heard them bugling and saw lots of sign (tracks, etc) the entire weekend, but just didn't get one.
They had a lot of fun, though (which I feel is the most important part) and also learned a lot, as this was their first year to hunt with a bow. My dad was a big help (thanks, Dad) and gave them advice and helped them find places to set up blinds and stuff. I know he enjoyed them being there, too and next year they are all going to put in together, along with my brother Jeff, and hopefully have better luck.

Well, Sherri and I wanted to do something fun with the kids, so I suggested going to my parents house. There is plenty to do there, and we would be able to at least see the guys a little bit Friday-Sunday. My parents were excited to have us, and Sherri and the girls were excited to go, so off we went Friday evening. Thanks, Sherri and the girls, for joining us! It was fun to share my childhood home and stomping grounds with you guys. Hope you had as much fun as we did!

I once again had so many pictures that I divided them into different posts, so enjoy! Be sure to click on "Older Posts" at the very bottom - there's more new ones there!

A Little 4-Wheelin' Fun!

Colin and I really would like to get a 4-wheeler of our very own someday (so would Colton), but until we do, we have my parents' to enjoy! The kids couldn't wait to ride and it is a good thing theirs is a large one so all the kids (and dogs) could ride at the same time and not have to take turns. Gramma Suzy is a very good driver and was super careful with all of them. Here they all are headed down to play in the river. Can you see "Boxie" the chihuahua sitting between Mckynze and Cady? She loves to ride, too and keeps her balance very well.The kids all had a great time with Gramma Suzy. She is the bestest gramma and loves to be in on all the action! She did everything with them - hiking, playing in the river, being the 4-wheeler chaufer - thanks Mom! It was a fun weekend! By the way - it looks like Cady is crying in the picture below, but she is actually singing and she gets some pretty dramatic faces when she sings!
The kids' favorite part was crossing the river! No, Cady didn't fall off - she is just so little that you can't see her sitting between Gramma and Mckaela!
Doesn't Mckynze look like a natural?
Michael took time on Sunday, during his and Colin's hunting break, to take his girls for a ride.
I think the Hamricks might want an ATV as much as we do, now, which would be nice to be able to go out together and ride. Maybe one of these days!

Our Hike

On Saturday morning, Mom and I decided we wanted to take everyone on a little hike that we used to do when Jeff and I were younger. It has always been a fairly easy 1-mile hike that leads to a small water fall and a pretty neat swimming hole. My parents and I took Colin and the kids on it last year while we were camping up there and everything was just as I remembered it. Well, unfortunately, we were sad to discover that it had flooded pretty good in there and most of the trail was washed away. We hiked in about a half-mile, though, before quitting and it was pretty rough terrain! Not so much for Colton and Mckaela, but Cady and Mckynze had a hard time on all the rocks and stuff. They were little troopers, though - especially Mckynze.
The kids had been looking forward to playing in the water and were disappointed to turn around and go back to the vehicle. Gramma Suzy, Colton and Mckaela moved faster and got ahead of Sherri and I who were helping the younger girls. When we caught up to them, this is what we found:

Gramma Suzy said both kids "accidentally" got their shoes and bottom of their jeans wet already (I know my son, and he rarely gets wet accidentally, no matter how hard he tries to make it look like an accident:)!), so she let them go ahead and play in the water while they waited for us. They had a great time, if you couldn't tell!

After that, we drove to the Lake Roberts General Store for some ice cream and then headed back to the house.

Fun at the River

I have said before that one of my kids' favorite things to do at Papa Jimmy's house is to play in the Mimbres River, and they couldn't wait to share this favorite pasttime with Mckynze and Mckaela! Thanks to all the rain they have had, the river was pretty big, too! Gramma Suzy drove them over on the 4-wheeler to this "swimmin' hole", not far from the house.