Wednesday, September 8

While Jake did homework,

Tye and Joss played outside. 

Here are a few pictures.

So sweet to his sister. 

Good Night!

A couple MUST SEE VIDEOS from today.

A few more horseback riding pictures

First the kids pet some animals at my student, Tori's house.

Then, she lifted Jake up first.

Next came Tye.

As you can see, my students LOVE the kids.  Jake, Tye and Jossie are constantly finding themselves lucky to be the kids of a teacher in this small town.  Nice. 

It was a fun day for all of us.

Finally: PICTURES!

Lots of excitement the past month...

The boys had their first day of school. 

Jake = 2nd Grade

Tye = Kindergarten

They come with me to school and stay in my class until my assistant takes them downstairs to catch the bus to the elementary school 3mi away.  Kindergarten sits up front on the bus, then 1st grade, 2nd, and so on.  Jake was allowed to sit with the Kindergartners with Tye.  So, the first week they did...now they don't!  Already...they are separating from one another.  Tye explained his daily routine in detail to me the other night and said that he waits for JJ to get off the bus when they get to the school and then they say goodbye before they ever enter the school.  Kind of unsure of their independance from one another, I asked Tye why they part ways before they get in and he replied: "Cause Jake always has to hug me, even kiss me.  I don't want anybody to see that!"  Nick and I nearly died laughing.  It was one of what seems to be daily, hilarious events in our house.   

So handsome.  Our gentlemen.

The whole world thinks the boys are twins now that Tye has caught up to Jake in height.  As Jake put it in regard to his new hair cut, "now, we don't look like brothers at all.  We're like half brothers!"  Gotta laugh.

And Little Miss is as sassy as ever.  (In a good way.) 

Tye and Jake have received rave reviews already this year.  Nick and I are constantly amazed at how amazing our life has turned out.  These 3 kids are incredible.

Reading and relaxing.

We all adore the new house.  I finally put my finger on it just tonight...it feels like a comfy, oversized tree house.  Well, that may not probably doesn't convey the feeling it gives us at all, but it does feel like that.  Feels like home for us birds, apparently.  I'm just making matters worse..so I'll zip it!  LOL

Some Wii action! 

Without TV, we can watch movies thru or just play the Wii.  (As a side note-I highly recommend getting rid of TV.  Lots more talking seems to happen throughout the house...at least for all of us)

The sunsets from the desk of the (newly dubbed) "tree-house" have been incredible.  We have been taking advantage of the decks as it is very rapidly getting cooler.  High 70s day, 30s night!

We're thrilled to have a wood burning stove again.  Bring it, winter!!

Two of my students took the kids and I horseback riding.  It was a BLAST!  To be done frequently from now on.

Tori dallied the boys' horse and shared her saddle with Joss.

I'll leave you with that...a horses behind! 

More pics soon.

-D

Lost Camera Cord

Just wanted to let you all know, I lost our camera cord somehow in the move.  I will get one next time I go down to Denver and then, there will be loads of pictures from the past month to post. 

In the meantime, we have been in heaven at the new house.  Its quiet with an average of 3 cars coming up or down our street per day.  Nick and Tye made a quad track around the yard so the kids and us can ride our quads right here on our 3 acres of property.  We finally feel like we're HOME in Colorado.  Its lovely.  The man who rents us the home is willing to sell it to us when we are ready.  It will be nice to live in the house for a year before we make any decisions of that nature.  The new house is 12 minutes from Jake and Tye's school and just under 20 for me.  Nick is still doing the commute from Bailey to Breck and staying in the house in Breck when he works a double.  The kids and I meet him up there every Friday after school and stay until Sunday.  Its been fantastic.  No plans for changes to this new program any time soon!! 

Jake started 2nd grade last Wednesday and Tye starts Kindergarten on Monday.  The boys will come to school with me in the mornings and hang for the first 35 minutes of my 1st hour class.  (Honors Spanish 3)  Then, my assistant Kevin (one of the most amazing teenagers you'd ever meet) walks the boys to the front door of the high school and waits for them to get picked up by the bus.  Jake knows the drill since he did it all last year and Tye is super excited to start on Tuesday.  (Daddy is driving him to his 1st day of Kinder)  It is just amazing that we have 2 kids in real school.  Next year, Joss will start Preschool but until then, she will continue to be with Sherry during the day.  Thankfully, Josslyn absolutely ADORES going to Ms. Sherry's house and Sherry loves Joss, too. 

All is well with my new school year.   I am busier than ever having never taught Honors Spanish 3 before, I have taken over the Key Club (a volunteer, leadership organization) and have began a Spanish Club where the students will teach Spanish lessons to the elemenatry school kids each week.  All 3 of my classes have waiting lists and while I'm glad that my taking over the Foreign Language Department has increased student interest, my class sizes are no longer 8-15.  We hired a French teacher over the summer so I am only teaching my passion from here on out and I could not be more thrilled.  I've been all over the place with my work on my Master's degree.  The public school trend to take the personal counseling out of the School Counseling position is forcing me to reconsider even after having taken classes for that degree.  I absolutely want the same schedule as my kids but can't see myself dealing with 80% academic advising and 20% therapy.  The reverse would suit me well, though!  Oh well.  I've got time, I guess.  Plus, despite not having any babies, life seems to only get busier.  'Tis the season of Religious Education, Karate and Dance. Not a day goes by where I say, "Man, what a boring day".  And with the elimination of TV from our house, the kids are even MORE active outside than they were prior...and we all know, they have always been very busy little people!

Nick and I just continue to grow in our marriage and we agree that all the hard work of raising 3 toddlers so close in age is paying off more than we ever imagined.  The kids are absolutely amazing.  All 3 amaze us on a daily basis.  Tye is chomping at the bit to start school and after his Kindergarten interview (the Kindergarten teacher spends 1hr alone with each kid to get to know them) he is even more excited for this new adventure.  We are certain he will do well.  And Jake is of to a bright start in grade 2.  He got $100 Creek Cash yesterday for his exemplary behavior and when I saw the principal and assistant principal at the elementary, both complimented on Jake's efforts to be always kind and do the right thing.  They even told me a few very touching stories of our sweet, sweet boy on what was only the 3rd day of school.  So happy Tye will have Jake there to lean on if he needs him.

More to come...lets hope that will include pictures!  We are all around happy, happy, happy.  Hope you are too.  Miss you all.

-The Fab 5

Busy, busy summer tizzy!

Sorry, no pictures for this post.  We have been very busy packing for our move here within the town of Bailey where I work.  Plus, the kids slept over at Alyssa and Braden's house for the last 2 nights.  Nick and I enjoyed some alone time in Breckenridge. It was wonderful!  Thank a million, April.  Last weekend Nick and I went to a wedding and the kids got to visit Cameron in the hospital.  Poor little Cameron got in an accident with his grandpa on his riding lawn mower.  He fell and his feet got caught in the blades.  So, so sad.  He lost all his toes with the exception of 1 toe on each foot that may be able to be saved and his heels are gone to the bone.  So say some prayers for him, that he may one day walk again.  For now, he has developed a rare infection so his surgeries are put on hold.  Aside from that, all is well here.  Looking forward to Bailey Days this weekend and more fun in Breck.  Will post new pictures soon.

Jake turns SEVEN!

Jake's 2,555th day of life started with some gift opening. 

Had to mention...he's reading the card himself! We're SO proud.

Hoorey for the Spy Gear.

Then, we hit the Elitch Gardens. 

Brave boys...

who want to ride everything that spins   

 +

a mom who wants to keep up  

 =

1 very,

very,

very, sick mommy!  Oh yes, but let's not talk about it. 

But per the usual, Joss looked cute!  LOL!!

(Even with her new haircut, compliments of her brother Tye.)

Jake asked Joss to go down the slide (she never has before) for his birthday.

She said "yes" so he walked her up.

First, they watched Tye go down.

Dry, no problem.

Then, Joss gets scared...

but Jake talks away her fears.

Next, they decide to pull an illegal move.  JJ will ride down with her.

Uh-oh, she's wet.  Real wet!

He liked it, did SHE?

No she did not.

Then, she was all smiles again at ChuckECheese.

The birthday boy got to plays games and eat (rather gross, sorry CC) pizza.

Tye tried his luck at the Wheel of Fortune.

All 5 of us nearly laughed ourselves on the floor at the rather limp ChuckECheese show. 

Joss slathered herself in germs and viruses.  (ROTFL!)

Jake shot some hoops.

Then, it was time to cash in the tickets.

Measly

 127

123

and 14 tickets.

(by birth order)

:)

Notice the scorpion?

Proud of her 14 tickets.

It was a great day for our man J. 

In the words of the birthdayboy himself:

"Peace".