HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY ASHLEY & KIRA!

Ashley & Kira had another co-birthday party (they did it for their 2nd party too-- Elmo themed with a pinata that Ana made & the bounce house)...this was a Princess Party at the Memorial Building at Rooseveldt Park...it was SO nice not to have it at our house (after I tore my ACL at Daniel's 2nd birthday party in Oct, I felt like God was telling me to do it elsewhere)! We all had such a good time...doing crafts and playing with all of the toys in the gym and then the parachute. Ericka made them some beautiful Aurora & Bell cupcakes and 24 pink & yellow ones that the kids could decorate themselves...then we did the pinata and took a group pic and some of us went to McDs for lunch and more playing. It was a full, fun day!

BYE Ms Kimmi and Ballet!

We spent our last day at Kids Oasis with Ms Kimmi, Ireland & Chloe on Tuesday, May 12. They are moving home to Oklahoma today (Fri, May 22) because their daddy will be home from Iraq in July...so while we are very happy that they'll be a family again... we will miss them!



Ashley got to go to both Ballet Recitals, b/c she had missed a class (or two!) earlier in the semester. She had SO much fun dancing in front of Daddy & Mommy (and the huge mirro--she couldn't get enough of seeing herself)! We went out to a restaurant for dinner after both recitals...a wonderful Mexican one on Tuesday in Niwot--where we could eat outside...and to Village Inn with Krista, Ericka & Kyra on Thursday...pancakes--fun!

Tuesday's Recital:

Thursday's Recital: Ms Sarah is the awesome teacher!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

I LOVE MY FAMILY! THANK YOU DAVID, ASHLY & DANIEL FOR MAKING EVERYDAY MOTHER'S DAY FOR ME. Ashley is trying her hand behind the camera and doing a great job! Daniel likes to try too...did I mention that he sings show tunes & throws balls REALLY well?!

7 kids on Mondays

We usually have 7 kids over here on Mondays, but Lauren & Ryan were gone today. Sawyer, Maggie & Lily enjoyed our bunnies with us. We all went out and picked lots of flowers (weeds) and fed some to the bunnies. Yes, that is Daniel in their cage, while the Harnigs are feeding the bunnies. Ashley & Lily are good friends! Sawyer & Maggie got to see what our new punishment is, when little kids don't listen to me! Hehe...just joking...they were begging to go in there (their mom is a social worker, so I hope I don't get turned in)! :)

ASHLEY TURNS 4--May 3, 2009

Ashley wanted to start her day by seeing her bunnies...so sweet! Then it was on to the living room, to open presents! She got the wedding Barbie & Groom (it's not Ken-- just some random guy doll) and a little doll house filled with the ring bearer and 3 flower girls (just like Mommy & Daddy had at their wedding--3 main flower girls and 21 beauties...I'll have to find a pic of that!) and a honeymoon haven (a little house with a huge bed, bath & dressing area...very sweet (& it folds up)! She also got roller blades & a little barking puppy from Aunt Jay. Her BIG gift was Barbie golf clubs...Daddy is going to take her out this summer! We can't believe our little girl is 4...how time flies & it's been such a sweet ride!

We had a very full day...Ashley made cupcakes for her class and then we went to Costco after church and the kids slept in the van on the way to "big church" to watch Daddy play basketball...Daniel couldn't stop himself from going to see Daddy on the court, so we went to Wal Mart at the half (their team is undefeated!). Ashley wanted steak for her birthday, so David took Daniel home and started up the grill, while we finished shopping and got icees from the Subway...I haven't had one in so long...that was a special treat that we'll do every year (or we'll do something fun, just the 2 of us)! We had a full, fun family day...
I love how she is posing here...she wanted to wear a dress on her birthday! Too cute!

Our Bunnies Arrive! (Sat, May 2)

Our bunnies arrived in time for Ashley's birthday! Mrs. Debbie brought them (she is one of the rescue rabbit people...they are VERY serious about their bunnies)! The kids were SO excited...we had to wait to make the bunnies' 2 story home until Daddy got home from golfing! The kids LOVE to get in their cage and play with their waskely wabbits--Daddy Warbucks (Whitey) and Annie (Black-black)!

Breckenridge...taking a break in the mountains! (end of April)

We took a little break from it all b/c we had to use a week of our time share before it expired! We went from Friday, April 24-Sunday morning...then The Oakes family came up and used the condo and we came home to work...and we went back from Wednesday, April 29-Friday, May 1. We went on a little hike--it was gorgeous...ate out at fun places: Bubba Gump's, a pricey Mexican place on the lake, & we had appetizers on the back porch of a steak house...that's the last pic, see the beautiful view (behind Ashley whining!)? Hehe...we had fun anyway! There was also a fun toy store to play in and outlet malls in Silverthorn and a movie theater in Dillion (we saw Earth for Ashley's birthday--well Ashley & I did...Daniel slept through it once he had enough popping corn and candy and Daddy worked). FUN was had by all!

Cassie turns 30 (FINALLY)! (Fri, April 24)

One of our favorite people turned 30 on April 24, so we had to celebrate! Cassie is our LifeKids Coordinator at Tri-Towns of LifeBridge, where we worship. Sometime LAST YEAR (maybe in October) she mentioned that she was almost 30...so I asked her when her birthday was...and she casually said, April 24! So this celebration has been a long time coming! Ericka made a beautiful cake and a bunch of us went to the park and partied...it was great fun!

Sesame Street (Sat, April 18-Part 2)

We went to see Sesame Street in the afternoon (it was a busy day) with our good friends Ana & Kira! We had a blast (but mommy left her camera in the car, so I will post pics soon--Ana got some great ones that she already put on a CD for me...it's just upstairs & I'm on a roll)!

Oh Boy, Oh Boy, A Girl! (Sat, April 18)

We had a baby shower for THREE of our small group members, who were all pregnant at the same time (since I'm just getting around to blogging about this on May 22, Cherie has had her baby boy--Blaine Zachary was born on Tues, May 19--all are happy & healthy)! It was fun to celebrate with them all!

Mona & the mall (April 15)

Our good friend Mona came to visit us and we loved it! She is a flight attendant and finally had a longer stay in CO...so we picked her up and went to the zoo & out for Mexican food with Daddy. The next day we took her back to the airport and met our friends Julie and baby Ashley at Flatirons Mall...and had a blast walking around & playing in the new play area.

VEGAS BABY, VEGAS!

It was a LONG drive to Vegas this time, b/c of snow we couldn't go through the mountains...so we headed through New Mexico, Arizona and the Hoover Dam (we took lots of dam pics!)...but we pushed through and did it all at once...b/c we were looking forward to a week of vacation and seeing our Grandma Bobbie & Aunt Jay and the Lesperances (they had the Easter Bunny visit their house the week before Easter)...we had an awesome time...but could not drive straight through on the way home...so we stopped near Phoenix and visited the Mannons for a few days...we pulled into our driveway at 5:45am on Easter Sunday...and then went to church by 9:30... then it was naps all around! We needed the break...

MARCH 2009

WOW...March flew by...here are some highlights:
David went out of town on a guys weekend to Vegas at the end of February... on that Sunday, I taught in our 2s & 3s class, Daniel BLEW OUT his diaper (to the point of throwing away his clothes) and Ashley ran straight into a cement wall and her head proceeded to get a HUGE welt on it...this was a pic of it, about 6 hours later: I got to go to our Women's Retreat in Estes Park, with a group of wonderful women...we learned about our Holy Spirit...the Traveling Comforter...it was WONDERFUL!
Playing playdoh on a Monday...the calm before the storm...we usually have 4 in the morning and then 3 more come, to give us 7 kids...and then we go to our small group at night--FUN! Always love bathtime...

WE LOVE THE ZOO! We went with Cassie, Ellis & Alaire and Julie and baby Ashley... always love going to the zoo...especially with people we've never been there with before!

We had a potluck at our church...here are some of our family in Christ:

We went to the park that afternoon...we rode our tricycles for the first time... Mommy got sunburn on Sunday and then we had snow a few days later (after we went to Discovery Days with Lily)...CRAZY COLORADO WEATHER!

Mommy had a little too much fun at a consignment sale...the kids got an awesome Elmo train set (see them sharing!) and Daniel got a big boy bed...he was SO excited! I love the pics of them sleeping...my little angels...they love each other so much and we thank God for that and for them!
We went to meet our bunnies...we're going to try our hand at adopting bunnies and if it goes well, we'll adopt a little sister! :) Any ideas for names...b/c as of now the kids like Whitey & Blacky...or White-White and Black-Black...neither ones would go well if we move down south!

Lily's High School Musical Party! Fri, Feb 27

Lily had a High School Musical Party b/c she loves the movies...the other kids enjoyed it b/c there were cupcakes, dancing and a pinata...what more could 2-4 year olds ask for?! The kids had a blast and the mommies enjoyed some girl time together! Sad to say, I made the birthday girl cry when I asked her to put down her Troy & Gabriella dolls (so she could eat lunch)! Daniel looks like he is ready to DISCO...let's get down and party!

Chloe's Ballet Birthday Bash! Sat, Feb 21

Ashley had a blast at Chloe's 4th birthday party...all of the girls did! Tammie taught them ballet moves...they were very serious about it (as you can see in the pics!)...we're going to put Ashley in the Pre-Ballet class at church in April (6 week class) b/c of it...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! Friday, Feb 20

We celebrated David's birthday by going out to dinner at TGIFridays...the kids were excited and wanted to get dressed up...you can see they've mastered the "cheese" smile and they are enjoying playing peek-a-boo! Happy Birthday Daddy...WE LOVE YOU!

Long weekend in Iowa, Feb 13-16

We spent a long weekend in Iowa with David's family...we had a lot of fun with Grandma & Grandpa Sutton and Debbie and Paul and their family...and David got his fix of ribs and taco pizza, so all was well with the world! It really was good to see everyone...hope to do it again soon!

Day at the park-Wed, Feb 4

We went to the park again, after David got home from work...it was chilly, but nice to be outside. The kids were so loving to their friend Lily...they helped her overcome her fear of the bumpy bridge. The last pic is another reminder that Daniel needed a haircut! :)

FULL, FUN FRIDAY! Jan 30, 2009

We started off our day with 45 minutes of open gymnastics time, at our rec center... the kids LOVE it...they are totally free spirits, full of adventure and willing to try anything...it's so fun to watch (for the most part)! ;)
Then we went to the park near our house, b/c it was a gorgeous day...a little windy (which makes it colder then you'd think--hence the jackets!), but it was nice and sunny and so wonderful.
We ended our day with a potluck and playdate with moms and kids from our church, b/c the dads were having a Guys Night. We ended up with 22 kids and 11 moms...yes, we were outnumbered 2-1, but we had a great time!

Ryan's Birthday Celebration--Mon, Jan 26

We celebrated Ryan's 2nd birthday a couple weeks after his actual birthday, but he didn't mind. He loved the puzzle we gave him--he is REALLY good at puzzles. Notice that Daniel was in need of a haircut (he wanted a ponytail, like Maggie--Daddy isn't going to like this pic, but then he should have taken him to get his haircut)! Happy Birthday Rye-Rye...we love you little man!