More Pictures Okoboji

Uncle Dave just sent me some good ones to share....

Everyone (Minus Dave, Travis & Lizzie)

My baby is 5

Oh Ryan John, Mama loves you sooooo much! I tell you all the time to stop growing and to stop being bigger! He has become a little ham with hilarious things to say and we have no clue where he is getting his material from.
He is my compassionate kid for sure. He will give a hug or make a comment to fill up someones bucket so quickly. He is always willing to help me and much like me he likes when the house is quiet and we can get projects done.
 Continue to learn my little sponge, can't wait to see what all you take in this year at Junior K. He is just like his Daddy that he has the best memory and can remember things from over a year ago.
Hope you are a leader in your class and a good example to your friends.
Love you lots big 5 year old! Mommy & Daddy

*PS I am on the verge of a major melt down of no more babies in this house....working every angle I have with Raymond to get us a 3rd little nugget to love on. I would LOVE if next time you viewed this blog you were seeing us as a family of 5. Until then I'll keep watching other peoples baby's and holding neighbor baby's when I can.

1st Day Of School

He woke up early, brushed his hair, got dressed and made his bed. I'd call it a success! When we got to school he said "Mom I'm late (which he wasn't), I don't have time for pictures.

Um, Hi, I'm Mama Bear and I'm getting a picture of you for the first day of school. You are lucky I didn't try to kiss you too. The day isn't over but the teacher just sent all the parents a cute little email saying everyone is doing awesome and no tears have been shed. Welcome to First Grade Connor!

When I got to school I said "we need a picture". Silly Sommer she thought I meant of the kiddos.

Here is my partner in crime for the next 3 years as we are Co-Chairing the PTO for the elementary school.

Connor's main squeeze Emma (Sommer's daughter)

Summer Hikes

It is crazy how many trails and part of Colorado are less than 45 minutes away. The last 3 weekends we have gone exploring on the weekends.
The first weekend we went to Garden Of The Gods. Notes for me for next time: kind of farther away then I liked. We were not there long enough and want to go back for sure. We didn't really see Gardens per see, we did see all these beautiful red rocks and guys repelling off them.

Then next weekend we went to Lair of the Bear. Positives are it is close (very close to Sheri & Marty) the negative, lots of bikers are a small trail. Kids loved the water that ran next to the trail to cool off.

Okoboji 2k16

My 34th year, Ray's 12 year Connor's 7th and Ryan's 4th year at the HAPPIEST PLACE on EARTH; lake Okoboji (hence why our dog is named Boji).

10.5 hours in the car actually went by fast followed by 10 days of Heaven! Swimming, laying out, doing puzzles, eating delicious food. Ryan fished 99% of the time and caught a ton of fish. Connor learned to ride a 2 wheeler with out training wheels and Grandma Grandpa and GG spoiled them both rotten. Aunt Terri stopped in for a day and Dave and Val came and went during our stay. We got a nice surprise visit from Lizzie. Ryan hasn't seen her sense he was 2 and he kept calling her Aunt Val, it was pretty funny.

My dad and his brother and their cousins and corresponding mothers

We really got into snap chat this vacation

Connor was 1 inch too short for the big coaster- he's determined to eat a lot of vegetables and get that 1 inch before next year!

Woof. Face swap Grandma & Grandpa.

They fought over driving

Texas Y'all

For our 10 year anniversary we decided to go big and go to Texas. We went with dear friends Bridget & Matt. We both relocated out of Ohio 2 years ago. It was fun to reconnect right where we left off.

I've been busy

My good friend Bridget said to me last night, "I'm pretty sure I've sent you 4 texts and you haven't replied to any." Yea....life is a little insane with all this end of the school year stuff. 

I've been crafting a little. Here is what I've made this month:

Ryan's done with school and Connor gets out Thursday. We have turned down golf, baseball, lacrosse and swim team so we can enjoy the lazy days of summer! Ray and I have our 10 year anniversary in June and will be going to Texas with the Zieglers and July we will be at the lake. Should be a great summer!!

I'm 34

Yea I'm not going to admit that in person, so if you aren't reading my blog forget it!
Ray and the boys spoiled me, I think my favorite birthday to date (well except for all my college birthdays absolute angels know how to party).
Friday we had a "MOPS & POPS" event with my Mother Of A Preschooler group that was a ton of fun and then Saturday we went out with Mike & Casey to Top Golf. They put sensors in the golf balls and you aim at targets and play all these different games (very fun!). For my birthday one of my presents Ray got me was a 1000 piece puzzle. I was obsessed and finished in two days.

Thanks for the calls and texts to make my day as special as it was!

Jordan

Rays sister Kerry had a baby boy on Friday April 22nd. Jordan Richard 2lbs, 14oz. He is having all the NICU scary times a parent dreads and we are praying for more good days then bad!

Here is a picture Kerry sent us today, first time Mommy got to hold him!

Master Bath

His & Hers

Before:

We did Maple wood with Espresso Finish
Quartz counters in "Lagoon" and brushed nickel door pulls and Moen faucet in Eva. The light fixtures are Minka Lavery (saw them at a house we rented in Nashville and knew I had to have them).

Yay! With all the vendors these last 18 months I am DONE with people I don't know spending time in my house. Let's review all the projects and money out the door....
Hardwood floors on first floor
New Windows, new gutters
White trim on first floor and white doors added
Jill painted second floor trim and doors, never ending basement project, exterior of house wood work and shingle repair, then full house painted. Did I also mention that we both got new cars, me in 2015 and Ray this year. Unfortunately with this last snow storm dumping 23.2 inches our money tree snapped and is gone. Good bye house projects, I won't miss you while gardening all summer long and perfecting my CO tan.
(Light bulbs need clear bulbs but you work with what you have on hand)

Lights: Minka Lavery

Sink: American Standard Square Sink

Eva Sink by Moen