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Hi everyone.

I am close to getting my act together and getting this blog back.

My computer took a nose dive into computer hell so I don't have any pics for you but...

Here's what's been going on...

Katia started 8th grade, her 4th year of violin, enrolled in her 5th session of ice skating (loves this!), and has more friends than she knows what to do with.  She informed me she doesn't know what to do about 14th b-day party in January because she wants to invite about 50 girls but also have a sleep-over...yea totally NOT doing that!!!  The eye roll I perfected in the 80's to my Dad's dismay can totally be used here.   

Zander started 6th grade, began trumpet in band, also has tons of friends plus 1 girl who continually throws acorns at him while he and his friends walk home from school...she likes him!!  So cute but I think he is about to start throwing back.  Watch out Lee!

Lili started 3rd grade, will begin violin next week, loves her new teacher even more than last year and has play dates out the wazoo.  Sometimes I don't even know they are gonna happen...for example...last Saturday I was sitting at my back porch having a glass of wine with my neighbor and great friend Debbie and one of Lili's friends and her mom just stopped by to see if our house was really our house (her daughter thought it was but they weren't sure)!  BTW...just stopping by is totally a Midwest thing...you would never do this in our old hometown...Boulder, CO.  Her comment..."we are totally going to be great friends...wine at 3 on a Saturday is right up my alley"!  Cool!!  So glad I make such a good first impression!

My hubby is working his butt off at work and really making some amazing changes to a very out of date company.  He is bringing them into the 21st century!  We don't get to see him enough but things will only get better.  Thanks Babe!

As for me...well I feel like I have been floundering a bit lately.  When I was a kid and anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up I always answered "a mom".  Always.  I love my mom and she did such a good job raising my sisters and I.  To this day I still expect that if I call my parents house, my mom should be home and waiting to hear from me.  Just sitting there waiting!  I loved relying on that as a kid and I like that my kids have that same thing.  The one thing no one reminded me of was that kiddos eventually grow up.  They don't really need me at home all day.  When they are at school, I am finding that I am craving more...something else besides laundry, dishes, vacuums, toilets, and tv. 
We shall see what I figure out.  I will keep you all informed! 

And in other exciting news...It's my FAVORITE time of the year...FALL!!!

Source: blomsterverkstad.blogspot.com via Edna on Pinterest

Happy Family time, Football, cozy, comfort food and cool nights!

Hopefully I will be back soon with some pics of our summer...Chow for now!

Family!

Family connection is really so amazing.  I am always so happy to see what happens when my family gets together year after year...how the kiddos always just begin right where they left off.  They just know family, they know who loves them nearly as much as their own Mom and Dad.  Even when they were babies, they knew.  They feel that amazing connection instantly every single time...no nervousness, no pretense, no getting to know each other again.  It's family and it's so special.


My 2 big sister's and my youngest nephew came down to visit us in April (during my blog break!) and as always it just happens.  I thought maybe with our move to FL and this new environment things might be different.  It wasn't.  It was so fun as it always is.  We talked, we ate, we watched kiddos swim, we hit the beach, we talked more...just like always.

The cousins!

 Daniel is now in high school and my younger kiddos might drive him crazy at times but I think he has a lot of fun too.  My kiddos adore their cousin!

Love you guys!

On Anna Maria Island City Pier...happy hour!  Hubby and biggest sis chatting away, middle sis taking pics, and all the kiddos hanging out!  This is one of my favs!

And it's definitely not limited to just direct family...I am lucky enough to have a bestie that I consider my 3rd sister and it always happens with her kiddos too.  We walk in their door, the kiddos find each other and disappear...not to be seen again until us Mom's decide we had better feed them.  As soon as that's done though they are off again.     

I am so thankful for my Family...they are amazing!  LOVE!

A Really Nice Day!

Sometimes (a lot of times) you need to do something that reminds you why you live where you live.  In CO, we used to go hiking in the foothills or biking on the miles of bike trails that lie all over or hit the ski slopes at Eldora.  The beach is such a major part of FL and this past summer we spent a lot of time on Anna Maria Island but hadn't just hung out in quite a while.
 It felt good to be back...feet in the sand, the sun warming our skin, listening to the waves rolling onto shore and searching for the most beautiful shells.

Our day...

The water was cold (60-65 degrees) so kiddos didn't spend too much time swimming but they couldn't resist a little!

The kiddos wanted to be buried!

These are the moments that make life special.
It was just a really nice day!

Thanksgiving 2010

The Table!  The kiddos were the first to fill their plates and were trying to wait patiently for the rest of the group to join. 

Aunt Liz and Rich...We are thrilled to have them back in Florida with us!

 

After dinner fun!  Throwing the football around in the empty lot between our house and the neighbors.  It belongs to the neighbors but they have graciously allowed us to use it.

It was a great day to be outside.  The weather was beautiful...perfect for some toss.

We all got into the fun...I still got it!

The gang!  After this, it was dessert time! 

I am so very THANKFUL!

Our First Visitors!!!

We were so thrilled...Grandma and Grandpa came to visit and we were all over-the-top about it! 

They arrived while kiddos were at school so I had them to myself for a while.  This was nice for me...they are so special to me and I miss them so much.  I showed them our new house and the gardens.  They both liked the house and Mom commented a couple times that the house just feels comfortable.  That makes me feel really good.  We then went to Baba's house so they could visit with her.  Baba's house is so lovely and we had a great time visiting with her.  Her apple cake was just the icing on the cake...Thanks Carolyn!

We then headed to school to get the kiddos...this was the reaction!

It was a really HAPPY moment! 


We got K from her school and headed out to the beach.  Grandma grew up growing to the beach on the Pacific Ocean and had never set foot in the Gulf...I think she felt a little at home when we arrived. 

The shell hunting began!!!

We had a wonderful time!  It was just happiness and joy the entire short-but-sweet visit.  They couldn't stay long as the house in WY still needs some attention before the holidays but we can't wait for them to come back and stay awhile.  They even talked about staying a long while over the cold WY winters...that would be amazing!

This helped remind me how much family means to me.  They have always been wonderful parents and I am so thankful we got to introduce them to our new home.

I saw a saying this morning that said "Friends are the Flowers in a lovely garden"...if that's true then family must be the veggies...you absolutely need their nutrients they provide in order to live a healthy, happy life. 

I can't wait for the next visit...I love you Mom and Dad!

Happy Friday!!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  Ours will be filled with kiddos, sewing, KSU football, food, family and fun!

Grandpa with kiddos, We all love our wildcats!

I don't think there are too many chores to be done. Here are some pics of the house after a lot of hard work.  We finally have our lawn mower so C got the yard mowed...makes such a huge difference.  MIL has brought over many plants (THANK YOU CAROLYN!) and we have worked hard on transplanting from our jungle in the backyard. 

What do you think?

Remember this is where we started...an overgrown mess! 

So many of the neighbors have stopped by and let us know how much they appreciate all our hard work and to tell many stories about the doctor who lived here for many years and made the house what it is.  I guess it was once the hangout for all the neighborhood kids.  Maybe it will again...sounds good to me...what do they say, "keep your friends (my kids) close, keep your enemies (their friends) closer"!!!


I mentioned sewing...the current project is once again baby quilts...to be done and sold soon.  No, there babies in my future but I love working on these little quilts!  My blanket was so important to me as a child and I love that one of my quilts might comfort a new little person somewhere out there.  

I will post the finished quilt next week...ENJOY your weekend everyone!

Welcome to WY Mom and Dad!!

The days have been long, the road has been hard but I am thrilled that you have finally made it...yay! 

I welcome you to your new house and can't wait for you to make it your home (no pressure though)!

I am proud of all your hard work and determination over the past 3 summers.  It's amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it.  It amazes me to think this is house #4 and the last (it better be!)!

Here is what all your hard work has produced what you/we should be so proud of!

2007
June-The beginning of the shed

September-The roof of the shed (Dad, Carl and Gordon)

2008
June-The house is started

2009
August -The House is starting to take shape

The view is so GREAT!!!

Relaxing after a long day...who doesn't love burning sticks and roasting marshmallows?

2010
June-The beautiful stairwell is complete...perfect!  Celebrating Father's Day in such a great way.

The view from the road...what a wonderful welcome as you drive up...makes me want to hang out a while.

The Front-the log entry is so nice.

This place makes me happy...really happy.  I become so relaxed when I come here.  I think I will be making several trips up to just "get-away"...my own mom's weekend away with M&D.  I know the kiddos will protest but they won't get to go with me all the time.

You know, I even have my own rock, Mom even calls it that...Alicia's rock.  It's the place I go to sit and think, meditate or read whatever my book is at the moment.

In this picture Katia is there with me and you can barely see the lake in the background (the pic is weird).  

and here it is from the road...on the upper, right side of the pic. 

Mom and Dad, 

You picked a great place to build such a great retreat.  I love it and hope that everyone will feel as welcome as I do.  

I love you!

Alicia

Summer, family and bbq's!!!!

I have been anxiously waiting and trying to be patient...it's finally summer and I am the happiest person around!! 

This weekend was very exciting for many reasons...

School is out, friends/family visiting and the annual BolderBoulder 10K race!!!

Kids and I are really enjoying our freedom from any and all routine.  I have some stuff planned out but we are taking a week off and just flying by the seats of our pants.  So fun!

Friends/Family...in this case they are one and the same.  My best friend from college came into town to run the BB with her fam.  She is truly a sister to me and I love her dearly.  We bbq'd and talked while the kiddos played and played.  A completely perfect summer evening!

 

Now for the BolderBoulder...the largest 10k race in the country!  I have run it twice before but I didn't run this year.  Bestie, her hubby and their son did and they LOVED it!  I am not surprised...it's a fun, fun race and It was an incredibly beautiful day.  I drove them into town as the other kiddos and hubby slept and it really couldn't have been a better morning.

  

Here they are...6:55am...all set and ready to fun their tails off!  

Our view on the way to the race...can it really get any better???!!!

Happy Memorial Day!  I send many thoughts and prayers to Grandpa in Heaven...one of the many brave veterans our country is so proud of.

What a wonderful world!

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!  

To help celebrate, here are some pics of a hike we did recently. 

It was a beautiful day and we love every minute!  

We have been trying to do one big Family exercise activity each weekend and this past weekend we all did a 15 mile bike ride...pretty impressive for all the kids but especially our 6 yr. old.  She was amazing!  We didn't plan on it being that long, it was just so fun and the weather was incredible that we all just wanted to keep going.  This was a good lead-in to Walk and Roll week at school to help celebrate Earth Day today.  We have road our bikes to school each day...a round trip of 5 .5 miles...I had to make 3 trips each day since Lili has 1/2 day Kindergarten...a total of 16.5 miles!  I complain because my bottom isn't happy (Carl keeps telling me I will get used to it...hmmm...I wish that would happen sooner than later) but it feels awesome at the end of the day!  
Get out and move, you will be thankful you did!

I will take pics of kiddos and the impressive amount of bikes at the school this week.  

Good Job kiddos!!!~