Oh My!!!

It has been almost two and a half months since I have blogged!  Okay, okay, so I never had the slide show of London up....Oh, where does the time go?
Since getting back from London we have:
-We have moved to a new house and location (Lakewood, CO)
-Naomi visited (such a wonderful blessing)
-Sam has had shoulder surgery (intense bone-grafting, but we Kavanaghs go big!)
-Kaitlin and Jessica visited (a double blessing)
-Nana has visited (a never-ceasing blessing)
-Amelia has learned how to ride her strider
-Nolan is walking with his strider
-We have joined a rec. center
-We have joined a church
-I have joined MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers--the group is about 100 moms strong!)

However, I must admit, my heart is lonely for my girlfriends, my sisters, our friends who have walked so much life with us.  Why does Christmas make one so sentimental?  Is it the reminder of family and friends?  Is it the focus on giving and caring for one another?  Yes to all of those things, but it is the realization that an amazingly large God sent His Son as a tiny baby for us--for ALL of us.

Merry Christmas (a little early) to all of you!  You have blessed our family with your continued love and support through the valleys and the mountain tops.  Our hearts are forever grateful.

Love,
The Kavanaghs

A few photos for you:

London

How do I put into words the experience we have had in London...

Blessed, amazed, grateful, thankful, and so much more.  Having time to just be with family and cheer my incredible husband on, was a treat beyond words.  Amelia and Nolan were loved and cared for above and beyond!  I got to scream, laugh, cry, visit London sites, go to pubs, eat out, no diaper duty, and sleep in!  Thank you to each of you who blessed our time before, during and after.  

We love you all!

P.S.  I will get a slide show of more pictures soon (soon may mean something different to me than it does to you :))

The Great Adventure

In a few short days, Amelia and Nolan will be having a vacation with some of our family while I head to London to cheer on Big Daddy Sammy!!!  I am so excited, sad to leave my kids, super excited, missing my kids, way EXCITED!

Below is some info. on the Paralympics and Sam's racing!  Go USA!!!  

-Sam’s blog (also has twitter on it):  www.nolimbitations.com

Below are some sites where you can get updates, and some live coverage. 

-IPC livestream site:  http://www.paralympic.org/news/ipc-website-livestream-580-hours-sport-during-london-2012

-USA Paralympic site:  http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics

-NBC Universal channel will air some paralympics...not sure when, which ones, etc.

-NBC universal site:  http://universalsports.com/?s=paralympic

Also, Sam’s race schedule is below (his category is a C4):

London is seven hours ahead of MST

-Wednesday, August 29^th:  Opening Ceremonies

-Cycling Track = Friday, August 31^st:  Men’s C4 Kilo (1 km) 2 p.m.

-Cycling Track = Saturday, September 1^st:  Men’s C4 Individual Pursuit, Qualifications—10:25 a.m., Finals—3:15 p.m.

-Cycling Track = Sunday, September 2^nd:  Team Pursuit, Qualifications—11:35 a.m., Finals--3:25 p.m.

-Cycling Road = Wednesday, September 5^th, Time Trial—10:30 a.m. (not sure of his start time)

-Cycling Road = Thursday, September 6^th, Road Race—10:30 a.m.

-Sunday, September 9^th:  Closing Ceremonies

Please check this site:  http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/ for updates closer to the games.

Bike riders... sort of

Amelia and Nolan having some fun!

Smiling Noley

I know it's been a long time!

I know it has been a very long time since I have updated our family's blog... but I know that you all are faithful and keep checking it, so here you all go!

Our family got to go on a little camping adventure up by 

Lake Granby/Tabernash/Winter Park, where some of our friends live.

We are blessed to have two children who LOVE to be outside!

We are thinking of selling our Sprinter, a.k.a. Sprite, for a pull behind camper trailer.  We have had so many great memories in this vehicle, but are feeling a bit cramped with two kids 3 and under.

Our next adventure took us down south to North Carolina, and Georgia.  We had a ton of fun with my parents at their home, and Amelia even found a turtle!

We all ventured to Augusta, GA for the Para-cycling Nationals and qualifiers for London

Sam rocked it, knocking a minute off his time from last year, being the fastest upright bike, and winning the national jersey for his category.

Three handsome boys (Clark your left and Dave on your right--tandem team)

The next day we celebrated Amelia's 3rd b-day at Chick-fil-a, her new favorite restaurant!

Daddy Sam got second in the Criterium race and we were so excited to hear the team being named later that evening!

Sammy's nomination for the team did not come that day... through the next very difficult week, we were pleased to find out, at the end of that week, that the final slots for the team had been made, and Sam would be going to LONDON (as well as 10 of his family members--smile)!

Another b-day celebration for Amelia, yes at Chick-fil-a with an ice cream topped with a princess candle

Nolan had his 1st b-day and we celebrated with cupcakes!  He was super hesitate to get going, but once he realized the yummies, he was all over it!

We were able to spend last week with our friends and some family in  Bozeman.  Oh we miss you all already!  This season of life is busy, but good, and we look forward to the things to come...

Children's Museum

Nana, Nolan, Amelia, and I went to the Denver Children's Museum today... IT ROCKS!!!!  I have never seen such an amazing place for kids and parents.  My mom got our family a year pass, but it came with two extra one day passes.  Any takers?  Come on, who is going to come visit us first?

This bubble room was so much fun.  You could make massive bubbles, catch bubbles, be inside of a bubble.  They even had special glasses for the kids to wear.

You may have to turn your head for this one.

This was Amelia's favorite...the dress up tap dancing area!

She has got the moves!

Nolan does NOT stand still, really ever.  He is truly a boy!  However, when we saw the fireman room, he was speechless...and motionless!

Mail

Sometimes, our family's mail is a bit different, but like all kids Amelia loves to open the box and play with what's inside :)

Nolan the pickle man!

Kavanaghs in Castle Rock

Our little family has found a rental in Castle Rock, CO.  We are settling in, unpacking, and having a visit from Nana Roxy while Daddy Sam races in the Tour de Gila in New Mexico!

Little Noley always has a smile, and now that he is 10 months old, he has one tooth poking out

Amelia was not in the mood for a smile...

Here is a smile and our front door

New flowers planted by Nana Roxy

We are actually on a golf course, and I've always wanted a stained-glass window...

Smiley kids with Nana in town!

Pike's Peak out the back

Missing our friends and family!