Winter in Montana

Our family continues to settle in to our Bozeman home :)  Many winter activities fill our days, and the warm wood stove keeps us warm at night.  We hope that you and your family are staying warm!

Home is where the Heart is

Our family has been blessed with something wonderful!  We have bought a home, and we are moving back to Bozeman, MT!!  We will be moving from Lakewood, CO right before Christmas with the help of Nana Roxy and Papa Jack.  We will miss the friends we have found here!  Friends that have become forever-friends, friends that have become like family :)

Here are a few pictures to catch you up on our lives:

Enjoying the sun in Moab in September

 Our sweet friend Pat yelling at Tejay van Garderen at the US Pro Challenge in Vail.  Sam and Pat had a great time watching the Time Trial, and getting close to some amazing riders!

Ms. Amelia and I went to a mother-daughter tea, and yes I even wore a dress!

 I have been running and working out with some amazing mommas!  Here we are the the 15k Hot Chocolate race in downtown Denver.

This past Sunday, I ran my first half-marathon!  It was tiring, but so rewarding to have accomplished.

Rocking out, pre-half-marathon

Here it is: our Bozeman home!  Does it look familiar?  Well, since Matt and Reese were building a new home, and since God opened some amazing doors, we signed the papers today and will be Montana residents again at Christmas time!

Little Reese

Our family had the pleasure of meeting a fellow amputee and her lovely family.  Amelia loved that Reese had Cinderella on her socket :)  We loved hanging out with you Reese!!  (Sorry the pics are small...)

Montana

Who know's our state's song?

Montana, Montana

Glory of the west

Of all the states from coast to coast

You're easily the best!

Montana, Montana

The skies are always blue

M-O-N-T-A-N-A

Montana, I love you!

We are packed and ready for our visit to our home state!  More stories to come :)

Booyah!

Okay, this is a record!!  Only two weeks from the last post, so I guess I can get a reward.  Usually I would say that my reward is that good feeling inside from the fact that I have accomplished something...this time, my reward with be a venti iced coffee from Starbucks with lots of whipped cream!!

Nana and Papa are visiting us here in the big city, and we took them to Mt. Evan's today, which is a 14,000 foot peak.  Since they are living in North Carolina, we thought it would be good for their lungs, to experience thin air...no we just thought the view would be amazing; and it was!!  We drove most of it, but did hike a little at the end.  Amelia was quite the hiker as well :)

Cheesy boys

We ARE having fun, right Papa?

The truck ride

Our hearts are full for our dear friends, the Moores, as they welcome their new daughter Wren into their family!!  We will be visiting MT the end of July through the beginning of August, and hope to catch up with everyone.  Love to all!!

Four Months Later

Oh my goodness (to quote my daughter)!  It has been quite awhile, like FOUR MONTHS, since I have updated our family blog.  Well, what excuses can I come up with?

-Two children

-Camping

-Yard work

-Running

-Making dinner

No, none of these are real excuses... it's called laziness, pure and simple.  I mean, how hard can it be to sit at the computer, put a few pictures on the blog and then move on.  It really is NOT that difficult, so I will try with all of my heart to make my next post in three months or less :)

Jeeping with the Rowes in Moab

I was a little cold, but it was SO fun!!

Camping with friends and celebrating HD's b-day

Nolan seems to have learned his sister's cheese face

Quick trip to CFalls and Glacier.  Sam spoke at our old high school's graduation!

Nolan turned 2 on July 1st!

He would sleep with his bike if he could

Have to love those chocolate cupcakes

Amelia turned 4 on June 22nd!!

We celebrated with friends at the park

Finally, an update!

My two peeps, getting ready for a walk to the park!

Playing a little music together.

Obviously, Amelia does not like to get her picture taken, and Nolan clearly loves it!

(FYI--can't get the picture to rotate)

Amelia LOVES her bike, and Nolan is working on his Strider-bike too.

Amelia the artist:

"My family"

Our backyard playhouse adjusted by Daddy Sam and Uncle Dallas.

My mom came to visit for a couple of weeks and we were able to go back-country skiing!  I haven't gone for forever, so yes, that is me panting in the blue coat!

Gorgeous day

Amazing view

We felt young again (smile)!

My sweet family

Our little family is still on an "adventure", awaiting the next exciting steps.  We will be sure to keep you all posted, but for now here are some things we are working on:

Sam:  part mechanic, part plumber, part pretty much fixer of everything; riding bikes, bc skiing, speaking

Sara:  attending a MOPS group with 100 women, doing a ZUMBA class, playing music, but most importantly being a wife and momma

Amelia:  ready to ride a pedal bike, singing, drawing, playing princess

Nolan:  talking (already saying, "apple, uh-oh eh-eh-ih-oh, baby, happy, ma ma, da da, na na, go, no" and a few others that we can't quite make out!