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Payton has passed another level in her reading! She came home with another book today, opened it and read the entire book without hesitation! On to the next:)

When she started school in Colorado the teacher did an assessment her first day. When i picked her up that day she told me that Payton had already passed everything she had to teach her for the YEAR! She said she would try and give her harder things to do, she didn't want her to be bored.

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU PAYTON!!

Granny Glorias Gingerbread

Grandma Gloria's Gingerbread cookies are these 3's favorite Cookie! Kennedy has been asking to make them for weeks now. So we got the recipe and finally made them yesterday. The girls like helping and I like that Justin made them:)

Mama's the big 28

Happy Birthday to ME!

I had a really good birthday this year. Being away from everyone was hard, but getting text and calls and messages all day was AWESOME! It made me feel sooo loved, so THANK YOU everyone! Justin made an extra effort this year to make me feel special. He sent me this edible arrangement (mmm sooo good) and gave me some really thoughtful gifts. He came home early and we went to dinner. He got me a cute delicious cake as well!

I love spending my birthday with my family. When I became a mom i realized that my birthday should also be a day that my mom is recognized as well. She went through a lot to get me here and I appreciate it:) Love you mom!

The girls ate probably a third of it right then!

My friend Whitney that lives in Parker brought these YUMMY cupcakes over on my Birthday. It was so sweet of her.

My cake & Ice Cream...yes I got as much ice cream as I did cake:) I LOVE it

My new running shoes are AWESOME! Thanks babe....

MISS & LOVE YOU ALL

28 will be GREAT!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAY MAMMA

Mandy is the most amazing person that I have ever met in my life!! Things I love about her are; she is so caring, thoughtful, funny, the best friend in any relationship that she has, she is drop dead sexy!!!, an amazing mother to our three beautiful girls, and most importantly she is my partner for eternity and she will go on any challenge or adventure with me!! even if that is dragging her away from friends and family and starting our own adventure:) I love you the most no battle Mandy Happy Birthday you are so old!!!

The man in our lives....

I wanted to do a little Boast Post about this guy right here!

We sure do love this man! He works REALLY hard and never complains. I know that i can be a pain, and there can be allot of drama around here but he is great about it!

Being the only man around 4 other women cant be easy! He is such a great Dad. He will let the girls jump on him, wrestle, paint his toe nails, and play dress up. He is my best friend and I wouldn't want to be on this adventure with anyone else.

He has been a part of my life longer than he hasn't, and I can't picture life without him!

WE LOVE YOU BABE!

Thank you for all you do and for loving us!

Home SWEET Home

Here is our home in Colorado!

Familyroom

Backyard...complete with HOT TUB!

These are some pictures i have taken inside the house. Its not all decorated, my pictures weren't hung quite yet, things were a mess, and oaklee was asleep so her room is not pictured. Such is life! I wanted our families to be able to see where we have run off to!

We are loving all the space that we have.

Front room

From front door

Payton & Kennedy's room

Kitchen

Looking from Dining room through Kitchen to Family room

Entry looking upstairs

Master Bedroom and entry to bathroom.. no more hitting my leg on my bed:)

Master bedroom

View from one end of the basement.....

To the other end.

There are more pictures to come. I also forgot to post the guest bed/bath. Anyone who wants to come visit Colorado you have a place to stay!!

Our first Visitors

The girls LOVE the play set in the backyard. Sadly the owner may be taking it away in the next few months... so we are enjoying it now!

The guys looking at their handy work. This light was hanging REALLY low and everyone would hit their head on it. I guess you should put your table under it, but we have yet to buy a new one that fits all 5 of us.

Building towers with Grandma Gloria. This was something Kennedy wanted to do every day!

Cleaning rocks in the backyard with Aunt Shelli. We loved having them here!

And Jax :)

The begining of a new chapter!

Well, we have officially been in Colorado for 2 weeks now. It is beautiful here. I wanted to jot down the story of how this journey came about. About a year ago Justin started thinking about posting for new positions within the bank. It was an interesting process. Each time we would talk about a different posting i would get nervous. He had a few interviews and we decided that it wasn't the right time. So we put off the whole idea for a while. Then early December when we were in Disneyland Justin got a call from a friend who works out in Colorado. He told him about a job opening and that they were really interested in him and wanted him to apply. I knew as soon as he told me this job was THE ONE. So we got home he had an interview, then another and come Monday was offered the job! It was kinda crazy timing being it was December 20Th and they needed him to start January 9Th.
So we decided that we would enjoy our last Christmas with family and friends and then let the craziness begin. Christmas was Sunday. Monday Justin and I came to Colorado with a mission, to find a place to live! We decided to rent while we are here, we don't know how long we will be here. We saw over 10 houses in one day! We drove all over the surrounding cities and thought we had chosen THE house. So Wednesday we started our drive home. As we were driving we thought about one house that we really liked, but was a little more than we wanted to spend. Justin sent the owner an email and just asked if he was firm on his price. He sent back and email right away and was so sweet. He said that after we left he had another showing and told his wife he really hoped that we would be interested in renting their house. We too had a great feeling about the house. It was literally 5 minutes from Just ins work, across the street from the school, and up the street from the ward house. I LOVED THAT! He said he would drop the rent $200 a month and we could move in on the 6Th... PERFECT! Oh and i was able to have Jax at this house, another plus!
So we feel like this was all meant to be. We got home got the paper work done and started packing. Packed all weekend, had a great New Years Eve with family:) then back to packing. Gloria was so amazing and kept the girls all day so we could get this all done. THANK YOU GRANDMA! We got the trucks Wednesday and loaded them up. A HUGE THANK YOU to Justin's brothers Troy and Jason and their families!!! They were such a help. Then Thursday we cleaned. Another HUGE THANK YOU to my mom and 2 sisters! They cleaned ALL DAY with me.
Friday morning at 5 am we left on our drive to Parker Colorado. It was a nice drive, taking 11 hours! Troy was brave and rode with me and the girls while Gloria rode with Justin. I had a fun time talking with Troy, memories ill have forever. We arrived at about 4:45 and started to unload. We got basically everything unloaded but the bed frames. Saturday morning we did the rest.
Someone was definitely watching over us. Friday night Utah got a storm after we left, and Saturday after we were done unloading we got a storm in Colorado! It was so nice to have Gloria here for a week. We got A LOT done! and i enjoyed the company. Jason and Shelli came and brought a few things that we couldn't fit and that was so kind of them to do!! We enjoyed the visit!
This was a crazy fast, draining, emotional process. We tried to say goodbye to everyone but missed a few. We will miss our families more than words can express. I am so grateful for technology though! I'm excited to be on this adventure, I'm sure we will grow and learn allot!

Christmas 2011

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Very relaxing! Just being with family and enjoying the last Christmas in Utah and our first home.

The girls must have been extra good this year considering the loot they got! They asked Santa for Lite Sprites and he came through!