What is it?

What do you think this thing is that my hubby disassembled 2 days ago and put on the side our house (not behind the back gate, but the front side where EVERYONE can see).


I am dying to hear what you think it may be. Make sure to return tomorrow for the answer and the story behind this "thing."

I Think We're Alone Now

Shortly after Steve got home he said "Lets have your Mom come out and watch the kids so the two of us can get away alone." He didn't have to convince me! A trip alone with my hubby after being apart for 7 mos and no kids...... I really didn't even care where we were going.

We decided to stay in Colorado and enjoy a slow paced trip together. It was just what we needed.

Boulder, CO

Estes Park, CO

On our way to dinner in Estes Park, there were Elk right along the creeks. Steve had to stop and get a picture for the kids.

We couldn't believe that there was a Nebraska Husker's Store on the Main St in Estes Park. Another "have to" picture

Fall is mating season for the Elk. They totally wandered around the town and in the streets.This was a bull who went after another bull that was on his territory. We stood behind a car and got this picture. I guess they will charge if you get in it's way.

Steve bought me a pair of Twisted X boots, cowgirl boots that is.
It's a trendy thing!

Rockie National ParkI loved all the colors of the leaves

Vail

The Village in Vail

This is a monument dedicated to the Ski Troopers of the 10th Mt Division

Kissing a Frog Prince

Glenwood Springs
sooooo relaxing

The scenery was amazing, the weather was perfect and the fall leaves were at their peak

Aspen

This was the road we took to the Maroon Bells

The Maroon Bells are some of the most photographed mountains in the US

Snowmass Village

We enjoyed breakfast on the deck of our hotel in Aspen, the colors were stunning

I drive home, both hands on the wheel as we drove windy roads at
very high altitudes

We would put our camera on the car and then set the timer! Now I know not to place it on Steve's slanted hood... but so appropriate for our Continental Divide picture

Our first glimpse of snow this season

It was the best trip! It was great to just enjoy each other and not have the distractions of kids, phones and to do's. The adapting has been much easier than I thought it would be. That's not to say that it hasn't been difficult at times, especially the first week. But this trip was a great time to talk and reconnect as husband and wife. THANK YOU so much to my mom for being with the kids. They didn't mind us leaving because Nani was with them.
And THANK YOU to Steve for knowing just what we needed!

Get out and Vote!!

VOTE!

I hope you've gotten out to vote today. Our family has been been glued to the TV, Preston just proclaimed that McCain now has 124 electoral votes and is clapping. Preston and Taylor participated in a Presidential Vote yesterday at school, casting their votes on computers. The only bad thing about voting absentee, there is no "I Voted" sticker to wear with pride. I am so grateful to live in a country where the voice of myself and others can be heard.

No matter what happens tonight and tomorrow, God Bless America........... we need it!

Fall is Here

This is why I love fall!

Playing in the leaves

Carving Pumpkins

Halloween Parties

Our church does a "Trunk or Treat" each year. They have a fun carnival in the gym and then all the kids go outside to the parking lot and trunk or treat
Our little Engineer and Bumble Bee

Of course Preston and his best friend Jackson were football players
Mason was so cute, we used his Thomas backpack as a trick or treat bag. He'd say "trick or treat" and then turn his back so people could put the candy in his backpack!

Suzanne totally had the best costume that night.

Not hard to guess who she is. Preston walked up to her and said "You look like Palin."

The kids had a costume parade at school and then class parties

Our Air Force football player

And a Bumble Bee (courtesy of Nani's great sewing skills)

My parents came in Halloween night and my older brother surprised us with his visit from AZ!
He and Steve are 2 peas in a pod!

Saturday was a special day! Preston was baptized!
It was such a great day for him and our family.

We were so grateful for family who came to participate in his special day

After his baptism we had a celebration lunch back at our
home with good friends

And that night, we had over 100 friends come for a Welcome Home Celebration for Steve! It was a great party and we all enjoyed. Steve had a slide show going of all his Iraq pictures, kids played outside in the 70' weather, my Mom was THE BEST in her apron in the kitchen making sure all the food trays were stocked, my Dad kept trash cans empty and cleaned the kitchen and Bryan kept the men updated with football scores from the basement TV! It was great to have family to help so Steve and I could enjoy his party together.
This was the only picture I took the entire night. Wes was deployed with Steve in Iraq and is also a teacher at the Academy.

It was a great week, but we are so tired! Our family left last night, I was sad the weekend was over. Steve and I both kept on saying what a great weekend we had!
Thank you to all of us who joined us in all of our celebrations this weekend!

It's been 5 weeks!

5 weeks ago today Steve got home! Time has certainly not stopped just because. Steve jumped right in and hit the ground running with us.

The day he got home he was put to work at Preston's Cub Scout Pack Meeting

He quickly put the kids to work also..... well, actually this is Taylor's favorite thing to do at the gas station. The nice thing is that now he can help her while I sit in the car and take pictures!My parent's sent Steve his favorite cheesecake from Trader Joe's, it seems like we've been doing a lot of eating lately!

Going to the park can be relaxing again. I even got to read a little, it was GREAT!

Steve was SOOOOO happy to be outside playing with the kids

Steve and I were invited to attend a fundraiser for an organization that raises money to help military families. After being home for just a week, it was a very emotional evening for the both of us. It's nice to have a date again!

Steve got to be at the kid's last race

And he got to take the kids to and from school everyday for a few weeks

The night before the Air Force vs Navy game, Steve wanted to head to the bonfire up at the Academy. We packed up the kids

Okay, so I felt a little out of place pushing a double jogger...

But these guys didn't mind me wanting a picture with them, nor did my husband mind taking the picture

We took Mason to his first football game, at Steve's request

And he even took a picture with the competition

The Academy games are a family affair

When Steve was a cadet...... almost 20 yrs ago, he had the best sponsor family. Chuck (3rd from the left) came out with his friends and son Matt (far right) from Illinois. We got to tailgate with them at the Navy game and had dinner with them that night.

My mom flew out to watch the kids while Steve and I got away for a few days. We stayed in CO and this was one of our stops in Vail

Steve took the kids to his parents farm in Nebraska (I have yet to see pics) while I went to Washington DC and hung out with girlfriends EVERYDAY for 8 days!! It was FABULOUS!

Our 3rd visitor in 4 weeks, our friend, James, from CA came and stayed with us for 5 days. He is such a great guy.... and available, ladies!!

Steve went back to work last week. I am finally feeling like I am getting back into a routine. It was great to have him home for a while before heading back to the real world. It's great to have him home and feel complete again.