Say Uncle!

Cally getting some uncle time before they head out to the game...

An Outing with the Grandparents

My parents and I decided to take a drive up the mountain and go up to a small town called Blackhawk to go have lunch and walk around. It was a beautiful day full of sunshine and snow so we put Cally in her stroller and the four of us strolled this historical little town and enjoyed a great day of sightseeing. After a great lunch, my dad went off to gamble for a bit and my mom and I enjoyed some Starbucks while warming up by the fire. Overall, a great day!

A Day to Give Thanks

This year for Thanksgiving my family got together with my brother's girlfriend's family and had one huge feast. Dinner was delicious and we had a great time mingling and getting to know each other. Thanks for having us over Valonika!

Danny and I

My beautiful mom

My mom and Valonika

There is so much to be thankful for on this day and always! But I'm mostly thankful for Zane, my amazing husband and all the troops overseas that help keep this wonderful country safe!!! Semper Fi!

8 Months Old!

Cally is 8months old today! This last month she has accomplished so much! Here are some of the great things she has mastered:

• Eating solid foods: When we first started giving her solids, she would have a few bites and that's it. Now she eats at least two full jars without any hesitation!! She eats like a champ!!She's also starting to come around to fruits. She's eating apples and bananas and drinking juice.

• Changing to a sitting position on her own: From her tummy she has learned to get on her hands and knees and push back until she's in a sitting position. This new found independence allows her to not get frustrated in one position since she can now change it when she so desires.

• Pulling herself up to a standing position: Cally now grabs on to whatever she can, a couch, a coffee table, a person's leg, etc. and pulls herself up and stands while holding on. The view of the world is so much different from up there!

• Crawling: She has finally figured it out!!!! She now crawls all over the house and no one can stop her! She has discovered this new mode of transportation and she's loving life!!!! Everywhere she goes is a new adventure and she is constantly finding something new to play with, tug at, or break...haha.

Now that she is more mobile than ever, I have to be that much more on my toes!!! And although a bit more time consuming, it's wonderful to watch her discover a whole new world! I'm so proud of her!!!

Winter Wonderland

Last night it snowed a few inches and I couldn't wait to take Cally out to show her snow for the first time! It was pretty chilly so we didn't stay out long, but I got to take a few snapshots of her in the winter wonderland.

A Yummy Mess

Before...

After...

Pit Stop

Now that Zane is gone, I have planned to go visit my mom and rest of the family in CO for a few months so they can spend some time with Cally and get to know her. I plan to work while I'm there and save a little so we can splurge on something fun when Zane gets home. The dogs will be staying out with John and Mary in Shelbyville, TN for those couple of months. Although I know it will be hard to be away from them for so long, I know they will be having a blast swimming at the lake, and running around in the woods.

After a few days of cleaning and getting the house ready, I packed up my things, put Cally in her carseat, and all three dogs in the back and headed east. Being so close to Halloween, I decided to stop by Yuma and spend it with Katie and Nick, my niece and nephew. It was Cally's first Halloween so I was excited to dress her up and take her along while Nick and Katie went trick or treating. Katie dressed up as Ariel, the little mermaid, Nick was the gatekeeper, and Cally was a little duckling. They all looked so adorable and it was so much fun walking around the neighborhood together while the kids got some goodies.

My good friend Steph and Jil live nearby so I stopped by and we all went trigger crazy trying to take a good picture of all of our kids together. We've been friends since high school and it's so neat to get together with our kids now and look at our lives. So many things have changed, but it's nice to know that we are all still great friends!

Tennison, Jackson, Cadence, Cally, and Carter

Stephanie and Tennison Tennison and Cally

Jackson (AKA Robin)

Jil, Cally, Stephanie, and Tenni

Oliver and Sam (Mandy's kiddos)

The following day, I accompanied my sis and the rest of her family to church where Klay is a member of the band. After a great sermon, we went out to lunch and spent the rest of the day hanging out and catching up. Although our visit was short, we had a great time! Thanks for having us Erica!!!

Klay at church playing the drums

Nick and Kaitlyn on their way to school Monday morning

On Monday morning I packed everything up and headed towards Phoenix. The original plan was to meet Mary in Phoenix and together we would drive the dogs to TN and then Cally and I would fly out to Denver. Thankfully, Mary's brother Ed was planning on visiting her so they they both met me in Phoenix and Ed took my place. I flew out to Denver from Phoenix and Ed and Mary did the long drive back to TN. Many thanks to Ed and Mary for doing me such a huge favor! I owe you one!!!