reality has set in....

that we are moving away from this gorgeous state in just a few weeks, like 3 to be exact! That's a plus for you guys though because I will probably update the blog more since we will be back in a foreign country again. SO since I realized that we are leaving very soon and we will be very busy during our final weeks, I decided to get out and see some of our favorite sites here in the Springs. I'm sure we will be making more visits as time to leave draws closer, but I wanted to share some pictures of our favorite things here. I took the kids the other day to Garden of the Gods to take a picture in my fav spot, the heart cutout. I'm not sure if anyone else thinks it looks like that, but I love it!!! Today we also spent some time in Manitou Springs and driving the jeep off road on Gold Camp road. The kids love driving on Gold Camp road because it takes you winding up and down Cheyenne Mountain(I think?), it could be another mountain? lol. You can see Helen Hunt falls and other water falls from high up as well as the Colorado Springs airport! The kids and I have been enjoying the sunny days and working on our tans so we don't fry when we get to Texas next month! I know I am very excited about this next chapter in our lives but as always, I hate to leave this one behind. On a positive note so I don't get all sappy and depressing on you, I bought an elliptical to take to Germany with us. The positive about this is, the money that was spent to buy it, I won back that same night at BINGO! hahahahahaha. You can't get any luckier than that huh? Oh and I also received two A's and a B this semester. I'm extremely excited over these grades because it was my first semester of all senior/upper level courses! With a crazy life and crazy kids, I'm pretty sure that I made my own Dean's List, lol! Thanks to everyone for all of their encouraging words and thoughts! Get them ready for the summer semester!! Love you all!!!

and....

I forgot to say that Mason's new word is "Gotcha!" He says it for anything that he has to grab, hold on to, is trying to reach, Emma's hair, etc. I just heard him say it in the bath tub to his car and thought you all should know...lol. Alright, there is nakedness running around my immaculately clean house, this must be stopped.

What we've been up to...

I just want to let my father know how much I love him, I am updating this for him right this very second. He said he might die or something if he didn't see new pics of the kids....that might be a stretch from our actual conversation but that's what I got out of it! So, daddy, I am writing this while the kids are in the bath pouring gallons of water onto my bathroom floor...yes mother I can see them, they are still alive. Emma is practicing swimming for Honey's pool as we speak, type, whatever. I finished finals last week so that is basically where I have been. After staring at the computer for 3 online classes I really have no desire to do anything computer related at the end of the day, but I am on break until June 1st, yay! The house we live in here in the Springs just started showing this week and that is really cramping my style, and by my style I mean keeping a house that two tornadoes live in, quite clean. It's near impossible but I am happy to report that it's going on 4 days of cleanliness, be proud! Emma is done with soccer, thank goodness and has one session left of skating. We have already found a place for her to skate this summer while in Texas and she is really excited about it! We should be leaving here in about 3 weeks and I am really excited for this new adventure we are going to have. I am very sad to leave my friends though, they have been wonderful and I will miss them terribly!!!! Good thing aviation is a small world, I know I will see them again someday!

She gets it!

That's the 'aha' moment Dave and I had at the rink last night with Emma. For the most part of her last level, she skated like any new skater would, until she fell down. When we watched her last night I was just SO proud. She was gliding, switching her feet during her skate(big deal because last session she didn't want to lift her skates off the ice out of fear of falling), turning circles, jumping up and landing on her toe pick, all kinds of crazy things! I had explained to her before the class that this was a 'big girl' skating lesson and not a 'baby class' like her last one. Mainly because most kids don't return after the first session but Emma wanted to keep on keeping on. And she showed us why last night. Can you tell that I am a teensy bit proud of her? Don't get me wrong, she had her fair share of falls but I can definitely tell that she wants to be out there. Who falls with a smile on their face? Emma.

yikes

I did it again, letting the blog go for a few weeks. Sorry! I'm in the middle of two very long research papers that I am finally seeing the light on and Emma's little schedule has been keeping me very very busy. As of right now she is having Soccer games on Mondays and Wednesdays and Skating on Tuesdays with extra practice times through the week if we can squeeze them in. Plus we have been busy with our appointments on post that clear us for living overseas, again. It's a pain but I know they just do it to make sure we receive the best care available, but its a chore with two little kids! I'm putting up some pics of Emma 'in action' at her games. She is quite aggressive and not standoffish like most of the kids on the field. She goes right for the mob of little kids with the ball and even gives an elbow or two, I blame that on her father. :) She has yet another game tonight so maybe I will try to get video up! It's hard to watch her and Mason at the same time when Dave is flying. Last week Mason was running laps on the track around the field, ummmm he's not my kid at all! Speaking of running, I convinced Aunt Chelsea to run a 5K this summer, I'm pushing for the 10K but no matter what it will be fun and just like the old days! Wonder if our dad will be there yelling at us to keep our form, open your stride, pick your head up! No doubt that mom will be there with snacks like she always was for us! Ewww, Chelsea do you remember when we used to eat those power bars?? gross, don't bring power bars mom. I'm thinking Emma should run in the 1K, get her started early. She does like to run, hahaha. Ok, I think I just babbled through an update on here so I wouldn't have to think about China or women in the workplace(research papers, boo). Hope everyone is doing well!!! Our time is coming to end soon in Colorado!!!

Soccer...

One of these kids is not on the team...I'll give you 2 guesses. LOL! He really wanted to play though, he even ran out on the field a few times, oops. Dave reminded me of my dad a lot during the game, constantly cheering and coaching! It was really cute to watch. Emma did really well for her first game, she even dribbled the ball down the field, and then proceeded to kick it out of bounds. Oh well! The 'Burn' as their team is named, completely stomped on the other team but I don't think that any of the kids knew that! She seemed to really enjoy herself and was very proud that she didn't touch the ball with her hands, her Daddy has been working really hard with her on that one...hahaha.

Thanks Mom for making the Easter Bunny leave me a peacock....

Apparently, I am so good of a Mommy, all I have to do is tell the Easter Bunny what to do! Four year olds sure have a funny way of wording things! We had a wonderful Easter this year and the Easter Bunny did not disappoint! Emma had been 'longing' for this blue Webkinz peacock, it looks more like a flamingo though. I told her she had to wait so she basically gave up on asking for it. She was one happy girl when she saw her basket Sunday morning before church. Mason didn't get a big gift seeing as he raked in the goods on his birthday. He was still very happy with his basket, which had a Lightening McQueen car in it. The kids also had a HUGE Easter egg hunt at the airfield where Dave works. I say huge because we came home with bags full of eggs! Mason didn't understand the concept at first but once he saw all the kids picking up eggs, he caught on. Excuse the horrible family picture, I guess a lot can happen while waiting on a 10 second timer on your camera...