The Family Picture Dilemma

Meredith posted about our adventure at Red Rocks a couple of days ago, but that was only part of the story. While we were there, we were trying to get a good family picture. Unfortunately, with the craziness of a 2 year old, we rarely got a picture of all 3 of us smiling. In fact, when I took her rocks away in one picture, the scene deteriorated pretty rapidly. So here are the candidates:

Picture 1



(Here is picture #1 cropped, this is more how I could see it framed...posted by meredith)

Picture 2



Picture 3



Picture 4




So help us out, and vote for the picture you like best. We're going to make an order from our favorite online printing company (mpix.com), since their colors and paper make the small extra cost worth it. The poll is on the right hand side of the page, if you didn't already see it.

Thanks!
Steve

Looks like I made it


Yep I made it...it is official I am a grown-up!
ummmm...yeah right....
It was a spectacular birthday thanks to Steve, my sweetheart. He really did so much and he took the day off from work to be with me. He got up early, cleaned the kitchen, did the dishes and made my favorite breakfast...biscuits and gravy. Then we were off to a photo-shoot at Red Rocks, then shopping, then to Red Robin for my FREE b-day burger, then more shopping and back home. Then a wonderful b-day cake. It was so neat to get so many phone calls wishing me well on what I thought would be a hard day...but the only thing hard was walking up all those steps at Red Rocks. Steve has spoiled me rotten and I am just full of gratitude. I can't wait to return the favor in a few weeks when it's his turn.

All those times I can't tell what Gabriella is doing under the table...here it is





more fun pics to come!

videos







This last video is of our Singing Group...Steve was nice enough to film it so here you go...

Good Day




Went walking with some friends...

Went to singing group with my friend Leah...

Hung out with friends at an American Idol party...

and I was able to squeeze in time to take some pretty pictures of this friend...




Dream


Here we are after a bit of a blog Hiatus.
As my friends and family know, I have been daydreaming and wishing for a vacation. Somewhere warm, sand is acceptable but just to escape. I think everyone longs to escape sometimes.


Thanks to Steve for a much needed and wonderful escape to Colorado Springs. Steve took the family away for a Mother's Day Weekend and we made sure to use those precious Marriott points he's been accumulating to stay at a nice hotel.
To my delight I saw a Cracker Barrel sign as we approached town...I was instantly transported back to the South. What a wonderful start to our weekend. Gabriella loved the country store and even ate some of her dinner too. Steve ordered breakfast, and I got the ultimate comfort food, Chicken and Dumplings. I think it was Granny Martin who used to make it. So Yummy! They also gave Steve a helping of grits...I ate some of it for him.


(do you notice Wall-e in the photo?)




I seriously have the cutest girl ever...I love her so much!




During our weekend I wanted to do a bit of reading, something easy, something fun, oh and something Mr Darcy!



We also headed down to the Olympic Training Center...I loved it. I love the spirit of it all. The Olympics mean so much more to me than they used to, probably because of the whole carrying the torch thing (the article is still online, crazy!) But I love what it symbolizes. To even be a tiny speck in the Olympic Story amazes me.
Our tour guide went to the Beijing Games in Weightlifting.


(See our Crazy Hair... It was a bit windy that day! )



On our way home we stopped by the Air force Academy...
Gabriella said, "look at the spaceships!" She LOVED it, the planes, spaceships...it didn't matter, she ran to the planes.

(I think Ella was trying to get inside the plane)


Steve, thank you for a wonderful Mother's Day

Video Crazy

Here you go, enjoy!







There are more videos to come

snow and song

It snowed today so we are staying warm and wanted to share a song with you. Gabriella really likes to sing along with this video.

Easter Eggs


A few weeks late...

BUT....
here is the Hunt...the "Egg Hunt"

A Slightly Spring Day


I am LOVING my camera...the lens makes all the difference and Gabriella is good at letting me practice my novice photography skills on her.
Here she is sporting a little dress I made for earlier that day.
Our poor little yard needs some work but never fear, Gabriella is here. She was so good to water the flowers and her favorite thing...collecting rocks. She was really upset when I wouldn't let her bring all the rocks in the house.


Blog Change

You all probably noticed that the blog looks a bit different and that the pictures are gone. We switched servers and in the process the photos didn't transfer over. Steve is working on it and we will hopefully have the issues worked out in one way or the other, but stay tuned cause I have some NEW cute pics I'm going to post tonight.

Some catching up to do...


Time is flying by...Steve has been traveling here and there for his job and I've been able to stay very busy. Gabriella is my sweetheart and it makes me want to cry (I already did today) at how big she is getting. She fell asleep in my arms tonight and as I looked at her face, it was like looking at my baby 2 1/2 years ago. Then I noticed that she is about four times longer than she was when she was born. Yes the time flies.
Here is a recap of our Easter

I'm really proud of my skirt but you can't really see it very well in the pictures. My friend Amy helped me make it and it turned out really cute. She was my very own personal stylist...I will have to take her shopping with me again.
Here are some pics of me and Steve.

Some candy from the Easter Bunny came early thanks to a great package from Kentucky. The bunnies there really loaded us up on chocolate, eggs, and some darling presents for the little one. Thanks Bluegrass bunnies!
Once we got home from church Ella Bella found this

Then we were off to dinner at Amy and Ryan's house.
Sunday was cold and rainy so the Easter Bunny decided to hide the eggs Monday night. More on that to come!

A Red Rock Adventure


We did a little photo shoot today at Red Rocks.
Gabriella loved it!
She loves to pick up rocks so she was pretty amazed at the big red ones.
I was trying to explain a little about Dinosaurs and the big scary teeth. I told her to touch them and I heard her say.."so cute!"
We really had a perfect afternoon...and she fell asleep on the way home...Perfect!