Christmas Time

I love traditions and I love that even though for 5+ years we have just been a family of three, yes that includes our puppy, that we still have created lots of them. 

Hard work setting up the tree - Kevin had to take a nap! 

One of my favorites is setting up our Christmas tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. One of the best parts of digging out all the our Christmas decor is seeing all the ornaments we have collected together. We have a tradition that every time we go on vacation we purchase a Christmas ornament for our tree. That way every year when we pull out the box we can see all the fun places we have traveled together and the memories we have created. 

Another favorite part is a couple days after Christmas we go to Target and sort through all the clearance Christmas items. We pick out several things and put them away in one of our boxes. The following year when we go to pull out the boxes we open up to surprises that were wicked cheap! This year we discovered that we had picked out a couple ornaments and all of Moose's gifts! That was a great surprise to know we don't have to shop for him. :) 

FOUR stockings!!! 

This year as we set up our house for Christmas it was crazy to think about that in January when we take things down Lucy will be with us. We can't wait for her to be part of the traditions we already have and of course all the new ones we will make with her. 

AND of course this year we will be a family of four not three! 

5 weeks...

The nursery is almost done.
The freezer is stocked with breakfast, lunch and dinner options - quick easy and ready to reheat!
We have been to Target weekly for random things we know we will use. Anything from hand soap to paper plates to comfy cotton clothes that still look good in public to diapers and more diapers!
Haircuts on the calendar for both of us and Moose too.

Feeling pretty well stocked and ready to go. 1 of our 2 birthing classes are completed as well as pre registration and our hospital tour. Next we need to pack our hospital bags but if that happens to not get done at least there is something on the list for when labor starts. Right? :)

Working on wrapping up Tastefully Simple with several holiday events still open and a couple online parties still gathering orders.

Almost there...

I am SO excited for Lucy to just get here. I can't wait for Kevin to hold her and love her. Since I was little my dad has been one of my best friends. I lean on him for everything. Even as we prepare to have our own little one in the house I still call my daddy for much needed advice, love, and support. Growing up my dad and I joined our local 4H club and it was "our thing" - I have so many fun memories and learned so much about who I was. My dad was always the one there no matter what with encouraging words. He taught me how to be a good sport win or lose and helped me see the importance of working as a team. I don't ever remember a time that my dad spoke negative words to me or others. He has always been a hard working and well respected man in our family, church and community. His love for God and the way he trusts in God's promises provided an example to me that I can only dream of us passing on to our own children.



When I met Kevin 10 years ago I saw so much of my dad in him. We became best friends quickly doing ministry together and the more I got to know him the more I knew he was going to be the best husband and father there was. As my parents welcomed Kevin into our family I quickly saw my dad and Kevin become great friends as well. Kevin now also looks to my dad for advice, love and support. He knows that my dad will never have negative things to say but because Kevin trusts him and his opinion they can talk honestly about things.

I know Kevin will adore Lucy as much as my dad adored me. We are both looking forward to the day Lucy decides on what her passions are. Whether it be soccer (like her daddy), dance, music, art, or another sport I know that Kevin will be there 100% right beside her. Never with negative words but with advice, love and encouragement.

It is important as parents to understand that our words and the way we react to our children become their inner thoughts. It is a powerful and humbling place to be as a human. It can impact so much of someone else's life and relationships. What an important role to never take lightly.

Thank You Dad for Everything! The only thing better than having you as a dad is knowing that Lucy gets to have you as her Grandpa! We can only dream of being 1/2 of what you were for me growing up. If we can meet that goal we know Lucy will turn out amazing! I love you!







(pictures taken by Nate Dobbins at our Wedding - May 2007)

7 weeks...

As we end October and head into November things are very busy! We are enjoying the great Colorado Fall weather that has lasted longer than many previous falls. Leaves are still changing; we still have flowers blooming in our garden because of minimal frost and snow fall and the temps remain in the mid 60s.

Kevin has wrapped up traveling for the year for work and will not resume any more travel until mid March or so. We are grateful for a wonderful company that he loves working for and the flexibility and support they show for making our family a top priority. Besides the long commute, spending over 10 hours a week in his car, working for a company that he loves and being challenged daily at his job have been great for him and made the job transition so much easier for our whole family.

Heidi has been booked out with seven events for Tastefully Simple in November. It is the busy time of year for business with holiday orders, craft fairs, and parties. We are blessed daily by her being able to work from home and set her schedule as her energy allows. Starting December 1st through March 1st we have set up maternity leave which of course still allows for online parties and orders. With March already booked out with parties Heidi looks forward to being able to balance working in the evenings while Kevin and Lucy have daddy daughter time!

If you follow us on Facebook you will see that last Saturday we had a Good Will/Thrift Store Shopping Day. All of the Good Will stores were having 50% off sales so we hit up three stores to find some great deals. Lucy's nursery is almost complete and we are ready to just stock up on diapers and hang a few decorative items. Pictures will be posted when nursery is complete and ready! (see Good Will photos on facebook) 

We have been so blessed with the three showers people hosted and attended for us. Lucy is one spoiled little girl already. Thank You to those who have encouraged and loved us through this process. We can't wait for each of you to be a special part of her life.

November for us also includes child birthing classes at the hospital, continuing of prep for freezer meals, Thanksgiving festivities, and of course some fun date nights for just us! With just seven weeks away from our due date we can't wait to meet our little girl!

For My Baby Girl

I was searching on Pinterest the other day looking for fun decorating ideas for Lucy's room. I wanted to make her something very simple. Here is my final creation. I can't wait to hang it up and have her room completely decorated! 10 weeks until her arrival!!!

Baby Moon 2 - Fall Date Day

Two of my very favorite places in Colorado are Georgetown and Breckenridge. Lucky for us they are both less than an two hours away and it makes a great day trip for us to enjoy together.

This past week I was dying to get out and see the changing of the leaves. We have yet to see a lot of color down here in the foothills so I asked Kevin to take me higher into the mountains to see the orange, yellow, and reds!

We enjoyed a quiet morning in Georgetown, about 30 minutes from us, at our favorite Old Town Soda Fountain. Kevin always loves a Cherry Coke and I love their Vanilla Rootbeers. We enjoyed walking around downtown - which consists of one main street full of shops and purchasing some cinnamon hard candy that is to die for! Afterwards we stopped by a picnic spot for a snack and some photos before heading up to Breckenridge.


When we reached Breck we walked around town for a couple hours and enjoyed the Celtic Fest that was happening and then stopped in at Whale's Tail - our most favorite happy hour spot. You can't beat the best wings ever for 50 cents each and 10 cent peel and eat shrimp and of course $2 beers that Kevin enjoyed for all of us :) We always joke that if we lived closer than the hour drive we would eat there several nights a week, it really is that good!

It was a perfect Fall Day filled with lots of our favorite things. So grateful for the time we have together and the small getaways that we can enjoy. Next time we will have Lucy along and we can't wait for her to be part of our favorite fall memories next year!

Freecycle

We discovered Freecycle several years ago through my friend Amanda when she was living in Fort Collins. It has provided some of the best bargain finds for our family as well as many frustrating moments. Every time I think I am going to give up on the whole system we find something great that makes it worthwhile again. Overall I love Freecycle and tell everybody about it when they are looking for a great deal for their home or family.

Freecycle allows you to post wanted items or to offer things you would like to get rid of. This is a great way for us to clean out our closets and get rid of things when it isn't garage sale season or even leftovers from our yearly garage sale. There is also a swap group that is fun to trade things around on. You will always have people who commit and then never show up or people you email 6 times and they still never give you an address to pick up so you just have to give up on them. Overall though you can find some pretty great things!

We have been SO blessed these past couple months with the amazing things we have gotten for Lucy through Freecycle. I first of all back in May started looking for furniture for her room. I wanted time to be semi picky about it as they are pieces I want to use for many years and potentially multiple children. Some of the items we received were:

Crib: wooden and in excellent condition, also converts to a toddler bed plus
Bookshelf: 3 shelfs, great shape
Changing Table/Dresser: excellent condition with two shelfs and three drawers
Rocking Chair: great condition, and beautiful wood!
Baby Bath Tub: brand new!
Stroller: jogging type - picking this up today, just needs a $20 new tire replacement
etc.

All of Lucy's furniture happens to match in wood color as well and looks great in her room. We are so excited to start decorating her new to us things!

We were also blessed by tons of baby clothes. I have yet to purchase any clothes for her and she is set for the first 9 months of her life! One lady had two little girls and was excited to give us 8 bags of clothes, sleepers, bibs, hats, socks, bath items, etc. Amazing and yes FREE!

Of course we are grateful for our friends and family who have gifted us various items as well, including clothes, bumbo seat, books, bouncer, infant car seat w/ 2 bases, etc. We can't believe those who already love Lucy so much  - both we know and don't know!

Thank You to those who have helped make sure she looks cute every day of her life and is provided for  with more than she will ever need!

The Joys of Nesting!

Make sure to check out an update on Heidi's cooking blog about nesting and freezer meals in preparation for Lucy's arrival!

The Homemade and Dairy Free Kitchen 

http://homemadeanddiaryfreekitchen.blogspot.com/