Fire Fighter of the Year

 Last night, I was presented with the Fire Fighter of the year award from the Falcon Exchange club, for my car seat checks I do for the Falcon and Colorado springs area.  We all enjoyed dinner at the I Hop that was paid for by the exchange club.  It was a great honor to get recognized for this.

Decommission

 September 28th, Jon and I went to his Decommission Ball for Battalion Seabee 17.
Jon lead the honor guard for this, and they all did a wonderful job.

Sunday was the Decommission, and Jon lead the honor guard for this as well.

 This was a great experience for Olivia to see and watch her Father!

We are very proud of Jon and his accomplishments with this unit, honor guard, safe water and of course his medical skills keeping these guys safe!

First swim Meet

Olivia's first swim meet was at Colorado College yesterday afternoon.  It was an unofficial meet, a fun meet.  Of course she had fun.  She swam;

 25 yards freestyle with a time of 19.54

50 yards freestyle with a time of 42.70

25 yard back stroke with a time of 24.68

Her 25 yard freestyle she won her heat and was very proud!  We go next saturday for her second meet first official meet, and longer races.  Picture and video are on face book.  

Update for October

 Last Saturday Olivia and I made spider webs out of garbage bags for the house.

 Last night was the lunar eclipse, and Olivia wanted extra credit from her teacher if she got up to see it.  The moon is all the way at the top of the picture, straight above her head.

And last a video of Lilly, she moves so fast it is hard to see her glide so we wanted to show you in slow motions.  Happy October

Horsetheif Waterfalls

Last Friday we went to the mountains and went for a short hike to some waterfalls.  2.5 miles round trip.

 We got to see the wonderful Colorado Fall colors.

The waterfall was small but in a beautiful area.

 Olivia's caption, Can I pee there?

 Jon is being goofy Jon

 And our last family picture got rained out, a sprinkle here and there and then the sky let loose.

 It was a wonderful afternoon to get out of the city.  Happy Fall

Olivia cooking

Olivia cooked Saturday and sunday.

 Saturday she cooked Hamburgers, bakes beans, and green beans.  She was not a fan of touching the raw meat.

 She is getting more comfortable around the grill, and dinner came out great.

Sunday to make pancakes from scratch, scramble eggs, sausage, and fruit.  She said that was hard getting everything done at the same time, and a lot to do at once.   She did great and did not burn anything.  She loved the pancakes too.  Happy Cooking

Apple Picking

Third Street Apple

Jonalious, Jonathan, Goldens, and one other I can't remember.

 It was 34 degrees yesterday and today ended up 75 degrees, and a prefect day to pick apples.

 We went here two years ago and love this little orchard, we had to go back this year too.

trees

 A little addition to the house since the trees that came with the house died.  Our HOA does not approve of dead trees.  Jon planted all these by himself. This top tree is called a Canada Red Cherry

 This one is called a Medora Juniper.

This little guy is called a Tigar eye.  he will stay little well 6 feet tall only.  This is Jon's favorite.  

We now have three trees to make our HOA happy.

Horses & Dinner

 Last friday, Olivia and I went horse back riding.  A Co worker works to hard and his wife gets board at the house.  We went to visit her and was able to ride her horse.  He was a stubborn horse but it was still fun.  Olivia's little legs got tired from all the kicking.

 That Friday she even cooked dinner.  She made Flank steak on the grill and turned out amazing.  I have never cooked flank steak so this was a first for all!

She made saute spinach and left of mac and cheese.  Great girl day just hanging out! 

Happy Friday!

Labor Day

 Monday was a beautiful day and Olivia and I went to Lakeside them park.  This park is really small but cheap.  2 roller coaster and maybe about 12 other side.  We both had a great time twisting and turing for 5 hours.  Happy Labor Day

Field Day

 Olivia's new school is smart.  Have field day in the fall when it is warmer and no snow yet!  Today was her special day.  2.5 hours of playing out side with her friends.  All of the games were theme off books.  The picture below she had to put on underwear and a cap and run around.

 This one I am not quiet sure, hitting kids with noodles, sure...sounds run.

 Throwing 5 balls in a bucket!

 And finally getting your color balls in the garage can.  She was pretty good at this one.

A good day to be outside.

Creative thought

Olivia makes me stuff all the time and some times I just don't know where or what to do with it.  my neighbor gave me an idea.  Display it all in the laundry room.  It decorates it and I get to admire it more then once a week.   Olivia loves showing it off too.

updates

It is almost September, where did August go too.  Olivia has been in school for a month now.  She is enjoying it but missing her old school which is understandable.  I think the switch with school is a good thing still as the rules and behaviors are totally different.  A huge adjustment but good for her to learn.  5th grade she gets to do all her work on a I-Pad, she is thrilled.  Yes, math, planners and class room chats.  It is different and a learning experience for me as well.  Olivia also started on a swim team, which she chose to do last February and it following through.  this week is the last week of tuesday and thursday practices.  /next week she starts monday through thursday for an hour and half each days.  Her team is called Falfins.  She loves it and i see the side my mom did for many years.

Jon is doing well.  This summer to both works over time to build our saving account to starting working on the basement.  It is framed right now and Jon is starting to work on the Electrical and Pluming.  Hoping it will be done by may but we will see how long the money last.  This week Jon is working 8 days of over time for his last over for a while.  Then no more til thanksgiving time.

I am hanging in there juggling to many thing like normal.  This week was my last week of house cleaning for a month and half as I need to work on our back yard and get some landscaping done before winter.  I finish my last over time two weeks ago and still playing catch up.  My normal job has been stressful and my Lieutenant was put on admen leave and I bumped up to act in his spot.  We should hear back in a week if he is returning to work or not.  Otherwise I took the Pack test for work.  It is just a year certification for wildland fire fighting.  you walk with 45 pound on under 46 minutes.  I always make it a competition and want to be first and again i was.  My time was 39:33, and it felt good.  

Family: Adopting still no word, Jon is finishing up his training and I already did my 20 hours.  October will be one year of waiting for a phone call and still nothing, a little disappointment.  We talked and are going to wait for one more year and then move on with our life's.  We can not wait for every and I need a mental break from this too.  Over all it has been three years in the works so far.  Animals are doing decent.  Punky the dog is 11 1/2 now and his arthritis is getting to him.  he is on daily meds to keep him going and daily walked.  Zoey and Bailey the cats are well.  Dixie the 9 year old cat is having issues and not eating.  The vet prescribed marijuana pills to help with pain and her appetite.  This will be 30 days and will be reevaluated to see her fate.  Lilly the sugar glider is well, still slowly bonding but growing fast.  Last our friendly not welcome mice and voles that are coming into our house.  The cats love the live toys and do a great job getting them.  I am getting tired of dead things around our house.  Last week we had 4 live ones running around, they lasted two hours before they were murdered by each cat and dog.  yes dog, punky gets them too.  We have two traps set and so far nothing in the traps just cats mouths.
Hope is all with all of our readers.

one long day

 Two weeks ago we all had off and decided to get out of town for the day.  We drove 4 hours to Glenwood Springs. Jon and I have hiked hanging lake but we wanted to share it with Olivia.  She loved it.  Hanging lake is a hike in a canyon which is 1 mile up.  It was an easier hike compared to our earlier hike which is below.

 At the end of the hike and day at hanging lake Olivia was trying to take pictures like us.  Jon was being running and jumping in all her picture.  As seen above.  lol

The picture below is our first hike we did.  We wanted to start off at hanging lake but it was so busy we waited 25 minutes and never got a parking spot.  So we did your second hike first.  This hike was a memorial hike of 14 fire fighter that died in a wildland fire in 1994.  The trees in the first 1/2 mile were amazing, and had a wonderful fragrance!

 When we reach the hot 2 mile up spot there was a memorial tree, where people last fire fighting items from there departments.  Personally it was a little cluttered but the tree is already dead and very nice gustier.

 After this hike we stopped at a gas station and got a lot of water.  We need to rehydrate and then see if hanging lake had a spot which it did.  6 miles, 2 hikes and 8 hour drive all in one day.  Totally worth it!

Meet...

Over the summer while Olivia was with her mom, her mouse passed away.  Snowball was barried and gate cleaned out.  Jon and I talked that if Olivia wanted another pet she would have to research it.  This girl is persistent!

Please meet Lilly! The newest addition to our family!

5th Grade

 Today is the first day of her new school and new grade.  5th grade Mrs. Gibe Super hero class!