Montrose=home?

I can't believe I have been living in Montrose for almost 8 years!  Wow!  To be honest when I first moved here, I wanted to run away, run far away! 

So to accomplish this I was searching jobs, in other places in Colorado.  I decided I loved Colorado, but get me the heck out of Montrose.  I only ended up getting two interviews and did not get either job!  I cried and cried, when I found out I did not get either job.  I wanted out of Montrose, in a bad way! 

So I started the next school year, mad and sad because I thought I would never meet my husband living in Montrose Colorado and I HATED IT HERE!  Besides I had dated the five single men living in Montrose.  But thats a whole different story.

So I joked with my principal about hiring a single, and good looking male english teacher to fill the spot that they needed to fill.  Well to my surprise, he did!  Thank you!  A year later I ended marrying this new hot english teacher!  Another long story that will have to wait for another day. 

So after getting married, we both decided that still the grass was greener on the other side of the fence and we would always be searching the CDE website for jobs elsewhere in Colorado.  This lasted for about a year until we started telling people when they asked, that well we are here for now, Unless something better comes along!  So evenutually I stopped seeking jobs elsewhere! 

We met the Palms and many other great freinds through church, which we are still all freinds with now, we got involved in a home group, and had kids, and decided okay this place is not so bad!  Definatly helps to be married with kiddos.  I would never suggest living here SINGLE.

Now that I am not teaching and I have two kiddos, lots of freinds, and quite the little community here that feels like family to us, Montrose has become HOME!  I love my freinds!  I love attending Mops, I love our church!  I love that we are so close to Ouray (one of our favorite places!)  I started to grow my photography buisness!  Olivia has a cousin here. 

So the whole point to this post is this.  Dan comes home from school one day and tells me, I think we are going to have to MOVE!!!!!!!!!!!  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  I finally realize how much I love this place and my husband mentions the word "MOVE" 

Dan is currently seeking a principal position, which would allow me to stay home and be a stay at home mom and we would not have to struggle financially, well not as bad at least.  So the search begins for a principal job. 

Luckily for me the only way we would move is if we A. Got a job offer somewhere else.  and B. we sold the house.  Which I am not attached this house, I will gladly move to a new house in MONTROSE!  So now we pray that a principal job opens in Montrose, or close by, or pray that God puts us where ever we are supposed to be which I am hoping is right here! 

Our big boy

Loving this little boy!  I have never seen a happier baby!  Loving watching him grow, and smile and squeal!  He loves his sister and anyone who will smile at him for that matter!  Takes a lot to make this kid fuss.  He is now sititng up and eating ALOT!  He is a growing boy!  I think Olivia can't wait for him to be big enough to run around with her, but she is still having fun with her little brother.  I never imagined how much I would love having a little boy!

What fills my cup.......

I was just thinking as I just finished reading the parents magazine today, how rejuvinated felt!  It's amazing what a little "me" time can do for a girl!  So I started thinking about what makes me tick and what fills my cup and what just makes me a happier wife/freind/mommy to be around. 

1. Having time to read a magazine, and drink a glass of chai.  (uninterupted of course, the kiddos were both sleeping)

2.  Being able to cook dinner for family.  Having the table set and ready long before dinner is ready to be served.  (expecially when I feel appreciated after dinner is done)

3.  Silly but time to shave my legs.  Uniteruppted time to sit and shave my legs. 

4.  Bath time...........I love bath time. Expecially in the dark with a candle. 

5.  Smiles from my kiddos. and love of any kind from them........expecially when Olivia says sweet things to me.  Like "your the best mom ever".

6.  washing my face at night...........which I am often too exhausted to do.  It's usaully pushing it having the energy to brush my teeth. 

7.  Girl itme.  A night out with the girls, to just have some girl conversation. 

8.  Taking pictures!  I love pictures!  I am so thankful I can creatively capture life!

9.  Although I don't get to do this much anymore, I love to create artwork! 

10.  Lastly is when my husband helps me........with anything, which he is sooooooooo willing to do,  he helps with everything.  Usually without me even asking and usually when I do ask he does so without a second thought or complaint! 

I wanted to put pics to go with all of these things, but not all of them merrit a pic but to be continued.  I will add pics!

Just living life.

waking up everyday............playing with the kiddos..............feeding the baby.........somtimes trying to survive and not lose my sanity over tantrums and the question "why".  Always wondering what is next: but also trying to live in the moment..............trying to remember to cherish all time, even when it's crazy,  loving having a baby.......praying to see all the blessings of our three year old, (that are sometimes covered with screaming, whining and tantrums.)  Always wondering and thinking too much.......trying to focus on what's important.........and praying again to keep my focus on what I am supposed to be thinking about........always a wandering mind.........evil thoughts trying to creep in...........praying again for positive thoughts..........battlefield of the mind...........Out of controll emotions...........will I ever be normal again....what is normal...........I am just a woman...............  Wondering what God has next................but trying to live for the day..........wondering if I am doing enough...........wondering if I am a good Mom. ..................so thankful...........thankful........that I am a stay at home mom.......always wanting to be better...........thankful for photo jobs...............thankful for my family, faith and children, and thankful for a God that always provides......... I will just end with that. 

Our trip to Arizona

Arizona Cactus.

Visiting Casa Grande, Olivia was loving spending time with her Grand parents.  It was super windy, so this was a really quick trip, but there was not a whole lot to look at there anyways. 

I love the cactus with purple on them!  Had to get a pic!  Unfortunately I could not get more pics becuase the weather was pretty yucky.

one of my favorite pics from vacation!  Liv and Grandpa Berry having a conversation together. 

Elijah sure loved Grandma Berry, it was so sweet how he cuddled with her and smiled at her!  So glad we got to go down for a visit!

Dan and Liv at a really fun park by Grandma and Grandpas, Dan and I had a blast there as well!

Becuase I missed the really cool sunset on the first night we were there I was determined to get a sunset pic, we were on a walk the first night walking away from the sunset, as we turned around and started heading home, we realized, there was a beautiful sunset and we were to far away from the house to get the camera in time.  So these will have to do. 

Because I am never in the pictures we did a hold the camera out and snap,  This is difficult with my camera,  but we got one!

On the way home we pulled over at an abandund gas station to feed Elijah.  So of course a picture was in order!

We stopped a lot to go the bathroom, feed Elijah and go the bathroom, traveling with a three year old that had to use the restroom a lot, a five month old that wanted to eat a lot and of course to fill up the tank!

On a long desert highway...............cool wind in my hair...............

................and finally back in Colorado!

Valentine's Day

Our morning started with Liv and I and acutally Elijah to waking up to make Dan a special Valentines breakfast before he went to work.  We made him hear shaped eggs and bacon and toast.  We also had a fun Valentines party for preeschoolers that Christine, Jess and I put together. It was a really fun time! 

Dan bought me a dozen roses and attached scripture verses about love to each of them.  Super sweet.  He also gave me a super sweet card, which is all I ever ask for is just a card with somthing written it.  Dan and I got to go out and leave both kiddos home!  Thanks to one of our students who was an awesome babysitter!  Olivia just adored her! 

Dan and I want out to dinner and just shopped at Target one of my favorite things to do without kids, is just look at all the CLEARANCE!. I love TARGET!!!!!!!!!  We also went to coffee trader and just chatted!  It was fun having time alone!  Which we loved and need to do more often!  If we had free babysitting we would certainly taken advantage of that a lot more!  What a fun day!

Lastest Happenings

We have been a little busy lately, I guess thats always how life is!  We finally got a chance to enjoy the outdoors and enjoy why we moved out to Colorado!  We drove to the mountains twice this last weekend and enjoyed some sledding on Saturday, boy is it good to just get out of town!  Then on Sunday we went and soaked in the hot springs with the Pollards.

Olivia's Birthday Festivities

Madal and Griff had a Tea Party for Liv so sweet.

 Liv Madal and Griff enjoying Liv's birthday lunch! 

Olivia had two days of birthday fun turning "3" this year.  Her birthday morning, I attempted to make her a three pancake, it was a thee on the pan before it got flipped and then it had to be reasembled on her plate, never the less she loved it when she got to blow out her candle!  After breakfast we headed over to the Freeds where Jess and Christine set up a birthday tea party for Liv!  I love my freinds!  It was super sweet!  After some fun playing we headed to Heidi's Brooklyn Deli for some lunch.  Then of course home for nap time. For birthday dinner we went to Chillis and were joined by Ailee, Jess and Griff, that made Liv's night!
This morning she woke up to her birthday party decor and had her freinds over for a great bday party!  She loved it!  I am so glad all this birthday stuff is over! I am a little bit exhausted! 

Happy 3rd Birthday Olivia! We love you!

To our little bundle of energy!  We are so thankful for Olivia and all the Joy she brings to our lives.  She cracks us up and amazes us daily!  She is such a great big sister to Elijah!  She comes up with the craziest stories, and we wonder where she gets the thoughts she has but it's always entertaining!  We do love her imagination and her wild untamed spirit!  We love you sweet girl!  So glad God put you in our lives three years ago!

Natural Light verses studio light

I am still a big fan of natural light photography but because we live in a house, that does not get a lot of natural light, I broke down and got a light!  So here are some of my new pics trying out my light.