Change of Command

So these pictures are a good month over due! Cole has officially been in command of Chaos Company for just over a month now. We have had a busy month with a bit of "chaos" added to our lives! On October 1 we had a busy morning with 4... yes 4, back to back change of command ceremonies. Followed by one huge reception. Then after the clean up for that we had a couple of hours to freshen up and get ready for the Battalion Ball. In the midst of the morning commotion our camera decided to break... again so these pictures were taken with our video camera (which ran out of tape) and are the best we have!

I have to say that Sierra did quite well at the ceremony given that she was supposed to sit still, be quiet and nevermind all the new interesting things. As the ceremony began with the national anthem I showed her how to put her hand on her heart only to look down half way through and see her saluting! She insisted on doing it just like all the soldiers around her. Then she continued to ask "which one's daddy" over and over until she had a good view of him. At which point all the speaches were boring her and she was quite insistant that she needed to take her Pokey doll to daddy so that he had something to play with too! I was able to distract her and keep her from running out on to the field for the most part. Then after the passing of the guidon (flag) when Cole was walking back to us she proudly shouted out "hi daddy!" By the time the ceremony was wrapping up and they started playing the Army Song I just let her march to the beat on out to the field as she was enjoying herself and the music! Needless to say we didn't sit through the other three ceremonies but hung out inside preparing for the mass reception!

Our lives are now full of more meetings, longer nights, and bit more CHAOS... in more ways than one! The ride has begun... please keep us in your prayers as Cole and I are both working to lead the soldiers and their families into the next deployment.

Fall Colors

Today we took a drive up to Cripple Creek, Colorado to see the aspens turning. It was a beautiful drive that showed us a glimpse of God's imagination! We stopped for lunch and some yummy ice cream at an old fashioned soda shop before heading back home. Sierra was a great sport as this road trip was more for mommy and daddy's pleasure than hers... but at least she got to see some deer along the way! She loves to see the yellow warning signs that say "watch for deers!" Here are some pictures to share the beauty we experienced with all of you... although they don't do it justice. We hope that you are all having a great start to your fall where ever you are =)

A day with the family at Eleven Mile Canyon

After our long week we decided to go "get away" for a short while and escape the thoughts of school, work, and the "to do lists!" So after some breakfast we packed up the whole family in the truck and headed to the beautiful Eleven Mile Canyon about an hour's drive from home. We did take our fishing gear but only fit in a few minutes of fishing! After Sierra decided she'd rather skip/plop rocks in the water and Bongo took off and wound up tangled in the line we put the poles away and just had us some good ole fun! We drove up to the top of the canyon and through the tunnels and then on the way back down found the perfect family spot! We were not far from some potties and had a mild shallow flowing part of the river right off of the road (with some picnic benches too!). We had ourselves a quick sack lunch and then took off our shoes and rolled up our pants… and in we went!

 

Bongo was in dog heaven!!! He spent a good two hours or more running around and around the island and up and down the river. He chased sticks, a bone, and the splashes he made with his paws! Sierra loved having her toes in the water despite how cold it was! Cole busted out his waders and trekked around the water. He also shared them with me which was a lot of fun. So nice to cruise around the river without such extreme cold taking over!!! We spent at least two hours wandering around in the shallow pools discovering the water bugs skipping around on top of the water, watching the little fish swim around, skipping rocks and making them go ker-plunk, chasing Bongo and enjoying one another! We also got to see the start of the aspen leaves turning on the mountain sides. We'll have to make another drive up that way in a couple more weeks to see the breath taking beauty of fall in full swing! What a great day it was! Now we're back home… to the to-do-list and college football. Hope you are all having a great weekend too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures from Eleven Mile Canyon

First Week of Ruth Washburn!!!

Last weekend was a busy weekend spent doing more projects that the landlords have neglected to get done as promised… staining the deck and putting in a walk way off the deck to reduce mud… and watching college football! This week was my first week back at work and Sierra's first week of preschool! It was a busy week coming off of the four day holiday weekend and we were all tired last night. I enjoyed my first week back at Ruth Washburn as a Teacher's Assistant. It can be hard to be second in line and follow the lead of another teacher, but is also so wonderful to arrive just a few minutes before class and be able to leave when it's over! … No Prep-work! While I'm TAing Sierra goes to Afternoon Explorers, which is a free play program in one of the classrooms. She joins friends for lunch, some play time, and then a rest. She took a nap each afternoon except for Wednesday when she was a tornado at the end of the day! Luckily she fell asleep for a short nap on the way home and woke up a happy camper! With time she'll adjust to her new schedule and is loving the time spent with other children at the school!

Thursday morning was Sierra's first day of her preschool class with Brenda! Brenda is her head teacher and she's wonderful!!! She has been at Ruth Washburn for about 20+ years!!! And her TA, Lauren, is a kick in the pants. Cole was able to go with us to drop Sierra off for her first day and Sierra enjoyed showing daddy around the playground before school started. So far she has had a blast and had a fabulous week (aside from biting another little boy Friday!) What a horrible sinking feeling it is to be on the other side of the fence now and be the parent of a bitter!!! URGH… made me want to cry!!! We're working on using her words when she's frustrated…

In the meantime Cole has been very busy completing his change of command inventories for taking over a company command at the end of the month. This entails him going through every piece of equipment assigned to the company or anyone in the company… what a daunting task! And in the end he will sign for $64,000,000+ equipment under his responsibility! So he's a little stressed! Our lives are picking up a bit but I think it will be great in the long run as Sierra and I will have our place of belonging at Ruth Washburn outside of the Army for a while… and that will keep us busy while Cole is busy in Command!

Hope you enjoy the pictures of last week's adventures!

Pictures to go with our first week at RW...

Here's a shot of the deck after we spent a day and a half staining it!
This is Sierra after her first afternoon spent at Afternoon Explorers at Ruth Washburn (Notice her new big girl hair cut... we cut off the fine shaggy baby hair Sunday night!)

Tuesday afternoon while I was working on dinner she wanted to paint with her water colors... and painted her face like a kitty cat!

Sierra showing daddy around the "farm" part of the school playground

Riding on the tractor

Daddy helping Sierra down Big Wheel Hill on the Farm (at the bottom is the chicken coop!)

Sierra doing some painting with her teacher, Brenda

Daddy, Sierra, and Mommy on the first day of Preschool!

Fed Up with Fed Ex = Fabulous Finds!!!!

We have been so blessed the last two and half years to have recieved Wonderful hand-me-downs from my dear friend Courtney and her daughter Davery. Davery is just over a year older than Sierra and so the clothes and seasons have lined up perfectly! Not to mention Courtney has way better style and taste than me... so Sierra has been dressed in good fashion, often looking cuter than me!

When Sierra and I traveled out to California last month for a vacation Courtney gave me a ton of clothes to go through for Sierra for the next year!!! Hooray! There was everything from blue jeans to sweat pants and shirts, long sleeve tops, PJ's, slippers, rainboots, tennis shoes, sandles, dresses, hats, gloves, and Sierra's favorite... cowgirl boots! I didn't know how I could handle getting from the baggage claim to the shuttle and to the car with three suitcases and Sierra... so I oppted to ship it all... which we've done several times before! So Grandma shipped the box Fed-Ex a couple days after we left.... and after a week had gone by we figured something was amiss. After going through some hoops we found out that the package had never left California! They put out tracers and details on the contents etc. but have finally come back and said that they can't find it... file a claim. Well... we opted out of the insurance thinking it wouldn't be a problem... it's just a bunch of used clothes! Bummer... but we should at least be getting $100 compensation. I am trying to keep a positive mindset on it and hope that who ever winds up with it/took it needs the clothes more than we did and can put them to good use. (Nevermind my memory that keeps running through all the cute stuff that was in there!)

So, once I got past the fact that I cannot will the box here, I started figuring out just what we will really need! Realizing that replacing all of those clothes brand new will cost me way more than $100... and that with Sierra starting preschool soon the clothes she wears will be subject to paint, sand, mud, etc on a regular basis I went thrifting! There is a nice Goodwill near our house that we've done lots of donating to... and I decided it was our turn to do some shopping! So a couple of nights ago Sierra and I made an evening trip and came home with a bag full of goodies for only $20!!! We grabbed up three pairs of stretch waist pants for (important for potting on her own at school) and some long and short sleeve tops. While we were there I realized that I was also going to be needing some clothes that I wouldn't mind getting paint on, holes in, etc. for working at the preschool! So our $20 purchase also included a pair of pants and four long sleeve tops for me... plus a cute sweater I liked!

This morning Sierra and I visited the local children's consignment store in town, Recess! We hit the jack pot again! This place was great.... they had chalk out front for the children to color with, a play room in the back so that you could shop in peace... and dum dums for bribing the kiddos! Perfect! So with plenty of time to sort through all the girls clothes in Sierra's size I walked out with 13 items for only $54! Including some gap, and osh kosh jeans, several long sleeve tops, a cute cardigan and two hats for the winter! Love it! If you're in the Springs you've got to go check this place out!

From there we shot down the road a few blocks to another Goodwill. They didn't have much in Sierra's size but she did find a Disney Princess shirt for $.50. I again hit the jack pot finding another pair of pants and four short sleeve tops for work. Sierra also found a fun game called Don't Spill the Beans! We walked out with only spending $12!

We came home with full bags in tow with a total purchase price for all three trips of only $86... and that's clothes for Sierra and I both.... Hip Hip Hooray! And even better... we came home to have our new washing machine installed! Now I'm washing all these new things... and my house isn't shaking!!!

Here are some photos of our Fabulous Finds!!!

My new work wardrobe!

Sierra's Goodwill buys/school clothes

A couple of tops from the consignment shop (Sierra loved the half priced Elmo one... and the hooded top is Old Navy)

Her Cute new sweater and a darling top with leggings from gap

Sierra's new Osh Kosh outfit with hat, Gap jeans and Children's place top with hat, and another pair of jeans and great play shirt!