Evan's Football Season...Starting as a Varsity Sophomore

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Where does the time go?

Happy Birthday to my precious baby girl!  Twenty years has gone by much too fast.  You have filled my world with more love, pride and joy than I could have ever imagined possible.  Thank you for being the amazing young lady you are!  I can't wait to see what's next!  xo

Pay it forward...

Miss Blake worked Easter Sunday waiting tables.  This note was left at the table.  It made her day...as it did mine.  I witness her kind and loving spirit everyday and am pleased that it does not go unnoticed elsewhere.  xo

Hard Earned...Well Deserved!

Again, this year's wrestling season was a tough one!  My guy never backed down from a fight.  He earned this letter and jacket 100% with determination, perseverance, and deep down character testing sweat and tears!  He is really proud of this jacket and should be!  To my knowledge, there has not been another freshman in his class of 400+ to earn an athletic letter this year.

 
FRHS coaches honoring Evan at the FRHS Wrestling Banquet.

Below is a fun group of young men who have set an amazing example of brotherhood, loyalty and faith for my young man!  These are the Fossil Ridge senior  wrestlers.  Shown here, hula hooping at the Wrestling Banquet, they can be light-hearted and fun, but certainly know how to bring it on the mat!  Not only did this group of young men represent Fort Collins as the top wresting team in the area, they came together and offered support, love, advice and strength to younger teammates like my boy, but most importantly became a source of strength for senior teammate, Dalton, who lost his dad to cancer just 5 days before this picture was taken. I couldn't be more proud of these boys, their accomplishments, their character, and their representation of Fossil Ridge High School.  Fine young men!  

  

Mom's Day at Oklahoma State

I flew to Oklahoma over the past weekend for Mom's Day!  What a treat to spend my weekend with my little girl and get to know her roommates, friends, and current surroundings.  Our weekend consisted of taking friends out to dinner, shopping, cruising the town to see where she will live next year, a Mom's Day pinning, an OSU Spring Sing Concert, and getting caught up on much needed rest for my busy girl!
This trip was just what I needed.  This girl makes me so proud!

This year's Zeta Tau Alpha theme was, "I get by with a little help from my mom"......Gush!  xo

Happy Easter!!

Miss Blake drove down to Wynnewood to see Clay and Evan and visit with Grandma and Grandpa. The kids still love to color eggs and hunt for them Easter morning. 

Oklahoma!

Evan and Clay are in Oklahoma right now visiting Johnny and Pat for Easter. Evan was really excited for this trip.  I know they are having a blast!  They will get to spend some time with Blake too in between her shifts at work.  I will fly to see her in mid April for Mom's day.  I am really looking forward to it. 

Fun on Grandpa's toys...

...and yes, that is a covered wagon....

...then a trip to Stillwater ...

...and a visit to Blake at work...

This little piggy...

...went to college...

...this little piggy came home...

Happens everytime!  xo

Spring Break!

Mackenzie came home for Spring Break.  She and Evan spent the week together.  Evan drove her around town where ever she wanted to go.  She enjoyed sleeping in, resting, and finishing Book Seven of Harry Potter.  The kids went to the gym daily and tried to go hiking to Horsetooth, but the park was closed due to more forest fires.  We enjoyed having the family together again and finished the week off with a trip to the dinner theatre to see Legally Blonde.  It was a great show with great company.

Here's Harvey!!

The family thought I needed a kitty to love...and so I adopted Harvey!  He is a sweet little lover!  He is about a year old so still has his crazy kitten ways.  He and Moose are getting to know one another and Moose tolerates him.  The family was right though.  This kitty is just what I needed.

State Wrestling Tournament

We are so excited to watch Evan's teammates participate at the Colorado State Wrestling Tournament at the Pepsi Center!  These young men have fought hard all season and it has paid off.  As of today, we have two boys wrestling for first place and three others in the running for third place!  That is pretty darn impressive!

These young men are competitors and they don't back down.  Evan's bruised face and body are just examples of a daily practice. 

This season has inspired Evan and we are all on board!  Evan, you the MAN!  We can't wait to see what's next! 

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Love is in the air...and I guess that means, let's eat dessert!!  Miss Blake sent Evan an ice cream cake for the big day and we sent her a cheesecake, her favorite!  Everyone enjoyed their sweet treats!

 Here's a glimpse into my princess's world.  The boys of Kappa Sig showed up at the sorority house and serenaded them with "Hey there, Miss Zeta"  (ilo. "Hey there, Delilah").  They showed up with candy, flowers, and ... puppies!   What?!   Livin' the Dream...that's all I can say!  xo

Snow day in Oklahoma

...and this explains why she went to school in Oklahoma.  She never did like the snowy season in Colorado, especially when she had to go out and drive in it.  Not at OSU, the city shuts down with the slightest flurry of the foreign white stuff.  She is a happy camper!

Picture of the day! Whoot! Whoot!

Crazy mama needs her picture of the day from my girl.  Miss Blake accomodates me for the most part.  Here are some recent pictures. It is easy to see why these bring me so much joy!  xo

Life in the Sorority House

Miss Blake lived in the sorority house first semester.  She and roommate, Melanie, enjoyed their time and space on the third floor.  Beginning of second semester, they had to move to another floor into a room with four girls.  It is certainly cramped quarters but my girl is thriving as always. 

Christmas in Salida!

Everyone is growing up much too fast!  We always enjoy hanging out with the boys! 

Christmas fun!

Miss Blake is so darn silly! She keeps me giggling with her crazy ways! I love having her home to entertain me.

Evan got a letter jacket for Christmas.  This handsome fellow has grown taller than his daddy as you can see.  Clay found his letter jacket from long ago and heck....it still fit! 

New furnature!

Mama got a new couch....and Moose loves it.  grrrrr.  

Evan's new truck!

Dang!  Fifteen years old with a truck of his own....Evan's not spoiled!  Wink! 

Evan makes us so proud everyday.  He is a great student, a dedicated athlete, and just an all around great person.  We were excited to have the opportunity to get him his own truck.  Now get to work, young Evan, gasoline is expensive!! 

Whooping Cough

Clay got whooping cough in late November.  Still to this day, late February, he struggles with it.  He was quarantined to our home for seven days and we were all put on a round of antibiotics.  Evan and I had have recent tetanus shots which included the pertussis vaccine so we were spared.  Clay was not!
This sickness was horrible.  Clay would cough until he passed out.  He broke several ribs with the violent coughing fits.  And there was NOTHING we could do about it.  The doctor said the cough could last ten weeks or so and it has.  We are looking forward to a healthy spring season. 

Home for Christmas!!

Yea for Christmas break!  Everyone was all together again!  I got a "smart phone" for my gift and my silly kiddos blessed me with their sibling antics!  I am blessed!