What a Way to End January

I had just sat down after getting my exercise in,
and started downloading a Beth Moore audio session for the current study I'm doing,
because I missed Bible study yesterday because...
these little guys weren't doing well.

Riley, the crab, wasn't acting normal,
and Tanner Riley wasn't handling the possibility of death too well.

As I was watching the green bar move, waiting to get the audio file downloaded,
the phone rang.

Jeff was on a bike ride with the kids.
I guess the plans were to stop by the dirt hills and let the boys do a few jumps,
ride to the park and let the kids play,
while Jeff reviews his message for Sunday,
eat a little snack
and then head back home.

They got to the dirt hills,
but no jumps were made.

From my understanding, Kaylie was off of her bike,
and somehow tripped,
(possibly on her RED cowgirl boots that are 4 sizes too big)
and then somehow the handle bar,
with the rubber part pushed back and the metal exposed,
came in contact with her face, right under her eye.

Jeff didn't see it.
A passer-by, who was walking her dog,
(which could be a reason Kaylie was getting up and maybe moving to fast...
you know her fascination with dogs!)
was coming up and saw what happened.

This lady, Bonnie, just happened to have moved here this past month,
and just happened to be a nurse.
She immediately put pressure on Kaylie's eye,
that was bleeding profusely,
and said she needed to get somewhere quick and get stitches.

That is where the phone call came in.
I had to change clothes,
grab things she may need, ie paper towels, ice pack, etc.,
plus things I may need, ie phone charger, book, make-up,

thought about my camera but didn't and later kicked myself for not.
(My plans were to stay around the house today, so no make-up, no fixed hair, bed-head in a clip, with sweats.)

Out the door I rushed to head down to the end of the bike trail by our house.
As I was pulling up, Landon was waiting, and Jeff carrying Kaylie,
Bonnie walking her dog and pushing Jeff's bike,
and the other two boys came around the corner.

Kaylie was thrown gently placed in the van,

and off I was to head to The Children's Hospital's urgent care.

We ended up with THREE stitches.

Kaylie gets to wear them,

but the rest of us were right there with her the whole time.

(1) The yellow around her eye is not bruising, it's from an eye drop that helps to see if there is any damage on the eyeball.

(2) Kaylie "icing" her eye to keep the swelling down.

(3) Her sparkly band-aid she received at TCH,

and the leftovers of her treat for doing so good, around her mouth.

Praise God...

there was no eye damage or bone damage,

that a nurse was right there,

for the kindness of another passer-by

who gave a handkerchief to apply pressure with on her eye rather then a thumb.

Thanksgiving Trip: Part 1

The next big event in November, (that I at least took pictures of) is Thanksgiving,

and heading back to Kansas.

Although it seems I didn't take a whole lot there either,

it has to be because I was busy helping cook in the kitchen.

Here are a few I got:

The cousins, minus Brooke.

The prayer for Thanksgiving dinner, with Tammy NOT closing her eyes.

The family watching some Tim Hawkins.

The past several years we have gone shopping on Black Friday,

but instead of driving an hour away to the nearest city with actual stores other then Walmart,

we decided to do the midnight thing at Walmart that was 30 miles away.

On November 27th, my oldest niece, Brooke, turned 16!

We celebrated by eating Gambinos, the BEST pizza EVER, and the kids bowled.

We ended our time with my family, with a family picture.

Preston's Weekend

For Preston's 12th birthday, Jeff and I gave him a weekend away,

with just him and his daddy, at least for the first night,

and then the rest of us joined them the second night.

They started it with a special lunch.

They then headed to the hotel in the mountains.

During this weekend, lots of issues were talked about,

from his peers, to what each choice he makes can do,

to dating, and purity.

There were different projects they did with each lesson.

There was lots of snacks, swimming, hot tub-ing and fun for them,

especially their rock climbing and swimming at the local rec center.

On the second evening, the rest of us came up...

For a celebration dinner, Preston wanted to eat at Beau Jo's in Idaho Springs.

We then went back to the hotel room and gave him some gifts to mark his decision to stay pure...

~A "Man of God" ring, that he will have to grow into.

~A sword, that is actually a letter opener, but it represent being a modern day knight.

~Dog tags, with personal messages on each.

and he signed a commitment and we prayed over him.

We also got in a lot of swimming (3 times in less then 24 hours.)

Catchin' Up October

In our October, we pretty much stayed in the area.

I actually blogged about one of the biggest events in Landon's life HERE.

I had a daughter who was a "professional sign holder",

which is kind of an inside joke for our family,

but it is based off of a guy who stands on a corner with a sign,

advertising for a local business, as he dances and spins, twirls and throws the sign.

(Oct. 9)

We discovered a new park. (Oct. 8 & 14)

Enjoyed the fall weather at the skate park. (Oct. 22)

We made a trip to the Rocky Mountain National Forest

to get our money's worth out of our annual pass. (Oct. 15)

Jeff took the kids to downtown Golden for a picnic. (Oct. 23)

My oldest baby, also turned 12, and we had some visitors for his birthday. (Oct. 29)