8th Annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon

I have always had a connection to the Oklahoma City Bombing. I grew up in Oklahoma and was in middle school when our history class saw on the T.V. the horrible images of the bombing and devastation. I remember being very moved and upset by the loss of life and innocence of our state and the people who were taken that day in April of 1995. After talking a little bit to my mom, we decided that we should participate in the Memorial Marathon Run/Walk coming up late April. Despite being 4 months pregnant and around 5 months at the time of the race, we figured we could get out there and do the half marathon. My mom is an avid walker and so she will begin training immediatly. Since I can not run the 13.1 miles, I will also be walking with my mom and start training up in the mountains. Just doing the 13.1 miles will be a challenge for me since I have noticed that I am quite a bit more tired and still a little queezy with my pregnancy. We are hoping to get my sister to join in with us. Come on Abby! And if there is anyone else out there who would like to join us, please do (Grace!!). April 27th at 6:30 AM is the official date and time of the race. Registration will be open until the first week of April.

I remember visiting the bombing site within a few days of the actual bombing and seeing the destruction that was caused. I will never forget those images. I will be so privelaged and honored to walk in honor of those beautiful people, children and babies who were taken from their families and our state that fateful day. So if you are available to participate, join in for a wonderful cause and day of rememberance!

Room for a Little One...Yes!!

I could sure see myself with a sweet little girl!

So, JT and I have finally decided that it is officially time to start letting people know that we are pregnant again! It has been very, very hard to keep the news hush, but we wanted to make sure things were progressing smoothly before we let the cat out of the box. I am 13 weeks (3 months and 1 week) and thus far everything has been going so well! We saw and heard a strong heartbeat at 8 weeks as well as last week during our 12 week appointment. We are overjoyed. It's been hard to keep things quiet since I have been so sick the last 2 months! I got to bed at 9 PM and can't eat hardly anything! What a life. But as my second trimester is underway, I have started feeling a little better. Our due date is September 15th, a great time leading into football season and the holidays (very exciting!). We will find out the sex next month and until then, we would appreciate any prayers concerning the safety, development and health of the baby. We are so very thankful!

We love the Barnards

Last weekend JT and I made a quick trip down to Lubbock, TX to visit one of my dearest friends, Marla. Marla has two little ones: Jonah who is 2 and River who is almost 3 months old. Marla is married to Justin, who is an independent Christian musician and owner of Sugar Brown's coffee shop in Lubbock (best coffee in the south!!) It was my first time to see River and I instantly fell in love with his sweet little face! He is such a calm and easy going baby. He is full of love and it was wonderful to spend time with Marla's family. We played with the kids, got to go shopping, ate some really good food and just enjoyed each other's company. Marla and I have known each other since our college days back at OSU and there are many, many stories to share about the two of us! I'll save those for another blog =) Marla dedicated an entire blog to some of our times together...if you want to check it out you can go to her blog www.thefamilytoots.blogspot.com

So, it was so nice to see my dear friend and get a little baby practice, since JT and I are expecting a little one to arrive in a little under six months! I think JT had a reality check, but he will be so good as he really enjoys taking care of little babies. It was such a great time and we can't wait until our next little rendezvous together! Love ya Marla

Jonah calls River "Mickey Mouse" when he wears this outfit

And more adorable shots...

My little cupcake River

Look at those eyelashes!

Maybe I could have a boy???

Big boy Jonah playing in the backyard

Grandma Margie Barnard

A Break In The Clouds

Yesterday was finally a nice day. The temperature got up to 30 and the sun was out! Today it is snowing again, but at least we had one nice afternoon. So JT and I decided to take advantage of the sunshine and take the dogs snow shoeing at Pike National Forest about 10 miles or so from our house. We packed a lunch and set off on a trail we hadn't yet explored. I didn't realize how much I had missed getting outdoors...it certainly affects your mood and temperament when you can't enjoy the sun and some fresh air. So, we had a great time.

In other news, we have decided after some long thought that we are moving from Colorado back to the south. We really have enjoyed our time up here but we miss being closer to family, friends, and having all 4 seasons to enjoy. JT doesn't get to hunt up here, so he is looking forward to spending more time with his grandfathers and dad on their hunting lease - and I will just enjoy maybe getting to have a summer where we can go to the lake or swim in a pool again! Colorado is great, but we have decided it is more desirable to visit. You can't beat the physical beauty, but time with family and friends is much more important. But living at almost 11,000 ft elevation really takes it's toll on your body. We need to get down lower! Right now our house is under contract, but contingent on our buyers selling their condo up here. If things work out accordingly we could be on our way by mid-March. We are very excited at the possibilities that await us. We will always make the mountains a part of our life. Only now, we will be able to choose when we come and when we go. And trust me, you don't want to be up here for a winter like we've had this year! We'll probably stick to summer visits. So we would appreciate your prayers concerning a speedy sell and move.

Crazy Shiloh burying herself in a foot of snow

Cabin Fever....

As the wind howls outside and I am nestled nice an warm inside, I can't help but think of spring and summer, sandy beaches, refreshing oceans, and anything but the Colorado winter. January, the wonderful month in which I was born, has been the longest month this year! The days have crept by. January is what local Coloradians call deep winter. This has been one of the coldest, snowiest, and dreariest winters for some time up here. This morning JT and I awoke to -12 degrees air temp with a wind chill of -30. This has been fairly consistent day after day now for 2 months.

Did I mention that our water lines froze from our well and we have no running water? The frozen ground has done it's damage and if a plumber doesn't come out and thaw the line (at $125/hr) we would not have running water until the spring thaw in May. This has been quite a blistery winter season. Usually the average highs for January in Colorado up here are in the 30's. The sun is out, the air is crisp, but at least you can go ski or snow shoe. But not this year. Even the dogs are tired of it all. They get frost bite just going out to potty. So I think of better times. Like when I lived on the warm coast of Florida. It takes a lot of heart to live and survive up in the mountains, or high country. There are no frills to the lifestyle. We keep our house warm via a wood burning stove. On days where the snow keeps falling, we can not leave. Often we lose electricity due to the high winds. Oh, and now we have gotten to experience the joys of having our water lines freeze. But it has all been a learning experience that we are thankful for. And did I mention that the summers up here are to die for? They really are.

When you hear the locals who have been here for 20 plus years, grumbling about the long drawn out winter, you know it's bad. And then I guess I don't feel so bad for wishing and dreaming of long summer days and wearing shorts or sandals or catching a wave off my old beach near Palm Beach. So, for all you out there who are freezing your bums off and ready for spring, just think it could all be worse. God has given us all the seasons and He is as faithful as He is consistent...warmer days will come. Soon enough winter will end and spring will come to us all joyfully, welcoming in new life and light. So, until then I will wait patiently dreaming of melting ice cream cones and flip flops......

Magic Kingdom and Grace!

To celebrate our second anniversary, my birthday, Christmas and one of my best friend's Grace getting married, we made a trip down to Orlando Florida. Grace was planning on getting married to an amazingl guy named Bryan Willnerd at Disney on January 4th. So, we just made one big trip and celebration this past week. It was so much fun to spend about 3 days with Grace, her family and Bryan's friends and family. When we weren't hanging out with those guys, JT and I took a couple days to do Disney World. This was JT's first time there, and I have to say I think that he really thought it was neat. Disney has something for everyone - of all ages! It is such a neat place and I love visiting there. We can't wait to take our kids there someday. My sweet Grandma Dorothy took me there some time ago for the first time and I thought often of her while we were there. I really miss living in Florida and soaking up that warm sunshine. It was such a nice break from the record amounts of snow that have been falling up here around Breck. We were so grateful for those days we got to sneak away and spend together in a place as magical as Disney.

Magic Kingdom Christmas Tree

Mainstreet U.S.A.

Disney Parade

Beauty and the Beast

Cinderella!

Mary Poppins...one of my all time favorites

Snow White

Pooh Bear

Epcot

Me standing in front of my lineage, the country Germany

JT in China

Ash in China

The U.K.

Downtown Disney

This above picture is of an actual family made out of legos! Dogs and all! Downtown Disney is very neat and our hotel was right across from the area so we could just walk there easily. The lego display was quite amazing and we had a great time walking around looking at everything.

A dragon made of legos!

My favorite painting in the Disney art gallery. If I ever have a little boy this is what I want in his room!

Our hotel pool

Night at Cirque Du Soleil

The day after Grace and Bryan's wedding we at some amazing seafood at Fulton's crab House in Downtown Disney and then went and watched La Numbla Cirque Du Soleil. It was a great night with friends and entertainment.

Bryan and Grace

Disney's Boardwalk and sunset

This was my first time to visit Disney's boardwalk....and I loved it! JT and I both thought it was a very cool spot. The boardwalk runs all the way around the lake and has many restaurants and shops to hang out at. There are white sand beaches and very romantic...this is my vote of where to stay next time we make it to Disney!

Disney's Dolphin Hotel

Epcot fireworks