Heading back West!

Wow, we had a great trip back to ND but it was very exhausting!! We drove from Langdon (15 miles from the Candian border) back home, again in 2 days. We spent the night in Valentine, NB. We are getting back into our routine but I think my kids and I were spoiled!
Thanks to everyone who came to see us and gave us gifts and let us crash as your place, you know who you are! ;) We look forward to seeing you all again!!

Happy Little Girl -resting in Valentine (glad to be out of the car!)

Happy Little Boy!

Back home- looking at all the fish going by

My sweet Brother!

Ummm.....Dad, these homemade Marshmellows are the Best!!

Happy 5 Year Annivesary!!

Wow, I can't believe how fast 5 years have flown by! Thinking back, who would have thought we'd have 2 beautiful babies and be living in Colorado now. A lot has happened in those amazing 5 years! We are so blessed for all that we have and are excited for what our future holds!
Here's to you Sweetie! I love you more than you know!

Our beautiful little family

Another road mini road trip

Thursday we left for Langdon, ND for my cousin Brandon and Brooke's wedding. It happened to be on the 28th, our 5 year anniversary. We should never forget each other's day! Their wedding was absolutely beautiful! We had so much fun seeing all my relatives and they all got to meet Avery for the first time too.

Brandon and Brayden in the new Case tractor.
The tractor was in the shop where the groom's dinner was held. All cleaned up and decorated for the event. B was in 7th heaven!

The entire Downs' Clan! 4 kids, 13 grandkids (I am the oldest), and 3 greats

Brooke and Brandon, what a cute couple!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas day we went back to the farm and into Milnor to help celebrate my Grandma Helga's 86th birthday. We had lots of fun seeing all my family. Uncle Jerome was the keeper of Avery.

The next day we had our small family Christmas with Nate and Jenica. We had yummy king crab legs and opened gifts. Yes, there are more that need to come another time!

My 1st Christmas!!

Great Uncle Jerome

Oh my, a "Lightning McQueen" bike from Jen and Bryce

This huge train set from Papa Tom was quiet the hit, it really toots smoke too!

Christmas Eve

We went down to Wahpeton to G&G Meyer's for Christmas eve. We went to church (not too much fun with two little ones) and had a wonderful meal and opened gifts. It was a very late night by the time we were done. Brayden actually took my hand and said he was tired and wanted to go to bed. Why can't this happen every night??

Getting ready for Church

Oh so pretty in my dress!

Proud Great Grandpa Jerry

B opening his 100 set of cars...yes, that's right, 100!

Christmas morning on Papa Paul's lap

Heading to Fargo

We left Sunday for Fargo to help Moni celebrate her birthday. On our way we stopped in Wyndmere to fill up the tires with air.....tire goes flat and thank goodness my Dad's only 11 miles away. No offense honey, I think we might have been there a while without his help. So we were late to Fargo but just thankful it didn't happen on the road - IT IS COLD in ND!! I am liking this CO weather more and more. We went to Paradiso to celebrate Moni's birthday. Joel was in heaven, his favorite place. The Coppin clan helped her to celebrate too and they got to meet Avery. That evening we stopped by the Ramada to see my aunt Ione's family. It was really nice to get to see all of them (6kids and 11grand kids). Brayden was so crabby! But when he got home he got to open his JD tractor from Papa Paul (Another gift that is coming to our house in March when they visit-no room in the Yukon).

Getting ready to go to Fargo to see G&G Coppin

Hi Uncle Jamie, what's with that horrible hat?? (Buccaneers) Hee Hee
She already knows and she's only 6 wks old!

Happy Birthday Grandma Moni!

G&G with B

Papa Paul couldn't resist letting B open this up early!~

Avery's Baptism

On Saturday 12/22 we had Avery baptised back at my old country church. It was a private service with the sponsors (Shanna, Ted, Taylor and Sheyenne Gunderson) aunt and uncles and all of her grand and great grandparents. We were so lucky to have all of them there for her special day.

Getting all ready for my big day!

Meeting G&G Coppin for the 1st time

Meeting G. Helga for the 1st time too

My lovely cake decorating skills put to the test for all to see!

My Sponsors', The Gunderson Family!

My Sweet family

All my Grand and Great-Grandparents!! Wow!

With my Uncles Jamie, Bryce and Auntie Jenica

4 Generations of Coppin men

Me and my girls, Taylor and Sheyenne

Special Flowers: These were some flowers that were from my aunt Ione's funeral.

Prayers for Joel's family

We found out on Friday night that Joel's great Aunt (Mary &Mitch's sister) Shirley Graham passed away. We are not sure of all the details but know that she was alone. We ask that you pray for Joel's family.

Finally in ND!!

We made it! After spending 12 hours of driving in the car (we spent the night in Valentine, NB) in two days we made it to Mom and Dad's farm around 4pm on Thursday. Avery's first big trip back to ND went really well. Thank goodness for playing movies in the car to occupy Brayden!! My grandparents had just flown in from AZ for the week as well and we all headed to Gwinner to watch Bryce's BB team get smoked. Wait....By Gwinner?? Yes, unfortunately so...looks like they've come a way since my high school days (No offense to anyone)!

Nana anxious to see her little girl

The Milnor Bison crowd

Waiting for Uncle Bryce to come home from his game!
He had a hard time recognizing Bryce with short hair :)

G & G Downs meeting Avery for the 1st time

Mom's little LoveBug!

Hi Auntie Jen!

Can we PLEASE go out now to see the Cows!!

Thanks, Papa! I have been waiting for a long time to come to the Farm.

Pre-Holiday fun!

On our way to the annual Lindig Christmas party

Meeting Santa!
Brayden looked scared in this picture but he was really into Santa. When asked his name, he replied "Brayden Coppin".

Making & decorating Christmas cut-out cookies with Dad

WOW, are all those presents for me???!!!
(We had to leave the presents downstairs otherwise they would have all been opened early )

I got thid cool helmet and pads for x-mas

Getting so big! 6 weeks old

Helping Mom make some more cookies!! Oh, my favorite part :)

Prayers for my Family

The last few weeks have been pretty trying for my family on my Dad's side. A few days before Thanksgiving my cousin Steve and his wife Andrea lost their baby girl born at 5 months (preterm). Her name was Mereck Loy .

My parents told me this morning that my uncle Dan has also been hospitalized for a collapsed lung. He was scheduled for foot surgery on Thursday but was hospitalized for that instead.

Now tonight we received word that my Dad's oldest sister Ione Freeland has lost her life to a horrible disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. She was only 68 years old and was just diagnosed with this the end of October. This is a very rare disease(1 in a million). Below is a link to read more about the disease. We knew it was only a matter of time as this is a fatal disease but it's always hard to accept the inevitable.

Please keep my all of my family in your prayers, especially during this Holiday season.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creutzfeldt-Jakob_disease