We are back!

After a unexpected trip back to ND and 2 winter storms later, we are back safe and sound! It was quiet hairy traveling back to CO. We ended up staying in North Platte on the way back. Lots of cars/semi trucks in the ditch. The kiddos were excellent travelers again! Although our reason for going back to ND was not planned nor what we'd want to go back for but it was great to see all our family again. It's times like that when you realize how important your family is to you.

Here are some pictures from our visit: (sorry these will be in random order)

Uncle Bryce, I appreciate you pulling me and all....but where did all the snow go?

Alright, your turn I guess.

Nanna with the Kiddos

Brayden's new bed

Going for a walk with Papa Tom, no time for pictures, I'm outta here! (notice Brayden in the distance walking away from us!)

I am not in the mood for posing now

Let me get this thing started, I know I saw Bryce do this!

Me and my buddy Bryce

My first taste of peas.....not too bad!

Mom and Dad

Uncle Jamie and Angie

Grandma Moni and Aunt Bev

Great Grandma Helga and Avery looking out the window

Getting ready to go outside, I am so excited to see the animals!

Happy Baby Girl, I love my new outfit!

I work out best in the nude!

Jamie, Joel, and uncle Dale Held

Papa Paul and Grandpa Allen

Uncle Mark and Allen's brother Jack Coppin

I am a big girl sitting in my chair

See what's in here Mom, it's beer!

Discovering Sweet Potatoes, yummy!

In the hotel room in Valentine, NE

Great Grandma Mary and Avery cuddling on the couch

A New Angel Among Us

Allen and Greta Coppin 1957
Allen and Greta Coppin 2007 (50th Wedding Anniversary)

Please say your prayers for Joel's family this week. Saturday morning Grandma Greta Coppin passed away. She was 75 years old. Here is the link to her obituary:

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=197200&section=Obituaries&freebie_check&CFID=23653720&CFTOKEN=25045900&jsessionid=8830ad64881330685457

She was such a funny lady. I will never forget my first Christmas with the Coppin's. I didn't realize what practical jokers they were until I received a nice white lace thong from Greta. She always made you laugh. I will really miss her emails. She wrote is big letters and different colors (you knew her mood), her personality shined through each one. We will miss her dearly.

Saturday morning Joel and I received a call from Paul. We were all off in the car before noon and made it to ND yesterday afternoon. A little bad weather but it was nothing. We were just glad to be home. The kids were excellent little travelers. 14 hours in a car is not fun for anyone, let alone active little kids.

Last night Joel and I opened a Christmas gift from Allen and Greta, which was forgotten since the last time we were home. It couldn't have been a more fitting gift. Greta had written in the card, "You will have to teach your children how to fly and one day they can fly on their own. Enjoy and love them because you only have them a short time". The gift was an plate with little angels on it flying. We will always cherish that card and gift.

Cherish your loved ones, tell them you love them, and teach them to fly.

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'!!

Miss Avery is officially a rolling machine! She first rolled over back on March 2nd and really didn't do much since but last Monday she started and hasn't stopped! It's so much fun to see her discovering new things. She's really into grabbing everything within her reach. She loves watching her brother and she just gives him big smiles!!

Brayden is adjusting her bib and she just smiles so big for him

Happy girl! She's always a smiling

Happy Easter~

Friday around noon, Joel's grandparents Jerry and Mary Meyer arrived at our abode. They were on their way back to ND from AZ. We went out to eat for lunch with Tom and Mitch and then came back to our house to play cards and had supper. For desert we tried my "lovely" Easter cake. I went to a cake decorating class on Thursday night and got to bring home my creation. It's pretty ghetto, I will admit. It did taste pretty good. I wasn't going for looks, I was just practicing all the new things I was learning. Then on Saturday we went to Tom and Mitch's for some more cards and supper. It was fantastic! Easter Sunday came so fast. In the morning we attended church at 8am and still had to sit in the overflow area (thank goodness the kiddos were so good!) and then we went to the Lindigs for Easter brunch. We had such a good time. The Easter Bunny even made a special appearance! Quiet the hit! Mary and Jerry had to head back to ND that afternoon.
We feel so bad, tonight we found out that Papa Paul, Tom and Mary and Jerry all caught the same stomach flu we had! I even disinfected our entire house!! Sorry guys!

Playing Cards

My beautiful cake (LOL) Yes, those are little bunny pellets for those of you who noticed.

So Proud :)

Easter Morning, Finding the Easter basket right away!

Mom, I got Maximum Destruction!

Where's Avery? The bunny is twice her size!

Mom and her little Sweetie!

Our best picture of the kids together! :(

The Easter Bunny!!

Whatcha doing, Brayden? Just hanging with my car, Mom.

I am getting to be such a Big Girl!

My two precious babies! Oh, this picture melts my heart!

I'm just chillin'
Helping to make pizza, I made my own!
Yummo! This is delicious!

Finally, A New Camera!

Oh, I have been waiting for this for a long time! Our camera had died in January and we were using our very 1st digital camera which takes great pictures but the batteries kept falling out. Friday afternoon the doorbell rang and it was the UPS man with my camera!!

Puke..............all over..............gross!

Monday night I started to get a stomach ache. Not thinking much of it I went to bed only to be awaken by Brayden crying. I ran to him in the hall and noticed his jammies were all wet. A closer look revealed puke everywhere. He was so confused and crying. We got him changed and grabbed a bucket and put him in bed with me. Two seconds later, more puke, this time all over our bed. Changed the sheets twice and at this time my gag reflex was kicking in full gear. Then I started getting the chills and was trying to hold off my urge to throw up. 4 o'clock came and I couldn't hold back. This was horrible. Joel was down on the couch because he too was not feeling well. How could we all be sick at the same time?! Food poisoning? No such luck. This continued on through the next day. Thank goodness Avery did not catch it and she was such a good little girl. I will say, and Joel does admit this, I was taking care of 3 babies and myself for 2 days. Man, he was worse then Brayden! Basically, we had puke in ever room in our house, the worst was Brayden puking over the balcony down onto the living room. Nice! It was crazy never in the almost 8 years we've been together have we been sick at the same time. Thank god we are all feeling good now!

Lots to report......

Let's start out with 2 weekends ago. Paul and Moni came to visit us for a long weekend. I think it might have all stemmed from when Avery was born, but the fathers/sons challenge each other to the Highlands Ranch 5K. This being Tom and Paul vs. Andy and Joel. Partly because Paul and Tom were turning 50 and 60 respectively and for bragging rights. So for months all we could hear about was this "big" race and how the dads were going to humiliate team "Hangover" (Joel and Andy's nickname from HS, we'll leave it at that). Soon, Ted joined the forces in the race as so did Moni and I. I think Joel recruited me to "run" with him b/c he had really not been running and preparing for this and I could be at his pace. Well, me not having run at all since college said OK, I can walk/run. Saturday morning, 40 degrees out we all head to the town center for the big St. Patty's race. I pushed Brayden and Katie in the jogger and ran next to Joel. To Joel's surprise, I was not slow and I basically kicked his butt! Yes, me! I have not ran, pushing 2 toddlers beat not only Joel but Paul and Tom. Oh yes, I am competitive. My first 5k and I did it in 39 minutes and I am VERY PROUD of myself. Andy finished in 33 minutes so I was really not that far off for never running. We had so much fun! Afterwards we went home for Irish coffee and then we grilled and had birthday cake. It was a great weekend but it went to fast. Paul and Moni left early Sunday morning. Boy, I really was moving slow that day!

Here are some pictures from that weekend:

Snuggling with Grandma Moni, it was a long day!

The 5 K team

Happy Birthday to Tom and Paul!

I love my Papa Paul!

With the Grandparents

I melt Papa's heart!

Loving to snuggle up with Grandma

A little Sweet PeaPapa brought Brayden's christmas gift with -a very Large JD tractor!

Lots of birthdays!

Wow, between my birthday and next Sunday we've had so many birthdays to celebrate. Some BIG ones too!
March 1st - Papa Paul (Big 5-0!)
March 5th - Tom Howard (Big 6-0!)
March -16th Great Grandpa Allen's (85!)
There are many that I haven't mentioned.....Hilary, Matt, Courtney, Jenica, Kim M, Kim G, Bennett, Meagan, Luke, Ryan & Heather. Happy Birthday to all!!

Big News - Avery rolled over twice last Sunday! She went from her back to her tummy and then from tummy to back. I was even lucky enough to catch it on video! :) She just turned 4 months old yesterday! I can't believe how big she's getting. She's a little sweetie!

Tonight we had Teya over while Kim and Anthony took a well deserved night out to eat. We had lots of fun.

Concentrating really hard on rolling over!

What up?

Hi MOM!!

What a beautiful girl!