CO continued.....

We went up to Rollins Pass on our second day. We all piled into the 4WDR vehicle and bounced up to the very top :)  The road ends and you can hike the rest of the way to the tunnel (it's close to traffic now). Surprisingly Reese and Blake fell asleep on the way back down - maybe they were rocked to sleep!

 We found some snow patches and had some fun.

 Braden and Reese walking to the top of the pass.

 LOVE this photo! They laugh together so easily, typically about nothing - just out of happiness :)

The crew

Colorado

Last Friday we left for Colorado - drove through the night and arrived at the cabin, just outside Nederland. It is so nice and quiet there - just the sound of birds and the occasional train...much to Blake's delight! The first day we settled in and when Oma and Grandad arrived we took the older 2 and went hiking up to Lion's Head (there on their property). It is pretty much all uphill, the boys did great. We climbed lots of rocks and explored and made it to the base of Lion's Head. Here are some photos below...more to come too!

 safe in the cabin....Blake liked this bear :)

 Lion's Head is there on the left - see it? That's a profile view just beyond the tree

We made it to the top! Although Braden told me "you might not be able to climb everything we climb mom"...cute. One day....but I can hang for now :)

This was our view of the cabin from Lion's Head

Double Digits

Reese has been home for 10 weeks now, almost 11. She has been such a trooper with all this change in her life. We've got one surgery down and another to go (this year), a new country, new home, new way of life, new language, she's gained 3 brothers, a new mom and dad as well as other family - I could go on and on.  She can say "eye", "nose" (no), "hi", "all done", "mama" and "bye". She's constantly busy just like the boys. The boys love her - Blake and Truitt are constantly asking for hugs :) She loves her brothers, shoes, hats, purses, blankets (anything soft), play food but she'll also play with cars, trucks and legos too.

she is affectionate - loves to hug and cuddle

 

 loves the rainboots

 loves her blanket

 LOVES food!

 loves the bucket on her head and a random shoe (doesn't have to be hers)

more cuddles

Mother's Day

My Mother's Day was wonderful. Kurt made breakfast for everyone - which is an accomplishment in our house some days! At church we had Reese's dedication, what a special treat on this Mother's Day. Kurt did the grocery shopping and got me Pei Wei for lunch - yummy! Kurt and the boys went out for a long bike ride while Reese and I went to Grandma's house to visit with Grandma and NaNa. I just had such a nice relaxing day...so thankful for my hubby who made it happen.

Braden made this book at school for me. It is very sweet and will be fun to look back on in a few years.

 Reese's dedication

Reese's Surgery - Part 1

So I am finally posting about Reese's palate surgery. She was scheduled for 11am but didn't get it until after 1pm. By the grace of God she did not sign for food once, not once! After they took her in Kurt and I grabbed lunch - we were super hungry. I knew if I (who had breakfast) was so hungry she must have been even more so.  We have so many friends who loved on us...brought dinner, goody bags, toys for Reese - ya'll really know how to make a girl feel special :) We are very thankful for the blessing of friends.

 She was given a purse, keys and cell phone by a sweet friend of ours - what a life saver! Just when she'd start to fuss I'd give her a new toy....she LOVES having a purse.

 It was very hard to see her after surgery. She is all cleaned up in the photo but she was a bloody mess at first. I don't do well with people I love being in pain...so I had some issues in recovery but after the crying and nearly fainting I was able to walk up to her room with everyone :)

 This was the next afternoon, she started to feel more like herself while on pain medication. She was happy with her cups, bowls, teapot and spoons.

She was given a cute book and the boys made her get well cards. While we were there a group of med students came by with a cart full of things for her to choose from (they were Aggies - whoop!) and I picked some stickers. She had fun putting them all over her coloring book.
We have since had a follow up and she is doing well. We have scheduled her lip/nose surgery for July 17th. The recovery time is shorter for this surgery but will still be painful I'd imagine. We'll all be happy when this is behind us!

Blackberry picking

Over the weekend we picked blackberries/dewberries (whatever you want to call them) - they boys had fun, especially Truitt! He was so on task and wanted to pick every single one....like me :) Turns out we all like to eat them and have enjoyed them over the last few days - on their own, in ice cream, in popsicles etc. Free entertainment and food!

Grandma went with us one day

Some are better pickers than others. Braden taking a break from picking....Blake taking a break from eating what I picked!

purple hands!

Enjoying some blackberry/yogurt popsicles

On Easter morning we went to church and then family came over for lunch in the afternoon. The weather was nice and we had a good afternoon.

Reese is watching the boys wondering what they're up to :) 

 Shefigured it out....fast!

Traditionally NaNa hides the eggs and then the boys hunted them down. Afterwards the boys hid eggs and then Aunt Beca and I had fun finding eggs. 

Reese with her great grandma, NaNa

Bubbles with Aunt Beca

Eggs

I'm slow....we had fun dying eggs. Easter is next...

What's up?

What have we been up to lately? I feel like we're settled with Reese and back into the "normal" routine. She goes to the Y with us, church, bible study etc - she is doing very well. We have met with Reese's doctor and we have scheduled her suregery to fix her palate on May 1st. Once that has healed completely we will have her lip fixed (likely 2-3 months later). I register Truitt for Kindergarten tomorrow - wow time flies! I will miss my little game playing man but I know he will enjoy kindergarten and getting on the bus with his big brother in the mornings.

A few photos from the last few weeks....

Run 4 the Children

Lego Towers
Feeing the ducksTruitt started soccer - LOVES it!
Fun at the park

Spring Break

I was happy to be home for Braden's spring break but boy was it wild! Not really wild, just really loud and busy :) We went to the Blue Bell creamery and the zoo....and just enjoyed time being off of a schedule. The boys played outside loads, Reese also loves to be outside and loves being around her brothers, wherever they are. She is still exploring the house and her(as well as the boys) toys. She watches the boys wrestle and isn't afraid to get close (in the danger zone!). She will start screaming and waving her arms when they're rolling around on the floor, as to join in the action - it's cute.

She likes rolley polleys :)

LOVES the pretend food, bowls, spoons etc.