The times.....

Enduring change isn't my strong suit. I am a creature of habit and routine. But there is a lot of change coming up in our future and I'm actually quite excited about it.

Mike will be leaving the University of Colorado Health System's Burn/Trauma services to take a full time job as a mobile ICU nurse for Rural/Metro ambulance.  Mike has always liked the EMS life. He appreciates the quick pace and the fellow EMS workers are all pretty easy going and laid back. Since starting part time at R/M last year, Mike has really grown to  like it there. So when his supervisor told him they were looking for another full time nurse, Mike began turning the idea over in his head.  As a single income family, we couldn't take a pay cut but Mike desperately needed a change. This change would put him on a set schedule working the day shift.  After a few rough nights in the ICU, it was clear to him that he needed to more seriously consider this change. Turns out, it would be a lateral move pay wise. And so , he took the jump! After 6 shifts on the ICU, he will close the door on that chapter and move onto another. It has been so long since Mike worked a day schedule and a job that he was truly happy with. I am so happy for him and for our family.

In other news, we decided to make a change with Mackenzie's school. While her teacher this year has been outstanding, going the extra miles it has taken to meet Mack where her needs were and then continue to help her advance, it has become clear to us that this is definitely the exception in our district. There has a been a sudden turn over of teachers and many of our friends from school have decided to switch districts as well. It seemed all the signs were pointing in that same direction for us. After much research and way too much thinking, the choice was made to transfer to a school in Brighton. Of all the options, this made the most sense because , if we ever move , Brighton would be our first choice. This school has a great reputation and I have several friends whose kids go there as well.And so it was decided !  On ward and up ward! I'm excited to see how all this change plays out.

Up and going...sort of.

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Scenes from the homefront

Mack feeding a lorikeet at the zoo.

Mike feeding two!

Mike surprised Mack with this stuffed lorikeet. Mack quickly banded it and named her Ruby, just like the one she fed.

Grammy, this made me think of Grandpa Ralph , who never went any where with out a a freshly cleaned car.

Sweet Brooklyn stayed the night a few weeks ago. I don't know who was happier.

Little hearts growing in the garden

Tic Tac Toe with my girl

Ran into an old friend during our first Trader Joe's run this week.

Mike took Mack to a Denver Cutthroats play off hockey game and they came home with goodies

Check out this Cutthroats player....LOVE this name! ;)

Mack working on her Teacher's Week gift

Livin' the life

Vet Mack

It's been a soggy few days here, as evidenced by this water-logged dandelion and dew drop. This rain has turned to snow and we are currently expecting up to 8 inches of snow......

A tale of two wish-makers

 There are dandelions a-plenty in our yard right now. We've already watched the bright yellow blooms get picked over by pollen-hungry bees and then change to white, fluffy fuzz. Neither Mackenzie nor Mason can pass by a " blowing dandelion" with out stopping to make a wish.

Mackenzie is a methodical wish maker. She first contemplates the wish, a secret she isn't allowed to share. Caught up in fairy tales and wondering where the seeds will go, she blows the fluff slowly, watching it dart and float through the air. She isn't one to pick all the wishes at once. No, she likes to save some for tomorrow,too.  This is the way of Mackenzie in everything.

Mason, with his quick impulses and fast little legs, can't help but pick as many dandelions as possible in one fell swoop, not even getting the stem with every pick but a handful of fluff instead. He can't be bothered to blow each puff individually. Who has time for that?  So, with fistfuls of dandelions clenched in tiny fingers, he shakes his arms as fast as he can, sending fits of fluff around him. After a few shakes, the remaining bits of stems and whatever fluff is left gets tossed to the ground and he is onto something else. In life, Mason approaches every situation this way: Wishing is for the birds! I'm gonna MAKE my dreams take flight.

These ponderings and observations are priceless to me. Getting to watch my children grow, gathering memories and then giggling to myself at the differences and similarities between these two is a gift that I could never repay. So instead of trying, I will gather a few dandelions for myself and send off wishes for them. May they always be true to themselves and content with themselves. I wish they will always look outside of themselves, be kind and compassionate even though the world is not. I wish for happiness and I hope that they know that , even when happiness is fleeting, they can make the best of every situation. I pray they never feel unloved and always know I'm on their sideline, cheering them on, making wishes of my own.

A beautiful sight

My kids have grown accustomed to being my little photography side kids. There is rarely a day that we are in the car and I don't back up or turn around because I saw a sight that needed to be captured. They don't even ask any more " What are we doing, Mommy?" because they know the drill.

Our Zoo

 Just when it seems that we've squeezed as many new breathing beings into our home, we somehow find another pet that needs a place to be.  This time, Mackenzie has been lucky enough to be the proud owner of " Delfuny  " ( her choosing) a spotted salamander. She got him from Kaleb who found him in the yard. He's been a lot of fun to watch although the rule still applies that, if Del seems to be unhappy with us, we return him to his natural habitat.

Sleep tight , Macky

Sydney has basically become  Mackenzie's cat. She really doesn't like the rest of us but will turn herself inside out to get the attention of Mack.

Steady rhythm

With birthday's in the books, things have settled down for a bit. The kids have have had fun enjoying their new birthday acquisitions .

Mason with his remote control truck

The new tent has been so much fun!

How does this girl keep looking older? She has loved having her own desk in her room.

Mack's room is covered in things like this.

A chart Mack has made for her room