December 31, 2009

Looking Back ...

Things I hoped to accomplish in 2009!!

CHECK-Spend more time with Justin and Makenna ... Pretty sure no parent ever feels like they spend enough time with their kids. They just grow up so fast … I am sure this will be something on my “to do list” for the next 15 years.

CHECK--Curtains and New Livingroom Furniture … Uh a check with a double minus because the curtains are all done except the big picture window in the front room. I know we so desperately need a curtain for it … yet it will require either me getting a job or finding a sprouting money tree to get the curtains I want for that window. As for the furniture … hopefully soon!!

FAILEDScrapbook, scrapbook and more scrapbooking … some how this past year my craft room turned into my crap room. Failed this miserably … didn’t even complete 1 page. UGH :(

FAILEDParticipate in Relay for Life … hopeful for 2010.

CHECKJoin MOPS … I joined MOPS at First Presbyterian Church 4 months ago. I cherish the bi-monthly morning break.

CHECKFamily Vacation … No where super exciting but according to Justin was his favorite vacation ever. We spent last spring break in Iowa with my sister Lori and her family. About a month ago Dwight and Justin were talking about the vacations we had been on since he was born.

Justin - “My favorite vacation was our trip to Iowa”
Dwight - “Iowa is better than the beach or Disney World”
Justin - “Uh yeah, I love my cousins”

CHECK …. More Date Nights … Now that the kids are getting a little older it is easier to find family babysitters who enjoy watching them. Allows for more date nights when you aren’t having to spend the extra $$ on babysitters.

CHECKStay Connected with Friends ... Had my 20th High School this reunion this year and had the chance to catch up with old friends. Between my reunion and facebook I have reconnected with several old friends.

CHECK - …. Lose 10 more pounds … Lost 12 before my reunion in June and then I ruptured my Achilles and it was down hill from there. I gained back 5 so for the year it is 7 lost.

CHECK …. Keep Blogging … Dwight will be the first to tell you that I’ll up date my blog before I’ll clean the house.

8 out of 10 ………. not too bad!!

December 30, 2009

Opening Presents ...

My dad and Bobbye joined us for "the opening of the presents" on Christmas morning.

~ Bobbye, Makenna and Justin ... Christmas Morning ~

~ Ready, Set, UNWRAP ~

~ Justin likes getting clothes as long as it is "cool clothes" ... Batman and Star Wars shirts are "cool" ~

~ Grandpa Stan, Justin and Makenna with the wooden crane he made for Justin ... this was a special order toy that Justin asked Grandpa to make ... it is super nice ~

~ The kids helping Bobbye open her playing cards ~

~ Makenna attempting to wait her turn ... her package is half open but she really is trying so hard to wait for daddy to finish opening his package ~


On December 26th Dwight's parents (Bruce and Sharon) and his sister (Nadene) and her family joined us for a Breakfast Brunch and package exchange ~


Dave and Amanda helping baby Memphis open his package ~

~ Madalee excited to open her present ~

~ Makenna and Justin opening up their "Movie Night" package ~


December 29, 2009

Happy Holidays ...


I was excited to be completely done shopping weeks ago but have seriously procrastinated with the rest of my annual holiday duties.

Justin is growing up way too fast. Can you believe he is almost 7 years old? He is in 1st grade and loves school. Besides recess he enjoys reading and has really excelled in math. We had fun watching him play his first season of baseball this summer. He like playing baseball so much that he just finished up an indoor fall season league and is excited to play again next summer. When not playing sports he likes to play with his Legos, Star Wars toys, fish with daddy and do wood working projects with Grandpa Stan.

Our wild one Makenna turned 3 in November. Fearless and full of spunk she will get into just about everything. She was slow to talk but has really made up for lost time with continuous chatter and constant questions. This year was an exciting year for her. She graduated to a “big girl bed”, is now wearing big girl panties and started preschool. Elmo, books, dolls and coloring keeps her busy.

Cleaning, cooking and keeping up with the kids keeps me busy. I joined MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) and love the bi-monthly morning break. It is wonderful to be surrounded by a room full of women who understand my world. I volunteer at Justin’s school whenever needed, do crafts or sew when I get the chance and try to keep up with our family blog. I started running again in spring and was up to 25+ miles a week when I ruptured my Achilles Tendon in early October. It has been a slow and long healing process. I hoping to get back to running again this year.

Dwight has had a year jammed packed with one project after another. He started the year off with a trip to Texas to pick up a new Peterbilt truck. He spent 3 months converting, painting and perfecting his newest addition to Michael Trucking. By April his black beauty dump truck was ready to make money. The next 3 months were spent restoring 3 tractors for a gentleman out of Pennsylvania. The transport semi came at the end of June and off they went. Dwight parents had a water leak in their house that caused extensive damage to their kitchen. Dwight spent close to 2 months negotiating with the insurance company and remodeling their kitchen. Despite the slow economy, lack of construction and road maintenance cutbacks Dwight still owns and manages Michael Trucking. Business has been extremely slow but we remain hopefully and look forward to seeing the upside of this recession.
Here’s to a new decade of memories and many adventures. From our house to yours.

Happy New Year!!
The Michael Family
Dwight, Bonnie, Justin and Makenna

December 26, 2009

Naughty or Nice ...

Apparently Justin and Makenna made the nice list this year. Santa unloaded his sleigh at our house. From the day we started talking about Santa in our house Makenna was stuck on wanting an Elmo Hat. Justin continuously changed his mind … Star Wars Toys, Legos, GI Joe Tank, Broncos Jersey, Broncos Bean Bag … the list went on and on. Every magazine, every commercial ,every trip to the store and Justin was changing his list. Based on their reactions I pretty sure they were both thrilled with what Santa left for them.

~ Our annual Tradition that Justin's Cousin Amanda taught him about several years ago ... if you leave Santa cookies and milk he will leave you a movie ~

~ Santa was here ~

~ The Kids waiting for Daddy to get the video camera ready ~

~ The 1st look at what Santa left ~

~ Makenna was SO happy ... her ELMO HAT ... seriously Santa could have left ONLY this and she would have been thrilled!! ~

~ Oh yeah ... finally a new jersey to replace the old "Cutler" jersey Justin has been wearing on Bronco Sunday ~

~ Makenna unloading her stocking ~

Justin with his FX Movie Replica Anakin Lightsaber ... This thing is pretty cool ... looks and feels like a real lightsaber ... Dwight was explaining to Justin that is was more a collectible than a toy to play with cause it was "just like the real ones used in the movie. Justin looked at Dwight with big eyes and said "does that mean I will kill Makenna if I touch her"?

~ Daddy and Makenna in her new School House ~

December 25, 2009

Twas the Night before Christmas ...

Every year on Christmas Eve we gather with Dwight’s mothers extended family at the annual “Hodges Holiday Party”. For the past several years the gathering has been at The Senior Center in Wellington. This is the one time of the year that we get a chance to visit with some of Dwight’s relatives. We always have a great time but it sure does make for a long night for the kids. By the time we got home at 11:00 pm, despite the excitement of Santa coming the kids were exhausted and went straight to bed.


~ The Michael Family ~

Back Row: Dwight, Bonnie, Amber, Amanda, Colby, Derek, Nadene, Bill

Front Row: Madalee (3), Sharon, Justin (6), Memphis (1), Bruce, Makenna (3)

~ The Hodge's ~

Sharon (Dwight's Mom in Green) with her brother's and sister's

Marvin and Dwayne

Charlene, Beverly, Sharon


~ Great Nephew Memphis ~

~ Makenna and our Great Niece Madalee ~

December 13, 2009

All I want for Christmas ...

Today Grandpa Stan, Bobbye and I took the kids to see Santa. For 2 days he is visiting with children at Bath Nursery (a local nursery/greenhouse) and he even brought 2 of his reindeers!! Wow was Justin and Makenna surprised to see the reindeer out front!!



Since we had to wait in line for about 20 minutes we had some time to talk to Makenna about actually getting near Santa this year. Last year she was horrified of him!!


Makenna was super excited until she got up close to Santa. She almost melted but decided it was ok to sit next to Santa for a few pictures then she was done. She wasn’t having much of the man in the red suit and refused to say a word.


Justin had a nice visit with Santa and gave him a long list of stuff I had NO idea he wanted. That’s what happens when Santa shops early ... Guess Justin really is going to be surprised on Christmas morning this year!!



Makenna wants an Elmo hat for Christmas! She has been talking about this hat for over a month now … the 2 of us were shopping at Walmart weeks ago and saw an Elmo Stocking Hat … Makenna really wanted it but I resisted and didn’t buy it - I told her to we would put it on her Christmas list … now that is the ONLY thing she has asked for.

Just in case you were wondering if Santa is haunting every Walmart in Colorado to find the hat … I was smart enough to get my order in to Santa once she continued to talk about it … good thing cause I haven’t seen it since!

After we got home from seeing Santa today I asked Makenna if she was excited for Santa to come to our house … her reply “mom you buy my hat at Walmart I don’t like Santa”. Ummmm I’m pretty sure this might qualify her for the naughty list??

December 11, 2009

Sew Cute ...


My 7 year old niece Taylor asked for bunk beds for her American Girl Dolls. Grandpa Stan has been super busy with “grandpa’s workshop” and made her a bunk bed for her dolls. Well what’s a girl to do without some cute bedding? Grandpa finished the bed and I spent yesterday making some darling bedding. Fitted bottom sheets, reversible top sheet, pillow, chenille and fleece comforter and for added cuteness a throw pillow for each bed!!

December 6, 2009

Elmo Live ...

In case you didn’t realize Makenna LOVES Elmo. She just can’t get enough of that adorable red furry monster. Well the day finally came … Makenna has been waiting weeks to see ELMO LIVE. Elmo and his friends from Sesame Street were at The Budweiser event center on Friday night for a special show --- “Elmo Grows Up”. Dwight and I had a special night out with Makenna …. while Justin had a special night out with Grandma Sharon.

~ Makenna ready for her special night out ~

~ I took this picture as soon as they opened the curtains ... Makenna was a little unsure of what to think about a really life size Elmo ~


~ Daddy and his little girl ~

~ Up close with Elmo ... These people were seated right in front of us ~

~ Here comes Bert ~

~ Mommy and Makenna ~

~ The End of the Show ... Makenna was sad to say Night Night to Elmo ~

November 26, 2009

Thankful ...

1. For Dwight … my wonderful husband. I am so thankful for his hard work, caring heart and love for me and the kids. It is because of him that I am blessed to have #2 and #3

2. Justin and Makenna … my 2 amazing kids. My life is complete because of them!

3. The opportunity to be a stay at home mom. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a mom. Getting the opportunity to spend all day everyday with my babies is a real blessing!

4. My walking boot … after 6 long weeks in a hard cast completely unable to walk unless with crutches or my knee cart I am ever so thankful to be walking on TWO feet.

5. God … My ever changing and growing relationship with him keeps me strong and able to rise above my low moments.

6. My dad … he always lends a helping hand. I often wonder if God’s master plan was to take mom from me way too early so that I could have a solid relationship with my dad.

7. Old Friends … was able to reconnect with many old friends this past year with the help of Facebook and my 20 year High School Reunion.

8. Internet … between email, shopping, facebook and ebay my life would be less hectic without the internet but oh how I could never survive my day without it!

November 18, 2009

Challenged …

I’ve been through some challenges in my life but I must say … I’m living in the middle of the biggest PHYSICAL Challenge I have ever had to concur. It’s been 7 weeks since I ruptured my Achilles Tendon. The past 6 weeks that I spent in a hard cast was emotionally and physically draining. The simple things in life that we take for granted really become apparent when you are forced to do EVERYTHING on one leg. Thank goodness for my knee cart and a few amazing people that have generously helped me over the past weeks.

My sister Sheri has been my personal shopping buddy and because of her we have had food in our house. Dwight can shop but has no idea how to stick to a budget and I refused to live off of eating Wendy’s. I’ve had to call on my dad several times. Praise God he is always so close to the house and has a pretty open schedule. My mother in law Sharon has helped out with laundry, watching the kids and various other jobs without her caring heart I’d be lost. Plus Alisha, Diana and Jan … Thanks for the help … the small things helped enormously.

And ahhhhh yes!! Dwight and the kids have been troopers during this ordeal. Especially Makenna who spends most of the day helping mommy. My family has concurred this with me and so far we have all survived. It hasn’t been easy but by the grace of God I have had the strength to get through each day. I’ve cried out many of times in prayer for the strength to make it through the day when my energy was gone and I no longer had the stamina to do anything!! I’ve learned that everything you do takes twice as long on 1 leg. Our house has been messy … the laundry has piled up … our meals have been simple but I made it through what I am hoping has been the worst part of this slow healing process.

November 15, 2009

Three ...

How is it possible that my baby is THREE!! 3 years ago our lives were changed forever. God blessed us with a spunky blond headed little darling that has kept us on our toes since the day she was born. On Monday November 9th (her actual Birthday) we celebrated Makenna turning 3 as a family.

~ Her new Radio Flyer Scooter from Mom and Dad ~

~ Sandwich Set from Justin ~

~ Baby Doll Clothes from Justin ~

Makenna absolutely LOVES Elmo!! Months ago when we were in the process of potty training Makenna I promised her an ELMO party if she would wear big girl panties ALL the time. Yesterday we celebrated Makenna’s 3rd birthday and finally had her ELMO Party. Makenna was so excited!! She truly understood this party was for her.


Friday night Aunt Sheri came over and decorated not ONE but TWO cakes for Makenna’s party!!

While Aunt Sheri was decorating the cakes Makenna, Justin and I set up the decorations and stuffed the “treat buckets”.

Makenna sitting at the party table on Friday night with her PJ’s on … I am certain Makenna would have sat at the table all night waiting for the party to start.



Makenna was so sweet when I put her to bed on Friday night … she crawled up into bed, tucked her stuffed Elmo under her arm and looked at him and said “Elmo you coming to my Elmo party?”

Yesterday was a wonderful day for Makenna. She had 7 friends + big brother Justin and lots of family here to share her special “Elmo Party”. I was a little worried for what would happen after the party was over. She has been so excited for this party I was scared she would have a melt down when she realized the party was over … ahhhhh presents ~ new things to keep her busy … has she even realized her next party is 12 months away???

Madalee and Makenna in the bean bag toss we made .... Sheri drew the Cookie Monster ... my dad cut it out of wood and made a stand for it ... Dwight and I painted it ... and I made some bean bag "cookies" to feed Cookie Monster ... the kids had a blast with it!!

~ The Party Table ~

~ Cutting the Cake ~


~ Ahhhh another ELMO ~