Storm Soccer ...

Makenna played her first full season of soccer with Colorado Storm this fall and LOVED it!  She was a little fireball on the field.  She played in the developmental division were they played 3 vs. 3 on a modified field.  Great division for learning the fundamentals of the game.  I'm pretty sure she will be playing many more season!

~ Team Lightning Bolts ~

 ~ Listening to Coach Amy ~

 ~ Our Little Soccer Stud ~

 ~ Leading the Pack ~

 ~ Pure Excitement ~

Makenna must have some of Aunt Lori's Soccer Skills! ... and the best part of soccer watching her excitement after she scores a goal!!

95 Years Young ...

About 1 year ago my dad and his siblings moved my Grammie from her long time home in Bird City, Kansas to Loveland, Colorado.  It has been such a blessing getting to spend more time with her.  On August 21st she turned 95 our entire family celebrated with a party. 

After living alone for over 30 years it was clear that my Grandma loved all the attention.  We skipped all the candles, but still sang happy birthday and at the end the kids started singing, "are you one, are you two ... after 5 my niece Taylor chimed in and said “we better start counting my 10's”.

School Time ...

WOW … Summer Vacation flew by!  I guess that is what happens when you’re having fun.  Yesterday was Justin’s 1^st day of 4^th Grade.  105 lbs and 5 feet tall … he’s the biggest 4^th grader at school!  

It was a lot easier to watch Justin start 4^th grade yesterday … today Makenna started Kindergarten.  Bauder does a staggered start so that the Kindergarteners are not overwhelmed the 1^st day of school.  Makenna was so EXCITED … daddy was PROUD and mommy was SAD.  I’m excited for her and all the fun experiences that lie ahead of her from making new friends to learning to read.  I’m just having a hard time letting go … as I sit here in a quiet house waiting for the bus to bring my babies back home. 

Mommy Vacation ...

For the past 3 years I have been on the steering committee for my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group! Even though I am officially no longer a Mother of a Preschooler … L can you believe my baby will be starting school this year … I will continue with our group since we added MOMSnext to our chapter!  One of the special treats for our hard work and dedication to our MOPS group is each year we get a chance to go to the International MOPS Convention.  This year it was in Dallas Texas at the Gaylord Texan Resort!

Our steering team is small this year – Only 4 of us are committed to steering as of now so our ENTIRE STEERING team went!  Ashley, Emily, Aliy and I spent 4 fabulous kid-less days in Dallas.  

Our Steering Team ... Ashley, Aliy, Emily and me!

Our view from our room ... we didn't spend a lot of time sitting on the balcony cause it was crazy HOT outside but the view was fabulous!!

Hookem' Horns ... Aliy and I have fun shopping!

Our 3 days at convention consisted of 4 general sessions, several workshops, morning praise and worship, my favorite part Matthew West concert, shopping, eating, lounging around, and a high school flash back MOM Prom.  We did venture out of the resort for some shopping at a near by mall but other than that we took advantage of being pampered at the resort. 

Inside the Resort

 

Ready for MOM Prom ... minus our Prom dresses.

My Handle Bar ...

What happens when 15 adults pedal ONE bike around Old Town Fort Collins?  It’s becomes a 3 hour Bar Hop Bike Ride!  We decided to celebrate Anne’s 40^th Birthday a little early this year!  She doesn’t actually turn 40 until December but if your gonna surprise a girl with a Handle Bar Party than your gotta do it a few months early.  Yes … she was SURPRISED and OH MY was it fun!

Anne Lance ... The Birthday Girl!

A Party On Wheels!

Pedal Power!

It was a whirlwind tour of several Breweries and Bars.   Our tour started at Pateros Creek Brewing Company where all 15 of us hoped on ONE bike that 10 people pedal at once!  1^st stop Odell’s Brewing … then on to Fort Collins Brewing … next New Belgium Brewing ... then a stop over for shots and fufu cocktails at Luscious Nectar ... super quick stop for soaked cherries at The Town Pump (this was the quickest stop but am certain it was the deadliest stop … I’m still asking WTF were we thinking??!?!? Eating those cherries) … then onto our final destination … The Rio!

The Girls ...  Jen - Julie M. - Erica - Anne - Bonnie - Julie B.

Our Handle Bars!

The Boys ... Dave - Cris - Josh - JC and Dwight

Birthday Girl is about to get WILD!!

Bird City Kansas ...

July ended with another fun vacation in Bird City, Kansas at the Annual Tri-State Antique and Engine Show.  This year, despite my protest Justin graduated to driving the full size tractors on his own. He did great and loved it!

~ Justin driving the Allis Chalmers ~

Since Justin abandoned the driver seat on the mini tractor Brandon (my nephew) jumped in and learned to drive the mini tractor on his own and was smiling ear to ear!  Makenna and Emily were happy to tag along with the boys in the trailer.

 ~ Brandon Driving the Cub Cadet through the Parade with Makenna ~

Engine Show Fun ... Makenna and Emily enjoying there time together!

 ~ Tug a War with the Little Engine ~

 My niece Taylor had a softball tournament so Uncle Charlie, Taylor and Caleb missed the show.  Aside from a smaller family gathering it was a fun mini vacation for all of us!

Summer Ball ...

June and July was full of baseball and softball.  Justin played his 4^th year of Youth Rec Baseball.  This year it was entirely kid pitch.  Which Justin loved … his favorite position is Pitcher!  His team had a successful season … one game away from playing in the Championship game!  Justin improved his pitching, had a few real big hits but most of all had lots of fun!  One of his best friends … Cooper Bigge played with him this year which made the season even more enjoyable for all of us. 

 

 Justin Pitching!

 This is the 1st year he has played catcher ... he loved it!

 The "Team" ... not sure Makenna realized she was not actually on the team!  Gotta love a girl who always wants to be by her brothers side!

Dwight and I played on a Coed Rec Softball League this summer with Darren and Audrey and several other “Hodge’s” relations.  It was fun but didn’t take long to prove how old we are.  I tore my quad during the 2^nd game and was out for about a month then Dwight sprained his ankle towards the end of the season and hobbled through the rest of the game.  Sadly I never took any pictures at the game so we just have stories to be told.  Wednesday nights made for some good laughs … hopefully we are all brave enough to do it again next summer!

Two Wheels ...

Daddy decided it was time for 2 wheels so he took of Makenna’s training wheels!  It didn’t take long and she was off …….. Pedaling fast and dragging her feet or jumping off to stop is her style of riding! 

 

It works ... she's riding on her own and LOVING it!

So fast even the camera couldn't stop her :)