Go West ... Part 1

On Thursday November 3rd we set out for what is to be the biggest Michael Family Adventure yet.  We left Fort Collins around 2 pm for a 12 day road trip to California.  A little bit of business and a little bit of fun.

~ Justin all smiles as we pull out of the drive-way for Vacation!! ~

~ Makenna with our 3rd child Elmo ... ready for a LONG ride ~ 

~ Dwight's look says it all ... what the heck are we about to do??? ~

Our first stop was in Green River, Wyoming.  We had planned to drive closer to Salt Lake City.  But Wyoming held true to what everyone says. The weather BLOWS in Wyoming.  High winds and black ice was not a great way to start our journey.  Thankfully Dwight was driving when we were traveling 60 mh down the interstate pulling a 28 ft enclosed trailer and the truck and trailer starts to fishtail  I panicked and Dwight was calm.  We called it a day and decided to stay the night.  We awoke to better weather and continued our drive west.

~ Since we will be celebrating Makenna's 5th birthday while on vacation we are giving her one present for 5 days ~

~ Present #1 ... At the top of her wish list, something educational and fun to play with while we are traveling ~

~ We didn't leave Justin out ... we had 5 small surprises for him as well ... as you can see he was thrilled when I pulled out cousin Brandon's Nintendo DS to play with while traveling ~ 

~ Utah Moutains ~

Day #2 was a long drive for us.  With a storm predicted to hit Lake Tahoe we decided to make it all the way over the pass and into Sacramento, California. 

 

Our trip planning started when Dwight purchased a tractor located in Lompoc, California … then when he located another tractor outside of Sacramento we decided it was a GO and the plans began to fall into place.

~ Mommy hanging out with Justin and Makenna in the hotel ~ 

One of my dear friends Metza that I met over 18 years ago while I was a nanny in L.A, now lives in Sacramento.  Once we arrived in Sacramento, Dwight loaded Tractor #1 and we spent 2 days visiting and hanging out with Metza and her family at their beautiful house.  We had such a great time together that we are already making plans for another get together next summer.

~ Ronnie, Metza, me and Dwight ~

~ Just like old times ... except we were all in bed before midnight ~

We left Sacramento Sunday afternoon and headed down the coast to Lompoc, California to pick up tractor #2.

Trickin' and Treatin' ...

Halloween activities this year were rather uneventful for us.  Instead of a month full of fall/Halloween/party events we normally attend this year our festivities were limited to only 2 events.  Justin’s school party (I volunteered to help out) and Trick or Treating Halloween Night. 

~ Justin the WereWolf ~

~ Costume Parade at School ~

Justin was a werewolf for his school party but after having such a hard time seeing out of a mask during the costume parade he quickly decided to be a football player on Halloween Night.  Makenna dressed as Cat in the Hat.  We joined my sister Lori and her kids for Trick or Treating in Windsor. 

Caleb (White Fuzzy Dog), Taylor's Friends Chloe and Tessa, Taylor (Pink Lady), Makenna (Cat in the Hat), Justin (Football Player), Brandon (Hockey Player), Emily (Princess)

~ Our Favorite Carved Pumpkins ~

The weather, the company and the kids’ excitement made for a perfect Halloween!

Trimming Trees ...

Last week we got our 1^st snow storm of the season and it was anything but pretty this year.  With over 9.5 inches of heavy wet snow in less than 24 hours it created a mess. 

The snow started around 7:00 pm and by 9:30 pm we heard the 1^st BANG … it was a LONG night with tree branch after tree branch breaking from our big Cottonwood and Elm trees, several of them hitting the house.  By the morning our yard was covered with snow and branches.  Mother Nature trimmed our trees!! 

Lucky we didn’t have any major damage from the branches hitting the house only fence damage along the west side of our property.  The snow storm created such a mess that the City of Fort Collins will be using emergency funds to clear all the broken branches from properties within the city limits.

The only good thing that came out of the storm is weeks and weeks of winter hauling.  Since Dwight’s business is contracted with the City of Fort Collins his dump trucks will be hauling branches for weeks to come.  Winter is generally Dwight’s down season so financially the storm is a very nice unexpected winter bonus.  It makes cleaning up the mess a lot easier when you’re getting paid by the City to haul your own branches off. 

Miss Soccer ...

Finally after years of cheering on big brother Justin at all his sporting activities Makenna has found her own sport … SOCCER.

She has been talking about playing soccer for months now.  Unfortunately, because of Justin’s intense Football schedule and Dwight’s coaching commitment we didn’t sign Makenna up for Fall Soccer.  Instead we signed her up for a Friday morning Soccer Clinic at the indoor Sports Center.  3 words … SHE LOVES IT!!

I’m not sure it is soccer she loves or the fact that SHE is the one on the field playing instead of sitting on the sidelines. 

Marlee Marie ...



This week we were blessed with another great niece!! 

Marlee Marie

September 11, 2011

8lbs. 2oz.

20 inches

We took the entire family to meet Marlee at the hospital when she was less than 24 hours old. 

~ Justin was so excited to hold his new cousin Marlee ~

~ Makenna was so proud to be holding her new cousin Marlee all by herself ~

~ Daddy Dave, Mommy Amanda and Baby Marlee ~

Pre-K ...

Makenna has been waiting all summer for this day.  Today was her first day of Pre-K.  She is returning to The Learning House a private school that she has been attending for several years.  She has school in the afternoon 3 days a week and LOVES every minute of it!

 The weather was rainy so we didn't get a  chance to take too many pictures outside. 

~ Signing in ~

Hangin' with the Big Guys ...

Former Colorado State University Head Coach Sonny Lubick showed up at Colorado Football Academy.  Justin was excited to shoot a picture with his favorite CSU coach. 

Fort Collins High School kicked off opening season on September 1st with a Broncos Tailgate Party. Several Broncos alumni and Miles the mascot were at the party signing  autographs and posing for pictures.   

~ Justin with Ron Egloff and Billy Thompson ~ 

~ Miles and Justin ~

Third Grade ...

My baby is growing up way too fast! 
Justin started 3^rd grade this year. 

This was the first year he was not excited about starting school.  Hope this is not a sign for the years to come.  Once he got to school he loved it!  He was very excited about his teacher … Mr. Yates.  Not sure who likes football and the Denver Broncos more … Justin or Mr. Yates.  His classroom is full of Orange and Blue and lots of football memorabilia.  Aside from football Justin’s favorite subject is History and so is Mr. Yates!! They will have lots to talk about.  It should be a great school year for Justin.

~ Listening to Mr. Yates ... Justin ready for his first day of 3rd Grade ~ 

Celebrating Ninety-Four …

A few weeks ago my Grammie Wamhoff moved to Lakeview Commons an Assistant Living Center in Loveland, CO.  She moved from Bird City, KS a very small town in Western Kansas.  Unfortunately Grammie needs some assistance and living on her own at her house is no longer a good situation for her.  Our family is thrilled to have her so close to us.  Today we had the honor of celebrating her 94^th Birthday with her.

~ Justin and Makenna with their Great Grammie! ~ 

~ Grammie opening her presents ~

Madalee turns 5 ...

Our great niece Madalee turned 5 years old on August 12th!  We celebrated her special day with her at her Tangled Party!!  The backyard was adorable ... complete with lanterns across the patio. 

~ Opening her presents ~ 

~ Madalee ... 5 years old and adorable! ~