Halloween '08

Our little skeleton and clown girl!

Jessi picked out the smallest pumpkin in the orchard. It was interesting trying to carve it! We went to the local flavor fruit farm and walked through the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin. I think Jessi finally decided after having pick up and carry about a dozen. Jessi is our messy one while Andy is not so much!

Cheesing it after we found the perfect pumpkins at the fruit farm. It's really neat seeing how they make cider, all of the apple orchards, a hay ride, an elephant ride, corn maze, and freshly made donuts. You can't walk or drive near the place without buying a few!

Football Time!

Andy decided that he wanted to play football this year. Luckily, with his size, it was flag football. He was on the Olivet Comets Team. He learned so much and made a lot of new friends. All of the kids got to play on offense and defense and play a variety of positions. He was one of the few that actually tucked the ball away while he was running.

Even though his team didn't have a winning record, they all had fun. It's amazing how involved all of the community is here...I'd forgotten with being away for four years. He is attending school where Paul and I both graduated from.

It's really neat being back at home! Hopefully we'll be able to purchase one of those soon!! We're amazed how many of Andy's classmates are kids of our friends from school. It's nice reconnecting with old friends and making new ones!

Swim Lessons

Swim lessons were such a blast for both of the kids. They learned a ton about swimming and enjoyed swimming outdoors! Paul and I had fun helping Jessi with her lessons too. She even got to jump (be lifted) off of the diving board!

Andy was a true champ in the water. He jumped in the deep end without a life jacket or assistance with swimming to the end. We're so proud of our little swimmers. What's the next activity that they're going to get interested in??

Boating on Farwell Lake

Uncle Eric & Aunt Becky have a pontoon boat that is a lot of fun to ride and jump off into the lake. It's a great way to cool down from the humidity, even though the last few days have been nearly free of the humidity.

Riding on the water has always been so relaxing for me as a child and earlier this week I realized that it still is. We all went into the water, even Jessi. She's always a little nervous at the beginning, but gets used to is once she realizes that we aren't letting go!

Andy even got to have a couple of the neighbor kids join him on the boat. There aren't a lot of kids around where we are living right now, so it's really nice that Uncle Eric and Aunt Becky have several kids that play really well with Andy.

Horse Back Riding at Aunt Pams!

Grandma's sister, Aunt Pam, has a couple of ponies and one just had a baby about a month ago. We were able to take the kids their to see them and even take a ride. Another great reason to be near family! It has been truly amazing to have all of the family around. Paul and I had two nights in a row without the kids...it seems strange, but we're really enjoying having some date nights. We have had the chance to try out some new restaurants that have come to town in the time that we were gone.

The kids are having a blast with all of the family. They've had several sleep overs with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. We're really enjoying seeing Jessi bond so much with the family. What a difference it makes for her to be able to see all of them anytime she or we want. She doesn't look at them like they're strangers anymore!

I can tell that she doesn't totally understand what is going on. She still talks about Kara, Myles, and Auntie Val. I like how good her memroy is! I don't think that she will ever forget her hometown friends. We'll have to make sure to keep in touch and visit when it's possible!

Bible School Performance

Since we're back in town, the kids and I attended Bible School at my mom's church. It was a lot of fun and fitting since it was a Beach Party theme for Vacation Bible School. The activities, songs, and scriptures were all very interesting. After the three nights of school, the kids got to perform a couple of songs at the Sunday service. It was a lot of fun for the kids and myself. They got to meat new friends while I was able to reconnect with old ones!

Michigan Fun!

The move back has been very enjoyable for all of us. Jobs are coming around with offers starting to appear. The weather here has been amazingly beautiful with only a little humidity. According to the weather forecast that will be ending soon, but Eric and Becky have a pontoon that is a lot of fun to take on the lake.

Everything in Michigan is so green. I got to mow! The grass smells so moist and fresh, one thing that I missed doing during the past four years. We went to my aunts house and saw all of her greenhouses. Talk about smelling fresh and good. All of the flowers were so bright and beautiful. Andy snuck a ride on her six wheeler while we were their.

The kids talked us into getting a trampoline. There favorite way to spend time is outside and this allows them to keep active with each other and quiet enough for grandpa to be able to sleep during the day. Jessi loves to jump, she looks like a little bunny rabbit hopping on it. Andy's a wild man! He is learning fast and will be doing flips before we know it.

Even though we're currently jobless, we don't seem to have much spare time. We almost seem busier now than when we had jobs. We're job hunting, finishing the basement at his parents, visiting family, and trying to help out as much as possible with our grandparents. Hopefully we'll have some time to relax and go camping.

We're Home!

We arrived in Michigan on Monday evening. The entire trip was beautiful: no rain, water, or clouds. Just sunny the entire way. So far it is only humid in the afternoon. I think the Colorado skies followed us! The sun is bright and the sky is cloudless. It's really great to be home and near family. We feel like we haven't had a chance to rest, but it will come once we get settled and find jobs. I'll keep you posted and hopefully get some new pics to add for everyone. Job outlooks are looking up for both of us.

Only A Week Left In Colorado

Well, we are now down to our last week in Colorado. What can we do to make it a time to remember? Well, pack and go to class:( We aren't exactly looking forward to the humidity, but we can't wait to see the family, our MI friends, and go to the lakes and yes, swim! We only have a little bit left to pack up at the house, but it seems like an endless job. Especially since I still need to finish up my classroom. Job outlooks are looking up, and we know that something is going to work out...it always seems to. We'll keep everyone posted on our arrival. As of right now we're planning on arriving in MI on the 30th of June.

Views from Woodland Park, Colorado of Pikes Peak!

Memories to last a life time. The place where Jessi was born, Andy started school, Paul became a firefighter, and I got my first teaching job.

The people, views, and weather are wonderful...rarely a cloud in the sky. A home away from home. A place where we created a 'Colorado' family.

Rocky Mountain High is right. There is never a dull moment in Colorado, we are always on the go: skiing, hiking, swimming lessons for Andy, traveling, camping. A place we have no regrets moving to and yet no regrets leaving.

In Loving Memory of Great Grandpa Swihart

This post is to remember Grandpa and all of the joy that he brought to our family. Our family has so many memories with the kids Great Grandpa. He loved to take every ones photo, so it was rare to get him in one...but we did and this photo includes four generations of Swihart Men! Grandpa even traveled to Colorado to come and visit us. He never forgot that trip and neither will we.

We vacationed many times to Grandpa's property in Harrison. Memories that we will never forget. Building additions on the trailer, going for rides on the trails and in to Marion.

We are going to miss him tremendously, but we know that we will meet again. Paul & I are very happy that the kids got to know him and we will speak the memories that he spoke to us. Grandpa we love you and can't wait to see you again!

So we're moving home!

Well, the decision has been made. We are moving home, back to Michigan. The four years in Colorado have been unbelievable, but it is now time to return back to the ones that we love. Our kids need to know their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It's hard to say good bye, but now we have a great spot to come and vacation! We'll be moving at the end of June when our lease is up, so I should get packing:)

The kids are having a lot of fun and we hope to see more of Colorado's beauty before we say good bye. Auntie Val (Jessi's daycare lady) bought this horse just for her kids. She will be greatly missed along with all of the rest of our Woodland Park family.