Welcome to the World Brooklynne......

Stacy and Mark welcomed their daughter, Brooklynne Janelle LaMourey this morning at 3:18am. She was 8lbs 7ounces and 20.5 inches long. Little stinker was a surprise as she wasn't supposed to come until April 18th! I think she's going to keep mommy and daddy jumping!

Welcome to the world little one!

The girls didnt really understand how Brooklynne got out. They asked if auntie Stacy pooped her out. When I said no, the doctor took her out, Kaiti started crying and said she didn't want to have a baby! LOL
Their little minds are so innocent.

Random thoughts

Putting my children to bed tonight and my Kaiti says "momma I like you" and kisses my hand.
Is that better than I love you? In many ways I believe it is. Love comes many times in the form of unspoken allegiance as in well she's my aunt so I have to love her, but to like someone - truly like that person - means that you enjoy being with them, they brighten your day, they make you feel good and you CHOOSE to be around them. I want my children to like me - in all my weirdness because that means they choose me and that's the best feeling in the world!

Nikki's Birthday.....

Nikki has been gone since July and every holiday or important date, I always think of her and wish she was here. Her birthday is Saturday, the 13th, she would've been 38. Such a beautiful life taken so early and too soon.

We were friends for so many years and saw many ups and downs together. I was there when Coby was born as well as Allyssa. We dedicated Coby in their church. She was with me as we struggled through infertility and several other hard times in life. She was with me through the birth of my daughters and the death of my grandparents.

She was someone that I could sit on the phone for hours with and not realize that 6 hours had passed even though she lived 10 houses away from us. We would do late night runs to Wal-Mart just because we could. We didn't even need anything we just went.

Her death has been a huge loss for me as well as her children. Not only did it take my best friend from me, it showed me that nothing is guaranteed and to make the most of every single day. Because of her death, I love deeper, laugh harder and tell people that I love just how I feel. Alive she taught me many things and in death she continues to teach me. I love and miss you so much Nikki - I'll never have another friend like you.

Nichole Lynn Gardner, 37, of Colorado Springs, passed away July 6, 2012 after a 2 1/2 year battle with breast cancer. Nikki was born April 13, 1975 in Fort Carson, Colorado to Lavina & Vince Volk who survive her. She lived in Germany, Georgia & Kansas during her early years, then settled in Colorado Springs. She was a 1993 graduate of Doherty High school, where she met her high school sweetheart, Gary Gardner. They married on October 11, 1997 and he survives her. She is survived by her children Samantha 11, Coby 8, and Alyssa 6. Survivors include her sister Lisa and husband Peter Hunt, sister Tawnya and husband James Sokolik, 2 nephews and 2 nieces, Father-in-law Gary Gardner Sr & Mother-in-law Roberta Gardner and aunts, uncles and cousins. The family would like to acknowledge the medical staff that assisted her. A memorial will be held on Friday, July 13, 2012 at 11:00 am at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 4125 Constitution Ave., Colorado Springs. Nikki, WE HOPE YOU DANCE

Santa Express Train

Our family tradition at Christmas is to take the girls on the Santa Express Train. It starts in Canyon City and goes through the bottom of the Royal Gorge. We pick up Santa at the North Pole and he comes through all the train cars and greets the children. It's so cute and the girls get SO excited! Here are some of the pictures from our trip.

Easter 2013

For Easter this year, we went to church and then to Zio's for lunch. We do this every year, but this year, Grandma Brenda came with us to church and lunch so it was extra special.

At Church, the service started off with a video of the resurection and showed a bunch of pictures of Jesus on the Cross and His resurection. Towards the end of the video, a deep voice came over the speakers and Taylor looks at me and goes "Is that God?!" It was soooo cute!

Here are some pictures from our wonderful day!

Taylor, Leigha and Kaitlyn playing outside before lunch at the restaurant.

My smiling beauties!

All the grandbabies: Sawyer, Kaitlyn, Stephen, Leigha, Shalyn, and Taylor.

I LOVE Leighas face in this one!!! She's such a ham

Stephen, Shalyn, Kaitlyn, Leigha, Sawyer and Taylor

My aspiring ballerina. What a princess!