Donkey Derby Days

In our little town there is something called "Donkey Derby Days". I have to say that I was very impressed by it! And it was so much fun doing a family activity by going to some festival. Sadly, if we want to go to any other festivals, we have to drive a ways to get there (like an hour or more). Donkeys are allowed to roam our town since they are descendants of the mining donkeys and people get in trouble for hurting the donkeys. I'm sorry to report sad news but last weekend, one of the donkeys had gotten hit by a truck and died from the injuries. They haven't found who was responsible but hopefully they do! So that was a sad note to start off for Donkey Derby Days. Chad, Cam, and I had a wonderful time walking up the main street and checking out all the booths. At the museum, there was a "shoot-out" performed by the Victorian Society. It was kinda funny to watch but it was cool. Too bad my father-in-law and hubby don't have period clothing because they would so fit in! :) We tried some free samples of different food items since we didn't really want to spend much money. I have to say that I am in love with this pomergrante salsa which would be amazing on chicken! But we didn't buy any, but who knows.. maybe next year? :) They had a wonderful section for kids to do different games, pet animals, pony rides, and even... DONKEY rides! :) what's donkey derby days without donkey rides? Perhaps Cam will enjoy it more next year. The parade was really good which we enjoyed talking with our friends, the Gray family! Lots and lots of people and different things. There was probably 50 plus horses there. Most of the horses were from the Colorado Springs Rodeo.. hoping we can go to that as well on one of Chad's days off. One really cool booth was from a wolf center located in Guffey (which is further out there than us) and they had two wolves on display that people could touch and pet. So neat! Needless to say, we had fun in the sun! (and I got a little sun on my face but that was it). Of course, my camera died part way through the parade but then it came back for a few more pictures then died again. I miss my recharagable batteries!

the Shoot out!

Cam petting one of our town donkeys

the Air Force Acamedy booth

wolf!

the beginning of the parade

bag pipes rule! this is one of the two groups in the parade

smile!

this guy was awesome considering he had to walk DOWN hill!

loving the sunglasses

thought the cremello was pretty (the "white" horse)

the beginning of most of the horses from the rodeo!

So today was Chad's first night shift! Poor guy, he is SO tired. Since yesterday we walked the town to help tire him out then he took a nap to stay up late, which he did. Then he got up early to go to church, which he left early to come home to nap until he had to go to work. Sadly, he didnt' get as much sleep. So hoping and praying that he is awake and alert for this first real 12 hour shift. Good news, is that he is with someone learning the truck for a while still! So at least he has company.
Cameron turned six  months old! I have no idea where the time has gone!! He is getting so big: 18 lbs 5 oz and 27 inches long. wow! my big little boy! :) He has now eaten carrots, which he seems to enjoy or at least he doesn't seem to dislike. He did make a few funny faces which Chad captured for me :) He is now a little water bug with the swim pool. The first time he wasn't in it very long, but his second time around he swam for 30ish minutes. :) and was just a spalshin' water all over the place! It was a lot of fun. He still has no teeth and isn't crawling yet but I'm sure before too long he will be. He loves to roll all over the floor and get into stuff, espeically his diaper basket.

carrots.. yum!

swimming with Daddy (june 24)

swim time, cousin baili playing with Cam's toy

wrinkles!

So thats really all the news of us: we just enjoyed being in the sun with the donkeys, Chad is offically a miner, and Cameron is just growing so big! :)
Love from beautiful ,warm Colorado

Driving a BIG truck

I am so excited! Chad got the job at the gold mine! :) Too bad you can't see it but I am so doing a happy dance. On tuesday Chad had gotten the call from the gold mine and he starts this coming monday (the 20th). happy day! a steady income and a reliable paycheck! It has been a little frustrating with Platinum lately with Chad still not receiving his check from when he worked down in Texas. Grr.. we got it figured out why we haven't received it yet...but just frustrating when somone didn't even call Chad back. But anyways. It is going to be a LONG week next week for Chad just for him getting use to LONG days and hours. Fun! Anways, Cameron turned six months! I can't believe how quickly he has grown and the time has just flown by. :) I will report more on his weight/height after his doctor's appointment on Monday. But he is doing great! He is nice and chunky still and rolling everywhere. Still working most nights or mainly mornings for him to actually sleep. but its getting better. :) I'm so excited...:) The Lord always keeps us in mind even when we think the timing is off. Nope, it's all in HIS time and what a blessing. :)

Warm in colorado

It has been nice and warm her beautiful weather! We keep our windows open all night long cause I am so hot! A quick update fir us: Chad did the physical which took two hours!! He passed the physical part and we are hoping the drug test too since he had pain meds for the surgery a while back. If all is well hopefully he will start work on the 20th. Yay!! Cameron is doing great! He rolls all over the floor, playing with his feet including putting a foot in his mouth! Also I have been cutting out his nighttime feedings the past few nights! He cries for maybe an hour then goes back to sleep. But last night he slept the whole night!! He kinda had woke up but he didn't stay that long and put himself back to sleep! So hopefully this pattern will continue for us. Next week he will turn six months old! Where did the time go? Other than that little news not too much is going on for us. I'm just still praying Chad gets the job at the gold mine so we can get out of debt, have a steady paycheck, save money and get a house. :)

He traveled to Texas

So Chad did go down to Texas for a week! Cam and I stayed home since Chad wasn't going to be down there long. Sadly I didn't get to see our good friends but maybe next time if Chad has to go again. Here in five hours Chad has a physical for the gold mine and I'm nervous! other than that some quick news! Cam now can sit up but we dont leave him there because he will still lean to the sides but it's awesome! And he rolls all over the floor! I've caught him several times on his tummy and sire in the crib but he rolls now! That's our boy!! And he has started to eat rice cereal and pears!! He loves his food!! :)

Ohio Photos

Hanging at the airport wearing Daddy's hat

Cameron with Great-Grandparents Corder

Three generations (missing Grandpa Doc Corder)

Daddy and his mini-me

Cameron on his first horse, Prince

Cameron with Auntie Kayla!

waiting to get my ears pierced, and yes, Chad held my hand the whole time. wonderful husband!

sleeping together

Cameron with Great-Grandma Darrah

Cameron with Mommy's cousins (Zoe, Jordan, and April)

Cam with Uncle Carl (CW) and cousin Lisee

Cameron with Uncle Andre

sleeping with Grandma Canter!

Cameron in Daddy's sailor suit. I LOVE this picture, just wish he hadn't spit up!

Sailor Cameron (doesn't the sailor suit look good for beind 26 years old?)

To Travel or Not to Travel?

It has been wonderful to be back home, espiecally since I can put Cameron back on more of our night routinue. For the past two nights he slept till about 5 or 6 am and then ate! Yes! I am trying to get my nights back. Of course, sometimes he wakes up in the middle and I have to either a) change a diaper (only if its dirty) or b) put him back to sleep. But we are getting there.. slowly but surely! Last Thursday, Chad and I took Cam to JC Pennys to get his picture taken in his daddy's sailor suit. Chad's mom has a picture of 6 month old Chad in this cute sailor suit. And she kept it nice and clean and put it in Chad's baby box. So I of course dug it out and washed it! Thank goodness I tried it on Cam once we got back home from Ohio because.. it fits!! And the pictures of Cam turned out really cute! We get to pick them up on Saturday, so I can't wait to put some in frames and mail some for family and friends! :)
So, we finally got Chad cleared from the doctor to lift more than 50 lbs. So we called to gold mine to let them know about it and we also found out that the gold mine changed their physical examination! It's harder...so we are trying to get Chad in to the doctor to get it taken even though he might not get hired till middle of June! AH! But good news, in a way, is that Platinum has asked Chad to come do installs.. and the money sounds so good! So if we can get Chad to take this new physical ASAP then maybe he will go down to Texas for a few weeks and install. Bad news for Cam and I is that we might be daddy-less for that period of time. Because lets face it, we push it for two days to travel to Texas. Plus I'm just getting him back on a night rountine.. so the question for us is: to travel or not to travel? We shall figure out what needs to be done, hopefully tomorrow since they need Chad down in Texas. Sadly, I really would love to go to Texas, mostly to see my best friend/big sister and her kids! But.. I don't think that will happen. Oh well.. will update with more news of traveling later..

Trip to Ohio

I have so much to report on! Chad's surgery went well! He was compeletly useless for the first three days and felt so much better after the fourth. We decided that during his second week of healing that we would finally take our trip to Ohio, which my parents so wonderfully flew us out! Cameron traveled so well. We left on a very early morning flight from the Springs: 6:30 am, which meant waking up at 3:30 to leave. Of course, that morning Cam decided to wake up at 2:50! He had such a confused look on his face when he saw his daddy at 3:30 compeletly awake! I could read Cam's mind, which he said "Daddy, why are you up when it's this dark out? I'm only used to seeing Mommy!" Cam got fussy on the landing to Atlanta, and coming home to, which is strange considering he didn't mind landing in the Springs or in Dayton. So Tuesday night was just getting into Dayton, going to my Mom's house, and seeing her and my Dad and Uncle. Thanks to our great friend Stacey, we had a pack-n-play for Cameron! Wednesday, we went to visit Chad's grandparents. Grandpa Corder (or Great-grandpa Corder for Cam) isn't doing so well with his health so that was the main reason for us to go out so Chad could see him again. It was a good day for him which meant alot to Chad. After that, we visited with Chet and Melissa which was fun! On Thursday, it was a slower day. We had lunch with my Mom at Olive Garden then went to the mall to waste time before we visited Caitlyn Mullins and Kayla Clark. Cam got to sit on his very first horse, name Prince (Caitlyn's horse). We had a great visit with Kayla or Aunite Kayla for Cam. And at the mall, I finally got my ears pierced!! I still can't believe I did that and people so lied when they said it doesn't hurt! (yes, just because I had a natural birth doesn't mean I have a high pain tolerance!) but I am liking it even though it is really strange. Friday, my mom, Chad, Cam, and I made the long drive up north to Kent to visit my grandma and other family members. It was so wonderful to see everyone and for them to meet/see Cam! He was such a charmer with the younger girls! Saturday, we visited some good friends, Nathan and Katrina Terry and their kids, and then had the day with my Dad. That evening we got to go out with them and my half-brother's family. :) So much fun! Sunday we went to church with my mom, which of course we were late for! I had set my alarm for 745am but of course it was on mountain time! so.. thank goodness I woke up at 8. We had to change Cam into his suit at church. After church we all took a nap! Andre came over to see us, which was great! Then after naps, we drove over to visit other good friends, the Wilsons! It was so much fun to visit with them, we miss them so much! Monday, we again visited with chad's grandparents and had a great dinner cooked by my Uncle! Tuesday afternoon we had lunch with my mom, dad, and Uncle before we had to fly out. It was not fun saying goodbye to everyone, espeically my mom, but there is always the phone! :) We had a good flight back home. And it is nice being back home, espeically to have Cameron back on a normal scheduel with trying to help him sleep through the night more. It is still a work in progress...some sleepless nights and others are a little better. So that was our wonderful/busy trip to ohio! and we can't wait to go back!!
I will hopefully post pictures soon, but right now my little man woke up and need to get him calmed down and back to bed! The life of being a parent.. oh and great news! My best friend Rachael had her little guy on May 9th! I can't wait till we can go visit them and meet their little guy!! yay! :) Life is good.