Touring the Town

Here is the much needed update, or at least part of it! During July, we have some awesome friends come and visit us! The Robison family came, which was so cool since we got to meet their little guy, Matthew. It was so fun to have a little "little" guy there since he is two months old (or at least was when he was here). They got to tour our town with riding the railroad, seeing the donkeys, going to breakfast for 49 cents (awalys good), and of course, touring the gold mine where Chad works. So here are the following pictures, forgive me if they are not in a good order:


It was so much fun having friends here. Hopefully soon, we will be to visit them. :)

The local donkeys
Cam playing in my hair after I took the braids out (this is to follow the last picture)

after the blast

before the blast

Chad standing near the tires

loading up the rock into the trucks that Chad drives (here is what he does for 12 hours)

Rachael sticking her hand through rock that had been drilled for blasting

part of the gold mine from American Eagle Outlook

dumping rock (again Chad does this for 12 hours)

sitting in the seat where Chad has sat

with the bed fully up, they have to do this to work on it

Rachael standing near a spare part for the trucks

my hair from the Renaissance Festival

Searching for a dress

So I know I must do an update! But first I am searching for a dress for one of my best friend's wedding next year. I am way excited! I guess all the bridesmaids will be wearing a different color and my color is.... Fuschia pink! So me I know (just kidding). Even though it's not my color I have to say that I am looking forward to having a dress for spring/summer. But I am excited to find something but I have plenty of time since the wedding is now until june

Happy Fourth!

Things are good here in Colorado. Chad is official a "miner" with driving the big truck. I'll have to post some pictures of what he drives; it's a monster! So far he is doing good with the crazy work hours and switching from nights to days. but soon he will have his week off! I'm so excited because some really good friends of ours might come to visit us with their little boy! I can't wait!! :)
Cameron is becoming more mobile!! Lately he has been getting on his knees more but today he started to "inch" or as his Grandma Corder said, "He's throwing himself forward!" So...what does this mean? I need to get some items to keep him safe and just watch him go! He also has been enjoying more veggies. So far: carrots, green beans, and sweet potatoes he really likes. :) Next veggie is: peas. But I don't see that bothering him either since I like to eat them.
Fourth of July was a lot of fun! we actually were able to have our fireworks!! Due to a stage two fire ban, it was possible that they could have canceled it at the last second. We watched them pretty close up, and didn't even have to bother with people or traffic! Thanks to where my father-in-law works at the railroad, we went on the tracks to watch them. Cam did really well even though he was so tired! He normally goes to bed at 9 but fireworks started at 9:30ish...and he didn't get to bed until 11! We had ear protection over his ears to make sure he would be fine and would freak out. He was great! Even with him going to be at 11, he still woke up the next morning at 6! Not cool. Other than that, things are going well! :) I hope our friends can come out soon to visit and Harry Potter 7, part II comes out on the 15th!! Way excited!!

Green beans and a little rice ceral.. yummy!

My niece, Baili,'s butterfly

sweet potatoes..and look at my arms! ;)

getting ready to go to the fireworks in PJs!

Watching the show with Daddy

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!! :)