Weekend to Remember in Colorado

Hi!  I am back!  The blog has been neglected because Mike and Cait and I went to Colorado over the long weekend.  Mike went to a Maximized Living conference and Cait and I went to see my best friend in the whole wide world, Gretch.  Gretch had a baby girl the day before Cait was born, you may remember me mentioning this once or twice.

I had one of the best weekends ever.  Here are a few pics to prove it!

Strolling down Pearl ST in Boulder enjoying the peaceful easy feeling of life with one baby!  DOn't we look relaxed?  I have made it my goal to be like this everyday. I can hear all of you who know me saying "Good luck with that".

We got to visit with the Rolfe family.  Daniel and Laurie have 7 children and she home schools them all.  It was a real encouragement to see their family in action! 

Here we are with our babies, Caitlyn and Sophia.  We had such a great time dressing the girls up in matching outfits, watching them play, doing crafts and just talking and laughing and eating and shopping.  This girl knows me inside and out, she is the most familiar soul in my life next to my Mom, our history spans our whole lives and is rich with so many memories.  I can't begin to express how in awe I am of our loving and caring and creative detail oriented God who chose to bless us with little girls just one day apart in age...we made a lot of fun plans as kids (I think we were going to marry twins in a joint wedding at one point) but could not have dreamed of this scenario and it is still surreal how fun this journey has been to share together!

Our little ladies in their dresses from Aunty Jen and the fabulous ruffle leggings we scored at Target for the fantastic low price of $4!  Ahh the cuteness!

Cait was going in for a kiss but it ended up in just a little snuggle session:)

What a refreshing weekend to get away from the business of life, meet some new friends, treasure and old friendship and realize that I really cherish my busy crazy messy home and all the little people who reside within it!

I must add, Mike was a fabulous travel buddy.  We were both so relaxed, it was a lot of fun!  I am thankful that I got to hitch a ride on his travel plans!

Super Cool Gift!

My best friend Gretch and I have known each other our entire lives. When we were little we had this plan that we were going to both have baby girls the same age and then they would be best friends and when they grew up they would marry twins and we would be family!

This seemed like the perfect plan until I got married at 21 and started having babies right away while Gretch was traveling, getting her degree and taking the corporate world by storm. When Caleb was born 3 years ago, Mike and I were thrilled to have a baby boy and I declared myself DONE having babies. With Gretch still working and not quite ready to be a mom, it looked like the door to us having daughters together was a closed one.

This is the youngest pic of us that I have (that is in jpeg form) but there are lots of younger ones in boxes :)

The phone call between us 8 months ago was shocking and exciting- we were going to be pregnant at the same time!! A few months later, we both found out we were carrying little girls and they were due only 2 weeks apart! Her baby was due May 15th and mine May 3 but Gretch's ended up being born April 28. I had just gotten the news that little Sophia Marie had been born when I went into labor myself. Caitlyn and Sophia are one day apart! God's timing is immaculate and precise and it is His plan that is perfect, not ours!

Gretch and I are on the phone frequently discussing the day's challenges and our daughters' sleep patters...it is so fun to have babies the EXACT same age!!


My birthday isn't till the end of May but Gretch sent me a gift and I couldn't wait! Look what was inside- the cutest lil necklace ever!

"C" for Caitlyn (and Colleen:) Gretch got an "S" for Sophia.

the gold circle says "LOVE"

Thanks Gretch! I love the necklace, and you!!

Shout Out to Paula

I just wanted to give a big shout out to Paula for leaving me a sweet comment on my blog on my birthday. (Technically my mom should be getting one too cause she has left numerous comments and they are much appreciated but she is my mom and I know I can count on her to boost my self esteem with loving and supportive comments, that's her job!!:)

Paula took the time out of her busy life with small kiddos to stop and write to me, inform me that someone other than my mom is reading and interacting and that is very cool!

(no offense Mom, I still love your comments, i'm just making a shameless plea for more right now!)

Anyways, this post is dedicated to Paula cause I know she is reading!

A few favorite things that come to mind:

You singing El Shaddai with Amy, Jumping on the tramp at chzeselski's, snorting pixi stix(harmless kid stuff people, don't panic), all the alert-o-lights in your front yard, your grandma at your birthday dinners, preparing for adolesence...with all our parents!!, mighty musicians trips, summer fun days, clovis lakes, BTB, throwing things at the sleeping girls at Gretch's sleepover, your brother's tarantula, mexico, LA, going in the limo to dinner for Gretch's b-day (i wish I could post that photo!!) the list goes on and on!

At paula's wedding: Me, Erin, paula, Gretch and Cynthia
Paula had a winter wonderland themed wedding, it was white and sparkly and there were flocked christmas trees everywhere and rhinestones on the candles...it was gorgeous! paula got married at the church we grew up together in and she looked so amazing. Watching her husband Josh watch her come down was a moment I will not forget!!

San Francisco 2002: Me holding Mailee, Paula and Gretch...Mikayla in the stroller

I'll never forget this trip, Paula's new husband had just shipped off to...Iraq? (Correct me if I'm wrong Paula!!) Gretch and Paula and I spent the day together in the City and as we were hanging out on the grass having our picnic, Paula was explaining how she felt and I mentioned that it sounded like she was pregnant....many months later her husband came home to a very pregnant (and super cute I might add:) wife! Her little girl Juliahna is such a cutie. It was fun to be there in those first moments that Paula began to wonder if she would soon be a mom!

Shoot, i have lots of great photos of us when we were little but they would have to be scanned and I need Mike's help for that and he is in bed! I will leave you with this last sentiment which will only make any sense to Miss Paula and my lovely Gretch...

"We're the Green Supremes

And we love to sing

We have come to preach the Gospel

Spread His word from here to there

Cause we're the Green Supremes

And we care"