HIS plan, not ours!

We started our journey home from Colorado yesterday, but little did we know what our day would hold!!!! 

We began by having breakfast with our sweet friends, Mel and Nancee Conant in Denver! 

When we left Denver, it was snowing but we didn't think much of it! Rich acted concerned that the weather was supposed to get worse the more East we got, I didn't really care! I was very confident in his driving skills and knew he could get us home in ONE day! :) 

A little further down the road, we couldn't see 10 ft in front of our car! Rich acted nervous, and I still refused to act like I thought there was a problem! 

This was our view, and I was graciously volunteering to drive our family! HOME! Don't get me wrong, we had an amazing trip, but once the vacation is over, it's over! 

Needless to say, after a couple hours of driving, we were "re-routed" off the interstate to a side street! The town was named, "Stratton" population 650?! Rich asked if I wanted him to get a hotel and I said no, we can wait it out! :) I just knew it would die down and the interstate would reopen shortly! 

The interstate was closed all the way to the Kansas border and we were told it would not be reopening until the next morning! Needless to say, I was less than chipper! I was on the phone with hotels.com trying to find a hotel anywhere in the area. The closest one was 2 hours away, and we had no way to get there! So, we were going to be staying at the Town Hall in Stratton. I felt like it was something out of a movie, and there was no way this was really happening! 

Rich scored us a corner spot, and our kids thought it was so cool! Kaylor undecorated their Christmas tree over and over!

We overheard the Police talking about a chili supper they were having at the school cafeteria to support some local FFA boys who were raising money for a trip to Thailand! I invited our family to go! :)

The Baker family also went, and I am so glad they did! 

We joked about our sleeping arrangements and how we were still in shock that this was really happening! They are from Boulder, and were only 2 hours from being home! Big bummer!!!

After eating, we went back to the Town Hall to hang out for the night! I was dreading trying to get Kaylor to sleep in this room, so had already decided we were sleeping in the car!

THEN....it all changed! The Ludwig family came in and said they had seen us at the chili supper and wondered if our family and the Bakers would want to come stay at their hunting lodge! Hello???? Of course, we would love to! I think rich was so shocked that I said yes! Our families and a sweet lady named Diana loaded up and followed the Ludwigs out to their property! 

The kids had a blast playing, and we loved visiting by the fire! :) 

This morning, lance had fixed the kids a nice breakfast before we got on the road! 

What started out as a scary night with plenty of unknowns, ended up being a night that our family will never forget! 

There are still nice people out there, y'all! We were completely taken care of and safe in a situation that could have been very different! One thing I saw is that God is always faithful! He provides a way when we can't see a way! (We thought we would be sleeping in our car with our kids and eating what we could find from the gas station!) 

We had a wonderful chili/soup supper and met great new friends! Memories were made!!! Great end to our trip! 

Always eventful traveling with the Richardsons! :) only 9 more hours in the car! 😁😁😁

Sweet Palmer Kate

I have been waiting for this day for nine long months!!!!! Finally my sweet niece is here! She's perfect! Her cheeks, y'all!!!!! 

Hoyt is a proud big brother!!!

I brought Lucy Jane with me and came and waited at the hospital. Rich kept Kaylor and they waited until sweet Palmer Kate was born to come to the hospital! 

Our first looks at sweet cheeks!!! This girl has some chubby cheeks, and her Tee Tee loves to kiss them! 

Lucy Jane and Hoyt enjoyed playing for the most part! They surprised me how well they did hanging out in the lobby all day! 

And Lucy Jane kept calling Josh's dad, john, Uncle Joe! It was hilarious!

This sweet girl is so loved!

Big brother was worn out and had to catch a nap in the hospital bed!

Palmer Kate, you are loved! So proud to be your aunt!

First Day of Pre-K 4

Lucy Jane has started pre-school, like the year before kindergarten! Crazy to me that she is already this big! 

We went to meet her new teacher, Mrs. Ludwig. 

Lucy Jane was excited that she was in the same classroom as last year; however, she was disappointed that it wasn't kindergarten. For some reason, she was really looking forward to being a kindergartner!

It takes a village to get this family out the door in the mornings! 

She looks so big!!!

She has changed so much in a year!

She saw her sweet friend, Grayson, in the parking lot! :) always makes it easier to go in seeing a sweet friend! 

So excited! And look at that cute backpack! 

She knows where to go without our help! She wanted to just be dropped off, but decided it would be okay for us to walk her in if we HAD to! 

The night before school, she prayed, "Dear lord Jesus, please be with me as I start kindergarten! And wrap your arms around my momma because she will be worried!"

Love her heart! Looking forward to a great year!!!

Little Momma! (Miss Independent)

Lucy Jane thinks she should be kaylors mom! Once she has on her lipstick, everyone thinks she is a mom anyway! (So she says) 

She dresses him.

To coordinate her of course!

He lets her carry him everywhere.

She buckles him into the car seat...after she puts him into his seat by herself of course.

She gives him lots of kisses!

She pushes him wherever we need to go!

He's lost without her this morning! He keeps walking around the house saying sis, and looking for her! :) thankful he loves being "mothered" or bothered by her!!!

Oh! Just a fun Sunday!

We all hit the bed for naps after church, which was amazing! For some reason, everyone sleeps good on Sunday afternoon!!! We needed to do a little show shopping for back to school, so the naps were necessary! 

Rich thought we all needed a milkshake to get started! Who can argue, right?

Ummm...I think Kaylor enjoyed his first milkshake! :) 

We ended the night at the AMP for a Crosshurh night of worship! It was amazing! 

We had just dropped the kids off at Pinnacle Hills! They have an amazing set up for kids! Mine love it there!

It was HOT! But it was good!l!! So thankful to be a part of such an awesome church!

We were challenged with this as we reach NWA for The Lord:

1. We are obligated.

2. We are eager.

3. We are not ashamed!

Celebrating Palmer Kate!

Saturday we got together to celebrate my new niece Palmer Kate! Only a few more weeks before we get to cuddle her in our arms, and to say I'm excited is an understatement!!!!!

The table looked beautiful! My mom used flowers from Josh and Haley's wedding as the centerpiece on the table! Love the sentiment of that :)

We used her hospital door hanger canvas on the table as well! Love her sweet name! 

And the cake...oh goodness, Shelby Lynn's always does a fabulous job! 

Haley had a wonderful shower with family and friends! She got tons of girly stuff!!! 

Haley is an amazing Momma to Hoyt, and I know she can't wait to add Palmer Kate to the family! (She HATES having her belly touched, but I couldn't resist!)

My mom was a great hostess! Love these two so much!

We got to visit with Lydia, which was so nice! Wish we all got together more!

You never know what will happen when these two are together! A true example of a life long friendship! Their faces, y'all! They really are crazy!

Nana and Hoyt Baby! Goodness he looks big here 😢

They attempted a picture with the grand kids! You can see how well that went!

So many more awesome people here to celebrate the day, but these are all the pictures I have! 

Love this sister of mine, and so thankful for the two babies she has blessed our family with!!! Praying for a smooth delivery, and easy transistion for Hoyt! 

Thankful!