Congrats to Baby Ethan!!!

Last Tuesday, we witnessed Baby Ethan's baptism. He is such an amazing baby boy, who I know will be an amazing little boy and grow up to be an amazing man! I am excited to see him grow up...just not too fast!!!

Congrats to Michelle and Simon - and the proud God Parents Dylan and Sarah!

PATHETIC!!!!!!!!

There are simply no words to excuse the fact that I have done NOTHING with this blog for over 2 months! I have had many friends and family tell me to get on it!!

With Christmas projects and cards and decorating, etc, I don't have time to write a long post...so I will catch everyone up with pictures and then try to be better about blogging from here on out!! So here goes...(also, please excuse the poor quality of the pictures...our camera is awful, will be getting a new one for Christmas!!)

 We had Eva's One Year and family photos taken. Have I ever mentioned how incredible our photographer is??

Halloween...included a trip to a pumpkin patch, a field trip to my work for trick-or-treating, trick or treat street at the outdoor mall with Michelle, Simon and Ethan, and the real deal...trick-or-treating in the neighborhood!

Riding the tractor to the pumpkin patch.

I think this is the 'one'.

Family photo op!!

Michelle and Ethan (cutest little pirate ever!!!) and Daddy and Eva (cutest little peacock ever!!!)

She wanted to be carried the whole way! Which I didn't mind, except her costume was a little hidden. 

Visiting Momma at work in my pretty costume 

Trick or Treating with Daddy

Eva's hair has gotten long enough to put in a 'pebbles' pony tail on top of her head...even pigtails. The problem is that she refuses to leave the bows, barrettes and hair ties in her hair for any length of time...she always pulls them out and the result of this is a REALLY, REALLY bad hair style. See for yourself! 

Cute Hair...

Not so cute hair....

Really, really BAD hair!

For Thanksgiving, Aunty Jen, Uncle Brian and Cousin Sam came to visit! This time, Eva and Sam got along pretty well! I guess third time is a charm since the last 2 times that Sam saw Eva, he was not a fan! But this time, they played together, chased each other, roared at each other like dinosaurs, went to the museum together and had, what seemed like a pretty good time! By the end of their trip, Sam wanted Eva to stay at Gramma and Grandpa's when it was time for us to go home! It was so sweet...already miss them!

Sam and Grandpa cooking for the big meal.

Eva "helping" cook.

The day after Thanksgiving, we celebrated Christmas with the kids...we decorated the tree and the kids opened their presents. Spoiled rotten little ones!! It was a really nice time. 

Eva helping Sam open his presents.

This is a terrible picture, but the last one that I snapped the night before the Cox family left to go back to North Carolina. Sam is kissing Eva goodbye. This was followed up with a dinosaur roar and a big hug!!

Here are some other random photos from the past few months!  

Eva is "riding" Grandpa's motorcycle.

 As some of you may know, we had a bit of a scare last month with Eva. She got a horrible fever (almost 105) and when we went to the doc, they found evidence to suggest that she might have the same kidney disease as my dad. After multiple urine and blood tests, ultrasounds and check ups, the doctor determined that they think it must have just been a virus. Thank God! But they are going to continue to monitor her to make sure that nothing pops up again. It was a rough few weeks, but thankfully, she is back to normal! 

My sick baby waiting at the doctor's office. 

She is still sick here...but the fever had lifted and she was goofing off a bit for the camera!!

One more thing that I wanted to make note of is that last month (the same weekend that Eva was ill), Drew's mother passed away. Drew and his two sister's, Veronica and Emily, went to Chicago for all of the arrangements and to meet up with that side of the family. I never met her, but my hope for her is that she knows she was loved and that she finds peace.

It has been a very busy few months! So many other things have happened (that either, I do not remember or I do not have pics to show-again because the camera sucks!) I am looking forward to sharing the Christmas season with Eva and seeing her take it all in! We have been working with her on what Santa says. She started by saying "ho"...we have moved onto "ho, ho"...I figure by Christmas, she will have it down!!

Love to you all...I am back from being MIA!!!

9/11

On Friday night Drew and I were watching a tribute to 9/11.  I realized, as I sat there crying, that the emotions that I felt on that fateful day are still raw and indescribable. As many of you, I remember watching the horrific events unfold...I remember all of the smoke, the ash covered faces of terror, the blood, the unimaginable realization that our country, our safe haven was under attack. I don't think we realized just how America's history was shifting and changing right before our eyes.

The day after 9/11,  I went to work...for United Airlines. As many of you know, I grew up with United in my life as my dad worked there for as long as I remember. When I got to the airport, the only way I can describe the feeling is eery. It was so quiet, but the automated recordings that we all normally tune out seemed to echo thru the terminal. The planes were all pushed back from the gate-almost as if they were in some sort of quarantine. The only people we saw were those of us that were wearing uniforms. We sat in the  break room, staring at the TV, waiting to hear the news that the planes were allowed to take to the sky again, we held hands, we cried, we sat in silence, we felt like our worlds had been attacked on a personal level. And I think, we all felt a certain thankfulness that we were safe. And then we felt guilty for feeling that way as so many Americans were suffering with loss and fear, panic and pain.

This morning, as Eva laid in bed with us, I realized that someday, I will have to explain to her what happened on that day. She will never know a day where you could go to the gate to meet your loved ones exiting from the plane. She will never know a day where 9/11 wasn't in her history books. She will never know a day where you do not have to take your shoes off as you proceed thru the airport. She will never know 9/11 to simply mean an emergency phone call or just another day in September. But she will know, no matter what I have to do to teach her and show her, that for a brief time in American history, the country came together, the walls between conservative and liberal, the barriers between democrats and republicans dissolved and we were all simply Americans. We were joined to honor the fallen heroes of that day, we vowed to stand up to the enemies that had preyed on our vulnerability and stole the innocence of our children.

I ask myself if we have changed. Life has gone on. We all struggle daily with the economy, with bills, with high gas prices and health care. But I can't help but feel somehow blessed that we have these difficulties to endure, because so many people who perished, will never have the chance to go thru those day to day activities.

The first plane to land at Denver International Airport after 9/11 was a United flight. Many of us were there to watch the weary passengers and crew members exit the plane. As much as I will never forget seeing the United plane fly into the tower, I will never forget the faces of those travelers. At once terrified, but victorious as life began to slowly return to normal...to what has been referred to over and over as the post 9/11 world.

May we always remember that day, the tragedy and the triumph, the fear and the victory. May we teach our children to honor those who lived and saved and those who sacrificed their lives. Each year, as we approach the anniversary of this day, may we come together, as Americans and thank God that we live in this amazing country, thank God for the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Viral Pneumonia

There is nothing that ruins a day faster than being told that your daughter has pneumonia. Other than watching her feel so incredibly crappy...high fever, cough, runny nose and some sort of thickening membranes in her lungs. 

That was yesterday...today is a little better...tomorrow-will be WAAYY better!!! 

And thus it begins...

...the unofficial start to the football season seems to make it's appearance in our house sometime in the middle of the summer. It starts slowly with ESPN being on the TV a little more and "Football Guys" websites always being up on the computer. Then I soon begin to find lists of various football players around the house. Then, I continue to go to bed at a normal time while Drew stays up "studying" for his fantasy football drafts. But, I really know that football has arrived the weekend of the Texas Fantasy Football draft!! Every year, for the last several years (long before I was around) Drew has spent a weekend with the "boys" for the draft in Texas. He missed it last year because the draft was held about 3 weeks after Eva was born. 


This year...Eva and I made the trek to Texas with Drew too. It was Eva's first flight and she was such a trooper! And it was my first time meeting most of the football guys that I have heard so much about. It was a really, really great weekend and I am so happy that Eva got to meet Drew's special friends, who are now mine too! 

Getting excited for my very first plane trip! 

I have my blankie and my pug...what else do I need? 

A little drinky-drink before we board. 

Nothin' like riding the escalator for fun!

A plane ride just isn't the same without a little 'Sky Mall' 

Here we go.....

Hanging out with Brittany!! 

Yes...I am having a spectacular time!

A trip to Texas is not complete without a golf cart ride. 

Madison helping cook some chili...yum!

Madison taking care of Eva for us. 

Breakfast with the boys. The won't look up from the menus because
they have not eaten in the past two days...busy with drafting and all.

Maddison and Emma...I miss those girls!!! So sweet...and great babysitters!



And this was the last picture of the trip! I think it tells it all. Football, fish fry, food and friends (and maybe a little wine too). Does it get better than that?? 

Happy Belated Birthday Momma!!

As always, I am late on this one!!! But it doesn't make it any less special or important. We were out of town on the actual day and we have been running crazy since we got home on Tuesday...but better late than never, right?

Happy Birthday Mom!! 

Thank you for all that you have done for us, all that you continue to do for us. Our lives are so much richer because you are a part of them. You truly are an amazing and talented, caring and special woman. Jeniffer, Andrew and I have been blessed to have you for a mom. Eva and Sam and Baby Cox #2 are lucky to have you for a Gramma! 

Here's to many more special birthdays!! Enjoy your trip to Miami! 

The Park...Rated R

Every evening we take the pugs and Eva out for a walk. Normally it is a relatively short walk to the park and back, but the other night we decided to take a little longer walk and let Eva actually play at the playground. At first, this seemed like a good idea...and it really was, but our trip quickly became RATED R. 

You see, there are all sorts of groups of teenagers that hang out at the park. They hang out in little groups smoking and littering and, in general, are just up to no good. Our walk started with me overhearing a group of 8-10 boys cussing at each other. Nice. Then we saw our neighbors daughter, maybe 12-13, smoking with her friends. Nice. Then we walked by a parked car full of teenagers, smoking what I thought were cigarettes. I, being the innocent (and totally naive one when it comes to drugs) simply stated, "wow Drew, it smells like a skunk." To which, all of the teens laughed at me and Drew had to politely point out WHY it smelled like skunk. 

We then proceed to the playground. Again, all was going well. And then, we noticed the "artwork" on the slide. Of course, we didn't really pay attention to it being there until AFTER we took the pics of Eva. So, here is your warning...when looking at these pics, there may be some profanity! If you don't look too close...you may be able to avoid seeing it!  

Mot chillin' on the slide...has to be a part of everything!

Who needs toys when you can play with rocks and dirt?
 

This is my favorite!! She was having so much fun!  (can you see the bad words written in marker on the slide??) 

Puggies!!! 

Look at Mot at the top of the slide! Told you has has to be a part of everything! 

p.s. I swear we do really live in a nice neighborhood and not in the ghetto!!!