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!

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?? 

Welcome to the World...

...Ethan Caden Stachnik!!!  

On August 8th, at 10:11 am....my best friend gave birth to an amazing little boy!

6 lbs, 14 ozs, 20 inches long

We are so excited that you are finally here Ethan! Cannot wait to watch you grow up. We love you!!! 

Happy Birthday Carter!

...A little late of course!!! 


My good friend from high school, Kristen, gave birth 5 days after I did. It has been a lot of fun watching her son, Carter, and Eva grow and change together. So happy belated birthday little guy! We love you!!!

Carter (left) and Eva (right) as brand new babies!

Carter and Eva at Christmas time

Carter's 1st birthday party

Eva's Dedication

So I have decided not to apologize anymore for not blogging on a consistent basis. Things have been so hectic around here and I just have not been good about getting to it. Would like to promise to be better, but we will see!

Over Memorial day weekend we decided to do a welcoming/dedication for Eva. Neither Drew or I claim to be very religious, but we wanted to do something special to welcome Eva to our family. We were lucky enough to have Drew's dad and sister drive out from California and my sister, brother in law and nephew fly out from South Carolina. Together with our family and close friends, we officially dedicated ourselves to Eva and welcomed her to this world (even though she is already 10 months old!!!)

Our ceremony included Irish blessings, Native American traditions and readings, Buddhist letters, child stories, letters from family, poems from friends. Of course, it also included a lot of crying from Eva. I guess this kind of thing happens at baptisms all the time, but sheesh! She just didn't want to cooperate. Nonetheless, it was a special day and we thank all those involved.

We took every opportunity to make the most of having our family out here over the weekend! We visited Idaho Springs and went Beau Jos pizza, we had several BBQs, we went to Boulder for the Memorial Day festival, we all had Sunday brunch together, we celebrated Sam's 2nd birthday and we took Sam and Eva to the pool...first time for Eva! It was definitely a whirlwind of a weekend, but so wonderful. We miss our family daily, wish they were closer but cherish the time we do get to spend with them!

Drew and I starting the dedication...everything is ok at this point

Gramma reading her blessing

Grandpa Carl reading his letter...tears involved here. 

Grandpa Ron and his speech

Eva, Sam and Carter playing afterwards.

Everyone! 

The Wimers!

The Hargroves'

Aunty Vern

Aunty Jen

Vern and myself at brunch

Gramma, Grandpa and Uncle Andrew leaving brunch. 

Eva and Sam at the pool

Eva loves the pool!! 

And the fountains in the pool. 

Kurt (Veronica's bf) and Drew-toasting corn dogs at the Memorial day fair

Everyone at brunch. 

The view from brunch at Simms Steakhouse

Sam opening his gifts at his b'day party. 

Our present to Sam! 

In Boulder...taking a break. 

Fun Mail

Now that Eva is getting a little bit older, we don't receive gifts in the mail near as much as we used to. We were so spoiled by our friends and families when Eva first made her appearance! 

But yesterday, we received a brown paper-wrapped box! How exciting! We opened the box and inside was a super fun, soft, taggie blanket that my sister asked her friend from college, Sarah, to make for us. 

Thank you so much Sarah for the adorable blanket...perfect for the car seat and for cuddling! And thank you Jen for asking Sarah to make it for us. I know that Sam loved his! 

Look at the embroidery!! So pretty! 

I would have pics of Eva with the blankie, but she has been super grumpy with her 4th tooth coming in. Not very photogenic! 

Thank you girls so, so much! 

Noisy Toys

Almost every time our friend Jonathan comes over, he brings Eva a toy. I think he gets a kick out of spoiling her, but I also think he immensely enjoys giving her the loudest, noisiest toys that he can possibly find-because he knows the potential for them driving us CRAZY!!!

Here is her latest gift...

Here are a few of the others that Eva has received in the past...they all have music and they all have lights that blink...some roll, some flip open and close and others spin...

This rabbit is the worst though! It is possessed and starts talking, singing, counting, telling you that it loves you, playing music and saying the alphabet even when we are in a different room!! More than once this thing has woken us up in the middle of the night! But Eva loves it, so what can I say?

Truly, thank you Jonathan for all of the toys! But remember, pay backs are hell!