Cambria Family Vacation 2

I put together a short clip of our Cambria Vacation. Great time, wonderful company and treasured memories....thanks mom and dad for getting us all together to enjoy each other! Just click on this link: Cambria Family Vacation

The night that we arrived back home from Northern California, we got the news that Grandma Suzie has cancer.  I don't even know what to say.  I do know, however, that the immense love that each of you share for your parents and for each other is something so precious and valuable and will be a great source of strength for all of you.  Mom, you are lovely and I can't even begin to tell you how special we all find you. Your spirit and your heart through this entire ordeal has remained positive and upbeat and signifies just how strong you are. Our prayers are constantly being said with you(and dad) in mind.  You did great on your first chemotherapy and we are glad that you now have a new doctor who actually takes the time to listen to you.  I am sure that you are beat from your second course of chemotherapy, but, are enjoying the time visiting with Rick & Susan.  We are counting down the days until our visit.  Little Ryan is ready to get some large grins from grandma and Michaela can't wait to have your smile directed at her and all the snug little hugs from Gma Hoohee.

To the Joe side of the family, thank you for the love and support that you have provided to not only me, but to Mike and the kids as well. I know I sound like a broken record, but Mike and I count our blessings that we came from such phenomenally loving families.

Soccer Season & Labor Day

Michaela has been asking us for the last year and a half if she could take dance. We think that she must have been influenced from watching "Dancing with the Stars" & "So You Think You Can Dance" because goodness knows, Mike & I can NOT dance!" We finally enrolled her in the Ballet Nouveau School and she is LOVING IT. When we ask Michaela to demonstrate what she has learned she shows us some mean stretching moves. Mike said that he is so glad that we are paying so much for her to learn how to stretch.

Doesn't it look like she is doing Tai Chi?

Our little ballerina

Michaela said that this dress made her feel like a ballerina

See what happens when Michaela dresses Ryan..

 I really like the fact that she added an earring for him to sport

Now that the soccer season is beginning, Mike & I took the kids to Broomfield County Commons Soccer Fields and kicked the ball around with them.

Mike multi tasking while playing with the kids...he had just gotten his new phone.  He is so in love with that phone, he better be after all the time he spent doing research for the "perfect" phone.

 

You want me to smile like this????

Michaela and Ashley after the first game. Ashley scored all three goals!

 

Michaela trying to figure out which ball she wants to pulverize

Who knew that running could be so fun!

Ava, Anna, Jenna & Michaela

Later that same weekend we decided to go with our friends to the Taste of Colorado.  We were able to sample area restaurants and take the kids on the carnival rides.  It was boiling hot and crowded but we had such a delightful time.  Michaela loved hanging with, "the girls". Ryan hung out in his stroller the entire day just chilling.

Oh my, I don't think I could get any hotter!

Ava & Michaela enjoying some Gelato in the shade.  Their favorite was raspberry & lemon.

Olivia, Ava & Michaela riding on an Orca

Reaching new heights with Euro Bungee

Could these girls get any cuter?

Mr. Smiley

Reese, a possible future love interest for Ryan

Lizzie with all the girls enjoying some culinary delights

Niagara Falls Joe Family Vacation 2010

Let's get this vacation started!!!

We started our vacation off by missing our 6a.m. flight on United....but were lucky enough to find another flight that got us into Buffalo by 3:30p.m.  Boy, it sure was humid in Buffalo and we ended up going for dinner at a restaurant that the hotel recommended.  Thanks for dinner Rod & Tram! Michaela was so excited to see her fairy godmother (Aunt Dae) and Grandma Marie and all of her cousins....she was in heaven.  For all the people that slept in the same "suite" with our family, I hope those ear plug party favors I passed out worked for you.

Macuckoo & Jadie Poo

The next day we went to IKEA for lunch and to play in the kids playroom.  Tram & Moy, thanks for taking the kids for ice cream. We also decided to go to the Jewish Swim Center with Moy & Ken's family and Rod & Tram's too. Michaela & Ryan had a blast splashing in the pool.  Ryan was especially enthralled by the watering can, just goes to show you the simplest toys are the best!

The Joe's being dorks

Joe Family

Amy & Ryan enjoying the beautiful day

Michaela & Mike on the Central Island Ferry

Our makeshift table cloth was a whole bunch of Toronto maps put to good use

Ebony & Ivory (aka MK & Ryan)

Johnny & Jayson

Cuckoo & Jadie collecting rocks from their adventure

Nathan has crabs...attacking him that is!


Here is a video that Natalie put together of our Niagara Falls Vacation.  Great job Natalie, I think you might just have a knack for being a future film maker!  Just click on:
Joe Family Vacation-2010

Awww July!

We started this month off with a visit from Aunt Chrissy, Aunt Bope, Uncle Ed & Maggie. Mike went to Maggie's big softball tournament and took some "action" shots. Some teammates of Maggie's and their families came to dinner at our house. Michaela of course was happy just to hang with the Maggie & her friends...thanks Maggie for taking Michaela on the wagon ride to see the prarie dogs. While the Sevilla's were visiting, Michaela made it clear to Mike that she "wants to grow up to be like Maggie"...such a lucky girl to have so many positive role models in her life from her aunties to her cousins!




Ryan entertaining himself, he kept pushing the cars under the chair and then looking for them. I think, if we would have let him, he would have done this for hours!



























Ry & Aunt Tissy enjoying a couple of laps. What work out fiends! This was the track that Gma Suzie & Aunt Bope found one day when they went to the flea market. I heard that Grandma just couldn't wait to see Ry playing with his new toy and gave it to him five months early, it was supposed to be a Christmas gift. Grandma Suzie, you are just TOO CUTE! Ry, of course loves playing with his track and watching the car go round and round.



Nothing makes Michaela happier than getting pampered! Maggie, you seriously need to open a nail salon . The intricate nail designs you do are great and Michaela always feels special when you dote on her like you do! Thanks!


Ryan is such a "delicate" eater. He picks up his raisins, peas and corn by pinching it with his thumb and index finger I don't know why we think it is so cute, but we do.




July 4th we went to a neighbors annual BBQ , it rained like cats and dogs but the kids were able to enjoy the water balloon fights and the poppers but alas, no fireworks this year....but Michaela had her first SMORE taste sensation it totally satisfied her sweet tooth! Unfortunately, there are no pics of her chowing on her smore!


The following weekend we went to the annual kids Splash Party put on by Hayes & Harper & J. Garen...boy, do their parents know how to throw a great shindig! The kids had a huge water slide, water pistols, a water table, water rolling ring and pineapple bowling for activities. The kids really enjoyed the popcorn machine and the snow cone maker.

Ryan hanging with the BIG boys! I think later on during the party Ryan actually climbed up and sat IN the water table.





Ryan's first snow cone! Of course his lovey had to be there to experience it with him. His binky stayed out of his mouth until he finished at least half of the snow cone!








Look at my little tan goddess, she looks so tropical!









Later that same night after the splash party, Mike and I headed out with a group of friends to see Sublime & The Dirty Heads at Red Rocks. Mike and I were laughing because the teenagers there were probably about Michaela's age when Sublime was in their prime. We had a great time even if we were one of the OLDER groups there. The friends we went with were childhood friends with the saxophone player(who happens to be a practicing doctor in Long Beach---wow what a talented guy!) he was so good! Red Rocks is such a great venue for concerts, I highly recommend going to a concert there at least once!

















The only other big news for the month is that Mike FINALLY (after all his searching on the internet & talking about specs and models) bought his BIKE! Here's a picture of his new little baby....he took it out for a short spin and loved it. He better considering it cost a small fortune! Hopefully, he will eventually be able to do a long ride with some of our family members: Rod, Johnny, Chad or Mary & Ken get ready to roll!

Ryan pretending to Jet Ski...he even makes the motorboat idling sounds. I think we may have a daredevil on our hands!












Our little monkey. Ryan grabs his head whenever we hang him upside down. Cracks me up every time!















Kevin and Ryan making mischief while having a tea party.













What an infectious grin....he can make us smile even when we're trying not to.






You know summer is here when Mike and the kids are playing at the water table. Ryan had a fit when it was time to go in, he just wanted to keep splashing around.









Ryan crawling around looking for some scraps to snack on. Look at that head!











June has been such a lovely month, even if it has been insanely busy! We started off the month attending Ashley's party at the park, the kids got medals for participating in the sack race and the egg race and they had a blast running and playing. The next weekend Mike and I and my friend Tami (along with Ken & Jeremy--our neighbors) all completed the Mini Haha Triathlon. This was my second and Mike's first. He did great! The weather was horrible, extremely wet and COLD and really slowed us down but we plan on doing the race again next year and hope for improved times. Mike is currently on a kick to get a road bike because he has so much time to dedicate to riding in between taking care of the kids. (As if!) But, we are planning on checking out end of season sales to get him a nice bike for a nicer price! He's been trying to convince me to get a road bike as well but I only agreed if it came with massive training wheels. =) Michaela had her yearly check up and is doing great, but the doctor did say to try to encourage her to eat more veggies...definitely easier said than done. We were shopping at the grocery store the other day and I was saying to myself, "What do we need to get?", Michaela piped in," I know mommy, we need to get me some sugar!" Egads, I have created a sweet tooth monster...hey Aunt Pooters or Aunt Moy maybe that's what she inherited from y'all!

The end of June we had Michaela's birthday party at APEX Recreation Center, it was an ice skating/swimming party and Grandma Suzie and Aunt Patti came out to party with us. We passed out the tutu's Grandma Marie lovingly made for the girls at the party, they were a hit and looked adorable on the girls as they ice skated.



Nina, Harper and Michaela



Ava & Olivia




This is Finn, also known as Finny J....I think Michaela has a massive crush on this kid, he's really funny and sweet







Grandma Suzie & Ryan hanging out




For those of you who haven't seen the lovely video of Michaela tossing attitude to me watch the end closely and have yet another great laugh at my expense please! I can't seem to load this on the blog so if you want to see it email me!







Doesn't he just make you want to hug him?










Ryan & Michaela my "basket" cases!









Nothing like napping next to Grandma! Michaela was so ecstatic that grandma was coming for her birthday. When Grandma Suzie left, Michaela (and Mike too) cried for three days! No question about it, Michaela sure does love family...good thing Aunt Chrissy & Aunt Bope, Uncle Ed & Maggie came the following week for a visit or Macuckoo would still be crying!













Aunt Pooters all pooped out next to Ry guy. Ryan loves to cuddle and will hold his humpty dumpty lovey ( I know, it's ironic that his lovey is an egg since he is deathly allergic to eggs!) Give that boy his lovey, his binky and a soft mattress and he is TKO'd!





Oh yah! Ryan started to try to stand on his own. It was a shaky start but our boy finally gained his balance and took his first steps on June 30th...that makes him exactly 15 months old! Way to go Ry guy! I heard that Grandma Suzie laughed when she saw the picture of Ryan "raising the roof" and smiling his crooked smile







I absolutely LOVE the fact that Ryan looks so excited that he can stand on his own.



















Daddy watching as Ryan attempts to perfect his Frankenstein walk.