Sunday picnic :)

Our weeks are so crazy, 
that we MUST 
take a few hours to spend 
with JUST us.

A lovely day, after church, we took our simple picnic 
near a creamy, blue water lake

 and 

just hung out.
The kids loved the tall trees..
they ran around, playing games and 
making small forts.

Ry, me, Austin, Ashlyn, Jake and Mace.

My little Stott fam.

Nice and quiet, delicious food, a little walk around the tall trees and blue lake.

It was lovely!

Then off to a youth fireside for the twins.

A great day.

xo!

Loving Spring :) Sunday walks

Kids riding bikes down Anthem's neighborhood path..down behind our house....so pretty!

Everything is going green! My favorite time of year.

The sun was in our eyes! It was a beautiful sunday afternoon! The sun felt so good :)

Every Sunday after church we (try) to go for a walk.

Our neighborhood is out in the open. We love it.

We look down into Boulder and can see the beautiful Rockies winding along the front Range.

I have such happy moments here and this is one of them.

All the kids still love to "hang out" with Mom and Dad.

I always bring drinks and a fun treat and we eat it at the bottom of the path

overlooking the hills.

These are some of my favorite moments with my kiddos and Ry...

family time.

and being together.

It's what it is all about :)

Happy 6th Birthday to Mason! pics to come..xo!

Good Friday

Ry had Good Friday off.

We wanted to spend the day just playin'! The kids were still in school so we were free to plan a day.

Golfing was in order. The sunshine, a beautiful golf course, the greens and fairways...ahhh what a moment. I love to golf with Ry. I get to watch him play and soak up the sunshine all at once. I drive the cart and enjoy the views :) I cracked open a diet coke, put my feet up and enjoyed the moment. The simple moments. That is what life is about.

I did have to leave early, walk 1.6 miles to mason's school and drop him off. (Ry felt so bad, but I loved it...a walk in the sunshine..any day!)

Then RY and I went to my ALL time favorite restaurant here in Colorado. HACIENDA. Oh I just love that place. Our lunch: Fresh chips and salsa, the BEST chicken tortilla soup, and a slow roasted pork burrito with sweet tomatillo sauce. The best.

What a fun day. We picked all the kids up at school and decided to spend the rest of the day outside! (after Jake's soccer academy) We got din din and had a small picnic. We then shot hoops in our yard till dusk. Such a lovely GOOD FRIDAY.

I love these days. Life is so busy, so when you get a moment, it sure is sweet.

Our weekend was fabulous with Easter, friends, parties, church, walks, soccer games (go jakey, ash, and mace..!) egg hunts, bbq's. I have pics to post...BUT I have to get ready for my Mom and sister Brookie! They are flying in TOMORROW! can't wait!! xo!

(pic taken from my android ipad. not the best!)

I don't want to forget...

Bike riding down and Sunday walks down our neighborhood! 
Any free time...we go!

Sunday before Church. Reading, hanging out, enjoying the sunshine :)

Kids in jammies eating breakfast :)

I don't want to forget.

Ever.

Moments-

Such happy moments.

Our little Stott family is extraordinary.

Simply extraordinary.

Happy, complete, fulfilled.

Life is at such a sweet moment.

Every day I cherish and think about how

wonderful it is.

We moved from Utah, left so much behind.

I didn' think I was going to "make it." I was so so sad.

Didn't think life could go on past cousins, gparents, holidays..etc'

I was wrong.

I had no idea--

I really had no idea how much our Stott family would grow, prosper,

and pull together.

We have created memories, moments, and happy days

beyond I could imagine.

I don't want to forget.

I am living all the kids ages--twins almost 13, Jake 10, Mace almost 6.

We are busy, busy as ever!

School, sports, practices, homework, church..etc

our days are packed solid. But we have moments--

Like Sunday afternoons, Holidays, time that was always spent

w Utah family.

Now it is OURS-

Us Stotts. No cousins, aunts and uncles..nobody.

At first I have to admit, I was lonely. Not the kids or RY, but me, my heart.

I had to get used to it. Thought it was so hard not to be surrounded.

But, but eventually..something happened.

My heart....my heart began to fill up and be happy..

my kids: Austin, Ashlyn, Jake and Mace...they became everything.

Ryan my companion-my best friend, my hubby-became so important to me.

Always was, but this was different.

Colorado changed us.

It simply changed us.

Forever.

And I don't want to forget.

I love it!

I love my CO moments. Yesterday, Jake had his best soccer game,

scoring 2 important goals,

Ashlyn playing her game in the beautiful sunlight, with the Boulder mountains in the backdrop, her smile at me, her confidence growing...

Mason playing soccer, thinking he is SO good, but just prances around the ball, so proud of himself. Austin supporting his siblings, cheering them on. Him just completing a 7 mos bball season. Growing in confidence, in self-esteem, in happiness.

My mama heart happy each day, to see the progress, the growth of each child.

Each day is focused on my lil family, my little sweet family.

I love it.

I miss Utah, oh I do,

but these moments can't be replaced.

ever.

We were meant to be here.

That I know.

Friendships we have made, people we have met, has fulfilled me greatly.

Friends becoming family-

a church united, supporting one another when needed.

I just simply couldn't be happier-

and I don't want to forget.

So I am writing it down.

I want my kids and Ryan to know--

they are my joy.

They are everything to me.

Colorado has been 2 years of true growth-happiness- and love.

Thank you.

Thank you for the life I have.

Love you Ashlyn, Austin, Jake, Mace adn especially and always-

Ry.

xo!

Granby Colorado- SPRING BREAK fun!

OH what a week we have had!

From Eldorado Springs, Waneka Lake, a day in Boulder and

then to finish it off with 4 days up in Granby (or Sol Vista ) @ a cabin

with friends and family.

8 adults, 17 kids.

What a fun fun week!

I took 100 plus pics. I want to put a few on here.

I just love these top of the mountain pics of us friends.

It is simply gorgeous.

Colorado is so pretty--it has so much to offer.

The weather was great.

The kids played adn played the days away.

They built teepees, made forts, hiked around, and

enjoyed the CO sunshine.

We went to the top of Sol Vista ski resort and hiked around,

the views were extraordinary!

wow!

us adults had a great time--they are such good friends.

we made lots of good food (cafe rio salads!), played games with the kids,

hiked around, went on morning runs (girls!),

watched movies (after kids were sleeping!)

It was such a great weekend--so relaxing.

A well deserved break for all! more pics to come..!

xo

~ Happy 16. ~

I don't even know where to begin-

16 years.

Honestly, I can't really believe it.

Ry and I have been married for over a decade and a half--

Memories flash through my mind.

Newly married, working 3 jobs, college, night shifts,

homework, endless testing, Ry's job at Fidelity-

the training, the tests, the work,

man..

the HARD work.

Days in and days out of work.

The birth of the twins, me staying home, the struggles, the endless hours,

but realizing the small joys, watching my babies grow

each day. FInding the joy in the journey.

Ry always gone w college and work, me, home, caring and nuturing

the heart

of the home.

New journeys, new adventures,

new homes, new neighborhoods, new friends.

The small progress each year, RY's job, working hard, making

goals, achieving new positions, slowly but surely.

We buy our second home, then third home...

Progressing so happily. Jake, Mason, raising 4 young children

The up's and down's, the joys, the trials.

I couldn't imagine the happiness motherhood brings.

Along with it, each accomplishment of failure--

learning from each phase.

Trying my best every day-to teach, to guide, to raise

my beautiful family.

Grateful.

just a grateful happy heart.

We are blessed.

Our Stott family--so blessed.

I have a husband who cherishes me, and my role as a mother.

Validation every day, he is so grateful I can stay home

and raise our children.

I feel so lucky-Heavenly Father

has blessed us with a wonderful life.

Beautiful, happy,

healthy kids, a husband who loves me--

all the joys and blessings each day.

Happy 16. Yes, happy 16.

cheers to more to come..

can't wait!

xo!

Austin's Championship!

Top pic: Austin with his Hornet team. RY co coached the team. He has been playing for 7 months with this team. He has found some great friends from it. They have won some, and lost some. But in the end Aus has improved so much! It has been great to watch him grow. We have had to drive (faaaaar!) for Austin to play on this team. It has been tough some nights coordinating crazy schedules but worth it because Austin is happy :)

Way to go Hornet Champs!

March! Happy Spring Days

Love this guy!

Our March has been so busy. We have had so much going on. Our sports has overlapped and we have been doing basketball and soccer non-stop. Ry was out of town for work and fun. I have been teaching Young Women's every week. RY has been coaching Austins bball team (far down South!) I volunteer every week at the kids schools....LIFE is GOOD!

RY just getting back from Utah. We MISSED him!

Now with no family here, I rely so much on Ryan and the kids. I love it.

A week before Easter....Lovin the weather around here. I took this pic on our way home from church. (p.s they split our ward! So sad but actually has been so good. We have met life-long friends out here. We feel very very lucky :) RY was called to Sunday School Pres..

A pic of me on sunday too :)

I can't believe life has been moving this fast! I am almost 35!

Ry and I just celebrated our anniversary.

We feel so so lucky to have these 4 great kids.

Life is so good to us :)