Easter

We have moved out of our home...it is sold & done & we are just waiting for our new home to close escrow (we were supposed to have moved in last week, but delays have occured & all we can do is wait). We hope to move in this week. For now we are living with my folks (it just feels like we are on vacation & are being so spoiled :) )!! We have so much to be thankful for this Easter and count our many blessings!! We hope that you all had a wonderful Easter. We are SO glad He has Risen, Indeed!!!


Easter morning...Chloe & Mommy


Chloe in her Easter outfit...she may look like spring but it was pooring down rain!!


Gma Kris & Chloe


Chloe in the church nursery. She loves to push around cars, strollers & just about anything she can get her hands on. She is so cute!!


A long day & time for a nap. So sweet...


Back at Gma & Gpa's house for the festivities...Enjoy looking at the rest of these photos...we are so proud of our little angel.

Packing

Our garage is full of filled boxes (see photo below). That seems to be our lives, filling boxes with stuff that I forgot we even owned. We are moving on thursday & we are so thankful to almost be done. Thank you for your prayers. We are not done yet & could still use those prayers so keep 'em comin'. We know God is in control & we take our comfort from Him. Chloe has been a big help (mentally). She gives me joy, peace, & most of all a big belly laugh with her fun, sweet & just plain AWESOME personality & this helps get me through everyday (not to mention that I have the BEST husband a woman could ever have & I thank the Lord for Him daily). Enjoy these photos.



Chloe & Jack help pack boxes...


Chloe with her teddy bear...she loves to carry him around with her wherever she goes!:) She makes my heart smile.

Walking

Chloe started walking 1 week ago. She is not too steady & only takes 2 & 3 steps by herself at one time, but every day I see her grow stronger & braver. 11 mos 1 day old and walking. She is growing up so fast!! Below are some fun photos of when Gma Julie & Auntie Amy came to visit last week.

53 Days

We have SOLD our home (see photo below). Yea & Praise the Lord!!!!! 53 days is the length of time it took for our home to sell. We close escrow on April 13 & have to be out of this home by noon that day. Needless to say we are very thankful to be almost done. We have great memories of this home, our 1st home where we had our 1st baby. But, we are ready to move on.

And moving on we are so, onto the next portion of this adventure. We have BOUGHT a home with property, 2.69 acres to be exact. It is acutally set to close on the same day as our current home to make it easier for us to not have to move twice. We bought this home in the town of Ione. Our neighborhood is called Lake Chamanche Village. The home is a manufactured home, made in 2003. It is very nice. We already have plans to paint it & add our little touches to it, but it is so new that not too much needs to be done. The current owners put brand new carpet in it about 2 weeks ago & the whole house smells clean & fresh. The property has a detached garage that is over 1400 sq ft with a loft & a carport on one side. We are going from a 1100 sq ft home to over 2500 sq ft home so it is quite a change for us. Not to mention having the property will be fun!! And Nate loves the workshop/garage. He already is thinking about the many future projects he wants to do. The property is beautiful. It is set next to a community duck pond that is probably on over 10 acres so this green belt will never be developed. We have direct access to this pond from our prop (the pond comes onto our prop, as well). The pond has bass in it so we can fish anytime we want. Not to mention that we will be about a 5 min drive from Lake Chamanche so we can swim & enjoy the Lake & water at anytime, as well. I will be updating the blog with photos of our new home soon so stay tuned.

So Proud

Chloe can stand all by herself now!!

Chloe with her favorite stuffed animal...Eyore!!

Toy Box

I just thought Chloe looked so cute peering inside and exploring her toy box that I had to share this photo with you.

1st Carosel Ride

Gma Kris took Chloe on her 1st carosel ride at the mall. Chloe seemed serious the whole time (although I think she was probably deep in thought about this new thing called the carosel) and she was definately oh so cute!!

Honored

March 2, 2006, Nate was 1 among 74 Deputies being honored for an award at an anual award Luncheon provided by the Sac County Sheriff's Dept. There were 6 different medals awarded amongst the 74 Deputies. Nate was 1 of 28 of the men/women who received the Life Saving Medal award. The Life Saving Medal is defined as this: those who perform extraordinary efforts to protect/preserve human life. Last Aug, Nate and 2 of his co-workers saved the life of an innmate who had collapsed, was not breathing and had no pulse. They performed CPR and radioed for ambulance and helicopter to life flight this man to the hospital. Without their efforts, this man surely would have died. The other 25 Deputies performed like efforts in other incidents and in so doing were honored by being awarded this medal. In turn, the other 46 deputies performed the efforts that awarded them their medals (like the Silver or Bronze Star or the Medal of Valor).

This ceremony was very touching, and not just because of Nate's wonderful honor (although I could not have been more proud of him!!) Last July, 3 Deputies in the Aero division with Sac County Sheriff's department were invovled in a tragic helicopter crash while patrolling Lake Natoma on a hot summer evening (the helicopter was called Star VI). Sadly, 2 of these men lost their lives. The 2 men who died were awarded Medals of Valor (for outstanding performance and conspicuous bravery above and beyond the call of duty, which reflects credit upon law enforcement in its highest tradition) posthumously, so the surviving families accepted these awards in their place, and the 3rd surviving Deputy was honored with 2 awards (which he was able to stand and receive so proudly): the the Medal of Valor as well as a Purple Heart (for "serious bodily injuries" received in the line of duty).

There were other medals awarded as well, such as the Silver Star (for outstanding performance and conspicuous bravery in the line of duty) and the Bronze Star (for oustanding performance and bravery in the line of duty). There was also the Sheriff's Commendation Medal for Distinguished Service (for a particular outstanding service to the community or the department). Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in the room when the Star VI awards were being honored and received by both the surviving Deputy and the families of the 2 men who did not survive. I was so proud, of Nate and his department. I AM so proud to tell people what he does, that he SAVES lives, that he serves and protects. Chloe & I are so blessed (a great father & husband). Thank you Lord! Chloe is shockingly not in any of these photos as she was spending the day with Gpa & Gma Britting.




Nate on stage receiving the Life Saving Medal (he is front & center in this photo).

Nate proudly wearing his Life Saving Medal.

Nate and I at the Award Luncheon. I am so proud!!!

10 Months Old

Chloe is now 10 months old and boy has life become more busy. She is into everything and wants to be either climbing on us or other objects (i.e. furniture or even the cat!!) She babbles constantly in her Chloe language and wants to walk so badly (she is beginning to stand on her own and has been able to walk along steady objects by herself for at least 2 weeks if not longer). I took her in for her 10 month well baby check at the doc's today and all is really well. They were surprised to see such a healthy baby (I guess lots of sickness is going around). She is now 21 lbs 0.8 oz and is 29 3/4" long. That puts her in the 75% for weight and 90% for height (pretty much where she has always been). All in all life is pretty good. I am constantly praying for patience, as I am sure most mom's with toddlers-to-be do, and know that the Lord is good and continually takes care of us and loves us no matter what. How awesome is that!!??!! I pray that Nate and I can model this kind of love to Chloe. Enjoy the MANY new photos I have posted.

Around The House

In the kitchen...

Who is that cute baby in the mirror? Oh, it's me!!

Hi Mommy!!

Hey, I'm walkin' here!

I am on top of the world!!

Havin' Fun

I am ready for spring...




I am swingin' at the park...

Moments

Daddy's Lil Deputy

Cozy after a bath...

Hugs with Daddy

Chloe is getting in some good hugs with daddy. Aren't they cute??!!

My 1st Cell Phone

These are photos of Chloe playing with one of my old cell phones. She loves it!! Her favorite word to say is "dada" and so we call him at work sometimes so she can say his name to him (and she says his name to him on the phone sometimes). She says "muma" (mama) to me, but not as often. Chloe is so aware of herself and her surroundings now that I am sure she has picked up on what the phone is and what it does by watching us on the phone (she is a smart cookie). She would rather stick the phone in her mouth instead of talking into it right now, but the proper use of the phone is just around the corner, I am afraid. I know, I know...this is just a taste of what is to come.

Another quick note of interest is that Chloe has cut her second tooth, about a week ago (bottom front two are in), and I think she is working on her third (a top front one). Table foods will be easier for her as more teeth cut through.

I am trying to call Grandma!

Pretty n' Purple

Valentine's Day 2006

Happy Valentine's Day!! This is Chloe's 1st valentine's, of course, & we are celebrating by making something special for daddy, & just hangin' out & having fun playing. We will probably go to the park this afternoon & swing (we do this a lot & it is such fun!!) Chloe likes the park a lot, but in a very thoughtful way. She just watches everyone & seems to soak it all in.

It has been so warm here, in the low 70's, this week that I have had to put shorts, short sleeves & sandals on Chloe & then put sunblock on her. It is just a taste of what is to come this spring & summer. I can't wait, either. I look forward to our vacations, our camping, swim lessons for Chloe with her newest cousin Hailey, picnic's, & I could go on and on. I know the weather is turning cold again in a couple of days but soon it will be warm & stay warm & we will wish for the fall & winter again. But for now we are just enjoying all that God has blessed us with (& we are so blessed!!:) ). Enjoy the photos below.

Chloe's 1st Valentine's Day

On the Move

Pretty n' Pink & Hearts