just in time

The very best time to be in Colorado is probably the first weekend of October...

... so how lucky we were to have Yaya plan her visit for just that time!!!

Not only did she get to see the beautiful fall colors of the aspen trees in the 

Flat Tops Wilderness area...

... but of course, her sweet grandboys were the real reason she came!!!

We took a beautiful drive up into the mountains to have dinner at the Trapper's Lake Lodge and were joined by our very good friends and their boys!

And how wonderful that Yaya even picked up Aunt LaDonna to come visit for the weekend, too! We felt so blessed to have family and friends with us.

Of course, the timing was perfect to surprise our guests

 with a new addition to the family...

and Gabe was total hit!

except that his sweet little puppy teeth are kind of sharp and tend to head straight for your ankles!

The real joy of the weekend was time spent with Yaya - she was so good to play games and read books with the boys...

... and Sam was beaming with pride when his Yaya was 

his "special guest" at his pre-school class!

Along with Aunt LaDonna, new books and lots of love, Yaya brought fun new shirts and sweaters for the boys... we had a great time watching them model their new digs and then just playing in the kitchen!

What a wonderful visit and perfect timing for the fall colors, the new puppy and lots and lots of great time spent with the whole family!!!

We miss you already Yaya & Aunt LaD!

Thank you so much for a great 5 days...

homecoming

Last Friday was homecoming and a great day for festivities.

The pre-school even had their own float and Sam was so excited to be in the parade! 

 Meanwhile, the 2nd graders got to watch and cheer on the Cowboys...

Even Dad got a chance to hang out with his friends!

The pep rally was fun - and they announced the winners of the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick competition... Hamp won first place for his age division! (he got a blue ribbon...)

Of course, it wasn't the ribbon that mattered, but the fact that his friend won second place and got a ribbon, too. The chest-bump in front of the whole crowd was priceless!

The day ended in the first home game of the season - fun to go and watch the cheerleaders, see the homecoming court, crown a king & queen, hear the band, and let the boys run around and play with their buddies... even if we weren't victorious.

all you need...

... is a newly fenced-in yard

... a large animal kennel for house-training

... a good leash

... a name tag

... and I think we're ready!

introducing...

"Gabe"

So... we weren't really in the market for a dog. Then we happened upon a litter of these Saint Bernard puppies while visiting friends and there was a lot of love going around. It didn't take much discussion to realize that we did, in fact NEED a dog! Hamp actually said one night during the puppy debates that "he was a dog person". Who knew?!

So here's what we first saw... 

@ 4 weeks old

Then we had to go back the next week for another visit...

@ 5 weeks old

I think what sealed the deal is a touch of nostalgia for Jason - here is a photo circa late 1970s of the Hightower boys and the original Gabriel:

Jason, Papa and Gabriel in the very early 1970s:

And so, here is Jason 40 years later...

He is now 8 weeks old and getting used to his new home! He has been so fun to have around - walking his boys to school in the morning, sleeping pretty well in his kennel at night, running around the yard but staying very close to his people, and wrestling on the bed with the whole family! The boys are over the moon about him, and we all look forward to many fun doggy-days!

he's here!!!

Welcome to the world, little Allen Jess Etheridge!

Born September 25th, 2011

(sometime around 4pm according to when the text was sent!)

weighing 8 pounds 13 ounces (!)

I'm so proud of my sister-in-law, and so excited for the whole family!

Can't wait to meet my sweet new nephew...

CONGRATULATIONS!