Football with Mama!

The boys and I at a CSU Rammies game almost two weeks ago. Dave was there too but he was up in the media box in the background of the picture. Dave has been helping out with the stats for at least 5 years or so now, does it cause he likes it and his friend John used to be the one he helped. So we get a little benefit by getting to go to a game or two during the season. It's become Mom and son time and this was Carter's first game so now it's Mom and sons time. We all had fun but man were the boys and I tired after!

My Dancing Boys

Hi all,

I recorded this a few weeks ago, it's sooo cute I just had to share. I've never posted a video so we'll see if this works. Sorry you'll have to tilt your head for part of it though. Enjoy!

Finally back online

Well, sorry we haven't posted anything recently. Our computer crashed and we didn't have it for about 5 or 6 days. I have some pics to put up but will do that later. I got me a job and need to get ready soon so I'll catch you all up tonight on everything changing. Just wanted to let those of you who check our blog fairly regularly know that we're still around just haven't been in the computer world for a bit. Talk soon, take care!

Positive Thoughts, Prayers and Suggestions Needed!

Hi Everyone,

Our family has had a blow financially this week, not to mention emotionally. The organization Dave works for, Northern Colorado Youth Hockey has turned our world upside down by informing Dave a couple weeks ago that they might cut his annual salary by $10,000 (which goes into effect with the paycheck he receives today) saying he could possibly earn it back if they make their budget (which the new hire, Dave and hockey director have told her are not proper numbers to work with due to their purchase of a facility this last year and other factors). That doesn't help our family out since we are on a very tight budget as it is, and they knew this when they hired Dave to go full time and pay him the income they agreed upon. Dave is the only one they cut and he shares his job with someone else who gets the same pay as Dave did until today, which makes us think there is something else going on. This is unfair and ridiculous to only cut Dave and no one else. Why didn't they cut every paid employee's salary instead of just Dave if it's for budget reasons?

The president along with the board members decided to hire someone else part-time to take care of the finances, which has been part of Dave's job, therefore cutting his salary so they could pay the new person. He asked the president what she thought he was doing wrong or not doing, that they thought they needed to hire someone else to take care of it and she could give him no good reason. As a matter of fact Dave is still actually helping with the finances because this new hire is only part time and already overwhelmed with her job and can't finish everything. Go figure, they are actually wasting their money by additionally paying someone else and claiming that Dave could make the $10,000 as a bonus split in half every six months.

Dave is writing a letter to the president and board, giving everone copies to hopefully get them to repeal their decision. In the meantime I am calling around right now to find out if we have a case and get free legal help. We would love for Dave to be able to just quit but that is not an option for us at the moment with a family to take care of and no way to survive without work. I have already been looking for some part time work to help our family feel more comfortable and now it will be to just help us live. So, for now Dave is also going to get a paper route again until I can find a job to make up the differnce they are cutting from our livelihood.

If you have anysuggestions for us that we haven't considered yet, it would be very much appreciated as would your love, thoughts and prayers that everything will be alright!

Thank you and we love you all,
Lys, Dave, Brendan and Carter

Party Time!

Okay, I've been lazy this week but I've finally got the pictures up to show for the little BBQ we had last Friday to celebrate Carter's birthday. We had my friend Shannon, my Mom Mary and stepdad Vic, Dave's Mom Joyce and Dad Mel, his Aunt Cheri, Uncle Jim and cousin Jeff and our friends next door joined us as well, Carrie and Scott and Carrie's daughters Ragan and Reilly. We had a wonderful time, thank you all for helping us celebrate!


Birthday Boy Carter

Dave and Joyce
Dave, Jeff and Jim

Reilly, Brendan and Ragan

Yummy chocolate cake

He really is eating off a plate even though

it doesn't look that way. MMM, Yummy!

Shannon, Mary and Lys

Back: Jeff, Jim, Mel and Dave

Front: sisters Cheri and Joyce

Poor Cheri doesn't realize Jim's trying to mess her up.

We got our family to try a couple swings of Cowboy Golf

(We've played that often with Carrie and Scott)

Here's Carter on his new Strider Bike (has no peddles)

that he got from the grandparents and Mommy, Daddy and

brother, he LOVES it!

Happy Birthday Carter Rhys!

It's hard to believe my baby is two! Yesterday was Carter's birthday and Dave was able to get it off so the four of us went up to Rocky to spend some time together, go for a little hike or two, have a picnic and enjoy the beautiful weather. We had a great time!

We're having more of a little party for him with some of the grandparents next Friday, so no cake eating pictures til then. However, we did get each of the boys a treat at the chocolate factory for the occasion and went to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa when we got home. Today was also Carter's first day at preschool so we brought cupcakes for him to share with the class. Lots of treats for the birthday boy this week!

Sprinkler Fun

Yesterday I thought we might go up Poudre Canyon to picnic rock so we could play in the river, throw some rocks and have a picnic; then our plans changed. In running a couple errands before leaving town I had to check the truck engine light for the second time in two weeks, took it to a place that our oil changing place recommended to get an estimate on what's wrong, blah blah blah (it's all fixed now, thanks to Meineke who were not the ones to do the estimate!). So anyway, they brought the boys and I home while they kept the truck for a few hours to check it and then brought it back home for me. So, since I already had lunched packed we turned on our sprinkler hose and ran through that instead. After getting wet we ate our lunch out under a tree in our greenbelt out back. I had to hold Carter to get him to get wet, he liked sitting in the chair better. Brendan and I had fun running through though and he's great with his jumps!