Happy Holidays!!

Tory's Dad came out this year for Thanksgiving again! We had a most WONDERFUL time!! He is such a blessing to us! (And he spoiled us rotten!)
My Dad came for Thanksgiving too. We love you both SO much!
It was just Jen & the Boys! I loved it!!



My Dad giving Easton a dollar for his Piggy Bank!


Thank you hug.

Working hard in the kitchen.
Self Portrait.

Between Tory's Dad visiting, work (end of the year stuff) and trying to be a good Mommy, wife & friend, I have sure had my plate full! I am not complaining one bit, it's just that you really have to keep your priorities straight, and sometimes that means letting your blog go for awhile! ;) BUT...I am so glad to have a few moments to share a few photo's from the past few weeks!







I hope and pray you can slow down enough this Christmas season to reflect on this past year...it may have left you beat up & bruised, or perhaps it was the best year ever...either way, God is ALWAYS there...He is real, and consistent and loves us more than our minds can imagine! Thank you God for the gift of your son Jesus!
Much love and blessings to you all!
XO the Flores clan.

Happy Belated Halloween!

What a fun Halloween we had this year! We started by meeting all of the daycare kiddo's at Bries, then we went to Southland's...they did a "Trick or Treat" street...boy was that crowded! We finished at our friend's church. They did such an amazing job creating a fun and safe environment for so many kids and families! Easton was such a great little Spider Man and he had a ball doing all of the activities...Tory & I had a ton of fun too!!









Tory holding Baby Riley...he loves babies!








Nate & Easton

Kerstin & Davis Berger

Sweet Riley Howerzyl

Joel & Courtney Wiersma



All in all it was a WONDERFUL October...the weather, activities, friends & family...it doesn't get much better than that!

Butterfly Pavillion

On October 29th I got to meet Matthew (my stepson) and his 3rd grade class at The Butterfly Pavillion for their field trip. What a neat place! I really enjoyed all of the kids I got to hang out with~ Here are a few fun pictures!











Matthew is holding a tarantula here and was ready to hand him back over when I started saying "wait, wait...I want a picture!" LOL!! All of the kids were so brave!




Earlier in the month Matthew & his class put on a school program...they did such a wonderful job!


Grandma Christine

5 years 4 days.

Tory & I just celebrated our 5 year Anniversary on October 19th. I LOVE YOU HONEY!! If you don't know our story, here it is in a nutshell:
On June 4th, 2003 I was going out with my girlfriends for a bachelorette party. 6 days prior I had ended a relationship that was going nowhere. So, as I was heading out with the girls that night I had resolved that I was going to be single and was SO OKAY with that. God had other plans! We went out to a favorite Country Bar that night called The Stampede. As we were walking around I ran into a volleyball buddy Chad, and standing next to him was Tory. I was IMMEDIATELY attracted to him, and we ended up talking for the rest of the night. (for anyone who knows Tory, talking all night is a BIG deal!) A week and a half later I went to watch him play softball (his other love) and we all went to Parker Days. A local festival that takes place every year. That night we found out that we both new "this" was it! We talked so calmly, with so much certainty it was surreal.
On July 4th (one month later) while in Steamboat (again for softball...) Tory whispered in my ear "I love you Jennifer" It was one of the sweetest moments I have ever experienced! Before we knew it we were planning a wedding in Las Vegas because Tory was already going to Promise Keepers (a men's Christian conference) with his Dad and 2 brothers. It would be the first time in a long time the whole family was going to be together, so we took advantage of the opportunity! I was hesitant at first to have a wedding in Vegas (I had never been) but we had the BEST TIME EVER!! We had approximately 40 friends and family...it was PERFECT! (Just 4 1/2 months after we met...CRAZY!)
I have discovered that when God is in control, it takes all the guess work out. I had met so many men before Tory and could never picture myself settling down with any of them...but when I met Tory, I just KNEW! In fact, I kept saying that " I know that I know that I know!" Having that kind of confidence is what has kept us going in the hard times! SO...back to this anniversary. Tory and I took Monday off and went to see the movie "Fireproof". It is a movie about marriage, and although the acting isn't the best, the message is VERY powerful! I recommend it for ALL married couples! Here is the link: http://www.fireproofmymarriage.com/
We both cried several times. Even though our marriage is fine, we both realized that we have not been working at making it better. Marriage doesn't get better on it's own, it takes work. So, we are both committed to making changes and investing. It is so easy to get lazy when you get comfortable. Anyhoo...I am getting off my soap box now! :)

So here we are...5 years later with a wonderful little man and a bunch more years ahead of us...I wouldn't have it any other way!!
Love you babe!

Family time.

Tory, Easton and I headed back to Nick's this past Sunday to buy pumpkins...Tory informed me that he had stellar pumpkin carving skills, and he was going to kick my butt with his design. I don't have pictures of the finished products yet, but when I do, I'll let you be the judge! :) Actually, once we started, we both realized it took a lot more patience than either of us really posess! Easton had a ton of fun helping us pick out the pumpkins, and he totally helped me get the slimy stuff out. When I was deep into working on my pumpkin, I heard Easton say..."ummmm...yummy!" I look over and he is eating the slimy pumpkin seeds...crazy little man! Here are some photo's from our outing!




















Apparently pumpkin carving can wear a Daddy & his sweet boy out!

Pumpkin time!

Last Thursday I got a phone call from our wonderful daycare provider Jan, and she informed me that she & her sister were going to be taking the kids to Nick's Garden center for the Pumpkin patch, and if I wanted to come, they would love to have me...I was so excited...of course I wanted to go! (Thank you God for such a flexible job!!) They surprised me by dressing the kiddo's up, and boy were they cute!!