4th of July BLAST ...

This year we had an extra special 4th of July. We were blessed to spend the day with my sister Lori and her family!! We started the day with our annual trip to Wellington to watch the “redneck parade”. It is the push, pull, or drive anything while throwing candy parade that has become an annual tradition for us. It’s a blast for the kids. This year the weather was PERFECT. Not cold and NOT scorching hot like the years in the past.

… my dad, Lori, Charlie + their 4 kids (Taylor, Brandon, Caleb, Emily), Dwight’s parents, Nadene, Bill, Amanda + her kids and our great niece and nephew (Madalee and Memphis) all joined in for a great morning of FUN!!

After the parade the storm clouds rolled in and rained all the way up until fireworks time!! We weren’t sure if the City Park fireworks would happen but honestly the kids didn’t even mind … Uncle Charlie and Daddy had a big surprise for them. A bag full of fireworks for our very own backyard Fireworks Show!!

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Greeley Stampede ...

Last Thursday July 1st we took the kids to another rodeo. This time it was at the Greeley Stampede. Bigger Arena … Bigger Show … Bigger Cowboys … yet we all agreed … the Grover Rodeo was a lot more fun to watch. We sat high up in the stands. We had a great view just not the down home cowboy dirt in your teeth feel we got from the Grover Rodeo. None the less we still had a great evening with Bruce and Sharon (Dwight’s Parents) and Bill and Nadene (Dwight’s sister and brother-n-law). We watched the rodeo and topped of the night with some “carnie junk food”.

~ Bill and Nadene ... Bruce and Sharon ~

Faces ...

Last night we took the convertible out. The kids love riding in the convertible, it was a beautiful evening and who doesn’t love ice cream!! After having ice cream we stopped by Walmart. Dwight needed to run in and get a few things. The kids and I stayed in the car. Since I seldom leave home without my camera … we passed the time by taking face pictures.

Yee Haw ...

This year we spent Father’s Day at the rodeo in Grover, Colorado. We met Dwight’s parents Bruce and Sharon for a fun day watching the cowboy and cowgirls. We didn’t have very high expectations since it was in the small town of Grover but we were WOWed! It was a PRCA rodeo … very impressive … well done … family event! It was a little cold and misting with rain but that sure beat sitting in the heat. From the steer roping to the bull riding the kids loved it all.

~ 3 Generations ... Dwight, Bruce, Justin and Makenna ~

~ The Rodeo was a PRCA Tough Enough to Wear Pink event ~

~ Saddle Bronc Riding ~

~ The Rodeo Clown ... J. W. Winklepleck after his Saddle Bronc Ride ~

~ Daddy and his little cowgirl ~

~ 8 Seconds ~

May the force be with you ...

I have some great memories of watching cheap summer movies at the Fox theatre. As a child it was the weekly summer event none of us wanted to miss. Sadly summer movies are no longer cheap but sometimes it’s worth every penny!!

Yesterday was one of those priceless moments. Justin, Makenna and I joined 2 of Justin’s best buddies (Cooper and Jackson) for a special summer movie event. Not many kids from Justin’s generation will ever get the chance to see one of the original Star Wars movies at the movie theatre. Not only did Justin watch Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope at the Rialto Theatre in Loveland both him and Makenna were wide eyed to see the Legion of Star Wars Characters gathered outside of the theatre.

~ Justin, Makenna and the Trash Droid ~

My dear friend Alisha stayed with the boys and watched the movie while Makenna and I ran errands. I just didn’t think 2 hours of Star Wars would hold a 3 year olds attention. Justin has already decided he wants to have all the characters at his Star Wars birthday party when he turns 8 next January. Gotta love a boy who dreams big and plans ahead :)

Soar like an Eagle ...

Summer vacation began for Justin at 11:30 am Wednesday. Not only was it his last day of 1st grade it was his last day at Moore Elementary. After 53 years the school is closing. Next year he will be starting 2nd grade at Bauder Elementary.

It was a tearful day for me. It was hard to watch Justin walk out of the front doors of Moore for the very last time. Thankfully the entire Moore staff will be moving to Bauder with the exception of the Principal Amy Smith. I am just heart broken over the lose of Amy as our Principal. She is beyond amazing. I’ve been around educators my entire life and Amy without a doubt is one of those people you want influencing and guiding your child’s education. She sacrificed her own job to allow Moore to transition to Bauder as a whole and because of that Justin will continue to go to school with his “Moore Friends”.

~ Justin and his friends playing games on the last day of school ~

~ Justin with his Summer Reading Book he earned ... his end of the year present from his teacher ~

The story behind the closing of Moore needs a blog entry of its own in which I have NO desire to write about. Just leave it at ... it's complicated but needed. This past year I have been a part of Moore PTO and have had the opportunity to work 1st hand with some incredible people. Moore’s transition to Bauder is something I fully support given ALL the details … I’m just sad that our children’s education can and will be so greatly affected by astonishing budget cuts that our district has and will continue to face.

On a good note because of the move Moore was released for summer vacation a day earlier than the rest of the district. There was a colorful send off with a rainbow of balloons as students said their final farewell to Moore. Attached to each balloon was a special note from Principal Amy Smith …

Throughout the years, I have watched you learn, laugh, create, play, sing, dance, make new friends and grow strong in many ways. May you have a smile on your face whenever you think of me. My wish for you is to always “soar like an Eagle!”

~ The main entrance waiting for students to leave the building ~

~ A tearful goodbye with Justin's amazing teacher Mrs. Burke ~

~ Justin with Principal Amy Smith ~

Bursting with Pride ...

How did I get so blessed to have an amazing son? Since he was born Justin has had a “huge caring heart” a great disposition and has always been an incredible son. Not only is he proving to be a great athlete he is an outstanding student at school.

We always tell him ... Attitude and effort = Achievement

Today they had an Awards Ceremony at school and Justin did us proud. He received the highest honor a 1st grader could receive.

Outstanding Character Award … an award for showing outstanding character throughout the year! – Responsibility, Caring, Respect, Trustworthiness, Fairness and Citizenship

He also received an award for Excellent Attendance … Justin was present for ALL school days this year except for the ONE day I made him stay home cause he had a tummy ache. He begged to go but that day but I thought he would be uncomfortable at school. UGH … who would have thought that ONE day would be his only day he missed this year and eliminated him from the LIMO ride for the few kids that did have perfect attendance. What a blessing it is to have a child who loves school and WANTS to go to school everyday!

~ Justin with his medals ... he even shared one with Makenna ~

I’m super proud of his awards but my bursting with pride moment came when I opened his report card tonight! Since Kindergarten Justin has struggled with Reading and has excelled in Math. At the beginning of the year he tested below grade average and was assigned to a small reading group. This past year Justin has worked really hard and spent extra time practicing his reading at home. His dedication and determination has paid off. 2 weeks ago Justin tested at a 2nd Grade Reading level.

His report card has the proof … 4th Quarter Reading = Grade Level!

Field Trip Fun...

On May 4th Justin’s 1st grade class finished up a unit on “habitats” with a field trip to The Denver Zoo.

Dwight and I decided to sacrifice our day and volunteered to ride the big yellow bus with 40 first graders to share this adventure with them.

It turned out to be a wonderful sunny day. Dwight and I were “in charge” of 3 kids … Justin, his best friend Chris and Malek an exchange student from Libya.

Justin and Chris were great all day … but … let’s just say Dwight gave Malek a dose of “Mr. Michael’s Boot Camp” and rewarded him for a job well done with an ice cream cone at the end of the day.

~ Justin with his Best Friend Chris ~

~ The 3 Stooges ... Malek, Justin and Chris ~

~ The boys enjoying the Ice Cream Reward ~

It wasn’t until Malek was half way done with his ice cream that he informed us that he had NEVER had ice cream. Seriously I’m not sure the kid had ever had sugar … you would have thought his ice cream was made out of Red Bulls!! :) !!

Dwight and I both agreed next time we will follow the bus! The bus ride home was a long one!