Horsetooth Falls ...

Last month the kids and I hiked Horsetooth Falls a wonderful kid friendly trail about 20 minutes from our house. We went with my friend Aliy and her 2 boys, Riley and Jayce.  Riley is one of Makenna's buddies!  When we were getting dressed for our hike Makenna said, "mom do I have a shirt that says I love Riley"? ... as you can tell she was pretty excited to hike with her buddy!

~ Makenna and Riley ... ready for our hike! ~

~ Justin was the leader for most of the trail ~

Until we ran into ...

YES – my friends that is a RATTLESNAKE!!  Thanks goodness I picked the best hiking partner EVER!! Aliy is a Park Ranger so she kept us all calm and woke the snake with a stick.  Yup that dang snake was sound asleep! … OH we had just a little excitement when he curled up in a ball and hissed at us!  But he soon realized Aliy was bigger and much more dangerous with a stick and decided to slither away.  I was super proud of myself … anyone who know me well knows that I am SCARED TO DEATH of snakes.  If I would have been alone with the kids I would have turned around and ran screaming the whole way back to our car.  But the hike went on ...

~ The reward at the end of the trail ~

~ Riley and Makenna wading in the water ~

~ Justin, Makenna and I at the falls ~

~ Aliy, Riley and Jayce at the falls ~

~ One of many educational moments with Ranger Aliy along the trail ~

I was so proud of Justin and Makenna for finishing the entire hike … 2.5 miles!  Makenna was a trooper even when she wanted to give up she keep on going!   

Take me out to the ball game ...

Wow ... what happened to the summer??? I'm seriously sad that school starts in 2 week. It's been a super busy summer for us but I still have a long list of stuff I had planned on doing this summer. I should know better ... Summer never last long enough but I am determined to get my blog caught up.

As if 3 days a week of football wasn't enough for Justin ... the first 6 weeks of summer we spent 2 nights a week at the ball park watching Justin play baseball. Lucky for us his team (The All Stars) was pretty good, lots of fun to watch and Justin proved to be one of the top players on his team. This was the 1st year for "kid pitch" and his last year of playing in a learning league (each kid is rotated through all positions) ... Justin’s favorite position this year was Pitcher!

Justin was an All Star on the mound, pitching several “no hit” innings and only allowed 3 walks all season. Next year baseball will become more competitive as Justin will be able to try out for a draft position onto a team. It’s been a lot of fun watching Justin improve season by season. I’m certain baseball will be a big part of our summers for a long time.

~ Team Photo ... Justin is in the backrow 3rd from the right ~

~ Justin with his Trophy ~

Emily Ann Turns 3 ...

Miss Emily Ann (my niece) turned 3 on July 11^th.   We helped celebrated her special day with an ELMO party!    

~ Emily with her Elmo Cake ~

~ Making a Wish ~ 

~ The girls ... Makenna, Taylor's friend Jordan, Emily and Taylor ~ 

~ Presents!! ~ 

~ Playing in Emily's Room ~ 

What a blessing it has been to have all of us together to celebrate special occasions!

Football Camp ...

Justin has started his first season with Pop Warner Football.  His first game is not until September 3^rd but he sure has had a summer full of football.  For the month of June he attended a full contact conditioning camp 3 days a week.  Fully padded … playing outside in the heat … I was worried that he would get exhausted and that it would be too much for him.

~ Opening Huddle ~ 

~ Justin listening during Opening Huddle ~ 

~ Guest Speaker for the Opening Huddle ... one of my former Preston Junior High students that is now playing with the Minnesota Vikings ~

~ Justin is on the far left wearing Navy pants ~

~ Closing Huddle with Coach Switzer ~ 

~ Makenna trying to be part of the team ~

I was wrong!  He LOVED it!  … and so did Dwight.  Dwight’s work schedule in June was rather flexible so he helped out some with coaching.  Justin went right from his Conditioning Camp into a Quarterback/Passing Camp the first 2 weeks of July.   I'm thinking my future is going to include a LOT of Footbal!

Fireworks, Family and Fun …

This year we had another fun filled 4^th of July.  We spent the morning with our great friends The Van Cleave’s and Lance’s.   We had our annual breakfast and gathered all the kids together on Mainstreet in Wellington to watch the parade.  Each year the weather seems to get hotter and hotter and the parade seems to get longer and longer.  Not sure if the kids actually LIKE the parade or just the idea of collecting CANDY that the parade participates throw.  Each year we come home with a bag full of candy and 2 tired kids. 

~ Beautiful morning for a ride in the Convertible … headed to Wellington for our morning festivities ~

~ Our little Firecrackers  ~ Jusitn and Makenna ~ 

~ Grace Van Cleave in her adorable Patriotic TuTu ~  

~ The Little Kids Watching the Parade ~ 

~ The Big Kids Watching the Parade ~ 

The afternoon was spent napping.  Ahhhhhhh … I love afternoon naps and it’s not very often I get one so that was a special treat for mom. 

My sister Lori and her family + my dad and Bobbye joined us for an evening BBQ and backyard firework.   It amazing despite all the mature trees in our neighborhood we have a great view of the City of Fort Collins Fireworks show right from our back patio.  It sure makes for an enjoyable show when you don’t have to deal with traffic and crowds. 

~ Holidays are Funnier with Cousins ~

Emily (3), Justin (8), Makenna (4), Taylor (9), Caleb (5), Brandon (7)

FiVe ...

It’s been a crazy and fun few months since my sister Lori and her family moved back to Colorado.  The kids have enjoyed lots of cousin time but last night we got together to celebrate Caleb turning 5!!

~ Making a Wish ~

~ Emily LOVED the cake ~

Caleb wasn’t sure what to think about all of the attention that was being focused on him. He was shy one moment and wild the next but was really happy when he realized the presents were for HIM.

~ Caleb was so excited he smacked Charlie in the face ~

The Birthday Boy!

Schools Out ...

The kids and I made special end of the year Crayon Picture Letter for their teachers

Yeah … summer break has begun!!   The school year ended with mixed feelings for all of us but without a doubt we are all ready for a more relaxed schedule. A little pinch at my heart today with I realized Justin is half way done with Elementary School as he will be adventuring into the 3^rd grade in the fall.  Justin has grown SO MUCH this year both in inches and academically.  We are so proud of him for his high marks, positive attitude and outstanding effort.  This year we were blessed with another AMAZING teacher … Mrs. Palmer. 

Justin with Mrs. Palmer

We decided NOT to say “goodbye” to her instead we said “see you this summer”.  She plans to watch Justin play baseball this summer.  Justin once told me … “I’m pretty sure Mrs. Palmer loves sports as much as I do”. 

The part of the picture I am sure Mrs. Palmer will treasure the most

Makenna with Ernie

Makenna completed another year at The Learning House with Ernie and Mary. Yet another blessing in our lives!  Ernie and Mary are saints of Early Childhood Education and Makenna is so fortunate to spend her early school years at The Learning House.  She too is growing too fast and learning more and more each day.

Full Contact ...

It is official … Justin is playing Pop Warner Football.  Games don’t start until September but conditioning with Colorado Football Academy has begun.  Um …… yeah you read that correct … Conditioning for my 8 YEAR OLD son has BEGUN.  2 days a week for the month of May and then 3 days a week for the month of June.

Justin all suited up in his practice uniform.  I guarantee it wasn’t a mom’s idea to have the practice uniform white … I can’t imagine they will stay white for very long!

 

On The Field

Justin might be getting bigger and adventuring into new things but it is going to take some getting use to the fact that my 8 year old son is “PLAYING FULL CONTACT FOOTBALL”.  I am totally torn between embracing the idea and being completely immobilized when I hear the crashing of pads and look up and see Justin lying on the ground buried under a pile of boys.

It’s a good thing that Justin LOVES it and leaves each practice with a huge smile on his face.  It’s that smile that makes me sweat out the lump in my stomach when I think about my baby boy playing his first year of Full Contact Football.    

Blessed ...

Mother's Day 2011