Butterfly Pavillion

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Guess Where....Durango, CO!

Dave and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, May 7th. Dave planned a trip to Durango and it was spectacular. What a beautiful place! We rode the train to Silverton, went to a movie, ate in fancy restaurants, and then spent a day in Mesa Verde National Park.

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Jim and Sharon watched the kids and did some serious chauffeuring while we were gone for three days. Thank you so much! The kids, of course, did not miss us a bit and had a great time being spoiled--for instance, Grandma made chicken noodle soup AND chicken and rice soup one night to accommodate everyone. That would NEVER happen with Mom cooking!

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To quote the sentiments of a friend, "fifteen down, eternity to go..."

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I wouldn't want to try this with anyone but Dave. (See future posts to see what makes him so unique, if you don't already know.)

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I love you forever.

Rock On!

Will Ben ever stop cracking us up? He asked if he could wear his hair to school like this...I don't think so!

Another week gone by...

I can't believe another week has gone by! So much running around, and yet it feels like nothing has really been accomplished.

That's not exactly true. Colorado Springs has taught me the valuable lesson to not put off enjoying a "park day" when one comes along. Rachel and I spent most of Thursday at various parks despite having a big mess at home. There were loads of laundry to fold and put away and beds to make, in addition to general clutter everywhere and a sink full of dirty dishes. I have made the mistake before of staying home to do the cleaning, all the while planning to go to the park "on the weekend" or "tomorrow" to tragically find that the "park day" was a fleeting phenomenon to be followed up with snow and/or terrible wind.

Not THIS week. And good thing because today, Saturday, is windy and miserable. Football and soccer were nearly intolerable. I am learning to sieze the day, as it were, and let the house wait a bit...Good lesson.

Swimming lessons were short-lived and super fun. I love this wedgie shot. Not one girl bothered by the wedgie or picking it out!

Jake was only put in the game for like nine plays today, in the third and fourth quarter too! But he made a tackle that caused a fumble and turnover! I'll bet his coach was wishing he had put him in sooner! Way to go, Jake.

Ben played goalie for a shutout quarter today and made some great saves! You show that team! They won 1-0 in a big matchup against The Wild. Ben also partipated in the Primary talent show by doing some speed cup stacking. He rocks!

And lastly, what could be better than getting flowers from my dear husband on Friday? I love receiving cut flowers for no particular reason. That's the best!

Another week gone and so much to be thankful for, if I can only remember to stop and smell the roses...

P.S.--I realize this post is filled with cliches, but maybe that's not a bad way to look at life and express something commonly experienced that is still profound in a way...

Weekend Warrior

This is what a weekend warrior looks like on Sunday morning at 8:30a.m.

Dave has not gotten a lot of press time on this blog so I decided this morning was the perfect time to capture him "in action".

Dave spent this weekend overexerting himself, as usual...He went with me to play games at our friends' house Friday night, immediately after returning from work. Saturday morning, early, he went skateboarding in Manitou Springs. He made it to the last half of Jake's football game. Came home to do some major yard work in the backyard. The chainsaw was involved.

He then managed to get the boys outside to help with some spring cleanup. (Which everyone knows is much harder than just doing it yourself!)

He went to the park to rollerblade before Ben's soccer game at 5p.m. Watched Ben's game. Blocked shots and shot goals on Ben after the game for half an hour. Stopped at the store for a few groceries. Made his famous lil' smokies (with the sterno) appetizer. Took a much needed shower and headed to Sig's house to catch some pay-per-view UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fights.

Home by midnight but too wound up to sleep. Ate 2/3 of a carton a Ben & Jerry's chocolate fudge brownie ice cream and watched Saturday Night Live.

Ben's U-9 Soccer Success

Soccer has been such a big part of Ben's life for the last couple of years that it is funny that we don't have more pictures...Here are a few from this season's opening game. Ben shot on goal in this game and the goalie made an amazing save. Both the shot and the save were worthy of ESPN highlights.

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Ben, and his team, moved up this season to play older teams on the bigger field. Ben's athleticism makes him a real threat on this bigger field. He saved the game by trucking up field to catch a guy going for an uncontested shot on goal. It was amazing to see how fast he can be! The game ended up tied but we definitely played the better game--against a team that has gone two seasons without a loss or a tie--so hopefully we'll have a chance to take them in our next matchup.

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Listen to me...I sound like a super-competitive soccer mom. What can I say? Ben deserves a family who can help him let it rip. GO BEN! We're so proud of YOU.

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Swim Time

 

 

Rachel started swim lessons on Monday and it is a hoot. I LOVE that I don't have to get in the water with her and Miss Kate is really great with all five students. Great fun at the local Y! (I enjoy my children's swim lessons much more than I enjoyed my own as a child.) Keep blowing those bubbles Miss Rachel.

Big, Mean, and Cute.

Jake is trying to look mean here but he really just looks cute to me. We're so proud of the job he's doing in football! He's my hero. Keep up the good work, Jake, and remember, only four games left!

When I Get Bigger...

Rachel has been known to be put off from something by telling her that she can do it when she gets bigger.

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Recently, she told me, "when I get bigger I get a kitty cat,

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I get a baby,

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and I iron my dress myself."

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Funny how that is what she aspires to and a bit telling of my example ...hmmmm... Should I be proud or a bit worried? It will be fun to see how things change as she actually "gets bigger." My bet is that ironing will be the first thing to go off the to-do list!

Spring Break Report

It must be the sign of a fabulous vacation when it takes four days to surface after your return. I finally feel like I have returned to the living!

It was an amazing vacation. Rachel continues to talk about it every day. "I like rides, Mom." "I go on the pirate ship. I see Jack Sparrow, Mom." "I no like the waterfall. Whoosh. Too big for me." "We go to Disneyland tomorrow?"

When we arrived the kids were marvelling at all the foliage. It's funny how you forget how tropical California can be...In-N-Out was a big hit.

Rachel was tall enough to go on nearly everything, except Indiana Jones, and so we took her on nearly everything. Mom drew the line at Tower of Terror since she had already endured so much and Ben nearly would not go. Rachel's favorite rides were Pirates of the Carribean, "the fast train" aka Big Thunder Mountain, and the Tea Cups. Her least favorite was Splash Mountain aka "the waterfall".

Of course the princesses were a huge hit and we're so glad they have a "Princess Faire" to see them if you wait in line. Otherwise we might have missed the best Belle of all time. I think Dave may have a crush on her. She was so sweet and kind. Rachel would not stop hugging her!

Jake and Ben both loved the Tower of Terror, Indiana Jones, and Space Mountain. Although the crowds were at an all-time high for both Dave and I, the lines were not terrible. Disney does a great job of managing the masses. I'm glad we did it but I don't know if I would go again during Spring Break any time soon. My vote is Disney World in January 2010. I'm afraid October will still be too hot in Florida. What do you think of that plan, family?

The cruise was fun and laid back. It was a nice break from Disneyland and we did Sea World on Tuesday. Very fun for everyone in spite of being tired.

In Catalina, the water was FREEZING. Jake got in to swim and was the ONLY person in the water as far as the eye could see. Rachel tried to talk Dave into taking her out to Jake because apparently she is as crazy as Jake about the water. Who thought I would ever see the day that Dave would be coaxing his daughter OUT of the water?! The water was only about 58 degrees. Whoo-ahh!

The boys made a friend at dinner on the cruise. We sat with the same family every night. Andy has promised to keep in touch with emails. As you can see, the dining room was not too formal. Thank goodness!

All in all, it was new and fun and exciting and tiring and downright legendary. Just like all of our family vacations so far.

P.S.--Lest I grow old and look back at these years and think everything was easier and more joyous, let me note that I got seasick the last night of the cruise, Rachel got a rash which we think is a result of an extremely mild case of scarlet fever (we treated her with antibiotics), and Sadie got violent diarrhea at the kennel and a case of depression. Not everything was perfect.