Summer Fun

Summer has started with a bang at our house! All three kids are taking swim lessons, K is riding and taking piano, A ran the Bolder Boulder again this year and is now getting a late start on spring cleaning (the family loves me in this mode). D spends time chasing S around the house on his knee scooter (much faster than 'crunches', as S calls them).
Saturday morning all three of the girls ran a 2 mile race called the Sunrise Stampede. E was flying and finished in 21:10! You go, E! A ran with K and they finished in 23:something. As soon as the race was over, we drove straight to K's horseshow at Triple Creek Ranch. She was exhausted last night! Despite the fact that she moved up a division and added the canter, she did even better than last time. She ended up being champion of her division, and she has not stopped smiling!! Great job, K!
Other than that, we don't have much going on this summer! Oh yeah -- there is VBS, volleyball camp, A's weekly v-ball games, multiple sleepovers, K's birthday, missing our friends and family...............

....and Horse Show Season Begins!

K started off her season with a bang! After many nerves and jitters, and a nearly sleepless night for mom, K did awesome at her first horse show. She won a 5th place and a participation ribbon in her flat classes, and despite missing her first two classes and having to make all three of her jumping rides right together, she came away with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons in her jumping classes! She is still grinning and we are so proud of her!! Congratulations K and Angel (showname: R U Listening)!!!!

Soccer Season Ends.......

E and S closed out soccer season with a bang this morning. E had two goals and two assists, and S had five goals. Yes, in the last game of the season he figured out what you are supposed to do with a soccer ball -- and he definately did it!! I'm not sure how E is going to survive untili fall soccer starts. I'm thinking summer soccer camp! Way to go E and S!!

Bye, Bye, Bunny!

Well, after keeping the little guy for about 4 days, we found him to be uninjured and able to care for himself. By the 4th day, he was desperately trying to get out of his cage. Grandma did some research and found out that his mommy might still be looking for him. After it got dark, the kids and I took the cage outside and let him go. He didn't go very far, though. He hopped out and immediately started eating the grass.
We were very excited to discover him in our yard the next morning! He has apparently taken up residence under our slide. This might be because we keep putting out lettuce, alfalfa, and rabbit yogurt treats. K goes out every morning to check on him. Hopefully we have a new, outside only pet!

New Baby

We have the cutest new addition at our house! This adorable little bunny fell down in our basement window well. Grandaddy found it and couldn't wait to show the kids! We figure it is about 2 or 3 weeks old, and have no idea where its mother is. So, we put it in Sophie's old kennel, and I went to PetSmart and bought a bottle and some formula. This wasn't quite what I had in mind when I was thinking of having another baby, but he's awefully cute! D tried to feed him but he wouldn't eat. We're afraid that our little buddy is so traumatized that he won't make it, but we're going to give it a shot! I'll keep you posted!

The Litesaver

S's obsession with Star Wars has moved from the Lego Star Wars game on the PlayStation to his very own 'litesaver' which, as he puts it, will 'cut off you hand!'. Isn't that nice? His favorite thing to do is walk around with it hanging from his pants, and to explain to us all how that process works with the clip on the litesaver. He has also become quite good at 'accidentally' hitting us all with it and saying 'I was just opening it.'. Of course, I happen to think he makes the cutest Luke Skywalker I've ever seen!

What soccer ball?

S had his first soccer game on Saturday. Considering they don't hold practices, it was quite entertaining!! After switching his uniform to the right color, S spent the first few minutes running, jumping, and just generally acting goofy. Once we pointed out to him that he was on a soccer field with a soccer ball, he managed to figure out how to kick it fairly quickly. Every time he kicked it in the goal during their practice time, he would run over to me on the sidelines for a 'Hi-Five' and yell 'Woo-Hoo! I got a goal!'.

It was quite funny to watch all six players on the field during the game follow the ball as a little herd. Right before the game was over, S got a goal! He jumped up and down and then looked over at us with his thumb up and yelled 'Gig'em Aggies!' That might have something to do with the fact that he kicked it in the wrong goal, but we didn't tell him that! He was so proud of himself, and so were we!!!!

Happy Easter!

It was a very cold Easter today! Spring came and went and now we have winter again -- although I think we are supposed to hit 60 degrees tomorrow!


The kids had lots of fun hunting Easter eggs, even though it was 29 degrees outside. Somehow the Easter Bunny found a few snow piles for the white eggs. Even Sophie got into the action and sniffed out a few eggs for the kids.


As soon as the kids came in it started snowing, and it snowed all day! Yes, there is a place on Earth with weather crazier than Texas -- and we found it!!! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!!

Spring Has Sprung (for a few days)

Thanks to our unseasonably warm weather the last couple of weeks (we have been in the 70's), the kids have been able to enjoy the outdoors! K started riding again once the three-month-old snow melted. She was so glad to see her Angel and get back in the corral!

E started soccer again on Saturday and had an awesome game. She has so much energy she moves on the sidelines just as much as she does on the field! The team decided to call themselves the Speedy Girls this year -- and they definately are!


Today we got to go to a friend's house and ride horses. K jumped some more and E got to try riding. We've decided to let her stick to soccer! I thought she was going to bounce right out of the saddle when Duchess started trotting! Even L got to ride a horse today!! I realize I left S out of this post, but he has his first-ever soccer game on Saturday, so I'm sure there will be some great pics from that!!

"I Turned into Fo Today!"

I can't believe my baby is four!! I think I need another one! It was the perfect day for a birthday. The girls had a late start day, and the weather has been sunny and in the 60's. After having cake for breakfast (this is becoming a habit with us), the kids watched Grandaddy put S's new sand and water table together. They had lots of fun playing with it!!! S even got to have cake for dessert after lunch. Happy Birthday, S!!!!

Bodacious Birthday

Today my Bodacious (her new name) girl turned 7! E has been so excited the last couple of days that she has been bouncing off the walls! After she went to bed last night, we blew up 30 pink balloons and filled her room with them. She was up bright and early at 6:30 this morning, begging to open presents. She even got to have birthday cake for breakfast, once we finally extinguished the magical relighting candles that I accidentally bought! We then sent her to school with cupcakes and blowpops for all of her friends. I think she was most excited about having her name announced during the morning announcements. I can't believe she is 7!!! Happy Birthday, E!!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

It's a very cold (10 degrees) and white Valentine's Day here in Longmont! Grandma fixed heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast and the kids even had a little candy. I must tell you about the perfect card I happened upon for D for Valentine's Day. This is what it said:


On the front:
Sometimes I'll hear you
doing something and it will
remind me that we share
a life together, and I smile.

Inside:
Then I hear a thud,
a crash, and cursing.
Not quite as nice,
but I still smile.

Sometimes the perfect card just jumps out at you!! Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!!!

Nothing New

I usually don't post unless there is something new with the kids. However, there is a certain special someone (she knows who she is) who sends me messages when I don't publish a new post for a while. The only thing new here is more snow -- 49 inches so far this season -- with our snowiest months (March and April) yet to come. Between the two planned days off and the two snow days, the kids have only had three days of school each of the last two weeks. There was actually a blizzard warning from snow blowing up from the ground. It was the weirdest thing I have ever seen! We finally made it into the double digits today (first time since Thursday) and the weather guys keep talking about our 'warming trend' - up to 33 this week.
Since D broke his foot, I have discovered the downside to all of this beautiful snow (other than driving in it) -- shoveling the driveway. I did that this morning while it was -1 so I could get the trash cans to the curb! We now have a snow thrower, and I'm sure there will be some humorous stories from the first time I try to use it.
I have started to get the hang of winter driving, at least to Super Target and the kids' schools and back. If you brake in just the right spot while you are cornering your very large SUV, you don't actually have to turn the steering wheel to turn the corner-- you simply slide around! I just hope D is off of his pain meds by the time the kids' ski lessons start in February so I don't have to add mountain driving to my repertoire!

Happy New Year!!

Despite the fact that the Aggies, Cowboys, and Broncos all lost, we are still having a Happy New Year! We are still covered in snow, but the sun is shining and it is beautiful!

The kids and I went to a friend's house last night and roasted hotdogs and s'mores, sledded down a hill, and ice skated on their pond. Since it was about 13 degrees, we headed home after a couple of hours because we all felt like big popsiscles!
Our 'big' celebration last night was to gather around D's bed and pop confetti poppers when the ball dropped in New York. Grandma had hers aimed the wrong way and it shot confetti straight up the sleeve of her robe! S was very upset when they were all popped and I had a big mess to clean up -- but it was lots of fun!!

The kids have had fun in the snow, and are not really ready for school to start tomorrow. You would think after two and a half weeks off they would be ready to see their friends again!! I am dreading the end of the week when my in'laws leave. I think they should just move in!! D is starting to recover and I will send an update after we see the doctor on Wednesday. Hope you all have a wonderful New Year!!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Thirty-five inches of snow makes a VERY white Christmas!! It was so wonderful to look outside at the snow, so quiet and peaceful, while the chaos of three kids opening gifts went on inside!


After we returned a bit of order to the house we took the kids sledding. The snow was so deep we had a hard time getting to the top of the hill. The kids had a blast! The girls decided to 'surf' down the hill and S spent most of his time sitting at the bottom eating snow. I choose not to think of all the germs on that snow!! Grandaddy and the girls even got into a snowball fight! We tried to get Grandma to sled, but she refused. D played it safe by staying in the car and watching from there. Once we were cold and wet enough we went back home and D fixed some hot chocolate. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Lights

As most of you have probably heard by now, David fell off the roof while hanging lights and broke his heel. Emily had to write an accrostic poem for school this morning using a winter word. She chose Christmas lights. This is so priceless I have to post it for everyone to read!

Cold outside
Hot chocolate warms me up
Really snowy
Icicles hanging
Saint Nicolas is coming soon
Trim the tree
My dad hangs lights
Always be careful
Slippery roof
Look out below
If you fall, yell for help
Go to the emergency room
Have to get a cast
Take it easy
Stay off the roof from now on

Ski Dude

S skied for the first time today and absolutely loved it!! By lunch time he was already walking around on his skis in every direction possible! When he goes back next time he will be ready for level 2.


In the mean time, the rest of us were freezing in the 2 degree weather. Funny how kids don't seem to notice that! The girls did decide to take a rest when we went to watch S, though.



We were worried that he wouldn't like skiing, but we shouldn't have. He was very upset when we told him it was time to go because he had not yet been on the big lift. We tried to explain that he had to learn the bunny hill first and get back up on his own when he falls. His teacher said he could get up on his own, but he refused to do it outside in the snow. I think we'll practice in the driveway tomorrow!!

Let It Snow!

We realize that there are many of you that hate snow, but we have found it has many great uses. It makes a great afternoon snack -- and you can eat it right off the patio table!


It aslo makes a great cushion on the trampoline. However, if you are a little white dog, it can be quite cold!



We have also discovered that it can be a great form of punishment for the kids. Of course, the kids can pay you back when you aren't looking!





Snow is also great for filling up the pond when the heater makes the water evaporate (and the hose you fill it with is frozen). Not to mention it clears your patio. It's unfortunate that we only have one snow shovel!




D also learned another lesson to add to our "What not to do when you live in Colorado' list: when you have projects going on in the garage and you have to move some things outside to work, make sure one of them is NOT the snow shovel. It isn't fun to dig out from a foot of snow! We hope the county takes a lesson from this one, too. They didn't expect the snow to hit until midnight. It hit at 5. It was 9:00 before they started plowing roads! The other down side to the snow is the cold weather it brings. When I dropped the girls off this morning it was -2 with a wind chill of -15. I'm looking on the bright side, however. It's supposed to hit 20 today!! Happy winter!!!