...where has summer gone?!

Here we are, the end of July. [gulp!]  Summer is over half way through.  In fact, most of our friends only have 2 weeks left until school starts, so it's feels like summer's end is coming faster than it really is.  We'll start school the last week of August to give us a chance to really enjoy the last few weeks before we dive in.

BUT, before I dive in to what our summer has been about, I have to update you, quickly, on April & May. (and to be frank, i'm not sure how much longer this blog will stay alive.  I just don't seem to have the time anymore to keep at it.  and really, I do it more for myself to keep track of our lives and as the boys change less and less I'm seeing less and less of a need to keep up a blog.  just putting that out there for those who even read this!)

OK.  April.  Drew's 6th birthday was great, we had a small family get together and he felt very special and loved his American flag cake (a cinch to put together!).  The boys both got rollerblades, and while Evan loved them from the get-go, Drew was a little slower to start on them.  Now, the end of July, they're both racing around them in the cul-de-sac every chance they get!  We had a big snow mid-April, which meant sledding and snowmen.  Again.  The boys loved it, I was over it by then.  Oh wait...this happened again in May!  This year we celebrated both Easter (with friends and my folks) and for the first time, Passover, in honor of how I was raised and because we love to symbolism the traditional celebration holds.

First tooth out!

May held [mostly] better weather.  We went to the zoo twice, the gardens once, and a nice hike up to Devil's Head Lookout!  It was a slower month and oh so enjoyable (looking back).  Oh, we did a TON of yard work...like 5 solid days worth.  The front of our house (with the addition of a new roof) is almost unrecognizable!

At the top of Devil's Head Lookout

Evan has decided he wants to become "good at making pancakes".  So he practices.

June was our busiest (and most fun!) month.  With the arrival of our good friends the Wilseys, we each traveled to the other's house once a week for 5 weeks,..that 10 day-long visits in 10 weeks.  it made the weeks full, but so worth it.  Add into that mix Memorial Day (where we went to a very special and respectful ceremony to honor the fallen), a 3-day camping trip which included a 15 mile hike around a very large reservoir, VBS, and ended (pretty much) with celebrating Evan's 8th birthday and 4th of July, it was a BUSY 5 weeks!  Evan had a wonderful birthday -- he loved all the family time and going bowling with friends.  The 4th was great with a parade and hike with my folks and long-time friends coming to stay for the night as they were passing through on a family vacation!

All 7 crazies...all month long!

Family hike for Father's Day

Camping and hiking -- our summertime favorite

Half-way around the 15-mile perimeter of the reservoir!

And for the first time, he requested a "regular" cake...not a "shape cake".  Sniff.

July itself has been less busy than June, but still full.  We camped for 4 days just outside of Aspen.  It was GEORGEOUS.  The hikes were more strenuous and technical than we anticipated, but the boys did great and we all loved it.  When we returned from that trip, the boys went strait into a week-long soccer camp where they learned a ton and went to bed early every night!  My grama (mom's mom) came into town a little over a week ago to visit and be here for my nephew's 2nd birthday, so that's been nice to see her a few times.  We were able to get a nice 4-generations picture today at the twin's party, too, which i'm thankful for!  The boys put on a little piano recital for her this past week, complete with an intermission which included tea and cookies!  Evan lost both top teeth this past week and I think he looks years older with them out.

4 Generations!

Feb & Mar

Looks likes I can't manage to get on here monthly, so every-other month I go.

People will often ask me "what's new?!" -- they use it as a friendly greeting or inquiry.  I stop and think, and then usually say something to the effect of "not much".  It's true.  We're in a routine with life and school and there's not much new.  The boys are no longer little enough to see changes around every corner.  Although, sometimes they'll do something, like reach into a cabinet all by themselves and I'll notice that they're not on their tip-toes anymore and realize they've grown.  We have more intellectual conversations.  They're learning how to tell jokes (it's slow going, let me tell ya!) and they're still best friends. 

One new thing, I will say, is that Evan is reading now.  As in, he's tearing through chapter books.  One week he was sounding words out, the next he was reading whole books to Drew.  It's incredible.  We have about 6 weeks left of school and I think by the time "summer" comes he'll be even more fluent!

Life has been it's usual ebb and flow of activity.   Our big "event" was the Pinewood Derby race for cub Scouts.  Evan won 2nd place for his den with a car he designed, painted, and attached weights to himself (with ticky-tack).  We were very proud of him, especially since the 1st place guy was .001 second ahead, and he'd had maybe not just a little help on his car.  It was a good lesson learned, that's for sure.  Drew raced against all the siblings, including a little 3 year old brother who won.  There was only a first place winner in that category and Drew was not it, which as he said was "really hard to handle", but he did a [fairly] good job and was able to move on. An extra fun part of the day was that Jared and his family, along with my folks, were able to come up and help us cheer!

March saw us enjoying days of 70 and sunshine, and turning around to snow and freezing temps the week after.  Such is March in Colorado and you get used to it -- but it is a tease!  We opted to forfeit an official spring break in exchange for getting out of school a week early in May so we can, Lord willing, go camping at the Sand Dunes.  We did have a little more fun mid-March, though, when all our friends had spring break!  We were blessed with some nice days and every day had something fun and extra in it.

We also got a totally relaxing weekend when Scot was home all weekend with no work to do and no plans on the calendar.  Oh...it was so lovely. 

Oh.  Easter.  It was lovely and fabulous and quiet.  My folks came up for the day and we enjoyed a simple, but simply delicious, meal with mutual friends. 

Jan 2016

It's hard to believe that the first month of 2016 has come and gone already.  I feel like the holidays were forever ago, but it was only a mere 5 weeks.  We've since taken down all our decorations.  Purged the house. Gotten sick.  Cleaned/disinfected the house. Fallen back into a good routine with life and school.  Enjoyed unseasonably warm days as well as snowy ones.  Overall, January was good. 

A few highlights, though...
#1) A quick visit from my grandfather.  He came to see my folks, and we popped down one afternoon to make sure some generational pictures were taken.  I'm thankful for the technology to take multiple pictures at a rapid pace -- especially when two 17-month-olds are involved!  It was a good, but short, trip down.  The boys loved visiting with the great-grandfather and making memories with him.

#2) We also got to go to a metal recycling plant with a small group of kids and tour the facility.  The Lord blessed us with a gorgeous day and we learned so much about how metal is recycled and even got to watch as a double city bus was demolished in under 10 minutes.  Seriously incredible.

#3) Scot and I got a date-day in this past weekend.  It was low-key, but much needed and enjoyed.  (the boys had a blast with Grammy and Grandude!)  It also left me pretty refreshed going into our church's annual Ladies Tea -- a wonderful couple hours of fellowship and delicious tea-time goodies.  Think gourmet scones & clotted creams, tea sandwiches, and lots of tea!  It's always a highlight and this year is was nice that my mom was able to join me!

Ok!  On to pictures!

 5 Generations

 At the recycle plant next to "the claw" -- it can hold 5 cars at ONE time!

 The boys were properly attired, making bright and safe and completely adorable

 Drew was the one to fall ill -- and I quarantined him because I was that determined to not have any of the rest of us fall prey to the sickness!  Out of 24 hrs he spent in bed, 15 of them were sleeping, and the other 9 were mostly laying down listening to an audio book.  This was near the end of the containment when he actually felt well enough to sit up.  Whew...are we glad that's over!  (and no, none of the rest of us got it -- praise the Lord!)

 And because it's Colorado, we can have 65 degrees one day (pictured), and snow two days later!  We like to enjoy both as much as possible!

Happy Holidays (Nov & Dec 2015)

I figured I'd do one longer post to cover both major holidays!  It's going to be a lot, so hang on!

The beginning of November was almost like an Indian summer -- the days were gorgeous, it was a surprise to see so many leaves on the ground.  The boys enjoyed the last few days riding their bikes and Kett Cars.  (in fact, we had warm days sprinkled throughout November -- I remember because we were going to go to the theaters to watch a movie for my birthday at the end of the month, but the day was almost 70, so we hit the trail near our house instead and hung our Christmas lights!)  Needless to say, the boys loved the mild days and the HUGE pile of leaves I raked one afternoon.

And of course, since we live in Colorado, one day mid-November, we woke up to snow.  It was bright and sunny mid-day (the schools were kicking themselves for canceling that day!) and the boys had a great time building snowmen and having snow fights.  The snow storm we had mid-Decemeber gave us much more snow, and since Scot was home that day, the boys spent an entire morning sledding!  They love the snow and any chance to play in it.

Thanksgiving found us eating our actual dinner with Scot at the hospital.  I brought everything we needed for a simple Thanksgiving feast and I was very proud of the success -- things were still so hot we had to blow on them.  It didn't matter that we were without a tablecloth or eating with plastic forks on [cute] paper plates -- we were together as a family and that's what it's all about!  After lunch, though, the boys and I drove down to my folks in time for dessert and hanging out.  We stayed and enjoyed the weekend together.  One of the boys' favorite things at my mom's is the old record player my brother and I used to use -- they listen to the old "audio books" we used to.  It's great.

 Oh yeah...we renovated our basement in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  No big deal (NOT!).  Not sure what I was thinking, but I will say that we're ALL enjoying having the basement back and in better condition.  We went from cement floors and 2 small rooms (one for playing, one for storage/TV watching) to one great room that's carpeted.  We painted everything, got new lighting (good-bye florescent tubes!), and new windows! The boys love having so much space to play in!

Out of all the December traditions we have, some of the favorites are these.

1) Our "Tree" decorating party.  Graham cracker & ice cream cones + frosting & toppings = fabulous fun!   It's easier than gingerbread houses and more fun (so I'm told) than cookies. :D

2) Our traditional weekend at Grammy's where the boys bake and decorate cookies with her, read stories around her tree, so a Christmas craft, and go do something "Christmas-y".  This year, due to a scheduling mix-up, we did TWO Christmas-y things!  We walked around the Broadmoor to enjoy the lights both inside and out, and then stand amazed at the giant REAL gingerbread house.  Evan's comment when he saw it (and realized it was made out of real things): Oh man!  This is my dream house!  The original Christmas activity ended up being a night later than we thought, but we were still able to make it work -- an evening at an old ranch, complete with hot cocoa, cookies, a bonfire with carolers, and a wagon ride.  I think it may be a new tradition.

3) Our white breakfast.  Every year on the first day on Winter we have a special "White Breakfast" where everything is white -- both what we eat and what we're eating it on.  The boys love it (maybe for the white hot cocoa?) and its such a simple and sweet tradition I can't imagine December without it.

Christmas this year was great.  The perfect mix of quiet and chaotic.  Christmas Eve my folks came up and enjoyed a big dinner with us and a candle-light Christmas eve service -- it's potentially my favorite part of Christmas and I love that they can share it with us.  They spent the night and we had a nice slow morning together with stockings and some gifts.  We then headed down to their house where Jared and his family met us for the rest of the day.  We had a blast hanging out, opening presents, and just being a family.  They were able to join us all day Saturday, too, which was great -- the boys especially love that their cousins are now old enough to play with.  Like I said, it was a wonderful mix and brought back memories of my childhood Christmases.

While down at my folks, my brother was able to take some time out and show us around his Apache.  I think it may have been the highlight of their (and Scot's!) week.