Summertime

  Don't laugh at the title... although I only have one child in school and he only goes two days a week for two hours each day, summertime is a HUGE deal!  Here's how summer has been so far (the past two weeks :)  Here's our one iris, I have a whole bed of them, but only one bloomed...hmmm

This picture is only for Melissa and Jason, this is your old dresser!  I love it, thank you for letting me have it and do whatever I wanted to :)
Here's our beautiful garden :)  We're going to have a scrumptious spinach salad this week, the rest isn't done yet.  Lydia helps pick out the mushrooms
  Alex made me a "grasshead" for mother's day.  It's basically a homemade chia pet, but I love it all the same 
  This is the last day of preschool, we had a party at the park.  And this is Al and his best buddy James.  James won't be there next year, he's going to kindergarten and lives in Golden so chances are that they'll never be in the same school again.  It was good while it lasted James!

Lydia

Lydia turned 2 recently and I've decided I need to write some of the crazy, interesting facts about her.  And of course, show her yearly progress :)

  She acts very old for her age, already talking in sentences and moving almost as fast as the big kids :)  I've never cut her hair, not even a snip.  As you see she was born with pretty much none, and it's grown in very evenly.  There hasn't been a really awkward stage yet in hair growth, which I'm happy about because I don't want to cut her hair...it scares me :)

   Her jumping off stairs, climbing tall ladders, sliding down slides, and walking through waterfalls show us that she has no fear.  Alex is her favorite person, and Al seems to like her a lot too.  I love all the stages my kids are in for various reasons, but I really love when they start to talk.  Lydia is already attempting knock knock jokes, although she says "ding dong" instead.  And she likes to tell long drawn out stories and sing songs, mostly "popcorn popping".  We love her in our family and she makes us laugh every day!

Birthday

  Lydia turned 2 on Friday, so we gave her a "big girl bed".  (our presents are always lame like that :)  Her and Alex played pretend go to sleep all day, Al here is reading her the books... so sweet.

  We did have a party, with the amount of family that lives so close it was pretty large, but very very fun.

Some of Lydia's presents.  The hat and sunglasses were from Dave and I (told you they were all lame).  And the baby elmo actually asks for his bottle and goes to sleep and all that stuff, it's great.
  Another quick funny story... We were in the car listening to a church CD that Jaynie bought for me for mother's day.  Alex asked me to play the song about Christ, to which I replied "which one?"  Alex quickly said "oh mom, you know, the one in heaven!".....  Ah, that Christ, thanks Al :)

Day camp

Happy mother's day!!!  

 On friday we went up the mountains a ways and roasted some hotdogs and marshmallows with our colorado cousins.

                       Throwing rocks in the stream
                   Practicing with papa's axe (Elijah seriously almost lopped off a leg in this picture)
               S'mores.......
We came home sufficiently tired and dirty, it was wonderful.

Kite festival

Every year since we've had kids we've gone to the kite festival.  It's a small party at a huge park where you just go fly kites.  They even have some wonderful hippie 60s music blaring.  It's so relaxing that it starts our spring (even though it is snowing today again ;)  This first picture is Dave trying to fly our kite that was put together wrong...

I'm actually flying the fixed kite here, Lydia is holding on to the handle and I am holding the string...even though it looks like I'm modeling...
During this gorgeous daddy/daughter shot there was a Simon and Garfunkel song playing, it was beautiful
And last, we have a overhang on our house right by the front door.  People seem to think they can walk down the stairs and miss hitting their head, but EVERYONE hits their head on it.  We put a huge potted pine tree in front that stopped most people.  But, it died and slow and painful death.  So, I decided to try my hand at making wind chimes...maybe the noise will deter any potential head bonks.    I do realize that they are crooked, but I don't know how to fix it.  Now our tree can go to the dump.

Easter

Happy easter!  We've had such a fun weekend that I wanted to post a few updates.   I decided to do a before church photo, it was really cold but you can't have coats covering those cute little outfits can you?

  Saturday we had a massive easter egg hunt with the Rozeski's.  Madeline, Jaxen, and Elijah have HUGE baskets because their mom is a HUGE basket kind of a gal.  Grandma is in the back holding Autumn who I'm pretty sure thought we were all crazy.
On another note, Alex speaks like an old man.  He always gives advice to store clerks when we're leaving, and he told grandma that if there was anything she needed, just let him know.  Yesterday he leaned over to Dave and said, "Mom's a slow learner."  I don't know if this is from TV, books, preschool...or if this is how Dave and I actually talk.  But he's so formal for a 4 year old that we usually laugh.  He is brutally honest like most 4 year olds.  He told our neighbor that she was getting pretty old the other day.  What do you do in that situation?  I hide.
Lydia is hilarious.  She holds her own with everyone, even giving the older kids a run for their money on the egg hunt.  She's potty training herself because of her non-committal mom that doesn't want to start.  And she sings nursery rhymes continuously.  She also always walks into the Rozeski's with a "I win!" shout.  (they play a lot of games there, she must think if you shout it that you really win)
  I'll post some pictures of Dave and I soon.  We haven't changed at all :)  No wrinkles, no gray, no extra flab.   We just haven't been able to match the pictures in our head to the pictures that show up in the camera :)  Maybe our camera's broken...

Spreading Sunshine

This sounded fun, so here it goes :) 

The first three people to respond to this post will get something made by me! Made with tons of love just for you! It might be a card, goodies, or you might be surprised what you get! Give it a try! The catch? You must re -post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. The first 3 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a lovely little treat for themselves! Have Fun! Ready........Set............Go!

Maybe you could even leave a comment of what you'd actually want...I'm not exactly famous for anything :)  But I like the idea of service...and I want one of my other friend's gifts :)

Crazy Colorado

We've been having a really mild winter...we even got flowers early.  These daffodils were taken from my grandma's garden a couple days ago.  They weren't cut for fear of frost, but fear of deer (which eat them).  

This morning we woke up to a little snow...it's noon and you can't tell from this picture, but it's a BLIZZARD!  We've gotten over 10 inches of snow in a little more than 3 hours!  Dave works minutes from home and I'm scared for him to get home.  
He's coming home early because he doesn't like me scared :)  But, we're sooooo excited to go sledding and snowman making tomorrow!

zoo

  Lydia's been sick so we've been laying low.  But we decided to go to the zoo today for the afternoon.  The weatherman said it would be 70, but it wasn't.  Oh well, still fun!

Al is an eagle in this picture.  We went into Bird World (it's an indoor area where birds fly around you and walk around freely)  A bird pooped right on Alex's head.  He wasn't even that mad about the whole thing...maybe because there weren't any other kids in there to laugh at him.  It's an older exhibit.
  Lydia had fun looking at the elephants, and they named the crocodile Charlie.  Good day

Chairs

  I found out something yesterday that I should have known...  even if there are only pinks in your wardrobe that doesn't mean everything will match.  Who knew that there were 10 different kinds of pinks?  Now I do.  This picture doesn't do her justice...the shirt has sparkles on it with polka dot sleeves, the pants are orange and pink plaid, the socks have a dark pink ruffle, and then her dirty camo pink crocs.  It was almost hard to take her out :)

Alex has learned to write his name.  He practices all the time now, but he still doesn't understand how we only read from left to right...not up, down, in a circle, and upside down.  If you look closely, you can pick out all the letters from his name...or this could be his dinosaur :)
  And last, it's almost spring and I'm getting the bug.  So I decided to reupholster my dining room chairs.  They are hand-me-downs and the cane in the back has holes all over the place.  So I replaced them.

Before
After
  That's all here, I hope you are all doing well there!

Yogurt

This will be quick because I know no one really cares about yogurt...but I had a coupon for this "exotic" yogurt and it was SOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!  I doubt it's healthy, probably 130 calories or so.  But it was amazing!  I got 3 different flavors and this one was my favorite.  I've never tried Acai berries, but if they taste as good as this yogurt then I'll buy a bushel (if they grow in bushels ;)

   Anyway, if you want a fabulous dessert that also has good things for you in it..try this!  It really is amazing.  I wouldn't even share it with my kids, they got the yoplait :)

like father, like son

  Al likes to ham it up while in costume (just like Dave)

  We went to a murder mystery dinner where Dave was a school headmaster...it fit him perfectly.  After, Al wanted to wear Dave's "costume" and you could really see their similarities.
Here's Monty, the insane cricket player headmaster :)

28 years

  Happy Birthday Dave!  He turned 28 on Friday and we did a quiet celebration at home.  He worked all day, but came home to pizza and cookie balls :)  I forgot birthday candles, so I made him blow out my scented candle, and those are cookie balls next to him.  They taste great but they don't make much of a picture.  

  It was also 70 degrees here on Thursday...and it's february!!  We are totally spoiled.  Usually there is snow all over, and when there's not snow, there's wind.  But it was a gentle breeze day.  We even went to the zoo with Elijah and Autumn (and grandparents).   I'm already ready for spring, but I think there's going to be 6 more weeks on winter :(

I liked this one, good memories

What have you done??

Bold the ones you've done & post on your blog!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch-hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie or on a TV show
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Had an encounter with a wild animal
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Taken a martial arts class

toilet paper

  Lydia went through a phase about a month ago that I forgot to post about.  Anytime I would get mad at her, or tell her "no".  She would run into the bathroom and unroll all the toilet paper, unroll it so far that it would be off the cardboard holder.  Then she would run in to show me what she had done...kind of a like a "so there!"

  I saved this one :)
 And last, since Christmas has come and gone I can show you the project I made for my family.  Dave and I took pictures of letter-like objects in Denver & Golden.  Then I put the pictures on painted cork board and varnished it to look like tile.  We did Rozeski, Talley, Mauger, and Arp.  I love them, and still have a ton of cork board left if anyone wants to try it :)

photo shoot

  We know a few people who are photographers, some portrait, some landscape.  We also have a great many more who want to be photographers and can take pretty darn good pictures but don't charge for them.  I thought I'd try a dabble in it.  And the cutest subjects I had in the kitchen?  My kids :)  I tell Alex to go hug his sister...this is the look I get.

  Luckily, Lydia perks up when I say hug and runs to Alex.
Al won't get off the hippity-hop, so they fall...
  And this is Lydia's close up :0
  So, I guess I just don't have the talent :)  They even tried to pose.  Lydia then wanted more pictures of her so she got all dressed up, sunscreen on with sunglasses and keys in hand.  Then she blew a kiss goodbye and headed out the door.
  Maybe I'm not cut out for photography, but I still love these shots.  

Anniversary

  We have officially been married for 6 years.  Our anniversary was on the 27th, but everything is delayed during vacation :)  We went to Joe's crab shack and the next day went skiing!!!!!!  The best of both worlds :)

  We look pretty young back then huh?  I'll post a few things (maybe 6?) that I know now that I didn't know in that picture.

       1.  Dave is really clean, he likes the house and his body to be clean, always.  Luckily he cleans the house just as much as I do, so this doesn't mean extra work for me.

       2.  We really do finish each other's sentences.  Before we knew what my seizures were he would always finish my thoughts when I would black out so I wouldn't be embarrassed.

       3.  Laundry, dishes, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc.  Is all way more fun with your best friend.

       4.  You can have absolutely no money and still have a blast.

       5.  The biggest thing I miss by not having girl roommates anymore is sharing clothes, I just don't seem to fit right (or look good) in Dave's .

       6.  Dave's feet are never cold, they're always toasty warm...and Michelle recently told me that they never smell (because Maugers don't have smelly feet).  Interesting.

   I've also learned that marriage does get better with time.  I thought nothing could beat our first year of marriage, but the next year is always better.  I'm excited for #7!

Merry Christmas!!!

  We had a great Christmas here.  I didn't post a ton of pictures though, because they're all the same...a kid or an adult holding a gift they just opened with a great smile on :)  

    We woke up and took the kids to look at our tree and stockings and they weren't even close to excited (we were though, as evidenced by Dave).  They needed warm milk and some cuddles before tackling the presents.

  Then they got into it.  Lydia got a stroller that she just LOVES, my mom even made a dolly blanket for her.  Alex got a walking triceratops and playdough.  Dave got a gigantic summer sausage (shown below).  And Dave got me a book of art...I love it so much that I honestly almost cried.  It was a complete surprise.  There were other presents that all were wonderful too.
  After we went to the Maugers' and ate a lot, and then we went to the Rozeskis' and ate a whole bunch more.  Great Christmas :)