Highlights of June

*Both Billie and James won their classroom award for

Wise Choices

at the end of the year assembly

*Afternoon Sonic happy hour.

*Family Cultural Project

*5th grade continuation...bring on middle school.

*Father's Day cinnamon rolls and chocolate milk

*Please, please, please mommy...aren't I so cute!

*Hanging out in the corner on his ipod with a blanket.

I guess this is what teenagers do.

*Evenings with the fire pit, smores, and our awesome neighbors

*Stylish pre-teen vacuuming with our slippers on

Etc, etc, etc....

These last two months have been such a whirlwind of activities. The month of May I spent three out of the four weekends in the car between Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and Utah.

So here are the highlights:

My friend Pam had an amazing spread at the "Wedding Viewing Party." We had a great time looking at all the hats, trying to figure out who all the British upity ups were and brunching on cucumber sandwiches, tartlets, croissants, champagne cupcakes and more.

We celebrated Grant's entrance into Teenager-hood with a fine meal at our local Japanese Habatchi Grill. (I can't believe that I am young enough to have a teenager!)

Trying out his new fly fishing rod. Better learn how to cook other-than-salmon fish!

He asked for a marble chocolate chip bundt cake.

And see how well I plan ahead for candles!

We took off for a week at Grandma & Grandpa's early morning on his birthday.

As part of his gift he got to choose our fast food lunch destination. Plenty to choose from when you hit a KFC/AW/Long John Silvers joint.

More birthday sweets that we shared with the whole extended family.

Grant asked for something with strawberries in it.

Playing outside in the beautiful spring weather.

My mom got a new bike for her birthday and she rides around town for the mail and such.

Couldn't resist this picturesque view of small town living at its finest!

We celebrated Mother's Day Brunch with grammie and mom's siblings.

The next week we drove to Wheatland to exchange Billie

for her week at G&G Daniel's place.

The boys were thrilled!

(But James missed her dearly by the end of the week)

We took the opportunity to drive up to Keystone SD on our way to pick up sister. It was only 30 minutes longer out of the way, and we got to stay at the most quaint lodge that our friends just acquired. Keystone is beautiful in the spring and we can't wait to go back for another visit.

The 4 cousins together at dinner with Bill's family.

We stayed at a nearby hotel so the kiddos could have some swim time.

James missed his sister and they went right back to their

fun,

imaginative

play time.

They are shown here sporting their sticker masks.

Hippity Hoppity Easter

This year instead of dying eggs,

we made white chocolate covered oreos instead.

Grant took his turn, painting the design

(shirtless, because that's what boys do, or so I keep hearing.)

James, and his cookies...

(James NEVER has his shirt on,

first thing off when he gets home from school every single day)

Billie girl helped me to the end.

She did swirly designs and mixed the two colors.

We were fresh from baths, hence the messy hair!

I would say the cookie substitute worked,

because the big E.B. found our house.

Billie couldn't understand why he dumped all the eggs on the floor...

That silly E.B.

We had a little brunch hunt with several of our neighbors.

Grant and Billie hid the eggs for the younger kids.

It was a chilly day but we just love our neighborhood and our neighbors!

Happy -th Anniversary of My 29th Birthday

We did some seriously good planning, accidentally!

Bill's Birthday is in March,

My Birthday is in April,

G Bubba's is in May,

Girlies is in July and Jamers is clear in Nov.

Okay so we didn't do too well with the last two but 3/5 is pretty good.

I felt seriously spoiled this year. I had mini celebrations for days.

Easy Painting class with my friend Pam

Sushi at a local joint on Saturday night

Yummy~ Love love love eel!

Major League Baseball on Monday night.

Seriously cold, glad I wore my winter coat

and so glad that we had seats at club level

so we could go inside and warm up.

The kiddos loving the rain and rainbows!

A double rainbow that showed up right after dinner for us.

It was beautiful!

Cinnamon Swirl Cake from Nothing Bundt Cake.

My favorite store bought cake.

And a baby Lemon bundtlet for breakfast. :-)

And the best gift of all (besides spending time with my fam OF COURSE)

Bill is taking me to see Josh Groban in Concert when he tours here.

Sigh!

My two favorite men in one room.

Celebrating Life

With Cupcakes we Celebrated the day that you were born.

35 Balloons representing all the great years!

We cooked a meal that was fit for our king.

(blue cheese steak, sour cream mashed potatoes and texas toast)

And a grand party with friends, xbox, food on the grill, and your favorite

coconut cream pie cake (8 layers this year)

This year is shaping up to be the best yet.

We love you Bill for all your many talents,

your amazing work ethic,

your funny sense of humor,

your knack for knowing how to handle any situation,

and

for just being the best you that you know how to be!

Happy Birthday!!

Fantastically Fun February

Wow! Where did February go?!

We had a fun filled month.

The younger kids had their track off break so we decided to road trip!

~

At 3:45 one morning

Billie, James and I hit the road

to Grandma and Grandpa's house!

~

We travelled across snowy Wyoming...

~

The kids were so excited to get to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

As soon as the car was unpacked

out came the scooters.

Unfortunately we were there for about 20 minutes when James' had an epic fail.

He hit a patch of black ice.

In an effort to save his hands he caught his fall with his face.

Sad Boy:

(He survived and was well enough

to go to the Aggie basketball game

with Grandpa that same night)

~

Bill's adorable cousin goes to college nearby my parents home

se we picked her up one morning

for a darling little brunch at a yummy italian resturant.

She was so sweet to the kids

playing hang man and the dot game at the table

It was so fun to see her again after a really long time.

D~You are darling and I am so excited to see where your dreams take you!

~

The kids and I hit the car wash.

Billie and James acted like they had never been through a car wash before.

Maybe they haven't.

But it was fun to hear them freaking out at all the car wash noises!

~

James will be embarking on a recorder unit

and Grandma was kind enough to give the kids a lesson!

~

Valentine Red Velvet Cupcakes

Grandpa scooter racing with the kids.

Craft Time with Grandma.

Art time with Grandpa.

He taught them how to mix colors and showed them how to use chalk pastels.

Mom taught me how to long arm quilt. I made a darling little picnic quilt.

It turned out pretty good for my first go at long arm quilting

(And using a sewing machine on something other than paper!)

My dad made the most amazing sour dough bread!

I think we demolished one loaf in a day!

We also saw a musical (The Music Man)

Visited with the extended family

Played with the neighbors St.Bernard: Barkley

Had movie marathons and movie nights in the Theater

Broke bread and did lots of talking!

Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us invade this month! We had a great time and we love you!

Welcome Back to Winter

Just for fun, I took some pictures that pretty much defined our week:

The kids spent Tuesday on a "too cold for school" day.
We watched movies, played legos and liv dolls and ate breakfast at 11.

Wednesday it was still below zero at going to school time, so the district canceled school again. We spent the day doing much of the same thing as Tuesday.

On Thursday the kids went back to school
and
I drove around town doing errands in the
blustery snowy "not supposed to snow" day.

Friday it snowed on and off all afternoon.
And today was picture perfect dropping fluffy, yummy big flakes.

Winter has welcomed us to Colorado with open arms.
And we are so happy it has graced us with some real winter weather.