Nature Museum!

We have a great nature museum experience right up the road from us in Parker. It is filled with exhibits talking about habitiats from all around the world as well as local exhibits focusing on Colorado! The kids have always loved going there and we were lucky to catch a free Boy Scouts day last month!

Checking out the fish

 

In the Africia portion of the tour!

 

Miss Ashley!

 

They had this great shot set up where when you took the picture it looks like you are kyaking through the Grand Canyon; the kids loved it!

 

 

Fake camping, complete with a fake fire:)

 

The kids checking out a huge snake!

 

The fam

 

My boys!

 

Later that month at one of Cameron's Pack meetings they had a speaker come and talk to the boys about his climb up Everest! It was an amazing presentation and something all of us will remember hearing about for along time. Here is Cameron and Ashley with the speaker!

 

 

Hard to believe this guy is in his 50's and has done 5 of the 7 tallest mountains in the world!

 

The kids before the meeting:)

Birthday Weekend!

I had a great birthday weekend this year! Jeff planned a day up in the Rockies that included some fun adventures! It was just a perfect day!

We first stopped in Copper Mountain (a great ski resort town in the Rockies). They were having a country festival that day filled with live music and activities for the kids. We had a beautiful lunch outside listening to the music before a huge thunderstorm rolled through:) We took cover for a while in the shops until it cleared! Then the kids got ride horses and pet some farm animals. We had hoped to go up the mountain on the chairlift but due to the lightning they had closed that down! We will do that next time we are up!

The kids and I before heading into Copper Mtn.

 

Entering the Village!

 

 

Lunch before the storm!

 

Ashley loves animals so this made her day!

 

She loved this baby lamb!

 

First time on a horse!

 

Cameron on the move!

 

Just a little chair for relaxing!

 

We then headed off to my favorite town in the Rockies, Vail! Since it was Labor Day weekend they were having a wine and food festival. I wish we could have stayed forever the food looked amazing!!!

 

Walking the streets of Vail!

 

In the water already!

 

I always take a picture of this hotel, they have the most spectacular hanging baskets!!

 

 

Pretty girl!:)

 

My cuties!

 

The fire station was having a fundraiser and as we passed by the kids got to check out the firetruck! We even think we saw Ryan (from Trista and Ryan of the Bachelorette); how funny!!

 

Sometimes you need to get a ride from dad!

 

The best ice cream I have ever had!! Yummy!

 

Vail has this amazing playground right by the ski slopes. They even have a huge pirate ship to run up on! Somehow Jeff always ends up on it:)

 

It was a great day and a great way to kick off my 37th year!!

First Day of School 2012!

It gets harder for me to believe each year how fast my babies are growing up! I remember like it was yesterday taking Cameron to Kindergarten and now he is 3rd Grade! If that wasn't hard enough for me Ashley started Kindergarten this year! I treasure each year as it goes by as I know they are starting to speed up!!

Cameron started just a couple of days before Ashley this year so I will start with him first!

Mr. 3rd Grader!

 

Breakfast with sis!

 

"Mom please can we go now":)

 

Cameron and Ashley

 

 

Ashley's first day of Kindergarten!

 

So cute!

 

Relaxing before school!

 

 

Ready for the walk across the street to school!

 

My two babies!!

 

Ashley and Mrs. Leeper!

 

No crying mom!

Nana and Papa!

Since we have moved to Colorado my parents have come out for 3 weeks each summer to come and visit with us. It is so much fun having them here and I treasure the time I get to spend with them when they are here. They now have their own routine when they come, made up with trips to Starbucks, golf, the library, the bookstore and they find fun side trips for exploring. Jeff and I also got some date nights as well as an overnight out for our anniversary! Mostly I love just having my parents here and just hanging out! It always breaks my heart when they leave! Here are some pictures from their visit!

My dad loves projects and this time he decided to enlist the grandkids! Here are Papa, Cameron and Ashley moving rocks to create a new look for the yard! It looks great and they all did such a great job (especially in the heat).

Papa and Ashley (note Ashley's cheerleader outfit and sun hat)!

 

The crew on the second day gathering rocks!

 

 

Papa and Cameron:)

 

Nana and her fashionista twin Ashley!

 

Cameron and Papa hanging out!

 

My brother was on judging one of the episodes of the Glee Project and we all got to camp out and watch Uncle Ross! So fun!!

 

The crew! We love you!!

 

When my parents were here Jeff and I got away for a overnight out to celebrate our 13 year Anniversary! I am so thankful to share my life with my best friend and that we still have as much fun together as when we first met! We had a great weekend out in Boulder, I told my mom that we are going for two nights next year:)

 

 

 

Relaxing and hanging out; ahhhh so nice!:)

 

 

We stopped at this beautiful European shop in Boulder and actually got to look around (something we would have not been able to do with kids:)

 

Can't wait to see you all at Christmas!