First Day of School!

After less than 2 weeks off, we're all back to school (gotta love year round!).  Next break:  September!  Aaron is in 3rd grade and Alyssa is in 6th.  I can't believe that Alyssa is already in 6th grade.  One more year and she'll be in middle school-away from me!  Alyssa and I have been at the same school since she started kindergarten.  I'm not sure how I'll be when I can't poke my head in her classroom or give her a hug as she's walking by me in the hallway.  

Aaron loved the first day of school.  I asked him what was so great and he said, "Everything", when I asked him to be more specific, he said, "Writing, because it was so quiet and he really like what he was writing about".  ???  Is this my child?  Writing?  Not recess, lunch, etc...

Aaron and Alyssa in their new back to school outfits!

30th Anniversary!

No, Van and I haven't been married 30 years (15 in October!), but my mom and step-dad just celebrated their 30th on July 7th.  After being prayed over at church, we all headed to White Fence Farm for a delicious fried-chicken meal served family style.  The restaurant has beautiful gardens, petting zoo, pond, playground, and many other fun activities for families. 

Uncle Timmy and Aaron sharing a hot fudge Sundae and deep in conversation.  

The whole clan!  Soon to be bigger when Timmy gets married on September 5th.  

I saw this flower "sculpture" at the restaurant and I had to take a picture.  I love it and I'm going to try to recreate it for my yard.  

4th of July

4th of July was busy, busy, busy! We started the day with a bike parade at Flagstone, put on by the HOA.  

The kids decorated their bikes, scooters, strollers, wagons, dogs, etc.. and marched around the school.  The Castle Rock Fire Department was there and turned their hose on.  The kids loved it!  It was a little cool so I thought they were all crazy!

Later that afternoon, we headed over to my brother's house for a barbeque.  

Timmy (my brother), Van, and Art (my step-dad) just chilling out.  

Later we headed to Coor's Field for the Rockies game.  It was raining and we were a little worried about the weather.   But luckily it stopped as soon as we got there.  The game was great (even though the Rockies blew an early game lead) and the fireworks were the most spectacular I've ever seen!  (the pictures don't do it justice!)

Bottom row:  Art (my stepdad), Mom, Aaron

Top Row:  Alyssa, Van, Timmy, Andrew

Me and my two baby brothers

Both of the kids conked out during the game, but were awake for the fireworks.  

Tri the Rock

We got up early to take Alyssa to Tri the Rock, a youth triathlon in Castle Rock.  It was Alyssa's second year participating in this event.  In her age division, they swam 100 meters (4 lengths of the pool), biked 8 K and ran 2K.  The event started at 8:00, but the bike racks opened at 6:30.  Our goal was to be there by 7.  Yeah right, we did make it by 7:20.  BUT, Alyssa forgot her swim goggles (last year she forgot her helmet, I'm making a checklist next year!).  Van ran home to get her goggles, but according to Alyssa got the wrong ones.  We knew when Alyssa got out of the water, that is was going to be a long race.  She was already wiped out and still had to ride her bike and run (or walk).  During her "run", Van went to find her and ran alongside her to encourage her to jog and not walk.  I tried to get Aaron to meet her 50 yards before the finish line and run in with her, but he wouldn't.  That would have been a heartwarming moment!  But alas, it was not to be.  Alyssa finished in 50 minutes and 48 seconds: 18 out of 29 in her age division.  She was very disappointed, but Van and I are very proud of her!

Before the race:  well-rested and ready to go!  Getting ready to jump in the pool

Getting ready for her bike ride. 

And she's off for her 8K bike ride!

Waiting for Alyssa to come back from her bike ride. 

Playing Legos to past the time (see previous post about Legos).

  
And here she is!

And she's off on her 2K run!  

Looking tired.

The finish line:  Go Alyssa!

Waiting for the results.  An ice cream cone always helps the time go faster!

Life is good!

Ok, here's Alyssa's weekend:

Friday night:  Birthday party at Morgan's house-it was a bead party and they made necklaces.

Satruday morning:  Cheerleading mini-camp.  I'm already tired of her practicing her cheers.  V-I-C-T-O-R-Y, V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.

Saturday afternoon:  Birthday party at Jessica' house.

Sunday Morning;  Tri the Rock

Must be nice being an 11 year old!

The birds and the bees

Ok, so I've been putting off giving my 11 year old daughter "the talk".  Today I finally decided to dive in.  I checked out a kid friendly picture book from the library, we found a private place to talk, and had the conversation.  I got the expected look of horror and ewwws.  We had an open, honest discussion as we laughed about the humorous pictures in the book.  I felt really good as a mother until she said, "Why did you do that to daddy?!?!"  Ummmmm......maybe I need to try again.   

On Top of the World! ...or Castle Rock.

 In my quest to be healthy and to teach my kids healthy habits, I've been trying to do more active things with my kids.  This weekend that included hiking (climbing) to the TOP of the rock,  We've always hiked to the bottom on the rock, but never knew how to get to the top.  After a tip from a coworker and watching other hikers, we made it to the top.  Here's a picture of Alyssa, Aaron, and Cole (our neighbor) next to the star.  It was a great feeling of accomplishment.  Van (the husband, not car) was stuck at the bottom with Gracie.  He did make it up on a 2nd trip with me.  I wish he was with me with the two boys though.  Boys are so reckless and fearless!  Aaron and Cole were running all over the top of the rock and making me extremely nervous! Good thing Cole had a hooded sweatshirt on.  I felt like I pulled him back from the edge too many times to count.  Needless to say, we all made it safely to the bottom.