Sylvan Lake State Park - Two Thumbs Up

For our first camping trip of the season, we headed to Sylvan Lake State Park, about 15 miles out of Eagle. Gorgeous campground, fun fishing, great hiking...and clean bathrooms with flush toilets, running water, and coin-showers...nice! We had rain everyday in the late afternoon, but enjoyed sunny mornings/early afternoons and listening to the rainstorms in the trailer.

Around the campite: The boys playing "cave man": Views from the campsite:Sylvan Lake: Look at those anglers! Well, someone had to hold the dog while they were fishin'.Andrew decided the safest place for a fish to be is anywhere in the vicinity of his fishing pole. But the guy next to us reeled in three. It was real thoughtful of him to show us what catching a fish would look like. Over and over again.

Hiking around the lake: Cedar went with us; Aspen stayed out at the farm. Poor girl, her spirit is willing, but her body is OLD! We don't want her to tear her ACL's again. Everyone was tuckered out on the ride home: I don't know how kids sleep with their heads lolling around, but they all do it. Looking forward to more camping weekends!

I think my heart just burst into a million happy pieces

A couple of days ago, the boys and I were standing in some interminably long line at Wally World when the lady behind us started chatting with the boys. They got to talking about their favorite inventions, and the lady threw out things like "microwaves" and "TV's."

Max responded, "Know what my favorite invention is?"

"What?"

"Mothers."

My favorite li'l Nuggets

An almost perfect anniversary evening

Well, the only disappointing part of our anniversary was the outcome of the Nuggets game. It was still a really fun evening, but it would've been so much more fun if the Nuggets had won! Total letdown. But when you have:

• an offense taking quick jump-shots that no one is making,
• a defense with its hands tied because of fouls going into the 4th quarter (I'm surprised I didn't get a technical at the rate they were flying),
• and flub a critical late game inbounds pass (again!),

the outcome usually does not go as hoped for.

Aww, the anniversary couple:Pre-game festivities:Cute new Nuggets hat: (look at those great seats - 1st row of lower balcony!)

Warming up - BOO!! The good guys - YEAH!!! We couldn't figure out who the guy in the Shaq jersey was, but seriously, every 2 seconds, someone stopped to shake his hand, take a picture, or get an autograph. When he took off his hat and faced us for the national anthem, we could see that it was Michael Clark Duncan (big guy from The Green Mile), but I didn't think it was exactly appropriate to zoom in and snap a picture during the national anthem, so here's a picture of his back.

Funniest moments: Pau Gasol completely wiped out running onto the floor to warm up, and a sign that said "Dear Kobe, I'm staying at the Marriot. Love, Jeff Van Gundy."

Pressure's back on for Monday night - Go Nuggets!

Cue Pomp and Circumstance

Max graduated from preschool this morning! They had a very sweet little ceremony for all the big kids now headed off to kindergarten. Despite the over-riding excitement for Max to go to kindergarten because he's just so darn excited, there's also a little bit of sadness that he's already through this phase of his life. It's true...in childhood, the days can be long, but the years are fast. It's also funny how things can change from a parent's perspective. When I taught junior high, the kindergartners looked like such little guys, babies really, but now that I have one of my own, he seems like such a big kid!

Here comes the graduate:

Singing one of their graduation songs:

Getting a graduation gift from Miss Erika:His teachers, Miss Lori and Miss Erika. Miss Lori will be one of Ben's teachers next year.

It's a family affair:

Having some graduation cake with his peeps:Max and his good friends, Sara and Emily. Emily is the one with bangs. Apparently, she plans to marry Max. Max told me about this very matter-of-factly, adding "I guess we'll get a couple kids and some dogs from a shelter." Good planning, little man.

Happy graduation, Maxwell!

Gardening

We decided to build two raised beds for our veggies this year, and we tackled this project this afternoon. We moved wood chips and rocks, constructed the frames, filled 'em up with peat, compost and dirt, and planted away. Max was seriously the hardest little worker; I kept telling him that anytime he wanted, he could go play, but he just kept working away. I've been reading about square foot gardening, so we used a lot of those ideas in our little plots. Now grow, little plants grow!

We planted zucchini and cukes in the larger squares and beans in the little ones in this bed along our walkway. The boys and Andrew planting more beans.

We're going to add another tomato, an eggplant and a pepper to this plot. I've never planted so many from seeds as opposed to from little starter plants...we'll see how it goes!

Smorgasbord

This last month, Andrew was on the road a lot and I've been taking the second of three online courses I need to get my teaching license current (hello, five essays to write), so we've been a bit busy around here. But today is the last day of my class (yeah!) and Andrew has way less travel this month (double yeah!), so I am feeling a lightening on my shoulders. And I will have time to do things like waste time online or, you know, clean the shower.

I was looking through the camera and saw some pics from Easter that I don't think I posted. The boys love being crafty; they dyed eggs and had fun with the edible decoratable Easter cookies that Aunt Becca and Uncle Jordan sent them: And here's Andrew and Max last week. Just another Monday at preschool/the office.

This last Sunday was Joyful Noise's spring musical. Max had a little solo in the grand finale song. He blew our eardrums out at rehearsal, but I think he didn't quite know what to do with a church full of people that all jumped to their feet and started clapping along...can't really blame him, but the show was really cute and fun. (Andrew was kind of dancing around when he took the video, try not to get seasick.)

Then Sunday evening, Andrew made his inaugural dinner using the new BBQ book Mom and Dad got him for his birthday...delicious chicken with all his new BBQ accessories and techniques. Happy faces and full bellies.Last night, Max had kindie orientation. Kids went to their classrooms and parents went to the library. When we picked Max up, he asked "Now do I get to come here or do I still have to go to preschool?" Needless to say, he is looking forward to kindergarten.

Tonka Treasure!

While I was at a baby shower this afternoon, Lloyd called to give Andrew a hot lead on a garage sale in his neighborhood. Andrew and the boys headed over to check it out and look at the Tonka treasures! Unbelievable and all in pristine condition!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday Andrew!It's from the archives, but this picture always makes me laugh. This one's nice too: Right now he's probably at the Phoenix airport getting ready to head home. Tonight the boys have make-up soccer games, so we'll probably meet up there, and then head home for his favorite: blueberry pie.

Let's go!

The boys and I headed to the zoo yesterday (along with almost every school district in town taking their kids on end-of-the-year field trips, but oh well). As we got ready, I just chuckled that this is so Colorado...here we are walking around in shorts and t-shirts, tripping over snow boots that still hadn't been put away from our 2 feet of snow last week.

When I came downstairs from getting ready, Max said "Mom, I have something to show you." He proudly showed me that he had already laid out 3 wrap-n-mats, 6 pieces of bread, 3 lunch bags, and 3 water bottles on the counter for our picnic! Such a sweet helper's heart. :)

Where have you been all winter?

Winter finally decided to show up. It started raining Thursday, turned to snow overnight, and kept on going and going and going...the snow finally stopped for us late this afternoon (Saturday). We easily got 2 feet. We lost power for about 5 hours, but we had a birthday party to go to (in the neighborhood, thankfully) so that gave us something fun to do while we waited for the power to kick on again. Here are some pics: Now for the meltdown...supposed to be 75 by Wednesday!

Fancy Clothes

Last week the boys got some "fancy clothes" for Easter, and I tell you, Max has been anticipating the wearing of the fancy clothes breathlessly. A couple of nights last week, Andrew didn't get home until bedtime, and when he went upstairs to kiss the boys good-night, Max would say "Dad, the day after the day after the day after tomorrow, I get to wear my fancy clothes!"

It took a little convincing to get Ben to agree to the fancy clothes; Andrew's prediction was that on Sunday, Max would be neatly put together with his clothes all just so, and Ben would look like the drunk guy at a wedding...tie crooked, shirt-tails hanging out...you get the picture. :) Although you can see in the pictures, neither one would tuck in his shirt. We play "old man" too often around here...tuck in shirt, hike pants up to armpits and laugh yourself silly...the only reason you'd actually tuck in your shirt would be to play a silly game, not to dress up!

Anyways, Sunday rolled around, and Max didn't even wear his jammies downstairs to check out his Easter basket. He came downstairs, already fully dressed. Here are some pics from later in the day at my parents' house. (They wouldn't stop making goofy faces.) (The boys, not my parents. ;) ) Hope you all had a great Easter too!

The way to his heart...

Driving to church last night for our simple supper and Lenten study...

Max says, "Mama, we go to church to learn about God, right?"

I answered, "Yeah, it's one place we learn about God."

Ben pipes up "And eat dinner."