All this growing and whatnot

Look who got a big boy bike today! And big brother riding along for support.

Rediscovering a great place

I'd almost forgotten how great Belleview Park is!The boys and I had a great day there riding the train, splashing in the creek, picnicking and playing!

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do

We toured the Parker PD last week.(Ben didn't want to have a mugshot taken.)

So many gadgets, so many buttons! All the little jailbirds.

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!