A Hike with Grandpa

We spent one of our days up at the Dome with Grandpa John, hiking among the mountain wildflowers. 

My little hair-twirler got her finger stuck on our drive up to Idaho Springs. I had to pull over at Genesee to help her out.

The dome, wildflowers, and my dad - hiking with Parkinsons. So much to be thankful for.

I couldn't stop looking at all the different colored flowers. My dad just kept pointing these little guys out. He seems to know the location of every little cactus on Mt. Pisgah.

Grandpa shares his water

Laughing with Grandpa

Life is Good.

An Evening with Dee Dee

Elizabeth spent the last few days in June in the hospital with pneumonia. It was incredibly scary, and it was awful to see her feeling so miserable. 

The silver lining is that she and I got to spend a few one-on-one days together at home after we got home from the hospital. Chris and the big girls took the scheduled flight to Michigan, but Elizabeth and I postponed travel for a few days to make sure she was healthy.

We spent the first evening with Dee Dee, and Elizabeth just soaked up all the attention and beamed.

Seriously cute little ham

Mmmmm, fresh summer fruits blended with ice and vodka. Not bad.

Trying DeeDee's sugar-rim

She had some raspberries with dinner. Can you tell?

Seriously hamming it up

Elizabeth showed DeeDee her newest trick of laying her head back in the tub

Is there anything more darling than a child's wet eyelashes?

Mowing the yard at sunset

A Nice September Evening

September is...well, it's just nice. Know what I mean? The sun's still out. The trees are still green. The sky's blue, and the breeze is just right. 

The big girls started soccer on Saturday. We had a pre-season picnic with our team, the Unicorns, and this morning, Emily begged Chris to play soccer with them after work. 

So this evening, The girls headed to the park with Chris, and I hung out with Elizabeth in the perfect 72 degree air with the sounds of crickets to keep us company. (I did it!)

Addie's telling Keegan all about how her dad is the soccer coach

Yep. Feeling pretty proud.

Squirt. You.

Shin Guard Ready

Hands. Toes. (she's adding them to the person)

Happy September to you!

Last Day of Preschool

At the end of May, my little babies finished their first year of preschool. Emily's school, Little Lights, celebrated the end of the year with a sweet little performance and a potluck. The songs and food were supposed to be enjoyed outside, but our super cold and rainy spring didn't break for the special day and the party was moved inside.

Emily's in the second row on the left

Emily with her wonderful teachers, Miss Jenn and Miss Michelle

A little playtime outside afterwards

Addie got a sweet graduation cap on her last day at Tarver.

Addie with one of her teachers, Miss Peggy

This past school year, Addie got to ride to school with Chris because her school started pretty early so he was able to take her on his way to work. It was so fun to watch her get ready to leave every morning, wiping toast crumbs off her face to run to the garage door where she'd slip on her shoes and jacket, sling her backpack over her shoulders and wait on the top step in the garage while Chris pulled the car out. Then she'd skip-run out to the car, so excited for school.

Addie and Dad on her very last day of preschool

Emily and Addie both had their last day on a Friday, and Chris took Emily to school, too.

Emily and Dad on her very last day of preschool

Anticipation

Because we are heading to Sunflower Farm in the morning, and because we are going with some of our very best friends, the Rices, I am absolutely giddy with excitement. Last October, we went with our cousins, Katie, Porter and Paisley. With this upcoming visit to the farm, I went back to look at that last trip and realized I'd never blogged the pictures, so here they are!


We started the day playing in an old airplane. Porter was excited to be the pilot!

Then it was off to visit the sheep and give them a bit of a corn snack.

How precious are these sweet cousins?!

Waiting for our turn for a horse back ride, Paisley, Elizabeth, and Emily talked to the horses.

Getting those horse back riding helmets on!

Emily got to go first this time. Look at this big girl riding a horse! She loved it!

Addie was up next. She got to ride the little pony, and got to hold onto the saddlehorn like a real cowgirl.

Elizabeth got to take her first ride with Mama. She was pretty excited!

Porter rode like a natural. A true cowboy on the back of this horse.

Paisley got to ride with Mama, too. What fun!

Emily tested out this rope swing....

...while Addie bonded with this little friend over the magic of Frozen shirts.

Zip Line Time!

Porter found the giant sandbox and made himself right at home with the trucks.

Right by the sandbox there is a little house we've never explored, and the girls had a blast climbing to the kid-sized loft above and watching their friends play below.

Tire swing!

This handsome guy did a little strutting for us.

A little corner of the farm we hadn't visited before...complete with cozy swing and cozy coupe.

And right around the corner from this corner, was this.... the largest collection of outside toys I've ever laid eyes on. Cars, bikes, scooters, roller skates...just about everything you can imagine. We hung out here until the 1:00 bell ringer came around, letting us know the farm would be closing.

While the kids entertained themselves, I got a couple pictures of some of the awesome folk art that can be found on the farm.

 On our way out to our cars, the kids found the pumpkin patch.

I was awed, as usual, by the amazing view of the mountains that comes with a visit to the farm.

Can't wait to go back!!!