Summer 2012

Well, its been one busy summer. As the kids get older, they understand more what summer is about and our schedule gets busier. School starts one week from today! (...and I am so ready!)

While it been a busy summer with lots of fun for the kids, its also been a challenging season for me. Mom hasn't gotten much alone time, has driven way too much, dealt with too many episodes with Tyler, and frankly is tired of this hot weather (its been hotter here since May than California....that is just wrong!). I have though really enjoyed my garden and learning what I would do different for next year. It's my first real garden, so I do give myself some grace.

But, summer in our house is mostly about the kids, mom gets a break from homeschooling, we can have some lazy days, stay up way too late and sleep in. What other season can you have all of that! :)

We only got to go on one camping trip up to Nederland this summer. We really had wanted to have more camping trips, but we just couldn't seem to fit it in. We had a good time though camping! It was full of adventure....archery, difficulty putting up the screened porch, rain, 30mph winds, fishing, Tyler melt downs, playing card games, and just plain good ol' family fun!

Tyler went to a day camp for 7 weeks through the city of Boulder. He had a good time with his two awesome counselors and a small group of kids. They were busy each day playing card games, rock climbing, zip lining, gymnastics, swimming, crafts, and horse back riding.

For a week in June, we drove to Park City, Utah to meet my family for our annual family vacation. We had fun as a whole family bike riding, swimming, eating together, going to the Olympic Park, the boys cutting their hair, and just hanging out with each other.

We were home for a week and we then took Tyler up to an overnight special needs camp in the mountains. He spent the week with a one-on-one counselor doing all the things he loves-fishing, archery, zip lining, scavenger hunts, tennis, horse back riding, and no parents!

Abi spent the summer taking karate and gymnastics class at the rec center, helping me in the garden, playing with neighborhood friends, swimming, and learning the gift of playing on her own. She and I also went to our little town's music concerts and our local farms. And thanks to my dad and stepmom, Abi was able to go to horse day camp for a week learning to take care of a horse, leading a horse, barreling, trotting, and going around poles. Horse camp was the highlight of her summer.

And last but not least, Markus and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary. God truly has brought us so far and our marriage is a true testament to His grace and forgiveness. We did go out to a nice dinner on our actual anniversary and he brought be 2 dozen roses. Markus also planned a surprise night away to downtown Denver. We went to an amazing steak house for dinner, visited a bar at the top of the Hyatt (we would go to the top of the Hyatt in San Francisco when we dated), and then had a horse carriage ride around town. I was reminded that day, how important it is for your marriage to reconnect with each other away from kids and to get of town as a couple. We have tried to do this once a year but it always doesn't work out. I encourage you to get away, even for a night, with your spouse once a year. It boosts your connection, helps you stay best friends, and rekindles that romance.

April and May 2012

The last two months have been filled with lots of activity and fun things for our family. God continues to bless in us in this season and direct us in His path. His path is narrow and the world's is wide. Walking the narrow path isn't always easy, but always the best! We have had a very dry Spring here and warmer temperatures than normal, so it's really felt like Summer these past few months.

April was Autism Awareness Month. Around here, that is a special month for us. The Lord surprises us from time to time, and April was His surprise month for us. Tyler was awarded 2 camp scholarships and another camp grant this month. Because he was awarded all this unexpected and gracious amount of money, he is able to attend a 7 week special needs camp in Boulder and a one week overnight camp for kids with autism. Tyler was also awarded a yearly grant until he is 14 years old to be applied to therapies, respite, or any other camps. God continues to show us His hand in Tyler's life and directing us to the proper treatment and help for Tyler. We couldn't be more happy for this summer and what Tyler will now be able to experience.

The beginning of April Markus went to the East Coast for a business training for the week. We survived but was hard on the kids because they aren't used to Markus being gone at all. April was mostly filled with sports - Abi played soccer and was in a gymnastics class, Markus was the assistant soccer coach, Tyler played baseball, and mom started taking a Water Aerobics class. Abi has loved taking her gymnastics class each week and playing soccer for the first time, was a good experience for her-learning that its a sport and not a social hour....girls! Every Saturday and Sunday for 8 weeks was filled with a soccer field, snacks, baseball field, and our chairs. You know your kids are getting older when your life is like this.

Tyler and Abi's last day of school was May 14 (we pulled Tyler out a week early). Tyler finished 2nd grade and Abi finished 1st grade. On Tyler's last day of school we had a little party for him with all his friends and teachers. He loved his teacher and was very attached to her, but sadly he won't be returning to that school next year. It was a hard day for him to say the least.

That same day, we left for Oregon to celebrate my sister's wedding. We had a great time staying with my brother and his family. The cousins all loved being together and the adults enjoyed family dinners each night together. It was a busy week filled with a Bachelorette Party, Bridal Shower, and Rehearsal and Dinner, and the Wedding. I was honored and blessed to be a part of such a special day for my sister as the Matron of Honor and the Wedding Coordinator. Markus was of course the sound guy and babysitter. Abi was one of three flower girls and Tyler had the honor of walking my mom down the aisle.

The following morning Markus, my 2 brothers, and cousin went for a boys hike. I slept in and returned all the tuxedos.

We left the next day for home and was able to meet my dear friend from college and her kids for breakfast. It was so great to be able to see her again!

And summer vacation began!!!

BBQing almost every night, fires in the backyard, s'mores, staying up late, sleeping in, and just plain fun!

Our first weekend of summer vacation Rebekah and Aaron stopped for the night on their way back to Mississippi. It was so great to see them and just hang out, laugh, and have fun together.

The next weekend Markus mom came to visit us for a few days. We went to a Rockies game with her and some friends. We went swimming, bowling, and the usual summer vacation protocol, listed above.

Have a happy Summer!

Six Chicks and Us!

Well March is now gone. But life became a bit different for our little family in March....we got us some chicks! March has been all about our six little chickens.

We talked before we moved to Colorado about the possibility of getting some chicks and how cool that would be. We would love to have a small farm one day, but for now we were able to get us some chicks. Our new friends from church have 15 chickens and we visited them in the early March. They gave us Raising Chickens for Dummies and told us that the local feed and grain store were getting chicks the following week.

So on March 9, we got six little chicks. Don't ask me what kind they are. I just know that they lay eggs about once a day and some of the type we got lay pastel colored eggs.

Each weekend, we bring them out on the lawn and play with them. All the neighborhood kids come over and play with them.  Cousin Bear was brave enough to hold them, but still not sure about them.

This little addition to our family also has given Markus the opportunity to build something. For the last several weekends, he has been building the chicken coop or "the cookoo " as the kids call it. It is still not complete, but getting closer. We have had fun going to a local resource yard finding "treasures" to help us build the chicken coop. We also have been getting the "oops" paint from hardware stores to decorate their little house. It has been a fun project that we all have been a part of.

They are now almost four weeks old - eating like crazy, flying out of their little nest in the garage, and ready to transition to their new home in the backyard. So, hopefully this weekend the coop will be done enough for them to move on out.

The kids had spring break the last week of March. It was so nice for us to relax and enjoy being home with no schedule. We were able to do a family day up in the mountains about 25 minutes from our house on a gorgeous spring day. Tyler was able to go fishing and Markus and Abi panned for gold (thanks to Gold Rush!) . It was great to get out and do something fun and different as a family.

I have been busy turning the soil and getting the garden all ready for a busy planting season. I also have been planting seeds in pots and in our garden. The peonies, dahlia's, onions, and lettuce have already began to sprout. There are a ton of iris sprouting that were here already.

Happy Spring!