Dear Mom...

... thought you would most appreciate your little girl exercising her 2nd Amendment rights.

Now, more than ever, I want a gun. I desire the ability to defend my family. Plus, Josh says I am a pretty good shot.


Yes, I still look hot working the ear and eye protection


Yes, that's a ball of fire that Josh actually caught on film the moment the bullet expolded from the barrel of the gun! Insane!

Dear Future...

... we are really enjoying our road trip to Seattle. But will you do me a favor, could you please slow down? Stop coming at me and just let me live in the now! This trip has provided so many great memories which I will keep forever. But it is also giving me glimpses into the future... a future I am just not ready for. As we drove into Couer d'Alene tonight, the sun was setting in front of us, casting a warm pink glow on the lake and trees. In the failing light I glanced back at Cole and saw two little feet propped up on the seat.



In that moment I saw a flash of Cole as a teenager, all legs and giant feet (like his daddy). My heart turned over in my chest and my head reeled. I don't want these moments to end. So, please, take a vacation future.

Virtual postcards...

Dear TomTom-

Thank you so much for your wonderful suggestion about the park today. We were definitely weary travelers and it felt great to get out and stretch our legs someplace other than a truck stop. The kids appreciated having a picnic at the park in Bozeman and I appreciated your ability to get us there without arguement or attitude. You are priceless to me.

P.S. Your British accent is sooooo sexy!

What the world really needs is more love...

... less paper work. (Pearl Bailey)

It's true. One week of kindergarten and Cole has brought home at least 5 pieces of paper a day. I am coming to the realization that I get as much homework as Cole does! Forms and more forms to fill out.

How long to you save their papers? We have total meltdowns if Cole finds one of his papers in the trash. Since Cole started preschool I have been taking pictures of his best works of art. My intent is to have a book made of his art collection. But what do I do with the handwriting practice sheets and math problems? Am I an ice queen if I just want to purge them immediately? I can't stand the clutter.

What do you think of saving his work in a binder so that at the end of the year he can see how far he has come? Then I can throw it away and start a fresh one for first grade!

And the winner is...

...The Epilogues

(Nate is the one in the hat)

My brother's band won Denver's Westword Magazine's best modern rock band. It's a pretty big deal!! They weren't favored to win. In fact, the band had a show scheduled in New Mexico but decided at the last minute to support their favorite local bands at the award show. So it came as a pretty big shock when they were announced as the winners of their category. This comes just days after a killer show at The Big Gig at Fiddler's Green.



I am pretty proud of my baby brother! It has been cool to watch their music evolve and to see them receive the validation and recognition they deserve. They work hard, they not only compose great music and lyrics but they do their own promotion, publicity and even make their own merch.

They truly put the "rad" in Colorado. (They copyrighted that slogan so don't even think about stealing it!) Congratulations boys! Can't wait to see where your music takes you!



http://www.myspace.com/epiloguemusic

Can you hear me...

...now?



Josh's hearing aids under the new socialized health care plan. Hey, you get what you pay for...rather, you get what I pay for!

One down...

...two to go! (Thanks for the saying Jacqui it exactly expresses my feelings!)

Cole started kindergarten. No, I did not cry. Yes, I have severe anxiety about the whole thing. I worry about what his teacher is teaching him (like global warming and "going green", horrifying!). I worry that kids aren't kids anymore. They're six years old and drink soy lattes and talk about what's on their playlist and who kissed who on "Gossip Girl." I want him to stay sweet and innocent as long as possible, maybe I should've homeschooled!

Cole, however, is loving it. "I can't believe I GET to go to school everyday," he says, when I pick him up. He is learning the Pledge of Allegiance and so far God is still in there. He has a friend in a cast, though Cole can't remember his name. And most importantly, he loves his teacher. Added bonus, school comes early for my sleep-in king, so he is utterly exhausted by 7:00 pm. He has begged us to go to bed each night and since Finn has to do what Cole does, we've had peace and quiet each night by 8:00 pm.

So, as long as he is happy, I am happy. Although I am an anxiety-ridden, nail-biting nutcase right now, I know Cole is ready for school and thrives with the structure. I will spend some more time in plow pose to work out this anxiety and I will focus on getting Finn ready for preschool! Only two to go!

Real men...

... play lacrosse!

It's a fact. Google it!

Josh took us to the "Vail Shootout." He has played in it every year since college and it is a really fun weekend. In his younger days Josh compiled his own team for the tournament and competed in the Elite division. Well... Josh is old now. Too old for the Elite. He plays in the Masters divsion, ie the 30+ division. He is not yet a Supermaster (40+) or a Grandmaster (50+) but he is just old enough to be totally exhausted after one game (hard core game mind you!). His body took a beating but he didn't seem to care as long as he was playing. I admit, I love the game too. It's not for the weak of heart, or mind or body. These guys are brutal but still incredible gentlemen. Josh is still in such superior shape that he easily out maneuvers everyone on the field. Perhaps that's why he had 10 goals and 5 assists in one game! Yeah you should be jealous, he rocks! Alas, I have no pictures. I wore down my camera battery taking pictures on all our Vail excursions. So now you have to scroll down and see said pictures and ooh and aah over my fine photography. Or don't, I'll never know!

Hot chocolate...

...on July 4th!

Yes, it's true. On Independence Day we enjoyed fireworks with giant steaming cups of hot cocoa. I can honestly say I cannot remember an Independence Day in Colorado that required hoodies and hot cocoa. I loved it!




This is the first Independence Day we spent around town. We didn't know what to do with ourselves! But with Cash sick we knew we couldn't venture too far so we did the best thing we could think of, we ate and played on the slip and slide. Could there be two more American pastimes? We had family and friends over for some traditional American fare; chili dogs, potato salad and corn on the cob with three types of butter! I made marionberry cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream, it was delicious!

Of course we engaged in another American tradition, spirited debate! I won't bore you with another round of our family debate. However, I will say one of the reasons I love this country is the fact that we can have discussions and dissent (well, usually) and no one locks us up.

The biggest debate last night was which fireworks display to attend! It was between Aurora and Parker and we went back and forth. Pappy had bought some fireworks for the boys so we went out front to continue the show debate and watch the boys light sparklers. While we were out front we found that we had the best seats in Colorado for a private fireworks show put on by some neighbors two blocks away. I am not talking about bottle rockets or fountains in the street. I am talking about professional quality in-the-air fireworks that started at about 8:30 and ended at 10:00. We kept waiting for the cops to come bust it up because it was so loud and amazing and not discreet at all. I am thinking now that they must have had a permit. Anyway, the fireworks were so close that ash and cinder was landing all over our street and cars, hmmmm, maybe that's why fireworks are illegal! Thank goodness for the rain! When the show finally died down there was an eerie post-apocalyptic feel to the street, heavy smoke-tinged air cloaked kids lighting some bottle rockets. You couldn't see them but you could hear their laughter. It got us talking again about the morbidity of fireworks as a celebration. When you think about what the fireworks represent suddenly the smoke and ashes aren't so fun.

Did you know I love Independence Day? Josh says I am ridiculous because when people say "Have a great Fourth of July!" I reply "You have a great Independence Day!" Why am I so impertinent? I am so rude because I want people to remember why we are celebrating the Fourth of July! Contrary to the ongoing socialization of America, it was not dependence on a giant government that made America. It was brave citzen-statesmen, people like you and I, who said "we've had enough!" I would like to think that I would have the courage to commit treason for the goal of freedom.

I love this country and feel so grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to grow up here in the United States. I hope my children will develop my passion for freedom and my love of what makes America great.