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.

A face...

...only a mother could love.




Need I say more?

"All my single...

...lettuce?"

So, family dance parties have really been amped up by the recent playlist addition, "Single Ladies." You know, the song by Beyonce where she is dressed in a leotard and high heels? Anyway, Cole loves it and sings "All my single ladies, all my single ladies" all day and night. He also does the "if you like it than you shoulda put a ring on it."

COLE: "All my single ladies, all my single ladies... dad you must really like this song?"

JOSH: "Sure bud."

COLE: "Cause it's about lettuce... 'all my single lettuce, all my single lettuce."

Turns out while we thought Cole was just saying "ladies" he was actually saying "lettuce." He really thinks the song is about lettuce. So naturally Josh, healthiest man of the year, must love it! Gotta love that kid!

You know you're a native when...

... the sirens go off and instead of taking cover you take pictures.

Growing up in Colorado I could count on afternoon thunderstorms that not only provided a much needed cool down but also a great show. Today was a perfect example. It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny. About 1:45 pm the NWS put out an emergency alert tornado warning. Of course I wanted to see what I could see, so I headed outside. I was immediately struck by how cold it had become. It was a heavy cold that was made eerie by the silence and swirling clouds. My fellow natives were also outside and we watched the dark clouds amassing above the neighborhood to the Northeast of us. The silence was broken by a roll of thunder unlike anything I have experienced in my almost 29 years (yes I will be 29 in just 2 weeks). It wasn't loud it just didn't cease. I have never heard that before. Just constant thunder, no time between to count "mississippis." My friend Jen commented that the clouds looked pregnant with rain (what a great expression). So Cole threw a rock at the clouds to puncture their lining and let loose the rain (We just read "The Rain on Kapiti Plain). It worked... because it did start to rain. Giant teardrop rain that usually means the storm won't last long. I was disappointed. Severe weather is a passion. I dream of building a home perched on a hill with floor to ceiling windows that allow us to see all the storms building up across the plains.

Ok, I got off track.

So we came in and I turned on the tv to see which way the storm was moving. It was moving right toward us! SWEET! We officially had a tornado warning which is so much better than a watch. The sky was darkening and the hail started to come down. Hail pelted the side of the house and there were a few that hit the back windows which made me worry about flying glass.


I took this picture about 30 minutes after it stopped hailing so they shrunk a little. The one that hit the back door was a little bigger than a golf ball.


The news was encouraging us to take precautions so I reluctantly gathered my boys and a few diapers and headed to the food storage room. I decided that perhaps my haphazard behavior towards storms was doing a disservice to my boys. I want them to heed warnings...so we had a discussion about weather and sirens and how to "duck and cover." I texted Josh to make sure he didn't try and drive home in this weather... mind you I wasn't panicked about him being sucked up by a tornado, I was worried about hail damage to my sweet sweet ride! He was in a presidency meeting and had no idea about the storm brewing...ha ha ha... storm brewing. He realized something was up when the entire Fox Hollow ward filtered out of the classrooms and into the gym. Of course Josh is also a native so he didn't take cover either...


Funnel cloud above Southland's Mall.

The funnel touched down at Southland's Mall and did some severe damage there. I should not make light of this weather. Even now as I sit here safe and sound on my computer the cool wet air carries the sound of emergency sirens as the storm moves east. I hope all I love are ok and I hope those in the path of the storm are comforted and protected.

Highlights...

You've probably surmised, given the length of time between posts, that May has been busy. Busy, wonderful, stressful and almost over... thank goodness! I have a lot I could blog about but NO ONE wants to read that much about my life, so, here are the highlights:

Cash is 6 months old. Can you believe it? I think since he is officially our last baby (unless it's another case of immaculate conception trust me he's our last!) I am way sentimental about him. Each of his firsts are kind of bittersweet because they are lasts for me in the realm of babyhood. At 6 months he is my best baby ever! To give you perspective he started cutting teeth and I had no idea! Boom he has a tooth! No fussy nights, no wailing, no skin off my teeth! This is his passport picture it kills me.


Josh and I took a 4 night cruise out of Miami...SANS CHILDREN. It was wonderfully romantic and an incredible time. We went with my parents and are already setting money aside for another cruise in January.



GETTING ON SOAPBOX. We love cruises. Best and most cost-effective vacation out there. If you haven't cruised yet you are missing out. They are great for every type of traveler. We even love crusing with kids. I say it all the time... cruising is the best. GETTING OFF SOAPBOX. Highlights of our trip.

Miami- Josh got us a gorgeous Art Deco hotel in Miami right on South Beach. We got into Miami a day early and what did we do with that day? We laid on the beach of course!



At night mom and dad were beat... so they ordered room service and read books. Josh and I went out for late night sushi (It's always better when you are on the ocean). We also ate giant pieces of chocolate cake at a Jewish deli right across the street from our hotel. YUMMY.

Cruising- Stayed on the second floor of the ship requiring us to trek up and down the stairs to go to pool, spa, meals, etc. Downside... really hard in formal wear heels. Upside...didn't gain weight on cruise! Mom and dad gave me a spa package on the cruise for mother's day. So mom and I headed off for our treatments while dad and Josh played ping-pong, something for everyone.



Coco Cay- Royal Caribbean's private island. Rented snorkel gear to swim in crystal clear water with amazing sea life. Saw the most beautiful purple coral, looked like velvet. Josh braved the snorkeling in the "deep end" and saw a 5' wide sting ray. I sat on a hammock and read two books.

Nassau- We rented mopeds and tooled around the city. Drove around for 15 minutes before we realized that they drive on the "wrong" side of the road. Rather, we drove around on the wrong side of the road for 15 minutes. Bargain-shopped for gifts and saw the famous Atlantis hotel.



Preschool Graduation is rite of passage. Here are the abnoxious photos of Cole's graduation. He is pretty cute and he had a great teacher. I shouldn't poo-poo this important event. I guess I just hate being another one of those moms who only have their children to talk about... guess I should get a hobby. Cole was Peter Peter Pumpkin-Eater hence the silly costume. He defintely did not get the performer gene. He is mesmorized by the crowd and just forgets to sing and dance. Thank goodness because I worry I would be the worst kind of stage mom. He did love school which I am so grateful for because he looks forward to kindergarten so much!

A pocket full of sunshine...

One of my great friends, (Elizabeth) , believes that "boys smell like sunshine." I really love that saying. While there is most definitely a distinct odor about boys, that odor is the result of sunny days played outside in the mud; exploring, climbing and discovering. I love the quirks that are uniquely boyish.

So on a beautiful sunny day I was sorting laundry... as the laundress I am in the habit of emptying all pocket contents into a jar on top of my laundry machine before starting a load. If you are not in the habit of doing this get in the habit. It only took one load washed with a red marker (from my waitress apron in college) to make me a thorough pocket inspector. It can be a tedious job but it often yields great rewards. Like crumpled dollar bills (finders keepers right?), lost earrings, important phone numbers written on scraps of papers, you get the point. I was going through pockets and I came to Cole's jeans, there in his pocket was a little glimpse into the mind of a BOY. His own pocket of treasures he wants to keep away from his little brother. Pulling out this handful of Cole , warmth spread to my heart. I put a lot of pressure on Cole and this was a reminder that he is still a little boy and should be allowed to behave as such.


Pocket contents: Bakugan, loose change, two mini lightbulbs, a marble and a smooth shiny rock. Does it get anymore boy than that?

I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me special moments of reflection and introspection. They help fasten my feet to the ground and keep my life in perspective. I am grateful for boys and the whiff of "sunshine" they bring to life. Most importantly I am grateful for my Cole who never ceases to make me smile or teach me something new.