Summer Adventures

So we just got home from our mad dash to South Dakota for the 4th (I am still singing the song Dakota from the Family Band Movie). It was pretty fun. Our huge highlight ended up being a major low-light though. Mt. Rushmore does this huge firework show on the 3rd. It rained all day but we were fine with it. Cleared out about 4pm. Yes! Opportunity of a lifetime! We hike up hill about 3 miles with all of our junk so we would be able to get a good seat to see the fireworks. We really had awesome seats inside the park. The weather was beautiful (we did have our jackets, a little chilly) and we waited around until 9:20 to see the big event. At 8:45 a huge fog rolled in and didn't ever leave. Seriously? They tried to do the fireworks anyway but the only show we got was a colorful sky with background music. So bummed! We even left early but had to wait in the road with about 1000 other people until they were over for safety reasons. So, we fought a crowd of 30,000 people with our hungry, tired, cold kids (who really did do awesome considering the circumstances) for a low-light! However, still super cool and we decided someday we will try again!

Now, it wasn't all disappointing. In fact, I learned some really cool things. We toured the visitors center and this plaque tells the reason for these four presidents. Pretty cool. I got the chills when I read it. Since I just realized you probably can't read it on this blog I found this. Not the exact wording (I don't think) but the gist of it anyway.

Carving began on Mount Rushmore National Memorial in 1927 and was finished in 1941. Initially, the sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, selected George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as subjects for the carving. Thomas Jefferson was quickly added to the project followed by Theodore Roosevelt. Borglum created Mount Rushmore not only as a monument to the four men depicted, but also to the American ideals the four men represent.

Borglum chose these specific presidents because they commemorate the founding, growth, preservation and development of the United States. They symbolize the principles of liberty and freedom on which this nation was founded.

George Washington signifies the struggle for independence and the birth of the Republic; Thomas Jefferson represents the territorial expansion of the country; Abraham Lincoln stand for the permanent union of the States and equality for all citizens and Theodore Roosevelt exemplifies the 20th century role of the United States in world affairs and the industrial growth of the nation.

After a little let down at Rushmore, we were still revved up to go so the next day we headed to Bear Country. It was pretty cool. You drive through this park with lots of different wild animals. The kids loved it and after I relaxed a little (as much as I love the mountains you'd think they wouldn't scare me) I started to really enjoy it as well.

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Elk. A bunch of them. Seth was so excited about the racks on these things. I don't know much about elk but I was impressed too.

Okay, these bears were crazy! There were TONS of them! We let the kids sit on our laps to see better and it made me a nervous wreck! They would just roam around your car, stop and look and keep walking! At one time Logan knocked on his window and one turned and like growled at him! It was super cool though!
They keep the babies in a separate little area with other little animals. They were so cute! Again, tons of them and they were just hangin' out in that tree. Seriously, I don't know how they were staying up there. The tree looked so flimsy!

We had a great trip. Highly recommended. The kids did awesome on the drive and while we were there. I didn't get a picture of any of the beautiful drive but I did want to mention one thing that Seth and I talked about on the way to and from. As we were in our comfortable car during the rain, driving across the plains of South Dakota and Wyoming we were talking about how fortunate we are. We thought of the pioneers and their struggle to make it across in the snow none the less. It was such an eye-opening experience as to how much they really did sacrifice. As my babies slept in the back seat I wondered how many mothers cried as they pushed on while their babies were buried behind them. We have such a strong heritage and it really strengthened my testimony of the gospel and the faith those people had.

I hope you all had a wonderful Independence Day and took some time to recognize what it means to be free. I know that our appreciation for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has increased! Love and miss you all!

Cute and Busy....What more did you expect?

Holy Moly! So we have been rather busy these past few weeks and I finally decided to upload some pictures! Now, I tried to do this in order but I'm kind of blog retarded and was getting impatient with trying to get the pictures posted in order. Go ahead, laugh. So, this is what we've been up to (again, in no particular order).
Summer Movie Fun! We finally made it to the Harkins Theatre Summer Movie Fun day. Once a week you can see a movie for 50 cents! So, we got all dressed up (aren't they so stinkin' cute) and headed out. We made it through the entire movie with only two major meltdowns from Chloe who ate all of her treat in the first 5 minutes and was upset because Logan opted not to give her ALL of his that were left.

The first part of June mom, dad, Sas, baby Raeleigh and Grandma Norton came up for a quick visit. Chloe got to nap with Papa before church and then dress up like baby Rae. It was so cute! It was so fun to have them and I cried for hours when they left. Come back quick!
I taught a class in Greeley a few weeks ago and did a quick photo shoot afterwards for the Wilkins. This is one wild and crazy bunch and it is a good thing they are family! Just kidding! They are so much fun to be around and even though I give them a hard time sometimes, I loved doing this for them! To see more click here.






We've spent some time out in the sun at the splash park. Chloe got a little cold (that Colorado breeze can be frigid when you're playing in the water) but it didn't keep Logan down. We go to the pool once or twice a week and love getting out!

We recently signed the kids up for the summer reading program at the Aurora Library and they are loving that. We try to have something going on to keep us busy and pass the time for our daddy to come home! Speaking of which, Happy Late Father's Day Seth. Even though you never read our blog we can at least tell everyone else how special you are to us! Waiting on the porch with the kids for you to come home just to hear them scream, "daddy, daddy!" is the highlight of my days! Thanks for all you do for us!

So, that is it for now. Next weekend we are headed to Mt. Rushmore for the 4th of July so maybe I'll get those posted before August! Miss you and love to you all!

A little of this....A little of that!

So, what's new with us? Just tryin' to keep our heads above water and lovin' life! Last night before it poured Seth built a little fire in the pit out back and we did smores with the kids for FHE. I LOVE smores and so did the kids apparently! It was a blast! Notice the jackets? It is almost JUNE! Gotta love Colorado!
Seth had a few days off so we took advantage of sleeping in and being quite lazy actually. However, we have learned from this experience. Poor Chloe will not be able to leave the house if dad has anything to do with her hair. She only wears pig tails now (she is quite picky) and she calls them her "bows". We cannot leave the house without her asking to have her hair done. What? Whose child is this? I don't think I was that way! However, she even agreed that this was way too many "bows"!


AHHH! The joys of summer! It was a whopping 86 here the other day and we were all itchin' to get outside! The kids LOVE LOVE LOVE the water and since our little $3 pool from 3 years ago finally died and we haven't gotten another one yet, the make-shift sprinkler attached to Logan's bike had to do. They LOVED it! I was freezing with the wind blowing but they didn't seem to care! Especially Logan, he kept saying, "this is pooper (super) fun mommy!"

For those of you in Arizona that has had your AC on since February, this is why we love Colorado! We have yet to turn ours on and it will probably be that way for another few weeks!

*NOTE: Don't judge me based off of Chloe's little two piece! Seth actually picked it out and she LOVES it! She has been obsessed with her "beyee" (belly) lately and when I put this on her, her eyes lit up!




Seth starts his ACTS rotations this summer. Officially a 4th year! It has gone by so fast! We are so sad to see so many good friends move on with their lives after graduation. We will ALL really miss them. However, we are excited for this new step in ours. We are in the process of making decisions that will affect where we will end up eventually and it is really tough!!! These grown-up decisions aren't very fun! We found out Seth will have his long summer break later in the year and we are looking forward to lots of camping, hiking, fishing and just being together.

I will finish school in September! WOOHOO! It has been hard keeping up with life but we are so grateful and know that we have been so blessed. I have more pictures to post later but don't have the other camera so until then.....miss and love you all!

PIGS!

So, we tried pigs on Chloe today and we have learned two things:

1. I am really bad at doing hair (which I already knew by doing my own)

2. There is hope for the mullet!

She sobbed through all of these pictures but I think you get the idea! She looks so grown up now! Hooray for Chloe for finally growing some hair!

A Little Fun

We've had some really nice days this week (as opposed the the blizzard two weeks ago) and have been able to spend some time outside. The kids LOVE helping get the garden ready to plant. They would spend hours out here! It is so nice they are big enough now to just go play and I can peak at them through the window!

We also had the Wilkins here during their spring break. We spent the morning at the zoo (we were surprised they didn't keep any of them) and in the afternoon had a "girl's day" and made tutu's, painted our nails, watched Sleeping Beauty and made a special spring time treat. My kids slept most of the time and Jade got to watch Prince Caspian. It was such a fun day and we are so glad to have some cousins (and Aunt Liesel and Uncle Dee) so close by!