big girl

Well, It's official... my little baby -girl is not a baby anymore. She has a sense of humor and laughs a lot. C is independent and likes to have her way, and is very curious.

( yes I think that might be a boogey in her nose in this hilarious picture).

C's likes: diggers in the sandbox, popsicles, watermelon, babies (real or dolls) following around her big sister, books, trying on shoes, elmo, baths, dancing, swinging at the park, bubbles, cookies and rubbing mommy's shirt when she goes to sleep.

C's dislikes: sleeping in her own bed at night, grocery shopping, people telling her "no", strangers, bed time, peaches, big sister getting mommy's attention, getting pajamas on, sun in her eyes.

Favorite places: Park, swimming pool, splash park, Target ( this is not mommy's favorite place to go with her though), big sissy's room, her kitchen set up on the back deck, bathtub.

Five Years on Saturday

It is an age old story- Boy meets Girl. Boy likes Girl. Girl has intimacy issues and a beautiful little daughter. . Boy likes girl anyway. Girl falls in love with boy. Daughter loves boy. Boy finally proposes to girl and then to daughter. Girl says yes, daughter says yes. Boy marries girl at St Fracis on July 19, 2003. Both girls get a ring- and they all lived mostly happily ever after.
Boy, Girl and daughter at a ball game in Denver two weeks before the wedding. (M-- age 4)

Psalms 18

Psalm 18

1 I love you, Lord. You give me strength. 2 The Lord is my rock and my fort. He is the One who saves me. My God is my rock. I go to him for safety. He is like a shield to me. He's the power that saves me. He's my place of safety. 3 I call out to the Lord. He is worthy of praise. He saves me from my enemies.

Cherry Creek arts Festival

Fourth of July - Cherry Creek Art Festival. It was incredibly hot, but we had a great time wandering around looking at the booths. D and I couldn't afford any art of course, but loved looking. I was so happy to be finished with summer school!

The "kids" liked the tables that were set up for artistic expression- glitter paint, glue, sequins, glitter and the works! C wanted to decorate herself. We had a hard time getting away from this area. We all agreed that our friend, Stephanie, should participate in the Cherry Creek Arts Fest next year. She is the most talented person I know.

I haven't been taking pictures, but D and I have been on a quest for good Mexican food in Denver. We LOVE Jack-n-grill, but were looking for something new. El Taco de Mexico -was also good. Cheri went with us to Mezcal, and we had a unanimous "NO" to that one. More on this important quest later.

A face without freckles is like a sky without stars

Freckles. A face without freckles is like a sky without stars. I love these precious angel kisses on M's face. This bottom picture was taken in July of 2003. D and I had just gotten married and she was swinging on her swingset that her daddy built for her. I remember that it was the first summer that she had freckles. She is such a sweet girl. I have enjoyed watching her grow up these past 9 years. I love each and every freckle on her face.

Thank you God, for giving me this girl to love. Thank you for sending her when I needed her most and thank you for equiping me to raise her. Thank you for sending a dad for her that loves her deeply. thank you for sending her precious freckles that show her personality and make her beautiful. thank you for guarding her tender heart and giving her loving christian friends. thank you for pursuing her and entering her heart when she asked you in. thank you for giving her a sister to love. thank you for holding her in your hand when she was little, as she grows, and in the future. AMEN

Firekeeper Vacation

This year was the fourth annual Firekeepers vacation. The Firekeepers went to Estes Park for the weekend. We stayed at the YMCA Camp of the Rockies. We had a blast! It was beautiful there and we made the most of the short time we had there. We swam, hiked, read books, played games, tested our MONK trivia, ate junk food, took a nature class and enjoyed spending time together.

Estes Park was holding a Scandinavian Festival this weekend. We celebrated K and A's heritage with flower crowns, dancing and shopping. The girls tried their cooking skills at the Viking camp. We had a great lunch on the patio by the river and bought some necklaces at our favorite store in Estes. The girls loved playing in the river.

The YMCA camp is so neat. They have anything you could imagine. We all agreed that one night was not nearly enough. Next time we will plan better and take advantage of more good stuff.

We missed D of course, but this fellow and his son stood in for pictures.

The big girls like the playground, indoor pool and "animal detectives" class they took. C enjoyed icecream, bubbles and being with the big girls. It was great to see them get along and how much they had matured during the year. Those blonde gals are treasured friends. We look forward to Firekeeper vacation #5.

family day in Denver

We spent Saturday June 21st in Denver. We used to do that all time when we were dating. We have been so busy this summer with my MIL staying with us, D's work and my summer school class. We needed a family solidarity day. D found a good little Mexican dive called El Taco de Mexico and we had a good lunch. We headed to the musuem of Nature and Science to explore and see the IMAX about Ancient Greece. My almost- fourth -grader has been obsessed with Greece since we completed our unit of study this past spring. It was a beautiful (but HOT) day and we loved spending it together.

Captain space commander, and her tiny (but bossy) navigator enjoyed playing star ship at the space center. D and I enjoyed seeing the rocks and minerals. We had a hard time getting the little one to ride in her stroller.

After the musuem, we headed to city park to play a bit in the fountain, rose garden and playground. Everthing was perfect that day until C threw up in the backseat. Isn't that just like life-- too much fun and junk food, I guess.

We needed a family day- it is so good to laugh and play together.