Part 2

Monday, July 26th - We spent the morning at the park with our previous neighbors. Eve had a wonderful time playing imaginary games with Jorgia! Julie is always very thoughtful and considerate. I enjoy our visits together. After our picnic lunch at the park we went to see Alice and Wonderland at the Aurora Fox Children's theatre. We also met Kara and her daughter, my Mom, and Catherine. The kids were good and enjoyed the theatre experience. After that, the kids played in some fountains nearby. In the evening, we went to Emma's belated birthday gathering at Jen & Scott's. What fun!








Tuesday, July 27th - We went to visit My friend Lynda and her family. It was great to get reacquainted and hear all about her new adventures!



After Lynda's house we went to Annie's house for lunch and hanging out! We had some great time to talk, catch up, and solve all life's problems:) I truly enjoyed my family time on this trip! I feel like each family member was wonderful and valued me and my children! My family was great to be with and really seemed to appreciate our visit.
Here is Sterling with Chipmunk cheeks at lunch time.



Wednesday - July 28th - We went to play at my friend Rachel's house. The kids had a wonderful time and I loved my time to catch up! Rachel is always a great model of excellence in all she does.



In the evening, Kara invited us over for dinner and to watch So You Thing You Can Dance. We really enjoyed both! We have the best friends!

Thursday - July 29th The kids (minus Sheri) and I went to our favorite dentist, Matt's uncle. The kids were soooo good!




Afterwards I left the kids with their cousin Emma - so grown up - and went to lunch with my sisters, mom, and Sara Ker. I love to talk with my girls! We truly enjoyed our time together, so much in fact, we all went back to Jen's and talked for a lot longer!

Friday - July 30th - Cat babysat the kids and Joe who had fun in my parent's backyard (sandbox, swings, sprinklers, garden) again. I was able to go shopping with Jennifer and her kids for a while and get a few things! After picking up my kids and dropping them off at Jen's for Emma to babysit again, I went to yoga in Parker. Uncle Cary invited me to attend the class he takes. It was 90+ degrees. It felt good, surprisingly. I felt both strong and challenged! I really enjoy yoga. I have really had more opportunities to grow with teaching it once a week. Immediately following that, Jen and I headed to Annie's for an Arbonne Class. I think the products were good and the class gave me some things to ponder. We got home after 10PM. It was a full/fun day!

Saturday - July 31st - The kids got sealants at the dentist for their groovy molars. We then played at Christina's house. Christina is a most loyal, true friend!



So, you can see, that with all these fun things we did, plus the time with my parents and siblings at home, we had one outstanding week! And that is just week 2!

Weekend after part 1

Saturday (7/24) - was my immediate family's picture day. We were able get a few good shots. Afterward, we went to lunch as a family and we had some time to relax with my sister and her family.









Sunday (7/25) we visited the Aurora Highlands ward and had a family dinner. We sure enjoyed seeing old friends and being with family.

Packin' in the Play - Part 1

While in Colorado, we wanted to see as many friends as possible. Here is a quick overview of each day's fun events.

Monday (7/19) was my birthday. I've already blogged about Mt. Evans. In the evening Matt flew home to Illinois.

Tuesday (7/20) we went swimming and had a play date with Kara and her kids. We had a fun time catching up on all the news.


Wednesday (7/21) We went to see Christina and kids. First we went to lunch and then to Little Monkey Business.



In the evening we were able to visit cousin Rosanna and her cute dog.


Thursday (7/22) we went to the Botanical Gardens in Denver with Tiffany and her kids. It was so fun to see how the kids have grown. Eve and her little boy were born around the same time when we both lived in Provo. How fun to see them 6 years later! The gardens were beautiful! We were also able to see Aunt Annie and Grandma Bonnie around lunch.






Friday (7/23) we went to the sundial park with Rachel, her kids, Brenda, her kids, and Jen's kids. The kids had so much fun playing just like it was yesterday. I really enjoyed catching up with the girls. I wish I had thought to take some pics!

In the afternoon we got to catch up with Scott and Joe, and then in the evening my family gathered at Uncle Ivan's community pool. We had a wonderful time!

31 on Mt. Evans

Monday, July 19th was my 31st birthday. Matt had to fly home this evening and so we decided to head up with our little family and Catherine to drive the highest road in North America. Eve first spotted the mountain goat. She gets the eagle eye award! Can you spot the goat in this pic?



When we reached the road's end, Matt and I ran to the peak(14,258 ft) and enjoyed the view! Being on top of a mountain is always breathtaking!
We really love the Rocky Mountains and miss them back home. We were glad to get some mountain time! Here are some additional pics of the trip.

Beautiful Colorado

Friday, July 16th we packed the car and headed to Denver. We both have family and friends there and decided to spend a little vacation time there. The kids were so good for the car ride out. We made it in 13 hrs. We are so lucky that my parents invited us to stay. The kids have enjoyed staying with Grandpa John and Grandma Bonnie.
Saturday was very fun for me! Matt played bastketball with my dad while I whipped up a batch of whole wheat pancakes. Later, Matt watched the kids while I went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory with my girls (Mom, sisters, and nieces.) We also did a little shopping :)




In the evening, Matt took the kids down to Franktown for a dinner/tennis tournament with his family and I got to see my sister, Catherine perform with her dance company. It was great to see her dance again!
Sunday, we went to a previous ward and got to hear Emma give a talk on keeping the Sabbath Day holy, and Hannah sing Oh Lord, My Redeemer. Both girls did a wonderful job!
Following church, I went to my sister's house for a BIG surprise. Here are the words of my sister Annie from her blog: "So Beckie and her family got into town late last Friday night for a 2 1/2 week visit! Our entire family is thrilled. We have had so much fun already and have lots of plans while she is here . . . a family photo, get-togethers, etc. But I was most excited about one event in particular.

Beckie's best friend, Christina, told me this Spring that she was pregnant again and that she wanted to keep it a secret from Beckie until she came to visit. So this whole time I've kept it from everyone in my family (except Jeff and - only recently - Jennifer - with Christina's permission. . .

Well, Christina had her baby on Saturday and we decided to reveal the secret on Sunday afternoon after church.

I had coordinated with Jennifer to keep Beckie at her place after church (Beckie went to her ward). I left Mary with Jeff, drove to Jen's, we blind-folded her, and hopped into the car and drove to Skyridge Medical Center.

Beckie had guessed that Christina had something to do with this surprise, but she thought it might have to do with her birthday on Monday. Still blind-folded, we took her up the elevator to the second floor. She remembered the smell since she delivered two babies there and said "Are we in a hospital?". Then right as we came up to Christina's room she asked, "Did Christina have a baby??!". Then we stepped into the room and lifted the blindfold. And there to Beckie's surprise was Christina in a hospital bed and her husband to her left holding their newest little baby, Charlotte.

Beckie was definately surprised! I think she almost cried. It was a pretty neat moment. I was glad I got to be a part of it."

Isn't that amazing? I just have to say, Sometimes a smell can give a clear picture of where you are! After having 2 babies at Sky Ridge, I can remember that place blindfolded (literally.) It is not a bad hospital smell, just distinct! I am so happy for Christina and her little family! I am sure you can imagine how much effort went in to keeping this a surprise with facebook and everything! I guess it just shows how awesome my friends & sisters are, and how much changes in 9 months of being gone!

Sunday evening, we had a family dinner to celebrate the July birthdays in our family. Talk about a fun and eventful weekend!

Nauvoo

Last weekend we went to Nauvoo with our friends. It was so much fun for the kids. The 3 hour car ride was smooth and the weather was pretty temperate for the middle of July. There were lots of fun activities for the kids.
We started at Pioneer Pasttimes where the kids dressed up and played pioneer games, played house, and climbed trees. Later we got to take a ride in a wagon pulled by oxen and we saw lots of the historic buildings (blacksmith shop, gun shop, tin smith shop, school, brick making shop, the bakery, and more.)-some were on Saturday. We also enjoyed the visitor center and the gardens.
Every meal was a picnic with occasional brass band or bagpipe band in the background. We were able to see the pageant Friday night which was enjoyable. We didn't have time for the festivities beforehand. (Next time, I guess) On Saturday the kids swam at the hotel and we were lucky enough to take a turn going to the Nauvoo temple (an especially neat experience!) We saw more historic buildings and learned how they made rope, candles, barrels, etc.
We also got to dance in the cultural hall where the early saints had dances. It was a great weekend! We really enjoyed being with friends and getting away from the routine. We hope to go again if anyone wants to join us:) There was so much to see and do! I know next time I could see even more. Here are some pics. I especially think the pic of Adam and Eve hanging laundry is fun!

Fourth of July Surprise

This year for the 4th of July we watched fireworks by the bridge on Friday. The day following the 4th we had the Corless and Owen families over for a potluck. The food was great. We watched The Princess Bride on the big screen and afterwards when Eve was showing off her loose tooth, surprise, out came the tooth. Everyone cheered and she was so proud! It was all she could think about for the rest of the evening. We had the traditional flag cake and that evening Eve put her tooth in her little pocket pillow for the tooth fairy. That was such a fun first for me!

We're going to the ZOO ZOO ZOO . . .

We have enjoyed the St Louis Zoo many times this season. The kids love to ride the train and carousel. You may still notice Eve's cheeks in some of the pics. Incidentally, we love to sing the song that goes with this title, especially when we really are going to the zoo!

Eve gets "Slapped Cheek Syndrome" Aka "Fifth Disease"

In June, Eve picked up an interesting virus that I had never heard of that causes "Slapped Cheek Syndrome." I am sure you can see why they call it that. Except for itching, she felt ok. We are glad it wasn't too hard on her. We think most of the residual rashes (it moves to the rest of the body in patches) are now gone.