July 4th Weekend

July 4th weekend was jammed packed but fun!  On Friday night small group camped out at the VanHorns.  It did rain pretty bad for a while but cleared up for fireworks, sparklers, and sleeping in tents in their backyard!  I forgot my camera at home but Jen had me take some pictures with hers. Including a heart shaped with sparklers around her and Kyle! ha ha.

Saturday morning Jen made us a big breakfast and we packed up and headed home.  We had very tired boys and Josh napped at like 10:30!  We cleaned up the house and waited for Dad Witt and Susie to arrive from Green Mountain Falls. They were hiking in Estes Park for a long weekend but came down to hike with Nicole and Cactus and then have lunch with us at Louie's.   We drove the Jeep over to Louie's (Aunt Susie and I in the Rav4) and got a killer deal!  $5 pizza and 30 cents for breadsticks!  30 cents for a soda too.  Apparently they were celebrating 30 years of being in business until 2pm that day.   Then we went back home and said our goodbyes...only after the boys wanted to show Aunt Susie their bike riding abilities.   Josh is showing off that he can lift up his bike here!


They had to run back up to Green Mountain falls for a few forgotten items before going back to Estes Park...so Dad was in a hurry!  See you later! Have fun!


Josh didn't want them to go.


That night we went over to Jim and Karla's for hamburgers, hot dogs, pea salad and some yummy veggies (that she said were far from healthy!) and an AMAZING dessert trifle!   Then as it got dark Karla pulled out tons of fireworks that she had in her basement from her son Marcus!  They struggled at first because it was really windy.  They put up a board and a box to shield the wind and everything.


Success!


Sparkler time!




Karla lighting colored smoke things.












Josh was hesitant at first...and then couldn't be stopped!




These huge sparklers were awesome.












Jim may or may not have started pulling out fireworks that were not permitted :)

I have videos I'll have to get Matt to put up!

On Sunday we took a bike ride at Cottonwood Creek Park.

















Nathan did really good riding all the way back on the opposite side of the creek that is a dirt trail. We're so glad that Josh is still content in the trailer so we can take real bike rides.  Nathan will need a larger bike soon.  He's asking for one for his birthday...so we'll see!

Somersaulting down the grass hill.












Josh just stood there like this! ha ha!









Fun weekend with family and friends.

VanHorn Family Shoot

The VanHorn family!  The family who had faith that I could take their family photos WAY before I did :)  Thankfully,  I've improved a little since we started all of this.  I wish these would upload in a higher resolution, but you get the idea!  Here's a peek at some of their images.

Oh Dylin.  Adorable.




Color coordinated family at Fox Run!  The rest of Colorado Springs got pummeled by rain and hail, while we remained dry until the very end when it started to sprinkle.  Don't they look great?


Landin loved banging on Kyle's head while he and Jen kissed!






Handsome Jamin!


Jen and Landin!


Jamin showing me his jumping skills.


I love this one.


Ready for a photogenic couple!  We grabbed some shots while the boys let us :)






So funny. This was actually after trying a pose that we decided was for a very short girl!










About this time, the boys ran in the shot to be with their parents!  So we took advantage!


Landin gave me a smile with the promise of playing at the park! :)


Park time!  They were racing.






I love this one.  Cute, cute boys with gorgeous blue eyes!!!  Dylin was all about climbing on top of his big brothers.


Ugh.  He's so cute!


Swinging!




A shot by the "V" tree for the VanHorns!


Jamin wanted to go up to the pond so we all jumped in our vehicles and I followed them.


Throwing rocks in the water!  A boys favorite thing to do.








Oh my goodness.  Dylin!

Birthday Hike with Amazing Ladies

Sarena had the great idea to celebrate each lady's birthday in our small group this year...with JUST the ladies!  In our busy lives with littles and extended families living near and far, it takes great effort to make this happen!  So far we celebrated Julie's birthday earlier this year with facials at Sarena's house and mine in June.  A hike was my choosing!  We went to Spruce Mountain Trail.


Can you feel the love?


We did a lot of talking once we got to the top...and on the way up, and the way down!  That's what we do! Sarena also has us tell the birthday girl what we admire or appreciate about her.  They all were so sweet and I was humbled as they spoke.  I also wanted to interject with why they were wrong about what they were saying...but I refrained!  I appreciate their grace.  But I REALLY appreciated that they all made that day happen.  Saturdays are precious to us all with the way summer weekends get booked up.  I was so grateful they all could do it!


Group shot at the top!

I am truly thankful for these girls and looking forward to celebrating Sarena this July, Brittney in August and Jen's 30th in October!  Seriously, I am grateful for them.  Good girl friends have been difficult for me to find or maintain or something my entire life.  This is probably mostly my issue but as I see our friendships grow I really do wonder if living life together over the years can't be overlooked.  Lasting friendships don't just happen over night.  In this world of extreme busyness and raising kids separately and comparison...friendships seem to suffer.   We're not a perfect group of ladies but I do so hope these friendships only grow as time moves on.  Grow in love, and mutual respect and grace for each other.  But most importantly I hope that the bond is strengthened as we all grow more in relationship and trust of Jesus as we raise our children and love our husbands in this turbulent culture that is turning their hearts from God.

My!  I don't think I have ever felt the love so much as this birthday.  I told this to Sarena who dropped off balloons and a card to me on my birthday when my dad and Colin were here.  Then the following week we went on a Jeep ride and a walk (around our church...what could be safer, right?) while our husbands put the boys down for bed and she treated me to ice cream!


I had a good start to year 32! I still want to groan when I punch that number into the treadmill though! ha!

Backyard Fun

The boys letting me practice on them once again! I had a photo shoot coming up :)