Welcome to our World

The day after coming home from Utah and Nevada, Danny had Cub Scout day camp on Friday (Passport to the World theme) and baseball on Saturday.  The entire next week was Kiwa day camp (with a Seasons theme) and then the next week was K's favorite day camp she's ever been too -- CU volleyball with two of her friends (she said the best part was the food).  I have to say Kiwa was my favorite day camp, partially because I got to spend 3 full days there and simply because this is a tradition that is truly enjoyable for everyone except K, who opts to spend time with my mom instead of joining us in singing crazy songs and making fools of ourselves.  One day when K was at a BoCo volleyball clinic that week my mom went in my place so I could get some things done. Thank you, Mom!   During June we also had puppy training classes (Piper on Wednesdays and Maisie on Saturdays), K and M taking viola lessons, D playing lots of baseball, doctors appointments, play dates, a pool p...

It was very difficult to leave Hubby's work and my new puppies behind but we knew my mom loved the dogs already and that our children would never forgive us if we missed out of one of the epic family reunions we could enjoy.  So off we set to St. George, Utah to the very same house we stayed in over Presidents' Day weekend back when N was a little girl that came down with pre-pneumonia when we stopped at the Grand Canyon on our way to that reunion.  Once again M would miss the last half day of school so that we wouldn't have to wait any longer to join cousins, aunts, uncles & S. grandparents in a large rented vacation home complete with swimming pools.  The weather was so wonderful that we spent many hours enjoying the outdoor pool but we also set out to hike and spend a day at the reservoir.  B & S's family really know how to have a blast on and round the water.  Between them and J & C's family we had a boat to take us tubing, a Razor to take ...

On Memorial Day I received a text message from my mother’s cousin saying that his mother was in the ICU and asked us to pray for her.    At the age of 92 I knew this was not good news.    I was upset all day and decided not to tell my mom until we had more information.    That night my Great Aunt (my maternal grandmother’s little sister) passed away.    Hubby and my dad took care of the children and puppies while my mother and I traveled to Northern Wisconsin to pay our respects and attend the funeral.    At such late notice we ended up taking red eye type flights and I was so grateful that airports have wheelchairs for my mom.    My mom's cousins could not have been kinder to us and it was so sad to say good bye to a place I have been going my entire life.    We were truly saddened by her passing but inspired to live the way she lived.    Aunt Hope read to her preschool class she volunteered with and sp...

One thing that was great about New Orleans is that I didn’t cry about Meigo while we were gone. Coming home was great to see my children and parents again but every time I was home alone I would cry again. It soon became apparent that the children and I needed a puppy. I searched and searched for a dog that didn’t shed that was excellent with children. I decided the only type of dog I wanted was a Portuguese Water Dog. The woman I felt good about didn’t have any puppies available but had a friend in southeast CO that did. She and I texted and when she sent us picture and descriptions of the 3 little girls she had, suddenly we had named two out of three of them and wanted to bring them home as soon as we could. We named the white PWD Maisie Ann and the black one Piper Disney. Maisie was described as calm and snuggly and so we began calling her Lazy Maisie and Piper was described as playful and full of energy so she has been Hyper Piper. We scheduled to pick them up on Sunday afte...

What a surprise to have two and a half inches of snow 2 days before the last day of school for most of my children. Things like Field Day and D’s baseball practice and game were canceled and I worried about the campsite we had rented in the mountains for Memorial Day weekend. But as I was telling another mom at school today, I am not worried about middle school or 1st grade, as of this month! If you had asked me in April I still would have been very concerned about those huge transitions for my oldest and youngest girls but after meeting with K’s middle school counselor and attending the rookie parent night I am so excited for K. I think she will really like it there and will do great! And N seemed to decide while Hubby and I were out of town that she could and wanted to be more independent. She’s got some of that 6 year old sass starting to show too so I feel like she is going to be just fine in 1st grade. D is happy to continue at the public school for 5th grade and I think he’ll ha...

Months ago when the weather was below freezing Hubby and I planned a trip for just the two of us that would be warm but not too far away, cheap, and a place we wouldn’t want to take our children with us. New Orleans was perfect. We made sure to be gone during the week so the children would be in school and I planned lots of play dates and rides to make it easier on my parents. Just writing down all my notes took hours. The planning was totally worth it and I was especially glad to be in 80 degree weather when it was snowing back home. Our hotel, Le Richelieu, is farther out in the French Quarter so nice and quiet but still close enough to walk where ever we wanted to go. (Don’t eat there, though.) On Monday we awed at the architecture of the French Quarter before we were picked up to visit Oak Alley and Laura Plantation with Louisiana Tour Company. The trees were magnificent but we found Laura’s tour much more engaging and would highly recommend it. These River Road plantations are...

Our beloved, beautiful dog passed away on April 30, 2019.  As newlyweds we poured our time and money into training the sweet, smart dog we spoiled from day one.  Meigo was so happy when we were home and so sad when we were away.  She was the one waiting for us when we came home from urgent care after our first miscarriage.  She accepted and loved all those babies we kept bringing home for 5 years.  I know she would have done anything in her power to protect them.  I am still amazed at how when she heard K and M screaming when the neighbor's dog attacked our pet rabbit she sprang into action even though she was so old she slept most of the day.  She knew all the basic commands a dog needs to know but we loved the silly things like her being able to give us a high 5.  Meigo would do about anything for a bit of string cheese.  I remember the first time she went swimming I was scared about how far she was going and made Hubby go out and follow h...