Saturday Family Fun

This Saturday we drove to Sterling to go grocery shopping. On the way we were discussing how Brooklyn accidentally knocked over her dresser and broke it. The next thing we know lights were flashing behind us and yes we got pulled over. Thank goodness the officer went easy on us since Jer has to be very careful or he could lose his CDL licence. To cheer ourselves up, we went out to lunch and went bowling with one of Jer's sisters. Guess what? It worked. We had so much fun watching the kiddos bowl and seeing their faces light up when they knocked the pins down. SO worth it! Ah the air feels good.

Aunt Shayla with mason bug.

Strike a pose Brooklyn.

Later, the kids went swimming for a short while. The wind was blowing so hard it was not too fun.

Here is mason getting the ball that blew away.

It is sooo cold Mom!

Brooky had fun though.

So did mase after he got in and played.

Ghost Town Museum

Saturday we got to Colorado Springs and visited with Jer's Grandma Bonnie. It was really nice to see her and have the kids see her. She wasn't doing too well and I'm sure glad we got to come down to visit.

After the Garden of the Gods, it started to rain just as we were getting back in the car. It wasn't just any rain either. It was pouring buckets. We decided to go to the Ghost town Museum. It looked kind f ghetto from the outside but I was actually impressed. The kids liked all the hands on things and I liked all the funny signs that you might not catch if you just walk by. It was only 11 dollars for all of us so I thought that was worth it. We had to get a rain check for panning for gold so we got one for 10 people for when we come back with Jer's family this June. They may not want to do it but at least we have the rain check just in case.

After Ghost town we met up with Jer's aunt and uncle Molly and Chuck. They took us to lunch. So nice! Jer wasn't impressed since it was a really healthy no beef sort of place but I was really impressed. I had some wonderful banana and walnut pancakes with fresh fruit and some sort of potatoes. So yummy! Thanks Aunt Molly!!!

Garden Of The Gods

After visiting the cliff dwellings we drove to see the Garden of the Gods nearby. It looked like rain so we stayed in the car for a bit but then decided it looked pretty good so we took a little hike. Along the path Mason picked up what he THOUGHT was a rock but ended up being dog poop! Yuck! I cleaned his hands about one hundred times. I hate it when people don't pick up after their pets.

Manitou Cliff Dwellings

These cliff dwellings are the ancient homes of the Anasazi Indians. It was amazing to see how they stored food, flattened their baby's heads on infant boards and how tight their homes were one on top of another. The kids really loved walking through these dwellings and gift shops.

Reaching Milestones...

This week has been full of firsts. Brooklyn learned to tie her shoes just after two times of showing her. Now she goes around tying everything. She doesn't even put the shoes on. She just ties them around her leg. Silly girl!

Mason is just about done potty training. He still wears a diaper at night but during the day he's getting so good at telling me he needs to use the restroom. I'm so proud of him. Brooklyn has even been taking him to the potty. Yesterday she took him twice without even telling me. I found out by Mason running out naked saying "I made it lellow mom"! Holy Cow where does the time go. I still remember when Brooklyn was first starting to crawl and walk and now she is going to be a kindergartener who ties her shoes and is learning how to read! Mason used to be my little baby boy all grins and now he's potty training and talking back! I miss my little babies.

Camping in the Yard!!!

It is time! Its finally warm enough outside to camp out! We set up the tent. I made foil dinners. we roasted marsh mellows in our fire pit and just had fun hanging around. Of course it rained the next morning and the kids were bouncing off the tent walls at the crack of dawn but we had so much fun! I love Summer!

Last Day of Pre-K...

Thursday was Brooky's last day of school. They had a Dino Disco Dig Day. They made such a big deal about it. Last year there was face painting and donkey rides and games. This year the wind blew so badly that all they did was dig for the bones. Brook was so disappointed because the first few kids ran to the sand box and found the bones right away. Poor girl reburied hers so she could dig something up. Mason kept one hand over his eyes so the wind wouldn't blow the sand in them. We ended up leaving early but I really enjoyed Brooklyn's dances. They did a cha cha dance that was adorable. Of course we forgot our video camera but I tried to take a couple pictures. I'm so sad to see her grow and leave this little girl stage but it is exciting to see her learn and develop into the person she is becoming! Goodbye preschool.

Mother's Day!

Happy mother's day! Jer got home from hotline school on Friday. He gave me my mother's day gift early since I would be gone Saturday for a stake relief society meeting. We know that Sundays are always hectic in our house with getting ready for Church.

What a surprise! Jer gave me this crock pot with a mini dip crock pot. We had a slow cooker once upon a time but somehow we lost it in one of our moves. I love it! Sunday morning I made my first dinner in it. Yummy! Thanks honey for listening to my little hints even when I don't think you hear me. Of course I think his card might have been my favorite it read...

TO MY WIFE

You Know What I Love about You? A WHole Bunch of things, Like: You Don't own an "I'm with Stupid shirt" You never Packed Up and moved WHile I was out. You're the perfect balance of sexy wife and competent mother. You complete me. (I'm not sure what that means but I saw it in a movie once.) You've come to accept my wind-Breaking for the Beautiful natural act that it is. And you know what else I Love about You? Everything!!!

I look forward to Jer's cards every year because they just seem to speak about everything that we are going through at that time. He's the perfect card picker outer. haha Thanks sweetheart!

*Sighhhhhh*

Dad is home and it is so good! Of course he took the kids while I went to a stake relief society meeting in Greeley so that could be another reason why I feel so relaxed today. :o)

He just got home yesterday and got called out to work 45 minutes away tonight. I shouldn't rejoice too soon. Who knows when we'll see him again. ha ha.

Transition Day!!!

Today was the preschoolers transition day at the elementary school! I was sure impressed that the kindergarten class came in and read a book to us. Their teacher seems very regimented. I sure hope she is sweet to the kids as well. I can't believe this August Brooklyn will be going to school from 8am-3:10pm Monday through Friday. That just seems like such a long time for Kindergartners! They get their own lockers and everything. Boy the principal wasn't kidding when he said they expect more out of our kids then they did when we were kids.

Brooklyn ate the whole experience up! She latched on to her kindergarten partner and loved answering questions from the teacher. Some of the parents are still so hesitant to let their kids move on to the big school. I must be a bad mom because I am so excited for Brook. I really think she will be happy there. I love to see her grow and see her excitement as she learns something new.

The problem...

Problem- The bathroom door is closed. A drawer from the inside is open preventing the door from opening. There is zero gap to open the door and the hinges are on the inside.

Solution- Call Jer. No answer. Call dad. Dad told me to take the trim off of the side of the door with a hammer and chisel. Then hook a hanger from the bottom and slide the drawer closed. Yay! Crisis averted!!! Why do these kind of things always happen when Jer is out of town?!

While dad's away the kids will play

I took the kids to the park today after Brooklyn's school. They had a blast but it started to rain so we came home. Its starting to feel like spring.

Dadless for a week :o(

Jer is leaving for Grand Junction Hot Line School Tomorrow. Its going to be a really busy week for us too. I take Brooklyn to Transition Day at Akron Elementary School on Wednesday. There are so many things that need to be done to get ready for that. I just signed Brook up for t-ball this summer. She is pretty excited about that. I'll keep you all posted on how we are surviving being a single mom family for a week.