Sunsets over the lake

On Wednesday and Thursday night we watched the most perfect sunsets over Lake Ontario.  There wasn't a single cloud in the sky the first night and the few clouds tonight made some really pretty colors in the sky.  Raine was capturing the beauty by taking pics on her new iPod. I couldn't resist catching a pic of her taking a pic, I love how pretty that picture is.

Kansas to Buffalo

Only 2 more hours to go and we will be eating pizza & wings! 

Every year I capture a pic of the welcome to Ohio sign and get excited every time.

A traditional game of checkers outside Cracker Barrel.

I switched seats with Mo to drive for a while 

and look what I was privileged to sit in for an hour!

We were very excited to see this giant cross along the I70, we see them along I40 also.

Mo and Reece had to get a pic at the rest area in Missouri.

It was such a good two days of travel from Leslie's in Olathe, KS to a Holiday Inn in Richmond, Illinois and then finally to my mom's house.  Reece and Raine were excellent passengers, reading watching movies and even did some school work.  I love summer road trips.

Denver friends and fun

My Visit to Denver

By: Ireland Hauguel

Lucy and Lily are friends of mine. Lucy and Lilly are very very kind to me. They have a lot of movies. I love playing with them. They have pets. Lucy and Lilly are 8 and 5. They have 2 dogs and 3 cats. They are sisters. They are nice to others. They are friendly.

Hiking to the top of Howler

We took an afternoon ride down The Howler - Steamboat Springs' Alpine Slide. It was right next to the Rodeo grounds and the Howelsen Hills ski Jumping facility.  After we hiked to the top of Howelsen mountain, we promised the kiddos a charilift ride to the top of the slide and then let gravity works it magic. Mo and Raine raced Reece down 2,400 feet of track, while taking in the beautiful views of Steamboat Springs. I was praying for Reece to make it the whole way down without a crash like last year in Breck.  The Howler seemed much slower than Breck's slides.  The kiddos still loved it and really wanted to go again.

They pose well even after all the complaining Raine does while she hikes.

Our view of Steamboat Springs ski area from Howelsen Mt.

My favorite hiking buddies.

 We made it to the top of the chairlift.  

Reece kept saying he wished it was winter 
so he could snowboard the trails he has been hiking on.

Starting our trek back down the mountain; 
kiddos reward a chairlift ride back up to the top.

My boys enjoying the relaxing ride and beautiful views.  
It was such a super fun afternoon!

Hiking in Steamboat Springs, CO

We spent Wednesday afternoon hiking up to Fish Creek Falls.  It was so stunning and beautiful.  We would have hiked up to the top but it was 5 miles up and had a 2,400 elevation gain.  8 and 6 yr old legs would not have been able to handle that after biking 5 miles yesterday.  We found a nice mellow 2.4 mile loop hike to do instead. We were able to see some moose poop and hike along the creek during the beginning of our hike.  Lil legs started to tucker out so we started motoring threw the Aspen trees to get down the trail.  There were some amazing Aspen trees and wild flowers all over the place.  The kiddos were rewarded with a trip to DQ for some mini blizzards after.  It was my favorite way to spend the day.

Biking the Yampa River

We rented bikes on Tuesday and played along the Yampa River on a 5 mile bike ride.  Reece was psyched because his bike had gears.  Raine was very nervous about her bike because it had hand brakes and she hasn't mastered riding a bike yet.  Mo and I used a beach cruiser type of bike which was perfect except the seat was small and hard.  We stopped near the end of the ride to have lunch near the wetland area.  We also stopped at the Botanical Gardens to admire some gorgeous Colorado flowers.  Reece and Mo loved playing around in a skate park near the north end of the trail. It was an awesome day.

Happy 40th Birthday Mo

I wasn't sure how to celebrate Mo's 40th birthday, so I called some friends for assistance.  Mike and Melissa threw Mo the best Redneck birthday party a gal, I mean guy could ask for.  We all dressed up for the affair and ate cheese out of a can.  Mel made a delicious jello cake for the old man.

Daddy's 40th birthday

We didn't have 40 candles to put on his peanut butter Reese's cup brownie cake so 25 will have to do.  Metro Pizza was a delicious place to celebrate his 40th birthday.  I had the waitresses sing him a birthday song.  We sang to him again at home and gave him his birthday presents.  It was a perfect little celebration.  

I am going to live this from now on...

Storms

Sometimes you face difficulties not because you are doing something wrong, but because you are doing something right. (J. Osteen)

I am living this life right now.  Trusting God as my shepard and knowing he will guide my every step.  I am so grateful for my weekend with dear Danielle who is praying me through this storm I am facing. 

Hmmm

I ...

i was … just thinking about how life goes in circles and repeats itself.
i am … emotional and exhausted more often than i like.
i think … things should be consistant before being implimented.
i wonder … what my kiddos will be when they grow up.
i wish … i had more patience with my own children.
i need ... to start running again, hopefull Luna will force me into it every morning.
i save … my kiddos teeth, not sure what I will do with them yet.
i always … crave a little silence but love music and will often want both.
i never ... want to have regrets.
i hope... our blessings overflow into the lives around us.
i can't imagine … existing without my family.
i believe … in God and Jesus and without them I would be lost.
i cherish ... moments with my mom, as they are few and far between.
i promise … to love unconditionally.
i love … taking my kiddos to do fun new things.
i try ... to eat healthy, get enough rest and exericise.
i pray ... for PEACE, WISDOM and JOY.

Luna Hauguel

It's official, she is ours forever.
We will be her forever family and this little girl sure hopes her brother will share her.

Luna the Labradoodle

I am pleased to announce that Luna the 15 month old Labradoodle is spending Superbowl weekend with us. She is a 40 lb Australian Labradoodle who isn't allowed to stay at her home in Summerlin any longer.  If all works out well and she gets along with the kiddos we will adopt her from the Becker family.  So far we are quite smitten with her and will be so devastated to give her back.  We are praying it is God's will for her to join our family, mostly that she will behave while alone all day while we are school.

 

Super Citizen

 

 Reece earned the High Flyer award this week in his third grade classroom and then received the Citizenship Award for Empathy this morning.  I love that he is such a sweet kind kiddo! 

He shows it daily to all those around him.

 

Focusing in line and ignoring his mama before the assembly.