Waldo Canyon

here we go...

a sign in the parking lot right by 24 highway

We've ran about 1 1/2 miles to get to the loop.

gorgeous views along the way

about half-way done
Pikes Peak in the background

another view of the peak
over half way done!

Sean and I ran/hiked Waldo Canyon this morning. Gorgeous! Breath-taking, too (literally) it's a 6.8 mile trail with about 1280 ft elevation change. It was a perfect morning for this trail, kind of cool out and a nice breeze on the ridge. It took a little over 2 hours, but we enjoyed the views stopping for lots of pictures... and we got off the trail once.

A little of what we saw: several chipmunks, a hawk, a squirrel, dozens of butterflies, lots of cactus, tons of poison ivy, and one foot long snake scurried right in front of me on the trail.

After the run, we went to Old Colorado City and ate at La Baguette for lunch. I'm sure we ate all the calories we burned right back! The food was awesome, Sean got a tuna salad on a baguette with fruit, I got quiche with fruit, salad, and bread. Then of course we had to split a large chocolate eclair! It was an awesome morning... I love Colorado!

injury on Manitou Incline

Yikes! This is big news here in Colorado Springs. This injured man is a prominent attorney here in town. The Incline is illegal, yet 70,000 some odd people trespass there each year. I guess that Colorado Springs is trying to make an example out of him, last year another attorney had a heart attack and died on his way up the incline... Moral of the story, the incline is really dangerous if you are an attorney!!!

4th of July celebrations

bounce house

The boys enjoying a funnel cake.

self (family) portrait
(and Finn still eating...)

Getting ready for the fireworks!

Finally, it's dark enough..

Cullen licking the ice cream dasher.

Finn enjoying the homemade ice cream.

They loved watching daddy shoot off the fireworks!

more of the excitement

We went to Ft. Carson's 4th of July celebration Saturday night. It was fun, but we all got home covered with a nice coat of dirt from all the wind! We ate fair food, let the boys run and jump, listened to live music, and watched the fireworks. It was a really nice fireworks display, they even shot off the cannons. (Cullen loved that!)

Today was a nice, relaxing day at home... The boys took long naps, Sean watched the Yankees, and I went out to do some antiquing. We had a nice big bbq'd dinner and I made some homemade ice cream for dessert. After dinner, we shot off a lot of the fireworks we bought. The boys had a great time! Quite the weekend for those two... :)

shiners and smarty pants

Finn's ornery grin... ;)

See Finn's faint shiner on his right eye??

Finn gave himself his first shiner last night. The silly kid was spinning in circles until he fell down laughing. One of those times he fell right into the coffee table. He cried for a minute, got down, and spun around some more. All of this after he got his first bloody nose last week... he climbed up on my bed and fell off. This one seems to be a little more accident prone than (but just as tough as) Cullen!

Finn-Finn is talking a lot now, today he said "plane" for the first time today. Most of his words revolve around food.. the first thing he says to me every morning is "eat". He asks for "cream" (whipped cream) after every meal, even breakfast. Earlier today, I caught him helping himself to cookies out of pantry. I've tried to put them up higher in the pantry, but then he just climbed up the shelves to get to them! What can I say, the kid hollow-legged-boy likes to eat!

In other Finn news... he's trying his hardest to pee in the toilet like brother. And yesterday he did for the first time! Hopefully potty training will be easy for him too. He's also gotten his diaper off a few times and peed on the floor, laughing all the while. What a stinker our Finn is.

Cullen's Bob Books

I finally found the Bob Books I bought for Cullen some time ago. We started with book #1 on Sunday night and he did amazing! He loved it and was so proud of himself. Monday night we read book #1 and #2, and last night we added #3. In fact, last night he read book #1 with no help or mistakes at all. We'll be through all 12 of these level one (kindergarten) sight word books in no time. His brain is such a sponge, I love helping and watching him learn! The greatest part is the proud look of accomplishment when he's done it all by himself.

boy cousins

Got this cute picture of Austin with the boys from another cousin. :)

60th Wedding Anniversary

I love them!

"A leader is one that knows the way, goes the way,
and shows the way."
-John C. Maxwell

My grandparents are pillars of their church and community;
such natural leaders! That quote makes me think of them...
I know that they have shown me the way.

The family, minus Helene and Ray.

All the cousins, minus Ray.

cake table

cousins

more cousins- helping get the food ready

Another red headed cousin :)

getting ready to cut the cake

Cullen and Uncle Andy

Cullen and his two sidekicks :)

Gosh, I am so blessed to have my grandparents!! They are an incredible example of love.. love to each other, to God, to country, and to everyone they meet. I cannot say enough good things about them and all the fond memories I have because of them. They are good people and I love them. I am blessed to have them in my life. I pray I can be half as kind, loving, generous, happy, thoughtful, godly, or inspirational as they are. I am so thankful we are all able to get together and celebrate them.

arctic cat

The Arctic Cat...

"This is just great!"

Our little stair-steps.

changing gears

The look of concentration...

Finn-Finn the animal lover

Finn squealed and laughed just like Cullen did
when he was this age. We sent a copy of Cullen
doing this to Sean in Iraq.

h a m !

the snappers were a huge hit

as was the shovel on the arctic cat.

Grandma and Papa surprised Cullen with a new riding toy when we got to their house Friday evening. Cullen was in heaven! Finn is finally old enough to take over the Jeep that Cullen outgrew, so both boys spent the rest of the night driving around. Cullen mastered the two speeds and reverse and surprisingly, Finn drove his Jeep around pretty well too. They did take a break, or two, to pop some snappers, raid the drinks in the garage fridge, and catch some lightning bugs (we don't have them in CO :( )