The 4th

This was the first year we went and watched fireworks all of us as a family.  We decided to go to the show up in Arvada and it was a great show!  We ended up sitting at a park that was right across the street from where they were launching the fireworks, so it was a perfect spot.  We got there early to get a parking spot and then just set up our blankets and chairs and hung out for the next few hours waiting for it to start.  It was a really fun family evening.  The kids were so tired, but they did great.  Preston actually laid down and fell asleep halfway through the show - I don't know how in the world he did that with all the noise.

 

#3 on 2 wheels

After much blood, sweat and tears, Preston learned how to ride his bike without training wheels last week!  Woo-hoo!!!  It took quite a few tries, most of which ended in tears, before he finally decided he could do it and put his mind to it. 

Preston is kind of an anomaly to me, he is very aggressive when he is comfortable in a situation, but he is very cautious and quiet if he is unsure.  He is cautiously aggressive.  Or aggressively cautious.  Sometimes I have to remind myself he is only 6 and he's still figuring stuff out too.

On the last day before he learned he was crying and begging me to not make him practice riding his bike so I finally said, "okay Preston, once you learn how to ride your bike, you never ever have to ride it again!".  Of course I knew that once he learned to ride it there was no way we were keeping him off of it, but it worked and he was very excited to just learn so he didn't have to do it anymore. 

 

He took off and literally rode for over 3 hours, practicing turning and steering and riding up and down and up and down and up and down the street till he perfected it.  (Of course, the other kids didn't mind the extra bike time either).  

The two older two boys had gotten to take a ride to 7-eleven for a Slurpee once they learned on two wheels, and Preston wanted to do the same, so Chris took him that night.  Way to go Preston, we're proud of you and we knew you could do it.

A date with Brayden

My parents do this cool thing where they invite each of the boys over separately to spend the night and do things that each boy would like.  It's cool that they see them as individuals and take the time to nurture that relationship one-on-one!

Brayden's "date" was in June and he had a great time.  To start off, my dad rode his bike over to our house and then he and Brayden rode back to my parents house.  Then they stayed up playing games and watching a movie.  The next morning, they hiked up Green Mountain, where they saw a rattlesnake!  After that they took another bike ride, then went out to lunch and then rode bikes back to our house.  Brayden was exhausted, but he had a really fun time.

Lucky #13

Today is our 13th anniversary (in 2013, see how we did that!?!?) 

July 7, 2000

July 7, 2013


Our marriage is a teenager now!  Hmmm, don't know if that's a good thing or not?  Here's to the best year yet!!

Celebrating Preston

We celebrated Preston's birthday three times this year!  Once on his actual birthday as a family, once a few days later with his friends and then again the next day with our families.  Phew!  Tiring and fattening, but fun!

On Preston's actual birthday, he chose cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  We ate together as a family and then he opened presents and played a little bit before heading off to VBS for the morning.  We got him a Lego Chima set and some blank notebooks.  He loves paper, so he was very cool with that!  After we got home from that and played for the rest of the afternoon, we went to Wendy's for dinner (his choice) and then bowling.  When we came home from bowling, we sang Happy Birthday and did cake and ice cream.

 

 

 

 

He's a very serious bowler

Logan got his first strike

 

Daddy and the birthday boy - silly guys

 

Mommy and the birthday boy

 

Then that Saturday we had some of his friends over for a pizza party!  Six of his friends came and he had a great time.  We are in the middle of a basement remodel and didn't have time to plan any organized games, but it actually worked out okay because they just ran around and played and were wild all on their own and I am not sure they would have been able to even sit still long enough to listen to instructions for a game.  They were all very well-behaved though and had a great time, so the party was a success in our book!

The next day we had our families over for his grandparent party.  He had fun opening his presents and playing with his new stuff while everyone sat around and talked.

Phew!!  I am cake and ice cream-ed out!  But I am so grateful for the gift of Preston, what a joy he brings to our family.

What a great father

I didn't get a post written up in time for Father's Day, but I didn't want to let the opportunity pass by to brag on Chris a little.  What a great dad he is!  Our kids are blessed by God to have a father who is attentive, involved and most importantly, who loves God and seeks to follow Him and obey Him. 

 

I am blessed to have a partner who loves me, who treats me fairly and lovingly and who supports me through all the ups and downs of parenting. 

Happy Father's Day, Chris.  I hope you know how much we all love and treasure you!  You are a gift from God!

Cousins

In June, we made a trip out to Nebraska to visit with Chris' sister and her family.  They have a boy that is a little younger than Preston, a girl a little older than Ashten and then a younger daughter, but all the kids really play so well together, so everyone has a good time.  It also helps that they have a huge yard with a trampoline and lots and lots of toads!

Ashten and Cadence watching a movie with curlers in

The morning after the curlers!

All the girls and their curly hair

 

All the boys

Silly boys

All 7 cousins