{Great Sand Dunes Nat'l Park...

We went to the Sand Dunes over the weekend and had a ball. It was a little bit of a drive for one night, but it's a definate repeat next year! Our family had never been to the Sand Dunes and this year some friends invited us to go with them. We had so much fun. The weather was great and the kids played hard! The mountain runoff goes right through the sand creating this super shallow crystal clear stream that the boys went crazy over. I guess it dries up in the middle of June so you've got to go earlier in the summer. We hiked a little ways up the Sand Dunes and tried to slide down but found out that it was a lot more fun to run down them. Here are a few of my favorite pictures of the kids playing around...

{Sammy dropped his smore in the pine needles...

{Jackson waiting to catch a wave on his sled??


{This little man is not complete without a truck in hand...

{The Day of the Bear...

Okay, so it all started this morning when I went for my jog. I was running back behind Broadmoor Elementary jammin' out to my music, completely oblivious to the world around me. All of the sudden, I see two beady eyes glaring at me from behind a tree about 25 feet away. It was a mama bear with her cub! I stopped what I was doing and started to back away slowly when she took three big leaps right for me! Luckily I was near someone's home and rang their doorbell and they let me in until she passed. I was still shaking 2 hours later!

When I got home I told the boys all about my near death experience, hopped in the shower and Todd and I went to work in the garage rearranging, organizing etc... We decided to break for lunch at about 1:30. Todd finished before us so he went out in the garage to finish up and I hear him yell, "Hey you! Get out of here!" I thought someone was taking off with our lawnmower or something??! Then he yelled to us to come see the BEAR digging through our trash in the garage. She had two bear cubs with her and she wasn't at all worried that we were 5 feet away screaming and carrying on... Crazy! What are the chances?

...and this shot is just because!

{It's that time of year...

Kindergarten graduation that it... It was Jackson's turn to walk the stage to get his Kindergarten Certificate. What a hoot! The Master of Ceremonies was Joe Cole from Fox 21. The kids sang songs, recieved thier certificates and we watched a short slideshow of the kids in action this year. Short and sweet. Afterwards we hit Red Robin to make the day official!

He is the class of 2021. It seems so far away but I'm sure it will be here before I know it (and well before I am ready!). This whole year was a learning experience for me. It was full of fun, frustration, and a whole lot of laughs.... little boys are just a different breed!

I can't wait to play with the boys all summer long. We've got lots to look forward to!

{Jammin' out!

I have been making jam like a crazy woman the last couple of weeks. Alicia came over and we whipped out a ton of strawberry freezer jam. Yesterday a few friends got together to make it again because strawberries have been so cheap, but I opted out because I still had SO much jam in my freezer... or so I thought. I am down to 5 pints because it makes such a nice gift. So today I made a bunch of it and thought I would share Julie's recipe because it is fast and calls for 1/2 the sugar of the SureJell recipe. (It is a little thinner, tarter but just as delicious)

1 c pureed strawberries
3 c crushed strawberries
1 pkg gelatin
1 1/2 c sugar

Add the gelatin to 1 c pureed strawberries. In a large microwavable bowl, microwave on high for 1 minute, STIR, 2 minutes, STIR and then for 1 more minute. While the mixture is cooking, add 1 1/2 c sugar to the remaining 3 c crushed berries. Combine well and pour into prepared containers.

Viola... enjoy!

{"Fold your arms..."

Sam has recently joined us in "folding his arms" for prayer before meals... I don't know where he learned how to fold his arms but it sure makes us smile!

{34 and hotter than EVER...

Today is Todd's birthday and I was looking for something fun to put in his inbox... well, I found it! I thought I would pee my pants I was laughing so hard! There's something about a ripped Brent Hawker that just puts a smile on my face!

Watch out World...

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