The Pumpkin Patch

My auntie and my mom and I took the kids to the pumpkin patch today and we had a ball. It was a really great time. I have the best family.

Mount Bierstadt

I am so happy to report that I've done 4 fourteeners this summer and I can't tell you all how happy I am about it. This was the first one I did alone but as you can tell I made friends. In fact, I call them "Facebook" friends because we are now all on Facebook together. The things technology gives us. This is also the very first time I was with 11 people in a 5 passenger car. It was great. I've really had the best climbs this summer. And I will brag a little: I stayed up with the "fast group."

Grays and Torries

This was my first ever Class III route and I was scared to death for about 5 minutes out of the day. And I walked away exhausted--the boys now know what it takes to get me to shut up and, I'm sorry to say, that it takes quite a lot.

It was amazing and I can say that now on this side of the ridge. Ben was our fearless leader and he was great. I appreciated his patience. Phillip, bless him, walked behind me on the entire trip and he was a great encourager. I called him Samwise but I think he preferred Gandolf.

I'm thrilled to say that Ben and Phillip have honored me enough to invite me back for another Class III route and 2 more 14-ers on October 3rd. Anyone dying to babysit? I hope to make this summer a 5-Fourteener summer.

My First 14er after 10 Years!

My Brother's Kids

For those of you who don't know, almost all of my immediate family live here in town.  This includes grandparents, aunts and uncles but excludes my brother and all of my cousins.  For some reason, I am the only one of my generation who still lives here.  The other thing is that I LOVE my brother and his family.  Okay, so I never call them.  Ever.  But I love them.  I just tell them that I don't call anyone that I don't have to call.  And this is true.  This will be really hard for you to believe, but I really am not that chatty.  Quit laughing.  

For the first time in 6 years, Cole came and brought his family with him.  As you can see, his children are absolutely beautiful, well-behaved and all-around wonderful.  I am not a biased Auntie.  His 4 children and my brood had a wonderful time together and I have to say that I loved hanging out with Cole and Tavia.     

Friday the 13th

Christmas.

Grandma.

Bug and Peanut.

Well, so what if it is the 13th?  That's as good a day as any to start posting, again.   :)

Catching Up...

Max and Lollipop: Our new additions and the kids' first pets...

we hope they're alive in the morning.

Red Rocks Park

Focus on the Family

Aunt Debbie and Sigh

Peanut

Bug

Kiki

Hubby's sister and her beautiful family

Snuggling sisters

I found this in my pantry~ guess I ought to clean it out once in a blue moon.

Cousins

My Fantastic Four

Could he look more like Kevin? Really?

Sigh and his cousin.

The Benefits of Driving Drunk

Okay, I was going to spare you all this tragic tale only because it's a bit tedious and, well, boring. But, today, the story turned a corner that made it absolutely hilarious and horrific at the same time.

After the sad car accident the responding officer told me that my driver's licence has been suspended for the last year--since March 2007. Apparently, I forgot to pay a $50 fine to the Colorado Department of Revenue from a speeding ticket. Okay, so my driving record is a bit sketchy. My mother cries everytime she thinks about me driving with her grandchildren in the car.

I called the Department of Revenue today to find out how long it will take to get my licence back and she told me 3 weeks. THREE WEEKS!!! Yikes! I'm stuck at home for 3 weeks with 4 children under the age of 6. This was not good news. But here comes the interesting part. Had I had a DUI I could've gotten a probationary driver's licence but because I had just a summons then I am stuck without hope for 3 weeks. Had I been drunk at the scene then I would be happily back on the road right now.

I guess now we know what's wrong with Colorado drivers.