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!

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.

Mommy, did you mean to ruin the car?

God gave me children to keep me humble. I've learned that I do not know how to parent (I ask for wisdom daily). It will be by God's grace alone if they all grow into godly, productive and happy citizens. But they also remind me constantly of all the stupid things I do. The latter is the most frustrating thing about parenting.

Yesterday, I wrecked the car. If you all could have seen the accident you would have thought I was a drunk driver. Honestly, it was that stupid. Okay, so here is sleep deprived me driving a 1-ton vehicle. As I was driving I looked into someone's backyard (they had a pergola on their deck) and I was trying to figure out how their family could get onto their back deck. Yes, I was actually using my limited brain power to find a sliding glass door on some stranger's back porch while driving.

While deep in this facinating meditation, I drove the car over a curb and sheared off a fire hydrant. Yes, the hydrant actually flew off the water pipe, and no, water did not shoot straight up into the air. I wish it had. I also wish I could say that babies were screaming and children were fighting in the back seat. Any legitimate distraction would do for my stupidity. But, instead, I only have myself to blame.

My precious 5-year-old Bug had all kinds of questions/statements for me yesterday after we all calmed down from the accident:

• Why weren't you paying attention to the road, Mama?
• How are we going to get groceries?
• Why did you have to talk to the police?
• Why did he make you sit in the back of the police car?
• You really should have paid attention, Mama.
• What does "consequences" mean?
• Wow, Mom, did you see the car? It's totally wrecked up.

It's a good thing he's around to rub my nose in all of my mistakes and stupidity. The only good news I have is that all of my precious cargo are safe and sound. No one was hurt and for that I am truly thankful!