Fourth of July

We had a firework show on the 4th. It was a great way to welcome Sadie and the girls to Colorado. Thanks to a stop in WY last week, it looks like next years show will be a little {lot} bigger.

summer projects

We {ryan, and jt} started the deck this summer. Yay! Hopefully most of it gets done before the summer is over. With all the great help he gets from the kids, I don't see why it won't be...

* I can't find the before pics on the computer, but will post some before and afters when I find them and it's done.


I've also had some fun with a projector and paint this summer. Once again Mclayne decided to "help" with this project.

I {and Sadie} also put a harley on cole's wall. And the monogram from our wedding invitations in the master bedroom over the bed. This probably isn't very nice, but pictures of the final products will be coming later.

While I finished the painting in her room, Mclayne decided to do some art on cole, too. She acutally tried blaming it on Cole, and I believed her until he turned around.

Ryan and I had a trip back east a couple weeks ago, and we {well mostly I, since Ryan had to work most of the time} loved it.
I slept in and lounged around our {really nice} hotel, did a lot of shopping {but not buying} in Tyson's corner, had dinner and a movie with Seth and Susan, and visited the National Holocaust Museum in DC.
Then we made our way to PA where I spent a day with Marianne, did more shopping {but this time buying} in King of Prussia, and ate at some fun {and delicious} restaurants.


I bought this big Hartland bowl at Simon Pearce {on sale} and can't wait to fill it.



We also went on a tour of the Harley factory. Didn't hate it, but did get called "kiddo" and got blisters from my new yellow shoes. The Herr's chip tour is just as interesting {and way more delicious.}
Ended the trip on Sat morning with the worst mushroom smell that I can remember. I thought I had dodged it, but really, would a trip back be complete without it?!
Already thinking about my next trip out to PA {and NYC}!

We also missed these guys...but not nearly as much as they missed us!

two little dancers

We definetly have the same long skinny legs and little pot belly {and hair-do}, but when it come to the face I think she's more {all} Ryan.









*If I had remebered this photo earlier, I would have had her put her hands on her hips and pucker her lips too. How cute would that be?!

Spring Performance

Today was Mclayne's last dance class for the season (maybe forever...we'll see how soccer goes). They had a little spring program and got a pillow with their picture on it from her teacher. Eventhough her only roxborough friend in the class was sick, she did great. She also gave Miss Muffie the biggest hug she has ever gotten before (with legs and everything). Then Cole had to give her a hug too.

I would have never thought to do something like this, but Mclayne loved the pillow.










Cole had a performance of his own. He taught himself a new trick...

cole + reynolds

At the age of 2, Cole already has a friend for life. He and Reynolds are such great buds...they get so giddy when they see each other! Who knew bromances could start so early?!
And now they even have matching haircuts.

{I tried to de-mullet cole and it didn't quite turn out. He started off {a little} like Harry and ended up {a lot} like Lloyd...
...so we had to get out the clippers and take it short. Hopefully it doesn't take too long to get the surfer hair back.

the last aquarium post

Are you sick of Denver Aquarium posts yet?!

We went to the aquarium one last time before our passes expired this week. It was nice while it lasted, but we're looking forward to seeing some of Denver's other attractions now.

We ate at the restaurant this time to change things up, and it was awesome. The tank kept the kids {and me and Ryan) entertained while waiting for the food, and we were there for the fishs lunch too. The fish taco's were really yummy. I don't know who ate more fast/messy/wild-ly...me or the fish.;)






Mclayne in the megaladon's mouth. We tried to get cole up there too, but that kid's afraid of his own shadow. literally!


We also saw the tiger interacting with his trainer/crowd, which was new for us.

And mclayne got her face painted. Heaven help us if she ever decides to get a tattoo...so far she's picked a snake, lizard, dragon, and now t-rex.

nice boots

Love so many things in this photo...the smile, blue eyes, OUT.OF.CONTROL hair, boots up to the thigh. What a cute age. Hard to believe his foot might actually be this big someday!

Easter. kind of

I struggled with Easter a little this year. As much as I love my kids, I just don't have very successful shopping trips with them. And it seems like AGES since I've had any kid-free shopping. So, the kids knew about pretty much everything they got and I'm still working on getting Easter outfits put together.(Side note - not the year to pick yellow/navy for the family easter colors.)
It wasn't a total diaster though. We had a fun easter basket scavenger hunt, dyed eggs, went to the VERY windy community egg hunt, and had a yummy easter dinner.



This was the scavenger hunt. Just a bunch of picture clues inside eggs that ended with the baskets in the playhouse outside, but Mclayne and Cole loved it. Layne kept asking if we had to wait all the way until next easter to have another scavenger hunt. The answer is yes.











The microphone in mclayne's basket is awesome. It's a disney karaoke microphone that you plug into the tv. Since mclayne is a little young for the karaoke feature, we just talk/sing into it and use the button that changes your voice...mouse, dragon, bird, etc. If you don't have one I highly recommend it!

Beating the Snow

While Denver was being blasted with snow and loosing power, we were in St. George last week. It was the best...I can't wait for another trip down there this fall. We hit up our usual spots -

Capriotti's
Casablanca Buffet
The Golden Goat
The Pizza Factory
Snow Canyon

The rest of the time we swam in the hot tub, played at the park, and let Ryan and Steve ride the bikes.

There was no one around to take a shot of everyone, but thanks to photoshop magic we now have a picture of the whole group...tada

We also snapped a family picture in the backyard, since we've never had a family picture taken. I'm still going to get a professional one taken, but now I'll have this one in the meantime.
I think these two pictures capture exactly who the kids are right now...
the once mellow, now wild man cole. he has recently come down with a slight case of "the retarted." it's very entertaining, but I hope he outgrows it soon!

and our deep thinker mclayne.