Roadkill

I don't know what it is, but my kids are fascinated with roadkill. Now that Reagan sits up front she spots it and feels privileged to get a birds eye view. The two in back get ticked when they miss it and I hear all about it.. Why didn't you say something sooner? Really? I just don't get it. It's disgusting and I try to look away, not my kids.

Case in point: Yesterday Ten and I were coming home from the grocery store and I see a freshly hit bunny. I am stopped at the stoplight right next to it, Ten is on that side and I know he'll be so into it. Sure enough I hear, "Oh!! Look at that bunny. His guts are all over and I can see his eyeballs." Of course he's into it, but a little gagged too. We turn the corner and I hear, "Tires sure squish an animal... like a piece of paper." You're so right dude.

One more case: Today we're driving to Estes Park and we get, "You need to tell us it's coming... like, up on the right there is a dead bird, LOOK!"

Good grief!! Hopefully my lookie-lou kids outgrow this nasty fascination! Until then, R.I.P. roadkill.

Jail Bird

Well, it finally happened. I got thrown in the slammer. Amazingly enough it wasn't anything I did, I asked for it. Our neighbor Theresa is the best 911 dispatcher Fort Collins has. Her stories are amazing!! Last year she offered us a tour of our new police department, we finally did it. She even ranted about a padded cell for the crazies, and the moms who had enough. Ha. After going to lunch and learning more about our native Nebraska farm girl, we went to jail!

Wow, no mattresses? Nope, you aren't supposed to enjoy being there Reagan.

Tough guy near the johns.

Larimer County's Most Wanted

Most Wanted Juvenile Male (JM2)

Most Wanted Juvenile Female (JF1)

Hey, you do the crime you do the time... with the door open,

this one would have flipped if we closed it!

The Sargent who gave us the tour asked if I wanted to be locked in. Sure.

Then I got in and did a nervous little dance saying,

You're really going to let me out, right?

Not an Adult Male, but still busted!!

Right under the window is that patented little slot for my tray of food to get slid through. The kids were expecting the old jail bars, times have changed.

What a fun time. After the cells, interrogation rooms, and Breathalyzers we went up to the 911 call center. It was an intricate trail of computers and phones. It was so interesting to learn some of the ins and outs of such an important job. One of the men typed in our address to see how they can find us instantly, pretty cool to see it pop up so fast. 

One fun bit of information was that the dispatchers call rush hour, crush hour. Just think, now instead of a cop happening upon a wreck, you get 9,000 cell phone calls reporting it to 911. Yikes!

Here is to hoping our kids never enter JM1 or JF2, and that this mom stays out of the padded cell!

11 sounds so much older!

My baby girl turned 11 on Monday. I asked her what 11 is like, "It sounds so much older!" We had a great day starting with donuts, seeing our cousins who came into town, going to volleyball camp and then partying the afternoon away!

Yummy way to start your day!

The party goers! What a fun place to celebrate!!

This slide launched her out so fast I could only get the "after" shots!

The entire gang ~ cousins and brothers included!!

This was fun, even us parents did it.

Everyone warned it gives major wedgies... they were right!

Barely caught Reagan in action...

He did the slides too!!

Time to eat!

Whitney wanted a cookie cake, boy was it good!!

Our evening BBQ started with some well wishes.

Dinner al fresco.

The one game she wanted, Perplexus!!

It took forever to come up with a second wish,

"My first wish already came true, I had a great party!"

Whitney Hope, I couldn't be happier

that you are my daughter!

I am so glad God gave me you!

Happy Birthday!

Life Is Crazy ~ God is Funny

Monday:
6:00 - take Moka for a walk
8:15 - take Tennison to Sports Week
9:00 - take Reagan to buy a swimsuit for camp
9:45 - drop Reagan off for Wyldlife Camp
11:00 - grocery shop
11:45 - drop Whitney off for volleyball camp
12:00 - pickup Tennison
1:30 - pickup volleyball carpool
*fall into bed at midnight.

Tuesday - Thursday:
Similar repeat!! Wait, I thought it was summer.

Wednesday:
Whitney and I went on a breakfast date to Panera and then shopping. While we're eating my phone rings. Typically I wouldn't answer it, but it was so loud I did to make it stop. It was Cindy. Cindy's call can mean a number of things. This time it meant... we may have a baby!! Whitney and I almost fell over. Cindy called later and said to be ready to meet baby on Thursday. Two cradle cares in one year? 

Thursday:
We met baby and should bring her home on Friday morning.

Friday:
Going to the hospital to pick up baby. We will pick Reagan up from camp with baby in tow. She'll be shocked.

I called my friend who borrowed our pack & play and told her we may be needing it if she's done... at the end of my message I said, "Life is crazy. God is funny." I think this may be my new slogan.

Weekends

I get consistent emails from a website called iMom. Some days I love them, some days I feel convicted by them, and some days I feel challenged to make some changes. A week or so ago I came across one that I decided to take to heart - the 30 Day Mom Challenge, check it out at: http://www.imom.com/page.php?id=194. It has challenged me to kiss the kids while they are sleeping, hug them 3x a day (that is hard once you aren't carrying them anymore, just more effort), leave a sweet note, and make a favorite treat.

Yesterday's challenge was to calculate the number of weekends left until your child graduates from high school. I already realized I only have 5 years left with Reagan at home, so I knew this wasn't going to be any less painful. So here goes: We officially have 260 weekends with Reagan, 364 with Whitney, and 572 with Tennison. Boy am I thankful they aren't leaving the house one right after another, not sure I could handle that.

What I have decided is that it isn't a challenge to make you sad, but rather to put things in perspective. To look at those remaining weekends as a chance to make family memories, not to run around in our busyness and ignore who is in front of you. Our time is so limited and all of those "older" moms who said to enjoy the time, it goes so fast... boy were they right!

Bolder Boulder

The Bolder Boulder has been running for 33 years, a Memorial Day staple. This year we decided to take the kids to experience what I grew up watching and volunteering at. We had a ball.

The run in motion ~ near the 3 mile mark.

In true Boulder fashion there were some funky outfits on the runners!!

It was a chilly morning in Boulder.

The view from outside Folsom Field at CU.

We were trying to find our way into the stadium to watch

the runners cross the finish line.

The runners came in to the stadium, just to the right of the flag, with fans

cheering them. There were a lot of smiles at the end of those 6 miles.

Look who we found!!

Our first experience in the stadium to watch the finish.

The runners just coming and coming and coming... all 55,000 of them.

This view shows the crowds!

The finish line was just past that world next to Reagan.

The Flatirons ~ they still take my breath away after all these years.

~ I hope you had a great Memorial Day ~