Fish, sharks, tigers, oh my

A few weeks ago, while Scott was in Wisconsin, I took all the kids to the Denver Aquarium... Matt and Zach, too ~ I know, I am a masochist. I have been wanting to post the pictures but haven't found the time until now. So, here they are. We spent several hours looking at fish and sharks and other sea creatures. Then we ate dinner at the restaurant inside the Aquarium. The restaurant is surrounded by a huge 'fish tank' and the kids liked watching the diver get in the tank to feed the fish. The tiger was sleeping...so that was a disappointment. The shark was stalking the kids...think Jaws music in the background. The otters were super active and very playful with the kids next to the window ~ we liked watching the otters play for a long time. The jelly fish are always relaxing to me to watch and I wish I could spend more time at that tank. The highlight was getting to feed the sting ray...the kids really enjoyed that part.

Happy Graduation, Scott!

Yeah, Scott is finally back from Wisconsin!!! He was gone for two whole weeks. Ben missed him so much ~ Cailey, too ~ but Ben seemed to be taking it the hardest. By Thursday, Ben was a weepy mess ~ he fell apart crying, "I never going to see my daddy ever again..." My heart hurt for him. He just didn't understand where Daddy went. The good part is that Scott is done ~ this was his senior year and now he has graduated from The University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking. Yeah, Scott! Congratulations, Baby!

Me Collage

Cailey's first 3rd grade school project was to create a Me Collage. She had to create a collage with pictures of her family, pets, interests hobbies, etc. ~ anything that described who she is. She also had to create the border and decorations. I think she did a really great job. Other than helping her collect the photographs, I didn't have to do anything on this project...she did it all at school on her own!

Happy Birthday, Amy!

Hope you have a great day! We miss you tons!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACKSON!

Whew...another August birthday...and we aren't done yet!

Happy Birthday, Big Guy. Maybe next year we will be able to come see you for your birthday! Hope you enjoy your new bubble machine!

Love you and miss you!

Happy Birthday, Mer!

We love you! Hope you have a great day!

I don't have a recent picture of Mer, so I will post this picture I took of the flowers in my front yard. I have been waiting for a reason to post this picture and now I have the perfect reason...

Thank you Mer for being a great woman and someone to look up to. I am so happy you are in our lives and it makes me love you more because I know how happy you make Dad. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday, Hailey

The big 3 today!! Hope you have a great day!

First Day of School

The 2008-2009 school has officially started. Cailey got on the school bus this morning and was off to start 3rd grade! I can't believe it! This year I got the eye-roll and the "Ah, Mom!" when I kissed her and hugged her goodbye. She said, "I'm just going to school, geez!" She didn't want me to walk her to the bus stop, either :o/ We compromised and I stood on the front porch until she boarded the bus ~ the bus stop is at the corner of our street. Little does she realize I will probably do the same thing when she is in high school (oy, vey! I am not thinking about high school!)

Cailey got the teacher that she wanted and I am hopeful for another great year. Here's hoping...

Happy Birthday, Cailey

At 6:00p today, my little baby girl turned 8 years old!!!

I took a half a day of vacation from work so we could get our nails done together and spend some time together. Cailey had to go to school (it's technically the first day of school) to meet her new 3rd grade teacher and get her school pictures taken. Then, we went to Toys R Us for a second birthday gift. Scott and I got Cailey the snake WebKinz that she wanted and then she got to choose something from TRU for under $30.00. She chose two Barbies. We also went to Red Robin for dinner ~ they sang her the birthday song ~ and then she had ice skating lessons tonight.

Thanks for your cards and phone calls to say Happy Birthday. Cailey was tickled every time the phone rang and someone asked to speak to her and when she received cards in the mail! It really made her day.

Cailey's party (in repeat)

Funny story. Last night we were missing one girl, Cailey's very good friend, Jacqueline. Jacqueline's mom RSVP'd that Jacqueline would be at the party and was excited to have been invited. However, Jacqueline never showed up. I thought about calling her house, but quickly got distracted and never did it. We missed her ~ everyone asked where Jacqueline was. I thought maybe she got sick or someone in her family got sick, but I wasn't concerned ~ I figured I would talk to Jacqueline's mom next week at school. Well, this evening...at 5:30 sharp...the doorbell rang. We weren't expecting anyone ~ who could it be???? We opened the door to... Jacqueline... holding her sleeping bag, her pillow, and a gift.

Scott says, "You missed the party, it was last night!"

Jacqueline's dad laughed, "That's funny."

Scott, "No, seriously, it was last night."

Jacqueline, "What?" and Jacqueline's dad, "Are you serious?"

So, yes, obviously we were serious. Poor thing. I thought she was going to cry. In any case, we weren't planning on doing anything tonight except watching the Broncos pre-season game so we are more than happy to have Jacqueline here for a private slumber party :o) Actually, it's probably a really good thing because Cailey was already complaining about being BORED ~ yes, I am serious...she was complaining about being bored. We even have enough of the crafts and cupcakes and doughnuts for one more person! Perfect! She doesn't get pizza because we ate the leftovers for lunch :o)

Cailey's 8th Birthday Party

Whew! Who's big idea was it to have 12 (yes, one dozen) 8-9 year-olds sleep over???

Cailey had her 8th birthday party last night. Her birthday isn't until Monday, but I wanted Scott around for the party so we had to do it before he leaves for Graduate School of Banking. Sooooo, last night was the night ~ and my birthday, too...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! :o) Scott was a huge help and I was definitely grateful that he was here ~ he was the entertainment for the night :o) The girls always love him. Holly and Zach were here for the evening, too ~ thanks Hol for all your help! Zach and Ben were in heaven with so many cute girls around.

The girls all arrived around 5:30. The girls ate pizza for dinner, played outside (it was beautiful outside!), did a foam art craft, opened gifts, ate cupcakes (Cailey had an Enchanted cupcake cake!), did a fun pipe cleaners activity, played games, and then set up their sleeping bags to settle in for a movie (Nim's Island). I thought the movie would calm things down and even put some of the girls to sleep...but...alas...no. The girls stayed up until midnight, when I gave them the final (very stern) warning to go to sleep. I believe some stayed up well after midnight...although, I don't know how they could possibly stay up that late. Then, we heard them up at 6:45a this morning! Scott raced off to get Krispy Kreme doughnuts (for the kids) and Starbucks (for me and him!). The girls had time to play Charades, Pictionary, and Frogger (a new game we learned from Kendall!) before moms and dads arrived to pick them up. They even played downstairs in the basement ~ our secondary playroom, since there are so many retired toys down there. All the girls were really good and really nice to each other ~ it's a good group of girls and they all get along so well.

After all the girls left, around 10a, Cailey's friend Molly stayed and helped Cailey open some of her new gifts. They played Barbie for over an hour. :o)

I am going to bed early.

Enjoy the picture slide show. There's music, so make sure your sound is on.

Happy Birthday To Me

For my birthday, Scott got me the University of Colorado alumni license plates I have been wanting for 6 years!!!  Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!!!

He didn't tell me, either. Which means he had to apply for the plates using all my alumni information, go to the DMV to get the new plates, and put them on my car...all without my knowledge.  I am still not sure how I feel about knowing he did all that so easily without me knowing :o-  Anyway, I didn't even notice until we were walking back to the car after ice skating lessons and Scott stopped at the truck and said, "Is this our car?"  I replied, "I was just following you! You parked the car!" You see, Scott had dropped me and Cailey off at the front door and then parked the car.  So then I look at the truck's license plate and saw that it wasn't my truck and say, "So where did you park?" "Right here" he says. After my perplexed and confused look...and of course some smart ass comment forming in my mouth... Scott explained the surprise. Surprise!!! New CU plates!  I love them!

I also got new flip-flop Crocs and a massager thing. But, unfortunately, the massager thing was too rough for me and it hurt me ~ so we took that back.  I love all my gifts and all the phone calls and messages wising me a Happy Birthday!  Thank you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HOLLY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIS!

You don't look a day over 37! :o)

Love you tons!

100+ degree temperatures...

call for desperate measures!

Ben created his own swimming pool

and

Cailey cooled off in a more traditional way.