We had a really really great time camping in Estes Park. We enjoyed the company of many of our friends from our ward. We arrived at our campsite on Wednesday evening and stayed until Saturday morning.
We ventured on a 6 mile hike which included daddy carrying Courtney and Sydney in the backpack for quite a long ways. I was proud of our perseverance and enjoyed the entire hike.
We also road a gondola up to a beautiful lookout. At the top we were greeted by chipmunks whom we fed peanuts right out of our hand. The chipmunk's particularly liked Courtney to feed them and this made the other sweet children of mine a little annoyed. It was so fun to do!
We also played at a family fun center where we road long racing slides, drove go carts, and sprayed each other until we were soaked on the bumber boats.
We watched a great fireworks display over the lake in Estes Park. I have to say it was the best fireworks we have seen since we left Maryland. We were spoiled in the past by the Nations capitol fireworks, Baltimore inner Harbor, and surrounding city competitors. I guess you could say that we are firework snobs and are finally semi satisfied.
We truly had a grand time camping and the best part has been the many many discussions Courtney has had with me about our trip. She loved all of it! She loved that we had to hurry in the tent at night so that the bears would not get us. She reminds us how we would zip up the windows and doors so that the bears would not get in. She loved that we all slept together in sleeping bags and put our jamma's on to do it. Lately she keeps saying that she wants to go shopping again. I finally figured out that she was thinking shopping was camping. So we will have to plan another adventure for her. Maybe we will set up the tent in the backyard and see if she is fooled????
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG
This past Saturday I got the wonderful pleasure of visiting with 4 friends from High School. My dear sweet friend, Lori Bell, emailed me to tell me that she, Darvel, Brice, and Luke would be in the Denver area. I also found out at the time that Tim and Robin lived only 20 minutes away from us. Robin hosted a barbecue get together on Saturday so that we could all catch up. It was so exciting and fun to see them and their beautiful children. Robin and Tim have a really fun back yard and because they were such wonderful hosts, we all really enjoyed ourselves. It is so strange to think back to how long ago we were together in school. Everyone seemed the same but just a little wiser. I hope to see Robin and Tim soon, since we are living so close to one another. I also really hope I will be in closer contact with Lori. We had a treasured friendship in high school and it was so easy to feel connected to her again.
On no! I just realized our 20 year reunion is only 3 years away-I am feeling quite old all of a sudden.
On no! I just realized our 20 year reunion is only 3 years away-I am feeling quite old all of a sudden.
My 7 (or maybe 9) Quirks
Kristin tagged me and I have been trying to think of my quirks the past few days. I must having trouble coming up with them so I guess I must not be a very quirky person. Here goes nothing..................
1. I do not like anything to touch my feet if they are dry. This also means that I cannot hardly walk on them if they are dry, especially at the pool.
2. I, sort of like Kristin, have to have something over some part of my body when I sleep.
3. I have this weird sensation with my neck sometimes and have to have something (like a sheet or my hand) between my chin and the top of my sternum-Not sure if that make sense, so you can ask me later if you are confused.
4. I never do things in a logical sequential order. For example: If I start cleaning out the refrigerator, I would never finish it all before I moved to something else and then back to it. I really think my brain has a little glitch in it or I am just extremely unorganized.
5. I like to eat the entire orange (peel and all.)
6. I have to fall asleep on the side facing away from my husband (or whomever happens to be sleeping with me. )
7. I am still thinking about this one.
I now tag Shannon Beckstead, Whitney Henwood, and Julie Morrison
1. I do not like anything to touch my feet if they are dry. This also means that I cannot hardly walk on them if they are dry, especially at the pool.
2. I, sort of like Kristin, have to have something over some part of my body when I sleep.
3. I have this weird sensation with my neck sometimes and have to have something (like a sheet or my hand) between my chin and the top of my sternum-Not sure if that make sense, so you can ask me later if you are confused.
4. I never do things in a logical sequential order. For example: If I start cleaning out the refrigerator, I would never finish it all before I moved to something else and then back to it. I really think my brain has a little glitch in it or I am just extremely unorganized.
5. I like to eat the entire orange (peel and all.)
6. I have to fall asleep on the side facing away from my husband (or whomever happens to be sleeping with me. )
7. I am still thinking about this one.
I now tag Shannon Beckstead, Whitney Henwood, and Julie Morrison
Syd Jo turns 5!
This past Wednesday, Sydney turned 5. I can hardly believe that she will be leaving me in a couple of months to go to kindergarten. It seems like just yesterday I was able to hold my sweet baby girl in my arms and celebrate her life. We had an instant love affair and have cherished every day together since. I remember thinking how fun it would be to teach her all the "lady like" attributes but she is the one who reminds me of my divine role as a lady.
Sydney continues to impress me with her poise and zest for life. She is amazing beyond her years. She listens and then thoughtfully thinks about what is said. She is dignified and respectful with others. She stands tall and sticks by her decisions. She is a kind friend and cherishes relationships. She is loving and caring in her words and actions. She can be stubborn but asserts herself with confidence and reason. She is curious about everything and takes the time to find its relevance.
She loves all things that shimmer and shine. She reminds me often that we need to celebrate the wonderful blessing and many opportunities of being a girl. She helps me to remember to enjoy beautiful things whether it is a gorgeous flower or a cute pair of earrings.
She loves her sister and brothers very much and tries to please them in all she can. She takes on her role of big sister to Courtney with pride. She thinks it is fun to help her sister and loves to teach her new things.
I am so blessed to have such a sweet spirit. I tell her often that, "The beauty she carries inside her makes her already beautiful face sparkle like a diamond." She smiles at me when I say it and it my heart melt.
We had a wonderful day together celebrating her birthday. She got breakfast in bed as is our tradition. Only, it was especially fun this time because we had to wake her up. Usually, whomever is celebrating the birthday is awake and waiting. So after breakfast she opened her presents. She loved the barbie lap top and really thinks it is just like her dads. She got an American doll trundle bed, which she is excited to invite her friend Grace and her new doll over for a sleepover. She also got a styling chair for her American doll and loves to pretend to be a real hair stylist.
After presents we got ready and met dad for lunch at the Park Meadows food court. We all shared some pizza, Chinese, and a Philly cheese steak sandwich. After lunch, Mike went back to work and we went to work shopping. We had a great time looking at all the deals and adorable girl outfits. We loved going up and down the escalator a few times. We shopped through Courtney's nap and then finished in time to pick the boys up from basketball camp. After Tanner's baseball game that evening we went out to eat at Applebees. Sydney had actually picked Chili's but Applebees had .99 kid meals that evening so we persuaded her to change the destination. It was fun to be together as a family, the food was good and we got home very late. It was a full day for the birthday girl. We plan to have a party in the next couple of weeks with her friends as her birthday week was crazy busy, her brothers were at camp all day, and her best friend was out of town. ......so, I will update you on the happenings of the party in the near future.
Sydney continues to impress me with her poise and zest for life. She is amazing beyond her years. She listens and then thoughtfully thinks about what is said. She is dignified and respectful with others. She stands tall and sticks by her decisions. She is a kind friend and cherishes relationships. She is loving and caring in her words and actions. She can be stubborn but asserts herself with confidence and reason. She is curious about everything and takes the time to find its relevance.
She loves all things that shimmer and shine. She reminds me often that we need to celebrate the wonderful blessing and many opportunities of being a girl. She helps me to remember to enjoy beautiful things whether it is a gorgeous flower or a cute pair of earrings.
She loves her sister and brothers very much and tries to please them in all she can. She takes on her role of big sister to Courtney with pride. She thinks it is fun to help her sister and loves to teach her new things.
I am so blessed to have such a sweet spirit. I tell her often that, "The beauty she carries inside her makes her already beautiful face sparkle like a diamond." She smiles at me when I say it and it my heart melt.
We had a wonderful day together celebrating her birthday. She got breakfast in bed as is our tradition. Only, it was especially fun this time because we had to wake her up. Usually, whomever is celebrating the birthday is awake and waiting. So after breakfast she opened her presents. She loved the barbie lap top and really thinks it is just like her dads. She got an American doll trundle bed, which she is excited to invite her friend Grace and her new doll over for a sleepover. She also got a styling chair for her American doll and loves to pretend to be a real hair stylist.
After presents we got ready and met dad for lunch at the Park Meadows food court. We all shared some pizza, Chinese, and a Philly cheese steak sandwich. After lunch, Mike went back to work and we went to work shopping. We had a great time looking at all the deals and adorable girl outfits. We loved going up and down the escalator a few times. We shopped through Courtney's nap and then finished in time to pick the boys up from basketball camp. After Tanner's baseball game that evening we went out to eat at Applebees. Sydney had actually picked Chili's but Applebees had .99 kid meals that evening so we persuaded her to change the destination. It was fun to be together as a family, the food was good and we got home very late. It was a full day for the birthday girl. We plan to have a party in the next couple of weeks with her friends as her birthday week was crazy busy, her brothers were at camp all day, and her best friend was out of town. ......so, I will update you on the happenings of the party in the near future.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Blake competed in Destination Imagination
Blake was asked along with 6 other classmates to participate in a Destination Imagination group for the past few months. Here is an explanation of what Destination Imagination is:
You've heard of spelling bees, quiz bowls, robotics competitions and science fairs. In fact, there is probably a special event for every subject taught at school. Well, Destination ImagiNation is none of those things – and all of those things! Destination ImagiNation is a place where kids take what they know and what they are good at and learn to apply it to solve challenges, working together and cooperatively with a team and pushing the limits of imagination to best not their competition, but themselves.
Destination ImagiNation is a community-based, school-friendly program that builds participants' creativity, problem solving, and teamwork in enjoyable and meaningful ways.
Teams of five to seven members work together to apply creativity, critical thinking and their particular talents to solve a Team Challenge.
The Destination ImagiNation Team Challenge is a Challenge that is solved over a period of eight weeks or more. There are five competitive Team Challenges from which teams may choose, each with its own educational focus. Each Team Challenge is designed to be open-ended and solvable in many ways and on many levels.
Challenge A: Technical/MechanicalChallenge B: Theater Arts/ScienceChallenge C: Theater Arts/Fine ArtsChallenge D: Theater Arts/ImprovisationChallenge E: Structural & Architectural Design.
There are two parts to the Team Challenge: the Central Challenge and Side Trips. The Central Challenge is a set of required elements that all teams must complete. Side Trips are two additional elements teams create and include in their Presentation.
The Destination ImagiNation Instant Challenge is a Challenge teams are asked to solve in a very short period of time at their Tournament, without knowing ahead of time what the Challenge will be. Teams go into a room and are given a Challenge and the materials with which to solve it. They use their thinking-on-their-feet skills to produce a solution, usually in a period of five to eight minutes!
Blake's group name was the "Righteous rookies" . They did well enough in their regional competition to qualify for state. They recently competed at the state competion (April 26) and took 8th out of 22 teams. They received the highest score on their skit and they only needed 30 more points in the instant challenge to win the competition. They received the Divinci Award for creativity. This is the special award for creativity, imagination and risk taking.
It was a lot of work but the skills they gained far outweighed the extra committment. I was so proud of Blake!
You've heard of spelling bees, quiz bowls, robotics competitions and science fairs. In fact, there is probably a special event for every subject taught at school. Well, Destination ImagiNation is none of those things – and all of those things! Destination ImagiNation is a place where kids take what they know and what they are good at and learn to apply it to solve challenges, working together and cooperatively with a team and pushing the limits of imagination to best not their competition, but themselves.
Destination ImagiNation is a community-based, school-friendly program that builds participants' creativity, problem solving, and teamwork in enjoyable and meaningful ways.
Teams of five to seven members work together to apply creativity, critical thinking and their particular talents to solve a Team Challenge.
The Destination ImagiNation Team Challenge is a Challenge that is solved over a period of eight weeks or more. There are five competitive Team Challenges from which teams may choose, each with its own educational focus. Each Team Challenge is designed to be open-ended and solvable in many ways and on many levels.
Challenge A: Technical/MechanicalChallenge B: Theater Arts/ScienceChallenge C: Theater Arts/Fine ArtsChallenge D: Theater Arts/ImprovisationChallenge E: Structural & Architectural Design.
There are two parts to the Team Challenge: the Central Challenge and Side Trips. The Central Challenge is a set of required elements that all teams must complete. Side Trips are two additional elements teams create and include in their Presentation.
The Destination ImagiNation Instant Challenge is a Challenge teams are asked to solve in a very short period of time at their Tournament, without knowing ahead of time what the Challenge will be. Teams go into a room and are given a Challenge and the materials with which to solve it. They use their thinking-on-their-feet skills to produce a solution, usually in a period of five to eight minutes!
Blake's group name was the "Righteous rookies" . They did well enough in their regional competition to qualify for state. They recently competed at the state competion (April 26) and took 8th out of 22 teams. They received the highest score on their skit and they only needed 30 more points in the instant challenge to win the competition. They received the Divinci Award for creativity. This is the special award for creativity, imagination and risk taking.
It was a lot of work but the skills they gained far outweighed the extra committment. I was so proud of Blake!
Tanner's Baseball team is doing great!
Parker Sky Sox baseball bash way into World Series
The 8 and under Parker Sky Sox baseball team qualified for the Triple Crown World Series by winning the Triple Crown Baseball Bash tournament in Boulder this past weekend. They swept through the field going 5-0 for the tournament and shutting out their opponent in the championship game 6-0. The World Series tournament will be held July 21-27 in Steamboat Springs and includes some of the best teams from across the country.
The 8 and under Parker Sky Sox baseball team qualified for the Triple Crown World Series by winning the Triple Crown Baseball Bash tournament in Boulder this past weekend. They swept through the field going 5-0 for the tournament and shutting out their opponent in the championship game 6-0. The World Series tournament will be held July 21-27 in Steamboat Springs and includes some of the best teams from across the country.
Blake Michael Giles
I wanted to share some words about my sweet Blakey. He is amazingly wonderful from the tip of his head to the tip of his toes. He is becoming such a mature young man. He is so very conscientious and full of integrity. He excels in everything he does and has been blessed with many talents. I am so grateful for his role as the oldest child in our family-He truely magnifies it! 10 years has just flown by since I held him in my arms for the first time. I loved him instantly and continue to love him more and more every minute.
I love that he gets excited about things. I love that he talks openly to me about his stressors and accomplishments. I love that he is always wanting to do the right thing. I love that he always kisses me and tells me he loves me, before he goes to school or anywhere. I love to watch him play sports. I love to see how much he enjoys a good book. I love to see his eyes when I suprise him with Taco Bell. I love that he lets me highlight his hair-even after I turned it orange one time. I love that he is polite and cordial to everyone. I love that he can talk to adults comfortably. I love that he is not afraid to be on stage or in the spotlight. I love that he is proud in what he can do, but humble at the same time.
I am one lucky mom to have such an amazing boy.
I love that he gets excited about things. I love that he talks openly to me about his stressors and accomplishments. I love that he is always wanting to do the right thing. I love that he always kisses me and tells me he loves me, before he goes to school or anywhere. I love to watch him play sports. I love to see how much he enjoys a good book. I love to see his eyes when I suprise him with Taco Bell. I love that he lets me highlight his hair-even after I turned it orange one time. I love that he is polite and cordial to everyone. I love that he can talk to adults comfortably. I love that he is not afraid to be on stage or in the spotlight. I love that he is proud in what he can do, but humble at the same time.
I am one lucky mom to have such an amazing boy.
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