Goal Setting Conference

This is our official Goal Setting Conference , which for incoming kindies consists of a tour of the school, doing a craft for the wall, and writing their names on everything. More like the Open Houses of the last generation! JJ was so excited to go, and now is even more excited for school, if that is possible. Anyway, we got to meet 3 classmates (all girls), and his really nice teacher. We officially have our first day today, along with a Moms conference in the gym, called a boohoo party. I am planning on boohooing plenty!



Jacob finding his cubby with his teacher


On a side note, our favorite babysitter/Aunt/facepainter/friend Casie is leaving for college today. We wish her lots of great things her first year! We will miss you!

Day 1

Today was our first day of taping for the HGTV/DIY show we are doing. Today we had our realtor, contractor, and the full camera crew/host in our house for over 4 hours. This was not very labor intensive, since it was only the before shots and interviews of the project. We did not actually have to get dirty today! Anyway, they will tape 6-10 half days for a 30 minute show. Who knew that there is more than 50 hours of taping for a 30 minute reality show! We will be finished by the end of September with both the project and taping, so expect our reality TV viewing party sometime this winter.

Our project is that we are turning our master bedroom retreat into a bedroom for Kate.







The host Amy Matthews with our contractor Greg


The boys enjoying a movie


Erik after his interviews


Erik mid interview with our sound guy Bruno (I cannot take pix during filming!)


Amy in our dining room pre interview - good thing our dining room table has not arrived yet, so that we have a big room to tape and set up lights and things!


Anyway, between this and a party for Blake tomorrow (here of course!), we are having a super stressful couple of days. At least the room for Kate does not have to be done for 8 weeks or so.....

Sharing a Story

It sure is nice when a big brother shares a story with a little sister. He sure is a good storyteller!

Music Camp

Jacob just got finished with a week of music and Drama camp. On Friday and Sunday they presented Rescue In The Night, a smaller version of the Daniel in the Lions Den story. He did such a great job! What a cute lion and chorus member he was. I really do not think that he loved it as much as I did, but I sure am hoping that there will be many more performances that I get to see.



Only 1 more week until kindergarten.....Where has the summer gone?

Our trip to San Diego by way of Phoenix...

We had a great time on our big summer vacation to San Diego. Here are a few of the highlights:





Eating ice cream at Legoland - it was really hot!







Blake in the play area at Legoland












Us at the entrance to Legoland after a long hot day (he is made out of Legos)!



Kate enjoying Legoland (she really did!)





Jacob at the play area at Legoland




J and B at Miniland - with miniature versions of many famous places made out of Legos.


J playing in Mission Bay





Blake driving his Lego car




Jacob finishing his laps in his Lego car



At the starfish pool at Sea World





Feeding the flamingos at Sea World




Blake at the beach for the first time!



Cannot wait to leave the hotel and go to Sea World






Kate so excited to go to Sea World!




All of the Arizona cousins - girls on the left, boys on the right!




We had such a great time! Thanks Grandma and Great Grandma for putting up with us for a week.

busy, busy...

I made the mistake of scheduling us crazy this summer so that nobody would get bored, and therefore in trouble. The downside to this is that we are spending the summer running around to activities, and not really getting to enjoy the pools and lazy days. At least we will be on vacation in 2 weeks, so really no complaints! Here are a few recent pix of the kids......

The boys and friends at the Rockies game

J and K playing and reading - See how much they look alike (missing teeth!) :)

A Perfect Fourth of July!

At the Highlands Ranch Parade

Look at our candies, and we are only half way done!
The gang
Jacob slipping and sliding
My first July fourth barbecue


We had such a fantastic Fourth of July. Who knew that our new house would have the perfect viewing deck to see not only the Highlands Ranch fireworks, but ALL the displays in the metro area at the same time. The best part - watching without crowds and in our pajamas!
We went to the parade and festival in Highlands Ranch to start our day. Then had a cookout with friends for dinner. We played slip and slide, bubbles, teeter-totter, and big wheels until we needed to get coats and pajamas on. We started a fire in our firepit and made smores, and then watched the fireworks until the fellas could not keep their eyes open any longer. Does it get any better than that?

Balloon Guy

We went out to eat last night after baseball, and the balloon guy came to our table. Of course we said yes, and he asked if he could just make something for the boys, and not a request. So this is what he made...

A turtle hat for Jacob, and a full size Goofy for Blake. Talented balloon guy. We may go back another week to see what else he can do!

Vacation Bible School

After a busy morning at vacation bible school.......

And the best part is we go again tomorrow!

We really are still here!

2 crazies at the splash pad
Blake trying to catch the water on his tongue

At the other (shady) splash pad
Jacob - action shot!

Blake and his monkey walk
Enjoying his end of session otter pop

Jacob on the kickboard
Jacob jumping in the deep end

I guess the birth of Faith warrants a new post. It is not like I haven't wanted to post lately, just haven't had the time or anything really interesting to post. We have been at swim lessons every day for 2 weeks, and Erik and our neighbor Steve built a playset at their house all last weekend. Add in baseball, and the other usual stuff, and it is pretty routine, and maybe boring! So anyway... we are SO excited that Faith is here, and cannot wait to meet her! Here are a few pictures of us (meaning Jacob and Blake) in the meantime....

Baseball, Cards, and a New Jumperoo!

Jacob had his second baseball game this weekend, and he got to play catcher one inning. He was so excited, not for the position, but for the gear! Here is Coach Erik, not Dad :) ,helping him put his gear on.
This is the boys organizing their baseball cards

We have been wanting to get Kate a jumperoo for a few months, and have finally broken down to do it. She loves it- we knew she would! It is so much fancier than the original jumperoo, with rainforest animals and sounds. Sorry the pictures are so blurry - she would not stop jumping!