Ozark Time

Two years ago we managed to trek out to the Ozarks with Russell's immediate family, and we had a blast.  So much so that we decided to try it again.  We made the plans during the wintertime, before all this COVID stuff hit.  As the date got closer we kept weighing the pros and cons, and decided that this trip was actually pretty COVID friendly.  We would drive straight through, and only run the risk of bathroom/food stops.  Then once we were there we could hunker down in our AirBnB with family we have already seen, and then come back home!~

Thank goodness we decided it was a good idea, because man it was a good idea!  Not only did we have Russell on vacation days for 7 days, we left Kevin at home, and we got blessed with the best weather possible!

Russ had found an AirBnb that had a dock attached to the house, and I don't think we can ever go back.  Every day was...sleep in..(thank you Grandparents and ipads)...eat a delicious breakfast (thank you Grandparents)....workout....trek down these steps to the dock.....run off the dock....climb the stairs and do it again til lunch.  Eat lunch....do it all again....til dinner. 

It was so fun!  Our kids got time practicing swimming in water without their life jackets on, which was a hit.  We caught some fish every day off the dock.  No one had to visit the ER.  Great cousin time.  Politic talk that got intense, but didn't stay that way too long!~  AND the best part was we got to feel like we were on vacation and that COVID wasn't happening.  Which was nice.  Everyone needs a break from the masks, the reality that this is happening, and to enjoy what summer is all about.

YAY for getting away!
Mom

Here are some pictures to document our time!

TGFC

Thank Goodness For Colorado!~
I'm not quite sure we would survive these COVID times without an awesome outdoor wilderness to get us through.  Pools didn't open to later in summer, and even though they were open it was near to impossible to get one of the 44 open spots that they had.  SO, we have resorted to lakes and streams and waterfalls and mountains.  WHICH is pretty awesome.  I feel grateful for so many things...1) that I had my surgery in winter so that I could actually move during summertime. 2)  my kids are old enough to make these things relatively doable.  3) we have options...whether it's Union Res which is 5 mins from us, or Rogers grove which is 10 mins or even our new fave hiking spot which is 45 mins we have options!  I also feel lucky we have the Fru5FIVE.FIVE.FIVE.  Did I say 5?  I say this because...I know some other dear friends who have only one child, or do not have friends/family near.  This time during COVID has been so harsh.  And while it hasn't necessarily been a piece of cake, it has been so much easier because my kids have each other, we have friends that are willing to include us in their tribe, and having grandparents that are near=priceless.

So cheers to the water, because it has been my goal this summer on the daily...find water...get in it!~

love,
mom

But Do You Know....

We went on a hike with friends of ours.  When we got back to the car I heard the kids talking....they were telling the kids about a jersey that got dirty.  They said the player's name..and my kids are like "Who is that?"  They said the name (I can't even remember)...then I hear AJ say..."Well, do you know who John Adams was?"  They say no, he says the "Second president of the United States."  Then they say..."Well, do you know who...(insert another famous baseball players' name).  My kids:  nope.  AJ:  Do you know who General Cornwallis was?

This is exactly who my kids are.  Sports trivia is not a big deal around these parts. BUT war stuff.  OH we know it.  Well AJ knows it...he's pretty much an expert on WWII information, and has been learning more and more about the Revolutionary War (thank you very much Hamilton).  AJ even knows the order of all the wars, and I feel dumb and sad that I didn't pay much attention in history class.
 BUT I will say that Hamilton has helped us all with our history.  It's just TOO BAD that we can't quit singing songs from it on the daily.  I MEAN it's bad.  Russ is even starting to get annoyed, like real annoyed, when we sing them or if he hears Alexa playing them....but...I don't know what to say...when things are catchy-they are catchy
:)

Momma

Gamerrrrr

It’s helpful to have a person like this, who tends to stay up later, in situations that require a tooth fairy visit. 
Gnome sayin’

Mom

Changing of the Guard

It used to hold my wedding ring and now it holds a tooth!

Love,

Mom

The Best 4th of July ever

Those were Ryker's words, at the end of the night.  And we did have a great day!  We spent this year at home, together as a family, in our new neighborhood.  We normally go up to Loveland and hang out with our friends the Kellers, however I felt inclined to spend this year just with our fam, in our new neighborhood.  And the pandemic was a minor factor as well, doing our part to social distance of course. 

The day started off very slow, with all of us sleeping long and late (well, 8am is late these days!).  After having a lazy morning, I finally felt the need to go find a little adventure.  I told Meg we should go explore the new-found Rogers' Grove creek area.... to which Meg lifted up her jeanskirt and revealed that she was already wearing a swimsuit and was just WAITING for ME to have this idea!  Lol she is awesome.  I have heard over the past month just how cool this spot is, that Meg stumbled upon while exploring with Kevin, and boy it did not disappoint!  The creek is a perfect little swimming hole for young kids this time of year, complete with a waterfall, rope swing, and water deep enough to tube at spots.  We ran into our friends the Mancusis and had a great time hanging with them.  Mike and I went off the rope swing, and after a bit of supportive talking, AJ decided he wanted to give it a go, though Ryker "wasn't quite ready", in his words.  AJ was hooked immediately.  After watching older brother AJ jump in about 2 or 3 times, Ryker had decided that he was ready to give it a go, though with me on the rope at the same time.  We made it work and it was great, and he was also hooked immediately!  This continued for the next hour until it was time to adventure further down the creek.  We found another deep little spot and the kids and Meg got in to enjoy.  AJ and Ryker were practicing treading water in the deep spot without a life jacket.  Kevin is such a water dog and was retrieving sticks whenever we challenged him to.  Overall lots of fun for everyone.  Then had to stop and get DQ on the way home of course.  Dempsey got a cookie dough blizzard, Ryker got a banana split, and AJ enjoyed a hot fudge sundae.

After getting home and relaxing for a bit while watching Hamilton until it was dark, we started the evening festivities.  We lit off all of our fireworks on the front driveway and enjoyed watching the neighbors who did as well.  There were only 3 of us lighting them off on our entire street.  It's fun watching the kids stoke their inner pyro nature as I had done so much as a kid as well.  Familiarization and safe enjoyment is key to teach.   After assessing our new neighbors outlook, I decided it was time to light off some of the fireworks we brought back from Missouri a few years back, the good stuff.  So, mortar shells were interspersed as the evening went, while I kept an eye out.  And then we had a big finale piece, firing 12 rounds in succession, very loud and big.  That one got good cheers from the neighbors.

Finally, Meg had the idea to go up on the roof so we could watch the show around us from a better vantage point.  We went out the window in our bedroom, the safest spot, and then I brought out a ladder and we ascended up to the peak.  Everyone did a great job, with good shoes on and headlamps; no falls or scares.  We sat up and enjoyed the show around us, mostly back toward the city but also a few to the north.  I was happy to see that Longmont overall has the same outlook as me toward fireworks!  Big mortars were all over, though not quite as much as back in Lincoln, NE where we hark from.  What a show.  This was the perfect way to top off a great day.  Cheers all -R

Melt My Heart

After a late night of fireworks, Dempsey got up and gave me a hug and told me “I’ll never forget you.” I asked her what she meant. She said when I’m old, like a grandma, and she’s a parent she will still remember me. Then she said, “Mom, it I don’t have kids, will I still live a normal life?” I repeated what she asked me to make sure I heard right, and she confirmed. I told her...”what is normal anyways, but yeah you’ll have a normal life.”

She ended with “Mom, I love you so much.”

My goodness. This girl.