One of the BEST things about living in Colorado is that there are a TON of outdoor activities to participate in. The sun is almost always shining so from Skiing, Snowboarding, Sledding, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing, etc. in the Winter, to Hiking, Boating, Canoeing, River Rafting, Running and Mountain Biking, etc. in the Summer, there is always something to do! I am sooooo lucky to have friends who LOVE the outdoors and staying fit and since I am somewhat of an athlete (or I like to think I am anyway) I am enjoying all the new outdoor adventures my friends take me on. Last year they got me into running--Adam and I both ran (along with our friends) in the Moab 1/2 Marathon in March-- and I actually fell in love with running. I continue to run every so often but have a tear in my meniscus (sp?) so have had to take a break for a while. While on running hiatus, I have started Mountain Biking. (Or so I thought until today!!) Adam and the kids bought me a bike for Mother's Day and I have used it at least 3 times a week ever since. I ride with the kids to the park, I ride in the mornings with friends up a pretty tough trail called the Bluffs and most recently have been riding a fun single track loop that is about 2 minutes from my house. This recent loop is a tough little ride but is more of the "mountain biking" type trail with loose dirt, rocks, trees, uphills and downhills!! I am usually dripping with sweat by the end but LOVE the downhills and have been feeling pretty accomplished with my Biking skills as I have gotten faster and faster riding the loop.......

And then there was today!! Erin, Tanya, Jocelyn and Brecken decided it was time for a REAL ride...I thought, well I've been doing REAL rides and am getting pretty good so yeah...I'm coming, I'm doin' it!! I ROCK!!! Well my poor little ego was humbled today as I realized I have a LONG way to go before I can appropriately tell myself that I ROCK!!! Erin, Tanya and Jocelyn are AMAZING riders (THEY rock!), and Brecken (who doesn't ride as much as they do) is pretty awesome herself (she's pretty close to ROCKIN') ....and then there was me! Can we say sucking wind? hyperventalating? throw my bike down the mountain side and walk home? Well that was me today!! At one point I honestly thought I would die, right there on the trail...and this from a person who works out almost everyday! I thought I was in good shape but learned that I certainly have a long way to go to call myself "in shape". But....today was a start, a new adventure, doing something I've never done before and I honestly, despite the wanting to throw my bike over a cliff moment, LOVED it!! I can't wait to get better, learn the techniques of going fast, or turning sharp or yes, even taking my first MAJOR wipe out. (I know it will happen, the question is when?) It was a blast and I am so lucky that my friends are so patient and understanding...they waited for me and at one point Tanya even came back for me so I didn't have to ride with the fear of a Mountain Lion attacking me (ha ha ha- just kidding Mom).
Anyway, here's to new adventures and GREAT friends!!!

Jocelyn, Erin, Brecken Tanya and Me


Tanya-putting her bike up on the rack. See Bill-she did it!! The step stool was ingenious (sp?)


Jocelyn, Tanya, Me, Erin- Before the ride!


Strike a Pose!!

This week marked Spencer's first CUB SCOUT DAY CAMP!! He looked soooo cute in his yellow camp shirt and blue camp hat!! I went one morning as a Group Guide and walked around with our Troop helping at the different activities!! It was so fun to see the kids get so into all the things they were learning about!! I can't believe I am going to have 2 more years of this with Spence and then 3 years with Garett and 3 years with Logan. I can't even imagine Logan being that big!! Wow!!
This is Spencer with his buddy Brady. I tell you, these two are little trouble makers....the good kind!



Spencer's favorite activity was the ARCHERY. They got to do it every day and got better and better. He told me that he heard a rumor that on the last day someone had to go to the hospital in an ambulance because they got shot with an arrow!! OUCH!!! My guess is it was just a rumor :-)




Garett, Annie, Spencer and Logan saying good-bye to Spencer on his first day of camp. They were all so excited for him to go!! (Annie was even a little bit jealous!)

Left to Right: Brecken, Tamara, Tanya, Amy, Me, Twink, Neeley, Erin, Mindy





This is SLIDE ROCK!! It's a natural Water Slide area and so fun!! Below you can see me being tossed in the current of the slide!! It is sooo much fun and a Beautiful place!




Last year my girl friends and I decided to start a tradition of an annual Girls Trip. Last June, 8 of us left our husbands and children and went to New York City for 5 days. It was sooooo much fun that we didn't think we could ever top it! Well, top it??? I don't know, but equal it--DEFINATLY!! This year we all flew to Mesa, Arizona and stayed at my parents home there. We hung out in Aunt Peri and Uncle Pat's Pool, took a day trip up to Sedona for a "SLIDE ROCK" adventure, shopped at some fabulous Malls in Scotsdale and ate a TON of yummy food!! It was SUCH a BLAST!!! Where will we go next year??

My entire life I have ALWAYS been blessed with amazing friends! I am so thankful for that and the support and comfort they have always been. From the girls on this trip with me to friends from my childhood, to friends from college, and California- you are truely a blessing to me!I love you!!!

This season brings a new adventure for our family as we are trying to figure out how to survive THREE separate baseball team schedules!! Saturday was OPENING DAY for Spencer, Annie and Garett and ALL three games were at 9:00am. A tough challenge when there are only 2 of us. Thankfully Mindy Armstrong was visiting and was able to help! We have 2 more games this season where game times overlap. I have a feeling it will be a LOOOONNNNGGG season! :-)

We spent our Memorial Day Weekend in, of all places, Grand Junction, CO! Wahoo!! We met our old Neighbors, the Armstrongs, from Utah at the Doubletree Hotel! From Golf, to movies, to the pool, to lots of yummy food we had a BLAST!!! It was fun to see the kids together again! They picked up right where we left off! When we said our good-byes we stowed McRae away in our car and Garett stowed away in theirs for the week. Mindy flies here on Friday to swap back. It has been a FUN week!!



Ty and G-Man having SOOOOO much fun together!!!

McRae and Spence are growing up way to fast!!











Logan--the cheeseball, who LOVES the Camera!!















Annie, the best sport around to put up with ALL THESE BOYS!!!

Last Friday Annie "Graduated" from Kindergarden. It was such a special day and we are soooo proud of all she has accomplished this year!!



Annie's teacher, Mrs. McIntosh, was such a blessing to us this year. I truely think she is the BEST kindergarden teacher on the PLANET!!! She loved those children more than life, it seemed. She shared with all of us on Friday that in all her years teaching Kindergarden she had never had a group of kids who loved and cared for each other as much as these little kids did!! I credit her for that because there was a little boy in the class with special needs and she taught these little 5 and 6 year olds how to love and accept people who were different from us. It was a very emotional day for all of us to have to say good-bye to her!! I only hope Garett is lucky enough to have her as his in 2 years!! We LOVE you Mrs. McIntosh!!



Annie had sooooo much fun meeting and making new friends! This is Chase Crockett who has been one of her best pals since we moved to Colorado!!

Garett turned 4 years old last week and I cannot believe it!!! Time really does fly!! And speaking of flying, all the little Super Hero's you see in these pictures are the friends "G" invited to his Batman Birthday Party! It was a blast!!! Truely! 10 little boys, all wearing their favorite Super Hero T-shirt, so excited to be at a Birthday party!! Sooooo fun! We even had a special delivery from "The Real" Batman! He set up a "Super Hero Scavenger Hunt" and the "Treasure" at the end was a Superman or Batman cape for each little boy!! They were in Heaven, but none more the "G"! When we asked him what his favorite present was, he said "All of them, because they all make me soooooo happy!". Happy Birthday G!!!!