The Great Sand Dunes

We went camping this past weekend. It was 3.5 hours south of us in the Great Sand Dunes National Park. It was amazing. Picture middle of the desert meets Colorado. The camp site had pine trees and a stream. Then you would drive 1 mile from the camp site, get out of your car, carry your cooler (and dog) across the river and start hiking mountains that were 100% sand. It was a really cool experience.

Ryan found cactus and a Kangaroo Rat. The rat thing scarred me to death.
We are off to the lake for a few weeks.

Ryan John

School gets out June 2nd for Connor and Ryan just had his Pre-School Graduation. Why I really pulled up the blog was to quote Ryan so I can laugh at this years from now like I just did.

He wanted to wear a robe tonight after dinner, Connor was already wearing the one and only kids one so Ryan put mine on. He stuck his hands in the pockets and said "Look Mom, this one has cup holders". Lol, he thinks like his Dad.

My heart is in a constant state of melting as I soak in my last few weeks with my pre-schooler (So not ready for him to go to big kid school).

More Updates

They are never ending at this point!
Spray painted the door bell after I couldn't find one that was black.
The guest room was the last of the gold fixtures to go!

He has Risen

I was asking Ryan a few days ago what he wants the Easter Bunny to bring him. He said, "Mom it isn't about candy, it is about Jesus". You are so right Buddy!

Grandma Pat came in town to help celebrate the holiday.

Perfect weather meant; Ray mowed for the first time this year. We hiked the bluffs, soccer games, egg hunt outside.

 Connor

 Ryan

 Sunday Best

 Ryan & I went fishing while Ray & Connor took Grandma Pat to the airport

We live in a beautiful place

4 Columns

4 Little Columns in this house almost were the death of me. Good bye birch, see ya never!

 Bye Birch!

I love the top detail being white but doing that made so much extra tape necessary. I only have 3 of the 4 done, I need a break! This project was equally as bad as doing all the trim on the top floor with carpet.

Spring Break Vacation

Ray's Grandmother passed away this year and to remember her and her love of camping and family time we planned a vacation to remember. This was the boys first time out of the country. It was an awesome experience for them; hearing people speak a different language, different cultures, food. One day we took them into downtown Playa del Carmen and Connor said, "Gosh Mom all the guys want me to buy their stuff", it was so cute. We did pick up some soccer jerseys for them on that expedition (and $4 RayBans).

Grandma & Grandpa vacationed with us. The boys enjoyed 2 more sets of ears to listen to all their ideas.

Our kids look so much alike right now I can't even tell who this is. To me it looks like Ryan but those are Connors swim trunks so your guess is as good as mine. The beach was beautiful. Ocean full of fish to watch and beach full of shells for us to collect. 

Dinner outside one night. Perfect temperature each day, 85 day and 65 at night.

We had a 2 bedroom town house with an awesome roof top deck. The boys loved the hot tub. 

My favorite part of Mexico was that we kept our phones in the room all day. The minus of that is that we didn't get many pictures, this is as close as we got to a family picture. If you are reading this and have young children I can't express enough how important it is to pick a kid friendly resort with a kids club. When you are ready to relax on the beach off they go to Azulitos to play! Money well spent. Other high light was walking through the jungle and seeing spider monkey's a wild boar and Coaties (like a mix between a monkey and a raccoon?).

Hope your spring break was full of cool memories!

Landscaping

I told Ray one of our first house projects when we bought this house in 2014 was going to have to be the front landscaping. Welp, 3 years later and countless projects later we got to it.

 If looking at our house, the side left view. We had 3 Willow bushes there. Two were growing huge and always had to be cut down, and this front one was half dead. Sorry to our neighbor's Bill & Cindy  who had to look at those eye sores for years. 

Now 3 little boxes woods. The sidewalk was removed and readjusted to be more level then the wall was re-built.

Right out front we used to have 5 spirea which are pretty boring bushes. 

Now it is 3 globe spruce and 4 Hicks Yew. 

This big ugly Juniper was yanked out, it was growing into the fence.

Now a cute Bosnian Pine, Mint Truffle. Behind it 4 new red twigged dogwoods :)

February To Do's

Had a great Valentine's with my Valentine! Got the boys signed up for Spring Soccer, took a trip home to see my Dad's opening debut as the Devil in, "The Cotton Patch Gospil" and general odds and ends.

 Ryan did a great job waving his towel. Behind him is my Dad's good friend Dave, waving the big Nevada flag.

 "Alphie"

Grandma got Ryan his own Nevada shirt and he loved it! I should also note my Mom's amazing friend Henryka gave Ryan "rocks you can eat" and a box of them for Connor as well. :)

 Mom & I getting a pedicure in Reno

 I've basically become addicted to puzzles. This was a 1000 piece one Ray got me for V-Day.

 Date night for Valentine's

 Literacy night at Preschool

I finally bit the bullet and bought trimmers and clippers so I can cut the boys hair. I'm also addicted to this and have cut Ryan's hair every to every other day sense purchasing. Hard to keep that fresh buzz look unless you do it daily, am I right? It helps that it has been gorgeous weather so I can do this outside and let the hair just blow away.
Final note. The Real Estate market is INSANE here! Our neighbors house was listed Friday for $110,000 more than we bought ours for 2 years ago (same floorpan) and they had multiple full price offers on Saturday. Cray Cray. We feel blessed that we were able to get to this beautiful part of the country before we couldn't afford it.

Anniversaries

What's crazy about dates in time is they can take you back to that exact moment, you know? No Ray & our anniversary is not now, June.  The day/date I'm thinking about is two fold. A year ago I tried to take off my pointer finger at a carmax. What's crazy is today I started a new bible study at Crossroads and at my table was a mom who's husband is the Hand Surgeon I met with. Weird how the world works like that.

The other event I've had on my mind is the anniversary of our car accident. It was February 1st, Ray and I are trying to recall if it was 2007 or 2008. Either way, dang that's crazy how much our lives have changed from that day and we are so grateful that we are both here to enjoy life with and to have raised our boys with.

Hug your loved ones because the Good times can change in a second.

Random other facts; today a kid in Ryan's class puked. This weekend we are going to Keystone to all ski. This weekend at Church they are celebrating the first graders and I believe there will be a little ceremony and bible dedication for Connor. I've started a book club at my house once a week with other elementary school Moms. Sommer & John, Ray & I went to see Bob Saget perform stand up last weekend. Everyone said he was vulgar and I was worried it wouldn't be good. He was great, it was funny and a super fun night out.

~Peace Out Girl Scout.

New year New Outlooks

You know in years and months past I've always been fast to post updates on the blog. I've slowed down. One reason, I don't think anyone is reading this thing any more. My second reason is, time is flying by and when I stop and reflect on the day, week, month it is a quiet moment that gives me time to reflect that. And reflecting on how time is flying so fast breaks my heart. This year Ray & I both will turn 35 and our boys will turn 8 & 6. Yikes!

Christmas was exactly what I always wanted and what I never thought I would get (because we live soon far away from ALL family). We had Christmas, party of 12!

Dave & Val (Jill's Uncle (her dad's brother) & Aunt) were the first to express interest in coming. I said YES with out hesitation. The next day their was a flight confirmation in my inbox from their daughter, my cousin Lizzie. Then Nat & new Hubby Neil announced their flights. Then GG (great grandma) said she would drive with Dave if the weather cooperated. My parents booked a flight and wa-la, 12 people at the Moormans to celebrate Christ going to this planet!

The highlight for many was Christmas Eve service. My favorite part was when the pastor said, "Even if you come from a family of no hugging, stand up and hug each and every person that came with you today." We are a big hug family but I still loved it.

 Ryan was heart broken that he didn't find real pirate treasure with the metal detector santa brought him.

The brothers that started these families on the end caps. GG in red.