It's beautiful here!

We went up to the top of the mountain where my brother lives in Manitou Springs to their club house for a swim party with family. This is me with my Uncle Johnny, Sister in law Ann, cousin Chris and Aunt Linda. I love my family!!!

There were 9 kids total... we went hiking in the morning and then had a picnic and swim party in the afternoon. Here is a wonderful picture of Shea with her {cousin} Isabel.

After the swim party, we drove over to Garden of the Gods... we want to live here!!!

Shea and Braden saw this rock falling and wanted to help hold it up. Aren't they strong??

After our long day, we relaxed in the hot tub with Uncle Sterling... look at their views!!!

Challenge number one

The drive wasn't too bad... and the kids were great! Braden's sunburn was bothering him a bit when we got to my brother's house so my sister in law put some Aloe Vera with lidocain on him about 4:30.

Within 10 minutes Braden was having a severe allergic reaction to either the lidocaine or something else in the lotion. It was HORRIBLE. Luckily, my {favorite} uncle Johnny was able to come over to give him a blessing. We ended up in the Emergency Room until almost midnight. I am tired!!

When we first got to Colorado Springs, we went to the cemetery where my sister and grandmother are buried. Shea had drawn some flowers for the grave.

This is my grandmother's grave. She lived on a farm near Houston for a number of years and always wanted to go back to California. She requested that her headstone say "I'd rather be here than in Texas". I never knew she had such a sense of humor.

I'm sure she wouldn't have felt that way if she lived in Lubbock :)

On the road

YAY!!! After 10 months of planning
Shea, Braden and I are finally on the road
Robert will join us July 10 - we will miss him!!

Family Motto
"Enjoy the Journey"
There's going to be A LOT of journey this summer
and I want the kids to enjoy ALL of the trip

Theme Song
"Lubbock in My Rear View Mirror"
Click on the song above to hear this classic

Haircuts, glasses and birthday presents

Shea got 6 inches cut off today....

MUCH easier to take care of!

Braden got his new glasses AND a haircut

We then had Shea's birthday lunch at Lin's Chinese Buffet.

Now it is packing time.

crazy time.

What was I thinking time!

Lobster Boy

This is what happens when you

DON'T

listen to your mother....

and go swimming for hours in 100 degree weather

with only a tiny bit of sunscreen.

OUCH!!!

Pictures from Kayla!!

Kayla sent me a disk of pictures....

here are a few of my favorites with

her captions below.

Sister Graf, Branden and me at his baptism.
Great kid!

Me and Sister Graf, my new companion

I love her!

Me, Sister Yura, Sister Kim Kister Lauchner after the temple.
Some grounds worker gave us a bunch of daffodils.

Me and Sister Kim -

We love Washington!!

The King family after Angie's baptism.

(this is the family that wrote me this letter)

The Havili's! Awesome family - ward mission leader
(I LOVE the view behind them!!)

Wearing Shea's ribbons and studying at my desk.

My daily planner.

Dodgers vs. Rangers

Robert and I went to Dallas to go to a Rangers vs. Dodgers

baseball game with some friends. It was 100 degrees and

I thought I was going to melt... but it was fun!

All except the Dodgers losing.

Look... ALL the bases are loaded and they STILL

couldn't score. Not even one run.

Final score: 6 to ZIP

Here we are with Shannon & Brad Jordan.

Don't I look like I'm melting??

If I ever say I'm moving to Dallas... shoot me.

Fireworks after the game. Beautiful!

Going to Scout Camp. With my mom. And my sister.

Braden left for scout camp on Monday. Shea and I went up on Tuesday so I could be a Merit Badge Counsellor for three badges. It was great fun!!!

This backpack is heavy!!

"I had to hike five miles with MY backpack to camp"

Enough clothes for 6 days.

"change your clothes EVERY day"

Camping paraphernalia.

"pack it good... no one will be there to help you repack to come home"

Snacks... the important stuff.

"eat healthy. drink water. take showers."

In all the instructions I gave Braden,

I forgot to tell him to NOT drop his glasses in the lake.

OOPS!

During the canoeing merit badge on Monday, Braden handed his glasses to his leaders because he and his partner had to capsize their boat and then right it again. But in doing that, they accidentally capsized their leaders boat and the glasses sunk to the bottom of the lake. My only real regret.... that I wasn't there to see it happen :)

After I taught my class on Tuesday, we went canoeing.

I LOVE canoeing!

I was secretly hoping to get capsized, but the boys were too nice.

Looks like we are playing chicken.

The boys spent a lot of their free time playing "Mafia"

I taught Public Speaking, Entrepreneurship and Photography

The boys were GREAT in their classes.... I was very impressed!

Shea and I slept in the back of the Yukon
after 7 years, we finally figured out how to take out the back seat!

Lazy, lazy, lazy!
I LOVE hammocks!


Shea and Emily Roper had a BLAST playing in the creek.
five times in less than 24 hours

Lexus' first quilt!

Andrew's girlfriend, Lexus, asked me if I would help her make a quilt.

She picked beautiful fabric and did a fabulous job!!

The final quilting is pretty tough -
but she did a great job!

Frugal Challenge - Month #5

Another month gone.... time is flying!

It's been a bit crazy, but I've stuck to my budget...

$203.26 for May

Once we get back from out trip - I'll have to get back to work on stocking up since I'm using up most of my freezer and quite a bit of my pantry. But it's worth it!!

We are all getting very excited!

My friend Tammy just made plans to come up for a week....

YAY!

Only 16 more days.

My to-do list is getting very loooooong.

But getting to see a sunset like this is priceless~!