Poodles, Elephants and Bears...oh my!

...and horses, sno-cones, friends, clowns and acrobats. It can only mean one thing...the CIRCUS came to town. It's definitely small town entertainment, but the circus comes every year to benefit the local Shriner's. The weather was perfect and it was a great day to be outside, meeting up with friends was an added bonus!

Cozy

This is a view of my new scraproom, looking in from the outside. Doesn't it look cozy? Once I get my countertop and wall cabinets in, I will decorate it for creative inspiration.

Rockies Skills Challenge

Jamie participated in The Rockies Skills Challenge today. It is a statewide program put on by local Parks & Rec departments. Kids show off their hitting, running & throwing skils. The first place finisher in each division goes on to the sectional competition.
Jamie did very well and placed 2nd in his age division (6-7 year old boys). He and the 1st place finisher (one year older than Jamie) were so close in each event, Jamie was the faster runner but Hunter hit & threw a few feet further. Jamie didn't care, though, he had fun and was SO excited to receive a ribbon for his efforts. He wanted to know how long until next years Rockies Skills Challenge.

hitting = 107' 3"

base running (2nd to home) = 9.50 seconds

throwing = 48' 8"

Soccer Photos

I've been reluctant to scan and post these photos because, well, I'm just PO'd that I actually paid money for these lousy shots. The people who take the so-called "professional" portraits of all of the Parks & Rec kids teams are dear friends but, let's be honest...they are NOT professional photographers. I am a very amateur photographer but I do try to use some basic compostion knowledge when I'm taking photographs, like...ummm...making sure there isn't an automobile parked in the background and manuevering such that it doesn't look like a tree is growing out of my kids head. Plus, the color is horrible!


Because this is not our first experience with the team photo thing, I usually take my own photo when they have the photo sessions going on. This year I was talking to some of the other soccer mom's and got distracted before realizing that Jamie was in front of the camera. I grabbed my camera and got this shot from the side and, even though he's not looking at me, I think it's a better photograph. Guess I'll have to pull out my Photoshop for Dummies book and see if I can fix the "professional" one.

The actual team photo turned out pretty good, unlike the basketball team photo where some of the kids were flashing gang signs. Still, the houses in the background are distracting and unprofessional. This is Alamosa, so I guess I should just take it for what it is. It just kills me to pay for these photos, though, when I KNOW that I can do better.

My mom totally ROCKS!!!!!

My mom, the undisputed garage sale queen and champion of all things "second-hand", has now dominated on Craig's List. She found four brand new wall cabinets to complete my scraproom configuration for the bargain basement price of $150. (Each one would have cost me $128 + tax at Lowe's.) Plus, she has already said she'd get the countertop as my birthday gift, so, my dream scraproom is truly nearing completion. YAY MOM!!!!!

Jammies and Cariboo

Hanging out in our PJ's (because we can!) and playing Cariboo.
The wind is blowing and it's too yucky to be outside so it still doesn't feel like summer vacation...more like a long weekend.

Happy Memorial Day

We were invited to join friends at the Beaver Creek Youth Camp near South Fork for a Memorial Day cookout.




We brought Parker with us so that Jamie would have someone to play with while we visited with our friends.





After we ate, we took the short hike down to Beaver Creek. The boys could not wait to throw rocks into the water.











Even the big boys couldn't resist throwing rocks into the water!

Five Days Post-Op

So, I didn't exactly know how to "tastefully" show off my surgery scars...this works for me and I hope it's not offensive to anyone else. This is five days after surgery (laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy) and these four tiny incisions and bruising are what remain. I know several women who have undergone hysterectomies and their experiences are horrendous, extended hospital stays, long recovery, pain and, of course, the huge abdominal scar. I am thankful for the advancement of medical technology in this area. I am feeling better with each day and, now that my digestive system is back on board, life is good! (You just don't know how GOOD it felt to have a "normal" poop!)

Take Us Out to the Ballgame

We went to Colorado Springs for a quick Memorial Day outing. We stayed with the Hamilton's, we hadn't seen them since last July and Jamie was SO excited to see his friend, Spencer, again.

(Justin, Jamie, Spencer & Ryan)

We met fellow Alamosan's (the Astalos') at Security Service Field to watch the Sky Sox game. It was fishing rod & reel night so the kids all got free fishing equipment and got some pre-game casting instruction.

(Michelle & Coleen braving the cold)

Again, it is Memorial Day weekend...the "unofficial" start of summer and we're at a baseball game...can't get any more summer than that, right?
We were all bundled up in coats and blankets and could not last past the sixth inning because it was SO cold. We gave up the post-game fireworks for coffee at McDonalds.
WHEN is it going to be warm????

Summer (???) Vacation

Tomorrow is the start of the Memorial Day weekend which, traditionally, marks the beginning of summer vacation.
It might be easier to grasp if it wasn't freaking snowing outside!!!!!

Last Day of School

Bill forgot to take the official "last day of school" photo this morning so we did a quick re-enactment when we got home this afternoon. It is just hard to believe that the school year is over, it went by so quickly.

The End of Kindergarten

It's hard to believe that Jamie's kindergarten year is over. Jamie loved his teachers, Mrs. Rodriguez and Ms. Mimi, and his classmates.




watching "The Bee Movie"

















one last hug from Mrs. Rodriguez
















BFF's (Joshua, Jamie & Parker)

Surgery Success

My surgery was successful, no complications and I am home, resting comfortably. I walked out of the hospital this morning a little after 9:00 and enjoyed a chai tea latte at the East West Grill before going to Jamie's school. He was so excited that I was there and I am so happy that I got to be there, it was important for me to be there. I am feeling pretty good, considering...I'm tired and sore but really, the headache I have is causing me more pain than the surgical site. My mom is still here, pampering me and taking good care of Jamie. Thanks to all who sent good thoughts and well wishes.

Pirate Day

I snapped this photo of Jamie (doing his best pirate impersonation) before he left for school and I headed to the hospital for my surgery. Bill has strict orders to take Jamie's official last day of school photo tomorrow morning and I am still hoping to be released from the hospital in time to go to the ice cream social.

Going Under the Knife

So, tomorrow morning I go in for surgery to remove an organ that has caused me a lifetime of nothing but pain and grief. Years of labor-pain-like monthly cramps, years of fertility treatment that was unsuccessful...finally the fibroids and endometriosis are symptomatic enough to medically justify a hysterectomy. Those who know me well, know that my catch phrase for my predicament has been "why do I keep having to change the oil every month when the engine isn't running!". Tomorrow, the engine is getting removed and I have no regrets.

It's a laparoscopic procedure so it should be fairly simple, barring any complications. I'm not looking forward to the overnight hospital stay and hope to get released on Wednesday in time to go to Jamie's end of the school year ice cream social. I hope to feel well enough to go to the Sky Sox game in Colorado Springs on Saturday. My mom is here to help with Jamie and I have great friends who are pitching in as well. This is a busy time of year for Bill but, of course, he will also be available. I'm hoping that recovery will be quick and easy.

Farewell uterus...good riddance!

Hat and Flip Flop Day

Sixty Trees

Every year the Colorado Forest Service offers tree seedlings to landowners to create windbreaks and reduce erosion. To qualify, you must own at least 2 acres (we own five!). You have to purchase a minimum of 30 seedlings ($48) of each type of tree you want. This year, we bought sixty trees, 30 Colorado Blue Spruce and 30 Narrow Leaf Cottonwood. They've been sitting in our garage for almost a month because the temperatures at night are still getting below freezing. We decided to plant today and hope that the worst of the spring weather is over.

We were NOT looking forward to digging sixty holes. We were relieved to learn that a friend owns a gas powered post hole digger, making the job so much easier.

THANKS Weinmeisters!

Colorado Blue Spruce

Narrow Leaf Cottonwood

So, we're doing our part to green up the environment and hopefully create a decent windbreak for our property. We're keeping our fingers crossed that these seedlings will take root and actually grow into trees. Our main job this summer will be to make sure that they get lots of water and TLC (and hope that we don't run them over with the mower).