Miss Blake is learning to drive a stick shift!

So, she wanted a slug bug - she got one! (One with manual transmission!) We are taking it slow and easy and she is doing great. We are still practicing in the neighborhood, but I'm thinking after a few times out, she might be ready for city driving. Keep your fingers crossed! As you can see in the picture, she can sometimes be a "DING DONG"! My hope is a manual might keep her focused. Oh please! Oh please!

Father's Day Hike to Horsetooth Rock!

This has to be the first really nice day in a weekend in a long time. We hiked the 5 mile hike to the top of Horsetooth Rock today as a family! Great fun! Moose is our city dog and does fine for a while, but after a few hill and hot sun, he's searching for the shade. Despite the look in the picture, Evan really had a great time! ;o)

Evan's Baseball Team is Still Undefeated!

Gosh! We are enjoying watching Evan play baseball this summer. He is such a steady player! He always gets a hit and the team can count on him to make the play. What fun! Now the weather . . . winter coats, umbrellas, blankets, and hot coffee . . . that sounds like football weather. I object!!!!

Belly Button!!!!

OK I know, "Are you serious?!?!" Yes, I allowed Miss Blake to get her belly button pierced. YIKES! I figure you need to pick your battles and as long as she remains a straight A student, involved in competitive sports, and nice to her family maybe I can give a little. She does work awfully hard for her physique ~ a little bling to accentuate the positive really can't hurt. I'm thinkin' the first time someone catches her wrong in a stunt, the piercing might go bye-bye. FYI ~ I had come to terms with allowing her to do this, but after it was done, I cried. At least the worst consequence will be a small scar the size of a stick pin. A tattoo would send me off the deep end.

Miss Blake's New Car

So, yes, it was inevitable! We needed to get the girl a car. We looked and looked for the small SUV, the Jetta, the Honda, etc, but since day one, she has always wanted a "slug bug". Absolutely NOT, I thought. Too small, not safe, too much, and your brother would look ridiculous riding in it! Then we started to look into them. We knew we could only afford an older vehicle, but SAFETY was my main concern. Which cars, that are 10+ years old, have front AND side air bags? The New Beetle did so this is the direction we went. And, the Beetle has great visibility compared to my Volvo. Miss Blake has had some issues with visibility. ;o) So, I looked and looked to find a "slug bug" we could afford that was in good condition. After many months, I found one. It was in Longmont, close to Clay's office so I asked him to go take it for a test drive. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?" Clay doesn't think he is "slug bug" material. But being the FANTASTIC father that he is, he took a visit to the dealership. He sat in the front seat and was really surprised at the head and leg room! The leather seats were in great condition and were heated as well! There was a great stereo and all of the controls were power controlled and very well taken care of. Perusing the dash he noticed a "shot glass" built in next to the steering wheel. "What is this?" he asked the dealer. "That's a vase so you can have fresh flowers in the car." "ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!?!?!?!" Clay had no idea there was such a concept. Hesitant to drive the car, for fear of being thought of as anything but the macho straight heterosexual man that is MOST DEFINITELY is, he turned the key and started the ignition. He pulled out of the lot and turned onto Highway 287 heading out of town quickly, making sure not to be seen by any other macho straight heterosexual men that might laugh at the sight ~ like he would have. He meekly drove to the final stop light on the outskirts of town hoping for the opportunity to let loose from the traffic. The light turned and he was off. Once he shifted to third and the turbo engine kicked in. . . Goodbye! Oh golly he had no idea this cheesy little vehicle could have such spunk and power! Hot Damn! The vehicle ran fantastic! Passing the other vehicles at 95 mph without any effort, I think he was sold. He drove back to the dealership and we are now proud owners of a 2000 VW Turbo New Beetle.

. . . . Miss Blake just thinks the car is cute. xo

Evan's 5th Grade Grad Party!

Fort Collins had adopted the plan that middle school will now be 6th, 7th, and 8th grade with high school being 9-12. Evan will be in the first 6th grade class to do this. To celebrate the end of the elementary years, we through a shin-dig with 20 of his classmates, male and female. What a trip! YIKES! I am not quite sure what I was thinking except now, Gosh, I have great kids!!!! Maybe it was the maturity level, but between some of the boys (not mine) throwing things at the girls just to see if they could hurt them, to kids (not mine) hanging from the willow tree branches until they broke, to the some of the kids(not mine) ripping the trampoline cover just to see what would happen, I couldn't believe it! Again, Gosh I have great kids! Anyhoo, we have some great pics of the party. I think I will wait a couple of years to get the group together again. ;o)

Proud Parents!

Once again, I get to brag about my kiddos! I love that part! Both received perfect report cards for the 2009 semester and we are thrilled!!!!! Also, Miss Blake was awarded "The Nicest Sophomore Female at Fossil Ridge High School" at the end of the year award assembly. She was chosen by her peers. Clay and I are impressed! Cute, talented, smart, AND nice ~ what a combo!

SUMMER?!?!?!?

We keep hoping the sun will come out so we can enjoy the summer. Rain, thunderstorms, and tornado warnings have been the norm for the month of June so far. We have made a trip to Water World on a chilly Sunday morning, Evan has played a couple (non-rained-out) baseball games, and Miss Blake has had a couple of tanning sessions on the trampoline. That’s about it so far. We’re ready for the heat!