6-2, Kindie Graduation

A person may not think of kindergarten graduation as a big deal, but that person is definitely not a kindergartener!  This graduation ceremony has been weeks in the making (including a 12-page document including verses to be memorized by the kindergartener..... I kid you not).  Now, after the fact, I am proud to announce the graduation went off without a hitch.  Emalie officially graduated from kindergarten and is off to 1st grade in August (sheesh-- AUGUST).  I wonder if the next graduation in our future will be such a light-hearted affair.....

Don't even ask the drama that involved getting Emalie to wear a skirt for her graduation....

Seeing us side-by side, I didn't realize how tall she's getting!

In a sea of future 1st graders.

So happy!

And so glad her brother was there to support her.

Emalie donning her homemade graduation cap creation.

Thank goodness for an awesome babysitter who let her design to her heart's content.  Lol....

Cutie pie!

Saying goodbye to a great kindergarten teacher who has enhanced her love of learning.

And wait.... is Nik TALLER than me?!  Geez.
We don't seem to get too many photos of the four of us together.
I'm glad to have this one!

I can't believe summer is here!!  It seems like I was JUST posting the blog about Christmas.  

Man am I getting old.  Lol.... Happy summer everyone!

5-31, Family Faces

A few more photos from our Memorial Weekend camping trip with my parents.  Love these happy faces!

5-31, Memorial Weekend

It's amazing this crazy idea of mine came together.  Mom and dad were planning on coming through for a visit about Memorial Weekend time, we already had plans to go camping Memorial Weekend.  Why not meet in Buena Vista for a weekend together? The idea was a little more simple than getting camping reservations just a few weeks out from the first holiday weekend of the camping season.   The state campgrounds were full but we were able to find two adjacent spots at a private campground that met all of our needs (our need is a place long enough to park our trailer, mom and dad's needs are a little more extensive).   We dodged snow and basked in the sun.  It was a little bit of everything wrapped into one.  It was so fun to camp with them again.  Here are some iPhone memories of our weekend.....

Brrr......

Cows!  Cows! Baby cows!

Glimpses of the Arkansas River valley- so beautiful.

A picnic at Chalk Lake.  Lol.... it was so cold that after we ate, mom and I ate took a little snooze in the warm cab of the truck while everyone else fished. Ha!

Not quite the 'roughing it' that we're used to (am I even allowed to say that since we camp in a trailer?!), but a little more so for mom and dad, I think.

The kids may be ruined-- Em may always want to go to a campground with a playground and Nik one with a creek running through it.

Nik letting Em reel in a fish at Cottonwood Lake.

Em just had to touch that fish!

Cottonwood Lake a is a favorite for our family.

My little girl almost doesn't fit on my lap anymore.  How can that be?!  On the other hand, look at the size of the tree trunk we're sitting on!

The grand prize for a day's fishing at Cottonwood.

A little ice cream and coffee in Buena Vista.

That is one wiggly tooth that is hanging on by a thread.

Can you BELIEVE she let grandpa pull it out??

A drive up to Hecla was rewarded with the fun of watching the rafters.

Another beautiful Colorado favorite with my favorite people.

A friend from days gone by recommended a pizza place in Salida.  (I find it quite amazing that a high school friend from Hamilton who now lives in Texas loves to come to this area as well because it reminds him of home also!)

We gave mom and dad the complete tour and showed them our favorite woods to camp in.

Talking grandpa's ear off.  Lol......

Nik eating his campfire-cooked catch from the creek.

S'mores for dessert-- a little break from the chocolate cake I baked for my dad.

My family always thinks I'm crazy when I say, "Stop!  Don't move! The light is amazing!"
But, isn't this a great candid of dad?!

Packing up and moving on.  It's always sad to say goodbye, but we're thankful for the fun.

Hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend.  Let the summer begin!