Annual Family Photo

While Ryan was home last week, we headed to the Riverwalk to take our annual family picture! (Every year since Skyler was born, we go the week between her birthday and our anniversary and snap a family photo.)

While we were there, we decided to have a bit of fun with the fountains - and I just enjoyed the walk around the river with my camera!

Skyler had so much fun, and it was a great way to cool off since our weather has been super hot lately! (I think it was 107* F the day we went down there!!)

  *To view collage larger, just click it!

Spaghetti + Hotdogs = Happy Skyler

For nearly a year now, I've been obsessed with Pinterest! Some of the best recipes I've made have been found there, and I have a zillion crafts I'm dying to try! I've even used it to promote my Book Blog!

But there was one pin I was avoiding. It grossed me out - I'll be honest. Spaghetti Hotdogs.

Today, as I was debating what to make for dinner off of our weekly meal plan, I decided that I wanted to use tonight as my "Leftovers" night and reheat last nights spaghetti. But Skyler? She wasn't so excited for that. She wanted Mac N Cheese - which she would eat every night if I'd let her. I wasn't having that - so she decided hotdogs. But I didn't have any hotdog buns, so I was debating how to make them fun.

I reluctantly pulled up this pin, and decided we'd give it a shot. Besides, Skyler could do the bulk of the prep - BIG WIN!!

And this meal was a flying success!!



Puppet Shows!

We are so lucky that our town has such an awesome library program for children! This week they had a big Puppet Show at one of the libraries near by and so we went to watch! On the way home, Skyler couldn't stop talking about how she wanted her own theater, she wanted her own puppets, etc!

Of course, I told her to wait and see - she just had her birthday after all!

So we got home and I went to the kitchen to begin assembling our PB&J sandwiches, and she came dragging a HUGE box that we'd recieved from UPS a few days ago. She announced she was making it into a theater, so I agreed to help!

She set right to work coloring and telling me where to cut and what to cut! As always, I was impressed by her thought process as she worked out how to make this theater. She even asked me to show her a picture of a puppet show so that she could plan her project.

The final project is below - along with a quick video! Although it's only 24 seconds - she got distracted and then got angry that I was taking video and not being part of the show *lol*

Happy Anniversary - State of Colorado Springs

8 years ago, it was a very rainy Sunday in Colorado Springs. And I was a very disappointed bride - since my outdoor ceremony was forced to be moved inside!

Luckily, it was still a very nice day and at the end of it I was married!

Today, on our 8th Wedding Anniversary, the story in Colorado Springs is very different. This year, we are actively praying for rain in the area, and 30 miles south (at our house) there is a strong smell of smoke and a plume is visible if you drive between Pueblo and Pueblo West.

Photo taken from facebook --- KKTV fan page

The Waldo Canyon Fire which started last Saturday west of Colorado Springs finally moved down the mountain and into the city.

This fire has been absolutely devestating, and dry weather and heavy winds have made it unpredictible and more intense than imaginable.

It spreads from Colorado Springs to Woodland Park, and grew from 5,000 acres yesterday morning to 15,000 acres at 7pm last night when it was encasing the city that I love so much. With an estimate for containment stretching all the way into mid July.

And while I am very fortunate that our home is safe 30 miles to the south? I have multiple friends who are evacuated now, praying for the fate of their home. We can only look at the positive in that up until now (2:30 pm on 6/27) no people have been injured, despite this horrible fire moving into residential areas.

So, on our wedding anniversary this year? Please - send your thoughts and prayers to the people of Southern Colorado (and all of Colorado - really! Since the whole state appears to be on fire!) and hope that this fire is contained as quickly as possible.

Skyler's Birthday in Lincoln!!

This past week we were able to celebrate Skyler's Birthday a few days early in Lincoln with her Grandparents!! We had a lot of fun, and I thought I'd share a few photos and videos with you!

First up? A trip to the Zoo in Omaha! (Where, coincidentally? Our last visit was 10 days before her 2nd birthday!! So I snapped a comparison shot!)

(Also, I apologize that the videos are sideways - They were shot on my phone and I wasn't thinking!)

Other than the zoo, we also got a chance to have two birthday parties (one with each set of Grandparents!) and I have a few fun moments to share from those evenings!

Blowing out Candles with Ryan's family:




And her birthday gift from my parents:



And the Olivia Cupcakes that I made for her :)

You Are My Sunshine

I love this kid!! She's learned the whole first two verses of "You Are my Sunshine"

You are my sunshine, My only sunshine
You make me happy when the skies are grey
You'll never know dear, How much I love you
So please don't take my sunshine away

The other night dea,r as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
When I awoke dear, I was mistaken
And I held my head and cried

But, she doesn't like how sad it is. So she re-wrote it and has been singing it CONSTANTLY since then...
You are my sunshine, My only sunshine
You make me happy when the skies are grey
You'll never know dear, How much I love you
So please don't take my sunshine away

The other night dear as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
When I awoke dear, there was my girlfriend
And I held my head down with happiness