The Colorado National Monument!

My mom and dad came for a visit last weekend. It's always such a good time when they come. The kids really look forward to it and love every second of the time they get with Grandma and Papa. I cannot believe I didn't get any pics of my parents but it doesn't really surprise me. When the camera comes out, they disappear! I need to get some of them with the kids, though. Good memories!! Anyway, we never do a lot when they come, they just like to spend time with the kiddo's. We did a little shopping, I tried to get my parents to play Guitar Hero but only Dad tried it out. He didn't last long though. On Saturday we drove up to the Colorado National Monument. They have lots of hiking trails up there so we tried one out. It was so much fun and so beautiful! We decided we need to go every weekend and try a different trail. Here are a few pictures.



Masen, Braedy, Kaylen, and Jayden. There are lots of cool places to take photos. The hike was pretty easy, (even Kaylen walked the whole way) and the scenery is AMAZING!!



My four cuties up on a big rock. Daddy and Grandpa helped them get up there. We like this picture because of the awesome background. The Monument is beautiful!!



We found this really large lizard under a rock......Oh wait, that's just Mase. They had lots of fun exploring.



Braedy, Jayden, and Masen climbed up on this little hollowed out part of a rock wall. They were pretty brave! I don't think I would have done it!



Kaylen felt left out of the last picture so she wanted to climb up on this little tiny ledge and get her picture taken but when I put her up there, she got a little freaked out. So, I climbed up with her. She wants to be big so bad!!

We tried a new restaurant afterward. The Grand International Buffet. I am not a fan of buffet's but Scott really wanted to try it so we did. It was actually really good. It is mostly Chinese food, which I love, and it was pretty delicious!! We hung out on Sunday, went to church and played around a little. Then on Monday we sent the kids to school, went to breakfast and then they started home. Their time here always goes WAY too fast and it's always sad to see them go. But we had a great time and I am so grateful that they are willing to make the journey to see us so often! Thanks mom and dad for a great weekend!! We love you so much!!

I'm a blogging SLACKER!!

Almost three weeks have passed since the kiddo's had Spring Break and I'm just getting around to posting about it! What a terrible excuse for a blogger I am!! Anyway, Scott had a corporate meeting in Denver the week of Spring Break so we decided to make a family vay-cay out of it. Our awesome friends from dental school graciously offered their house to us and we took them up on it. Mike gave up his "man cave" for four whole nights so we would have a place to sleep!! What a guy! We went to the Denver Zoo the first day we were there and it was awesome! We were like the only people in the whole place, the weather was perfect, and the Millward's are just way too fun to hang out with! One little down-fall; I forgot my camera! Does that sound familiar? When do I remember it? I have to thank Lindsay for taking all these pictures of my family and then burning a CD for me so I could have them! You are the best!! Here are a few pics, and sorry for the overload, there were too many cute ones!!



Our awesome friends, and most gracious hosts- The Millwards, Lindsay, Braelyn, Maddox, and Mike. Thanks guys, you are the best!!



This is our family on the first day of our fun vacation! We had such a blast!



We were way too lazy to keep getting Kaylen out and back in the stroller, so Scott just lifted it up with her in it so she could get a better look at the animals!!



Just the girly's!!



Jayden and a peacock. He wanted to touch it so bad but his mean, old mom wouldn't let him. I was afraid it might attack!!



I'm a hippopotamus and I got kiddo's on my back!!



All the kids (minus Maddox) on the ox and wagon. Westward, ho!!



The kids were amazed by this gorilla. It just kept staring at them. This was the one animal that Mase couldn't wait to see!! There is also a really funny story about the gorilla and me but it's too racy to post on a family blog! So, if you want to hear it, you'll have to ask me in person!!


On Thursday, we went to this awesome place called Amazing Jake's. It is like 95,000 square feet of fun...arcades, laser tag, rides, mini golf, go-karts, etc. and they also have a buffet which we had for lunch and wasn't too bad! It was awesome because the schools in Denver weren't on Spring Break so we were about the only ones in the whole place!! No lines, no crowds, just lots of fun with great friends!!



Masen, Braelyn, and Braedy.



Jay and Kay Rae on the train.



Brae and Mase on the Slime Buckets, a ride similar to the Tea Cups in Disneyland.



The two Brae's on the Slime Buckets!!



Our little biker chick! She loved this thing! We could not get her off of it!



You guys better not be laughing!! This is me attempting a silly dancing game. I have to say...I was pretty dang good!!



Jay-D and Bug on the Go Karts.



Scott and Big Ol' on the Go Karts.



This ride was called The Frog Hopper. It just goes way up and then kind of drops you down a little at a time. The kids LOVED it!!



This picture cracks me up for a couple of reasons. One- Lindsay looks like she could be one of the kids and two- Masen looks like he is going to throw up but he loved it and kept going on it over and over and over!!

On Friday, we just hung out around the house for most of the day. Scott took our kids and Braelyn to the park that is right by their house, and they had fun exploring the field in their backyard. We also took Jayden, Braedy, Masen, and Braelyn to see Hotel for Dogs. Everyone loved it except for Braelyn and me. We were buddies during the movie, we kept each other entertained until it was over. Then, that night, we left all the kiddo's home and went to Rodizio Grill. AWESOME!!!! It was so yummy!

We had such a blast! The entire way home my kids kept talking about how much fun they had and how we need to go to Denver more often! So, get ready for more invasions of the man cave!! Thanks, Millward's, for an awesome week! We can't wait to come back!!

One year older and wiser too!

Happy Birthday Dad!! It is days like today that I really miss living close to family. I want to be at every celebration but I guess that's part of life!! Anyway, it's my daddy's birthday today and would you believe that I don't have one decent picture of him? All the pics I have are of him with other people and he is never looking at the camera! But I still wanted to wish him a wonderful birthday and let him know that I am thinking of him! He is the best dad I could ever ask for! He is, and always has been, there for me no matter what. I couldn't ask for anything more! He is the easiest person to talk to and he has helped me with so many issues in my life. I also love his sense of humor and the way he tells-it-how-it-is. The thing I love most about my dad at this point in my life is watching him with my kids. He is so loving and kind. He can be silly or serious, tender or teasing and I love that he is always willing to take the time to teach my kids anything and everything. Thanks Dad, for being a wonderful Father and an amazing "Papa"! I love you more than I could ever tell you! Hope you have a fabulous day!!

2 years ago today.....

I am so amazed and a little sad at how fast time has flown since our little Kaylen Rae was born! She is growing up way too fast and I don't like it! She doesn't care though and just keeps getting bigger, smarter and faster every day! Here are some pics of her from the last two years...

We celebrated her birthday over the weekend since Scott had to work tonight. We took her to dinner on Friday and then had a little party on Sunday night. She got lots of fun toys and had so much fun. She loved being the center of attention! And her sister and brothers were more than happy to oblige!



The "cheesey" birthday girl! This is what we get now when we tell her to smile!



The awesome cake professionally decorated by Mase and Brae!!



Blowing out the candles! She was a little nervous about the flames and needed some help blowing them out!



A new baby doll cradle! She spends lots of time rocking her babies to sleep!!



Her very own mailbox! She is expecting lots of mail from all of you!!



New "petties" from Grandma and Grandpa Garmire. I think she was just as excited about her new clothes as she was about her toys!! Such a girl!!

I am so grateful to have Kaylen Rae in my life! She has been such a joy to our family. She is a very happy girl and has been such an easy baby. She loves to laugh and to make others laugh. She has a very sweet heart and can't stand to see others cry. She is first on the scene to give hugs and kisses whenever necessary. I can't say how blessed I feel to have her. She has taught me so much! I love you Kay-Rae! Happy Birthday!!