The Big Girl Bike

Mackenzie has had a little tricycle for a year now. It wasn't really ever crossing my mind to upgrade her from that. I guess I just thought of 2-wheeler bikes as a big girl bike, like 5 year olds. So she just pedals as fast as she can and her little tricycle gets her around. But I have been kind of noticing how her knees go up to the handlebars, but I guess it wasn't registering with me. Not until I saw a friends blog with her little boy, about 6 months younger than Mackenzie riding a 'big kid' bike! That's when the lightbulb went on and I realized it was time. I guess we are moving into the next stage and she is just growing up on us and I'm just not ready or willing to realize it.

So what kind of bike was the next question? Pretty much they are all pink princess bikes, Barbie, or Dora. I knew I was in trouble when I saw my selection. I'm not such a fan of all the character stuff, but I would have loved her to choose the princess bike. I knew she wouldn't go for it, she's never been a fan of princess stuff, dolls, ya know...the normal little girl stuff. Instead she had to get Dora and we had to let her. She LOVES Dora because she watches the cartoons. And she really loves the backpack!

Next, the helmet. Of course she got the matching Dora helmet and I have to say it is pretty cute on her. I was kind of worried about her being willing to wear it. But the missionaries rode their bikes to our house a few weeks ago and I had them show her how they wear a helmet. She has the BIGGEST crush on the missionaries and whatever they do she thinks is cool. So she was sold on the helmet!

Well she is pretty good on her bike already and I think she was definitely ready for it.

Sprinkler Time

We have been waiting for a nice hot sunny day for quite a while. The weather has been odd here lately. It's been perfect temperature, mid-70's, but I don't think I've seen the sun for a few weeks, until today. It was a perfect day to play in the sprinklers, a first for both Collin and Mackenzie. They had a lot of fun, but were a little skeptical about the spraying water.

Sprinkler under the trampoline. Mackenzie loved it and Collin hated it.



Sitting the wagon she filled with water. We really need a little swimming pool!

Mackenzie and Myah

When we went to Monticello, Mackenzie got her first chance to hold a baby. She was so excited, but it was a sweet and calm excitement. She just couldn't quit staring at her new cousin, Myah, once she had her in her arms. Every time Myah would fuss or cry while we were there, she would come tell me, so concerned about her. It was so sweet. I forgot about these cute pics of them together.

Another Great Road Trip

We went on a little road trip over the weekend and really had a great time. First we went to Monticello to visit Tyson's sister's family. The next day we went to Mesa Verde and Durango, and unfortunately we had to come home on the third day.

Playing with Cousins in Monticello
We were able to go down to the neighbors (Julie's mother-in-law) and take a bunch of pictures where they had a garden wedding reception last week. It was quite fun.

Sweet sisters Cami and Myah (6 weeks old)

Ryan at 18 months


Shane and Cami

Myah Jade

Colton and Myah

The Girls

...and The Boys

I don't know why this picture looks so cheesy...maybe the braces or the wind blowing my hair so goofy, but it was fun to take a picture with just the two of us. :)

Mesa Verde

On Day 2 of our road trip, we went to Mesa Verde in Southwest Colorado. It was so interesting to step back in time and marvel at the way of life the Native Americans had. I was so amazed at how well they built their dwellings and graineries. I left thinking how complex our lives are these days...college, jobs, cars, computers, electricity, running water, doctors appts, etc. I think I take all the blessings and nice things in my life for granted way too much.

There was so much to see there and a few tours that we would have loved to go on. But Collin cannot cooperate at this point in his life and does not see the problem with running wild around the villages and tourists, or screaming wildly to get out of the stroller, or trying to run through the poison ivy. We really enjoyed seeing what we did, but definitely want to go back to see more.

This is the dwelling that we hiked down to.

Square House Tower - they believe that this had more than 80 rooms when it was built, looking similar to a hotel.

Tyson was so impressed with this tree. It is a giant oak tree, the biggest he has ever seen.

Highway 550

On Day 3, we unfortunately had to come home. We had stayed in Durango after going to Mesa Verde, so we had about a 4 hour drive home to Grand Junction. It was by far the most beautiful and breathtaking drive I have ever been on. I was in complete awe! Utah has beautiful mountains and drives, but I have to say that these mountains and the scenery put Utah to shame! Unfortunately we didn't stop to take pictures and now I regret it. I really can't wait to go back down to Durango and drive The Million Dollar Highway!

Green Thumb Anyone?

One thing we love about summer is having a vegetable garden. Grand Junction is a gardener's haven... a very long growing season, plenty of water from the Colorado, and fertile soil. Everyone has gardens and it is a huge commercial business around here as well. Well we have found that we really got short-changed on the fertile soil part. We had the hardest clay soil in the whole valley I think!

We managed to make a place for a small garden, enough to have a huge crop of tomato plants, which is all I really care about. We planted in mid-April, which is normal for around here. Our tomato plants really had a rough start. Tyson had quite the time trying to figure out the right amount of water and doctoring up the soil. It has taken a month for them finally to snap out of it and start looking healthy. So we planted 35 (YES, 35!) tomato plants, peas, carrots, rhubarb, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, white onions, zucchini squash, and summer squash. The garden is really looking great now with blossoms on the plants, and even a few small tomatoes. I can't wait until Harvest Time!

It appears as though she is helping, but I found her pulling the tomato plants out of the ground one day! Up went the fence the next day!