Camping Trip at Chatfield State Park and Reservoir

We went to the Chatfield State Park with the Lewis Family for a one night campout. It was our first campout together where the weather did not mess it up or chase us away. So, who's ready to set up camp and have some bonding time?

Out by the lake. There were a lot of fish jumping around, but none hooked.

Out looking for rollie pollies.

Nathan and I out with everyone doing some fishing.

This snake was in the tree next to our tent. Like 3 feet from our tent!!! It was the second one Nathan found in like 30 min. The other one was in the grass next to our tent on the other side.

Jim tossing the snake off a ways out from camp.

Such a little princess my Lanie is.

Nancy was loving the swim beach.

The boys making a cannal.

Anyone up for some hotdogs, burgers, PF Changs on the cook top, or smores?

Matthew was loving the smores!!! I can't remember how many he had, but then again I can't remember how many I ended up eating.

Nathan and Julia making scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast.

Stopping off to play at the playground near our camp spot before making the drive home.

Visiting the Carter Family and Tiny Town

Just made it to Tiny Town with my cousin Natali and her family. We drove out to have a visit with them and they treated us to a surprise visit to Tiny Town. It was fun to see all the little houses. I know the kids loved it.
Here we are waiting for the train to come and take us on a ride around the perimeter.

Taking a train ride around Tiny Town.

Elaine is very excited to see all the little houses.

Nancy loved seeing all the little houses and barbies inside. Here the barbies are having a country time barn dance.

Matthew sleeping on the front porch. hahaha. Matthew looks like a giant.

All the kids having fun in Tiny Town.

This is a miniture replica of the house Nathan is going to buy me after we are done with school.

Visiting Julia and Climbing Castle Rock

After Matthew finished his last day of school, we went out to Julia's house for a visit.When we first showed up to Julia's house Nancy found Alyssa collection of Care Bears which she had no intention of letting anyone else touch. Here she is screaming because Matthew was looking at one of them.

Matthew is calling Grandma, Hello Grandma are you there?

Elaine was addicted to this pony!

PLaying at the playground while daddy is back at Julia's house making dinner.

The rock we climbed to the top of---Castle Rock in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Our family having fun climbing Castle Rock in Colorado.

While searching for a way up, Nathan found another cave, but not access to the top of the rock.

Elaine and Matthew have found a cave. Elaine was a bit scared to go in.

Alyssa, Braden, and Adam hidding out.

"You can't stop me now, phew phew" says Nancy.

Elaine, Matthew, and Braden climbing up.

Julia, Adam, and Alyssa on top of Castle Rock.

Nathan and Matthew looking out over the city Castle Rock, CO.

Me and Matthew on top of Castle Rock.

Elaine with the Kids saying "HEELLOOO!!!"

Matthew and Adam are having fun in the water, while Braden, Elaine, Julia, and Alyssa are hanging out poolside.

Nathan helping Adam learn to swim.

Nancy and Me getting ready to go back in.

Summer Fun and Matthew's Last Day Of Kindergarten

Summer is here and the kids are enjoying evey moment of it. Well Matthew will be out of school soon and then I guess it will really be summer, but hey outside playing some catch while waiting for daddy to take us fishing is always fun.

The family went over to Stanley lake from some summer time fun fishing and playing in the sand. No fish though, however, we did dig up some worms. HAHAHA. Yeah baby.

Little Nancy kept wanting to go up and down.

Can you see the rain and lighting clouds? Well they came and chased us away. Looking pretty as ever Elaine!

Matthew overlooking the lake.

Hmmmm....who's a daddy's girl?

Fishing at Stanley Lake.

Oh, how time does fly. My little boy will now become a 1st grader. Good-bye Creekside and thank you Ms. Stefani for all your hard work with helping Matthew in school.

Getting on the bus to school for morning kindergarden for the last time.

Matthew sitting at his desk.

Matthew and his teacher saying good-bye.

Daddy time

So last week Nathan took Matthew out for the afternoon and they tried to find turkeys to hunt. They played with his turkey caller, but the place they went to was busy with ton of dirt bikers, and quads. They are going on a Father n Son camp out next month. Today, He went out with Elaine for one on one time. They got some ice cream and then tied to find a park to play at, but they were all crowded. Instead they went to see Shrek III. They had a great time. Tomorrow is Matthew's last day in Kindergarten. I feel like I just took him to his first day. Time seems to be escapeing from me. Just like me period. Darn thing went missing this month. The two doctors I saw today can't find my IUD and are having me go in for an Ultra Sound and blood work (concerned it may be my throid causing the problem)....AND NO I AM NOT PREGNANT ( I have already had two tests done in the past week includin at today office visit). Meanwhile we are still unsure of where we are going to go for Law School. I just keep packing the house a few boxes at a time and hang out with my family. We bought a soccer ball today and played for over an hour outside with it. Last week we took them to Chuck E Cheese where they had so much fun. We have been taking them to the dino park alot and have gone fishing a couple of times too.
Here is a picture of Nancy on the big kid's swing by herself for the first time.

The kids playing on the swings at the dino park while daddy is fishing in the pond behind them.

Next week we are going on a Family camp out. Post about it afterwards you know.
Well I hope everyone is doing great. That's all for my little update.

Mother's Day / Phillip's B-day Party

HAPPY 35th BIRTHDAY PHILLIP!!!
Well after just ending all the graduation stuff the night before, we have now moved on to yet another party. That's right it is now Saturday and we are celebrating Mothers and a birthday. Man all these desserts are going to kill me. We partied at the club house at our apartment complex for the first couple hours while we ate bbq'ed hot dogs and hamburgers, then traveled over to the dino park near by. The kids had a blast playing with their cousins.
We had our family (Nathan, Stephanie, Matthew, Elaine and Nancy), plus Julia's family (Julia, -Jim had to work-, Adam, Allissa, Braden), also Phillip's Family (Phillip, Denise, Ammon, Audrie, Nathan, Susie, Hyrum), and Grandma Nancy all there together. David (the other brother) was suppose to be here with his family from Utah, but ended up not being able to make it due to Standardized testing and work stuff. At least he will make it out on Sunday to go hunting with the boys.

I think Grandma Nancy enjoyed seeing eveyone since she is almost all alone in California with only 1 of her 5 kids. The 3 here partying with her are all in Colorado. She really wants to move out here to be with them and our families. Soon...hopefully soon. Meanwhile our family might be moving away for school. Still don't know what's happening. Oh well. We have trust in the Lord to let us know where to go.

Sunday (the day after the party shown here), was wonderful. I slept in (enough anywas), got breakfast in bed (such a loving husband to make me waffles with fresh strawberries and whip cream, plus eggs, bacon and sasage and a glass of milk), my kids looked at old photo album from when they were born, Nathan cleaned the house for me, went to church (got lovely treats there too), and came home to dinner prepared by Nathan (yummy pasta with enough left overs so I wouldn't have to cook so much while he is gone hunting). My mother's day presents included 3 new dresses, a potato fry cutter, make-up, nail polish and deodarant. All the nice kinds I can never bring myself to buy because of prices. Thank you Nathan and I couldn't be the mom that I am without you.

I hope the rest of you moms had a wonderful mother's day too.

One Step Closer

Well we made it to graduation from the University of Colorado. Nathan received his bachelors in Spanish and had three ceremonies for us to attend:
Spanish and Portuguese Department Commencement Ceremony
Thursday, May 6, 2010 will begin at 3:00 p.m. with the ceremony starting at approximately 3:30 p.m. and finish near 4:30pm in the Cristol Chemistry Building, Room 140
Reception to will follow outside in the Fountain and Arcade area of the UMC.
Your family is invited to share in this great occasion.
University of Colorado Commencement Ceremony
Friday, May 7, 2010 will begin at 8:30 am and finish around 11:30am.
Center for Multicultural Affairs' Graduation Reception
The reception will be following commencement.
May 7, 2010 at 11:00am at Kittredge Dining Center
Complimentary lunch for the graduate and guests.

The Thursday graduation was cramped and did not provide enough seating. Good thing we were the first people there because other’s ended up sitting in the aisles on the stairs and standing in the back. We took up almost two rows with our family there to support Nathan. It was raining when it ended so we grabbed some pictures together and cake and left because the reception was outside with minimal coverings. Some jerk off had the nerve to approach me (Stephanie) as I was walking with the baby afterwards and tell me that I was very rude to have not left with the baby during the graduation. He complained that her crying was very disruptive to others and he was not the only one angry with me. I told him to “suck it.” Who does he think he is….my children sat there for almost three hours making almost no noise and the baby only cried out for less than a minute after she saw daddy walk across the stage and she wanted to go to him. Other than that she had a few moments when she needed new entertainment, but I did my best to keep them quiet. I was there with family, but they had their own kids to watch leaving every time Nancy made a noise would have been even more disruptive because I would be dragging 3 children out with me and climbing over 10 other seats to get out. I will just say that some people need to be punched in the face and he was lucky that the baby was in my arms because I would have. I had such anger in me when he said that….I have spent the last 5 years supporting my husband through school and raising a family. I deserved to be setting in that crowd with my children supporting him through the end. That man needs to think before he speaks. And to anyone reading this don’t you dare ever approach a young woman and scold her for such ridiculous things, she is probably doing the best she can. Moving on, we had given Nathan a party before the graduation so everyone went home afterwards.
The graduation on Friday morning was cold because it had snowed at midnight. We got seats close to the field, but had the spend 10 minutes or more scrapping ice off the benches before we could sit down. It started late because they had to clean all the seats off before the graduates could sit on them. Which was okay because Nathan’s sister Julia got stuck in traffic on the 36 on her way only two exits before the school because a car had over turned. It was a more exciting ceremony with all the people there. Nathan stood with his department as well as with the graduates who were graduation with distinction. Of course I was constantly worried I would miss him doing his thing because my kids kept needing to go to the bathroom. I think I made 4 potty trips and the bathroom was way up the at the top of the level. Good work out I guess.
The ceremony right after was for first generation graduates. Nathan was a part of the Multicultural Affairs scholarship during his time at CU. They served an awesome lunch and did a nice casual ceremony. The graduates gave shout-outs and this was the only time I was recognized. At every ceremony they would applaud the parents but never mention spouses. I am going to write a very offended letter to the school. Come on people you have a FAMILY HOUSING DEPARTMENT!!!! People are married and graduating. At least Nathan knows what I have done.
We are so happy to be done with that and moving on to bigger things. Nathan had applied to Law and Graduate programs, with CU Spanish Master’s and Idaho Law’s programs being the two we have held onto thus far. A final decision has not yet been made because Nathan has been waitlisted with better law programs; namely BYU (UT), Washington (MO), and Chapman (CA). We are hoping and praying for BYU LAW to let us in off the waitlist. It is already the second week in May and I hope we know soon because our lease is up at the end of June.
NATHAN YOU DID IT AND SO WELL TOO! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!