Gem Lake

Yesterday we went with a group from church for a "walk in the Park" to Gem Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. We had three kids with us and we thought we better take a picture before we started the hike of 3.6 miles round trip with 900' elevation gain to Gem Lake. We didn't know how long the smiles would last and the whining would hold off...


The kids took off a head of all of us and pretty much ran up the first 0.5 mile! They really seemed to be enjoying the beautiful day and even noticed a few things along the way like fun holes in rocks and lots of butterfly's!



Kaylynn had to be right next to the person leading the way the entire time. Every time we would stop she would say "Let's keep going"!

The girls led the way much of the time. They really seemed to be having a lot of fun showing their independence by saying "Follow us".

We hiked passed Paul Bunyan's boot.

Lunch at the top on the shores of Gem Lake.


For those of you in MN reading this, you may disagree with the distinction given to this body of water ("lake") but, hey, this is CO!

And look at this, still smiling on the way back down!! The kids were real troopers and did a fantastic job!!


This was John's favorite place of the hike on the way down. A personal rock "couch".



So we all made it the entire way and the kids had a great time, which allowed the adults to have a great time as well! This was K's first major hike and we were very proud of her. She had to be out front and she really wanted to reach the destination as fast as possible - That's my kind of girl!!

Playing catch-up!

I am so far behind on blog posts - I have lots to share!!

Kaylynn went to a friends birthday party at a bowling alley a few weeks ago. She really enjoys bowling and is really getting good! She bowled a 168 the other day - oh wait, that was on the Wii...but still!!! She did get two real spares and even a strike at the party. She was very excited!


Kaylynn and her best friend Avery. Too cute.

Kaylynn also had her spring dance recital a few weeks ago. She was lucky enough to be in the class that got to wear pink! (Thank goodness, it would have been hard to explain why she was wearing yellow and others were wearing pink!) Both Grandmas were here for the big show, along with Mommy, Daddy, Aunie and James, so she had quite the cheering section!

Ballet:
Tap:
I was the "back stage" Mom during the show. Here is her class waiting patiently on the stairs for their turn to dance.

Every ballerina needs flowers afterwords.

And a few other gifts (recycled from Mommy's dancing days - don't mention that to her though, I have a few more to use over the years!)

Kaylynn and James after the recital.

We went to dinner that evening too. (Did I mention that Kaylynn wore her costume ALL day after the recital?!!) Kaylynn was wiped out and slept through it, but James really wanted to share his dinner (and save some on his face for later)!

I just thought the next to pictures were fun and cute. We have been having beautiful spring weather so it is nice to be outside.


Finally, we went to MN late last week and the beginning of this week for a visit. We had a great time and got in on some beautiful weather there too! The first day we were there we went to the Mall of America and Kaylynn found a new princess outfit that she absolutely fell in love with (wings came separately, but she really wanted those too. You know, it's Belle the Fairy!). I think she has worn it every day since she got it! She even wore the wings and headband and carried the wand through the airport on the way home!


Grandpa took her fishing before he and Daddy left for Canada for some serious fishing.

Grandpa didn't catch anything, but Kaylynn caught a Bullhead! She kept calling it a sting ray because Grandpa said it had stingers.

She really liked these baby geese too and even fed them some cheese. We had to tell her to throw it to them, she wanted them to eat it out of her hand! I think the babies would have but the parents (geese and human!) were not too thrilled with that idea

One day we also headed out to Hutchinson for a tea party with Great Grandma. Kaylynn loves those sugar cubes! Great Grandma also gave her a porcelain doll that she handmade - from drawing the eyebrows, putting on eye lashes and hair, making the clothes/blanket/pillow...it is beautiful and very special. Thanks, Grandma!

Bell Festival

Last Sunday our church bell choir participated in the Longmont Bell Festival. We played two songs. You can hear one of them on YouTube - luck you!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsz04gJ8hvg

Enjoy!

Pictures of our princess

Just had to put together a post of recent pictures of Kaylynn just being her cute self...








Reminiscing the days when she was "burrito baby":

This is one of K's new favorite nap places. Cory was napping and when he woke up couldn't find her. He finally found her squeezed in behind the chair and the wall sound asleep:

March for Babies

This morning I participated in a 5 mile walk to raise money for the March of Dimes - March for Babies. It was fun to be a part of such a great organization trying to make sure all babies are born healthy. Jennifer Lopez even called and left a message on my answering machine thanking me for raising money and walking in this event - I am sure she singled me out, right?!! Wish we could have had the weather from earlier this week when it was 80 degrees (it was about 45 and drizzling today, so not real pleasant) but we stayed pretty warm as long as we didn't stop. Hopefully next year I can get Cory and Kaylynn to walk with me. This year they met me at the finish line and Kaylynn had already played in the "jumpy castle" and gotten her face painted. Here is a picture of my team and Kaylynn with her face painting.

Easter Festivites

The Easter Bunny was good to Kaylynn! She found lots of eggs on Easter morning at our house and then when we got down to Aunie's house for dinner the Easter Bunny had been there as well and left her a few things. She asked Aunie how he knew to come to her house too and Aunie said, "It's magic" and Kaylynn said, "Yes, it is magical!" Here are some pictures from the holiday.

Kaylynn in her Easter dress hunting for eggs before heading off to church.

Look what the Easter Bunny left!

YUM! Look at those ears!



We had to get up really early for church so K took a nap on the way to Aunie's. She did not want to take off her hat and gloves!

James, Kaylynn and Sophie. You try taking a picture of three kids age 4 and under!!

A better one of Kaylynn and her "baby brother".

Of course, I usually have a random picture at the end of all my Kaylynn posts and here is one of the new fan blades I made for her room. She likes them (I quote - "Awesome!!")!

Twisted randomness

For some reason we decided to pull the game "Twister" out the other day, which Kaylynn thought was *lots* of fun! However, she thought it was even funnier to watch Mommy and Daddy play. We also had fun, the first few times . . . but now the game is back in hiding!


We started getting ready for Easter last weekend. Here is Kaylynn with the eggs she dyed. Plenty more Easter pics to come, I am sure!


She also recently found this sleeping mask in her toy box which she has actually been using the last few nights (I snuck in to take this picture!). Maybe she will sleep in a little more this summer if she gets used to wearing it - we can only hope!


Finally, I leave you with a few pictures of a woodpecker that was in a tree out in front of our house the other day. It was the neighbors tree, so it was neat - until it starts pecking at my house, I will enjoy it!