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Showing posts from September, 2013

Book Review: Saturdays and Teacakes by Lester Laminack

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Saturdays and Teacakes by Lester L. Laminack My rating: 5 of 5 stars Oh, my goodness, I love this book.  If you have ever had a special grandmother or want to be a special grandmother, you need to read this book. Mentor Text--Personal Memoir View all my reviews

Family Reunion Second Cousins

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One of the things I was most looking forward to at the Family Reunion was watching the Second Cousins Play Together. Getting Ready for the Second Cousins to arrive. Requisite Silly Photo The second cousins being silly with the older cousins and their Great Uncle too. Caleb took every opportunity to hang out with the VanLoenen Second cousins. I think the sun was in their eyes at the Olympic Training Center. These first cousins are definitely BFF's. Popcicles were good on a warm day. Caleb enjoyed being with Sarah and Caitlin. A game of parachute. The instructor didn't know what she was getting herself into. Another popcicle photo. I think this might have been at the Drum Activity. Eating in the fort at Nana and Ducca's house. Ducca had buried some treasure for them to find. Nathan was successful. Aunt Stacie found one! This is the artwork that these two sweet boys made for me. My deck bears witne

Family Reunion--Zip Line Video

When our family members went to the orientation for the Zip Line Activity, they were asked if they would mind if YMCA video's them.  Of course, they said YES!  Who wouldn't want to get their 15 minutes of fame hurtling down a very steep hill?  So here it is (if it works).

Family Reunion--Sweetie

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Our Family Reunion was in July. I have been so busy since then that I haven't spent a lot of time blogging. So for the next few posts, you are going to get to see my precious family and the beautiful  YMCA of the Rockies at Estes Park. Sweetie is the matriarch of the family so she gets to be featured in the first blog post. Here she is with all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Missing from the photo are: Emily, Philip, and Sarah who were all at the reunion but had to leave before pictures were taken.   Gail and Jon created a fun game of family bingo. Newest great grandchild--Cora Elise. You might be wondering what Josh is thinking. We often wonder that!  Her own private escort to the picture taking location. Sweetie with her children. Not pictured is Aunt Terry who had to stay home for classes to become a chaplain.  We missed her! We teasingly told Kim that we should have taken a picture of the "original three" but kind

Afternoon Hike--Fox Run Regional Park

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David and I are trying to do more walking for a couple of reasons. First, I am trying to lose weight. (It's out there now, so no turning back!) Secondly, we are going to  Washington, D.C. this October  with my siblings and spouses (CAN'T WAIT!) so we want to be ready for lots and lots and lots of walking. Fox Run Regional Park was our destination today. Not a bad spot for a hike, I'd say! Love the way the trees reflected in the water. A different shot Don't the black markings at the bottom of this tree look like a lopsided heart? You cannot see the sign too well, but it was about lightning strikes on trees. See the tree in the background. If you know David well, I bet you can guess what kind of t-shirt he is wearing. I wonder if some type of animal lives in the hole in the bottom of this tree stump. There are still a few wildflowers blooming. The fall berries are beginning to appear as well. The sun shining

Annual Labor Day Hot Air Balloon Post

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The very first year we moved to Colorado Springs, Jeremy and Mandy took us to the CS Balloon Festival. We were hooked! We cheat and go to the opposite side of the lake than most of the crowds.  We feel like locals and not tourists because we know this is the "place to be". Seeing the balloons right over your head is awesome. This was a new balloon this year! The opposite side says "defy gravity". When it started coming up over the trees on the opposite side of the lake, I knew what it was going to be! We met Jeremy and the boys there early in the morning to enjoy the balloons. Mud and water was more fun than watching balloons for little guys. Every once in a while, one would get their attention. I wish I had caught this sun balloon against a blue sky. Aren't these clouds amazing? God puts on a better show than the balloon people. We love leaving the park and driving around the town "chasing" the balloons.