September 2018

September started off with a trip to Springfield, Missouri, to visit Chris’ family. While we were there, Michael learned how to ride both a bike and a scooter and he still has the road rash to prove it! Many thanks to his cousin Lincoln for being so generous with his bike and his scooter! Michael’s soccer team remained undefeated. Chris and Michael started playing racquetball at the local rec center once a week. We picked apples and saw fall leaves. Michael had his first trimester student led conference at school and Sunday School resumed. The new house is tracking along to be ready about the end of February.

Sunday, September 2- Grandparents/kids- Ron, Debbie, Michael and Lincoln.

Sunday, September 9- Chris and Michael shopping for racquetball racquets and protective eyewear.

Saturday, September 15- Michael played goalie.

Friday, September 21- flowers from Chris for the 4th anniversary of mom’s death.

Saturday, September 22- tomatoes from Dad’s garden.

Sunday, September 23- We had breakfast at Village Inn before our apple picking/leaf viewing excursion.

Monday, September 24- I found this photo of Kyle with G.G. and Great-Grandma Frieda at Randy and Stephanie’s 1998 wedding while working through old photos I received from Joni.

Tuesday, September 25- Michael’s self-portrait art project.

Friday, September 28- Michael prepping for his student led conference.

Friday, September 28- We had our initial meeting with the construction manager. 

Thanks for reading- see you next month!

Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.

~Winston Churchill

August 2018

August was gone in a flash! Our weekends were busy with soccer games and sorting through stuff from 15 years of living in the same house. We did have some fun too though. The night before school started was Coach White’s end of season baseball banquet/pool party and on the 31st we traveled to Springfield, Missouri, for the Labor Day weekend.

Kyle and his girlfriend Jessy took a fun trip to Croatia and Budapest with a group of their friends.

Thursday, August 2- 7th grade check-in day vision screening.

Thursday, August 2- As a 7th grader, Michael has a bottom locker.

Saturday, August 4- Michael totaling up the Colorado Journey Pack Mule Draw mini golf course score card.

Thursday, August 9- I’m grateful for these two crazies. There’s never a dull moment!

Sunday, August 12- The undefeated 2018 Yankees baseball team at their end of season banquet. Coach had his book out so Chris got Michael’s stats- 7 for 13 with 5 walks. Translation- he got 7 hits out of 13 official at bats plus 5 additional walks.

Sunday, August 12- Michael and Coach White. "If nobody knows, this is our short stop. In the 9-player game, Michael hit a grand slam to solidify the win."

Monday, August 13- Michael’s first day of 7th grade and first day of riding the parent organized bus!

Friday, August 17- We took a quick little drive by our lot at lunch today. The smaller sign on the left is new this week.

Friday, August 24- Fall soccer team photos.

Saturday, August 25- Atha vs Gaibor 8-0.

Friday, August 31- We had a late flight to Springfield, Missouri, for the Labor Day weekend.

Thanks for reading! See you next month.

You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing and falling over.
~Richard Branson

July 2018

July was a fun month! There was lots of baseball for Michael- Monday night batting practice, Wednesday night field practice and Friday night games. We took a quick trip to Moab, Utah over the 4th of July holiday. We drove home on Saturday the 7th and on the 8th we bought a new house! It’s about 5 minutes from our current location and Michael’s schools are the same. The week of the 9th Michael had Colorado Math Camp. On the 19th Keila passed her Medical Assistant test- go Keila! On the 22nd we enjoyed a barbecue with my childhood friend Jackie Clair-Horn at her brother Steve’s house in Denver. It’s been a super long time since I’ve seen either one of them and it was fun to catch up! On the 31st, Dad and Michael went fishing at Aurora Reservoir. Unfortunately, they didn’t even get a bite but they still had a good time.

Monday, July 2- Monday night batting practice at the Parker Fieldhouse.

Thursday, July 5- Michael following Park Ranger Marshall in Fiery Furnace, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah- a 2-mile, 2 1/2 hour hike.

Thursday, July 5- Photo ops before our hike.

Friday, July 6- The Hunter Canyon Trail in Moab was a choose your own adventure kind of trail. It frequently disappeared leaving us guessing as to which way to go.

Saturday, July 14- When we bought our house on the 9th there was no green space. Today there was! Our lot was the last available lot of the seven lots facing this green space. The house will have a large covered front porch with a ceiling fan and we're looking forward to using it.

Friday, July 20- Warm up for White vs Chick-Jones 11-6.

Friday, July 27- We had our design center appointment this morning and our lot has a SOLD sign today!

Friday, July 27- White vs Anderson 11-4.

Waiting for perfect is never as smart as making progress.

Seth Godin

Hopefully that’s true as I haven’t felt very inspired to take photos lately. See you next month!

June 2018- 10 on 10

Our June was non-stop! Michael's playing baseball and he has two practices and one game per week. We were supposed to go to Sedona, Arizona, the week of June 3-8 but late the Wednesday night before, Michael and I had to take Max to the Emergency Vet and he never improved. We had to say goodbye to Max on the 4th. We are heartbroken. He would have been 14 on June 19th. We celebrated Father’s Day on the 17th and our 14th anniversary on the 19th. Also in June, Chris had a business trip and so did I. At the end of the month we went to Fort Worth, Texas, for Keila’s Medical Assistant graduation!

Monday, June 4- We had to say goodbye to Maxie today. Michael and I had to take him to the Emergency Vet late Wednesday night and he never improved.

Tuesday, June 5- Michael and Chris at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. We saw wallaby and giraffe babies, a bear in the water with a fish lunch, a female lion fetch a male lion for keeper talk and a non-zoo deer at close range.

Monday, June 11- Michael and I picked up Max’s cremains and paw print today.

Thursday, June 14- IDS Center- Downtown Minneapolis (my business trip).

Sunday, June 17- Father’s Day breakfast on the patio at the Original Pancake House DTC. Fresh Strawberry Belgian Waffle, coffee!, Apple Pancake. Not pictured- Chris’ Banana Pancakes and my Dutch Baby Pancake.

Tuesday, June 19- We celebrated our 14th anniversary with an early dinner at Cranelli’s and then Chris had to catch a flight to Montana. Photo by Michael.

Wednesday, June 20- Wednesday night baseball practice.

Friday, June 22- White vs Katzer 13-0 5:30 pm game

Saturday, June 30- We’re so proud of our Medical Assistant graduate!

Saturday, June 30- Keila chose Dave and Busters after lunch at Cotton Patch Café for her graduation celebration. Photo by Chris.

Thanks for reading! See you next month...

This place where you are right now, God circled on a map for you.
~Hafiz

May 2018- 10 on 10

In May, we celebrated three birthday’s and Mother’s Day. Soccer wrapped up and baseball started. Michael finished sixth grade and we replaced our 13 year-old Honda Pilot.

Sunday, May 6- Our first mini golf outing of the year- fore! Colorado Journey- Pack Mule Draw course.

Tuesday, May 8- We celebrated Chris’ birthday with dinner at Hacienda Colorado.

This is nacho average birthday card. In queso you didn’t know, you’re awesome. Love, Mom & Dad. “They know me so well..”

Saturday, May 12- Happy birthday to me! The day started off with breakfast at LePeep with Chris, Jessy, Kyle, Michael, Joni and Dad.

Saturday, May 12- Michael's last soccer game of the (undefeated) season. Atha vs Wilson 7-0.

Sunday, May 13- Kyle’s birthday and Mother’s Day.

Friday, May 18- Maxie’s first fast food drive thru experience. He stood up the whole time we were waiting at the pick-up window.

Wednesday, May 23- The ‘New York Yankees’ had their first outdoor baseball practice. Michael played shortstop and Coach White had ice cream for the boys after practice.

Friday, May 25- Michael’s last day of 6th grade.

Monday, May 28- We said goodbye to the Honda Pilot we bought when Michael was two weeks old and bought a Nissan Pathfinder to replace it.

You never know how your story might inspire another. Share what you wish, save some just for you and always remember to add new chapters as you go along.

~Maria Shriver

Thanks for reading. See you next month!