Ryan is a cabin boy called "Pip" comforting the old captain Ahab after the death of his wife.
WILD HOGS!!
You only have your 18th and 43rd birthday once. So the girls took the boys ATV riding in the mountains for their birthday party. We had a blast!! Now that is the way you climb a mountain. What really surprised us the most is how incredibly sore we all were the day after the ride. If you want a great adventure come ride with US.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK and RYAN!!
We had a wonderful hike in the Rocky Mountain Park. We hike for almost 10 hours. At the end of the day we had logged in almost 13 miles and 2,938' total round trip elevation gain. We hiked passes Lower and Upper Copeland Falls, passing for a short tie through an area stricken by a lightning induced fire in 1978. Then to Calypso Cascades, and reaching Ouzel falls and Ouzel Lake. We ate lunch with 2 bull MOOSE, chipmunks, squirrels, marmots, and blue birds. Mark went fishing and caught over 20 fish. I have hiked all over RMNP and never seen a Moose, WOW!!
Alyssa and Wendy spent a week in Austin. We stayed with Brad and Monica. It was a wonderful trip filled with many adventures. We hiked to the highest point in Austin over looking amazing houses and a huge river way, we explored beautiful parks, went to 2 different family fun centers, ate at amazing restaurants, watch a baseball game followed by fireworks, watched the thousands of bats fly out from under a bridge at sunset, watch movies, played family games, and of course visited Schlitterbahn (a huge water park). Brad and Alyssa took a leap of faith on a sky coaster. I was so grateful for my family that also traveled from Houston and Dallas to see us while we were there. It was a trip that Alyssa and I will always treasure!!!!!!!!
Toby is another name for love....
Have you seen Marley and Me, and thought it was the greatest movie but the ending was a little sad because you really fell in love with Marley. On Monday (Memorial Day) our family said good- bye to our dear old lab "Toby". He was 11 years old. We were all with him when he passed. He has been with our family since he was 6 weeks old. It was a warm day in April, Mark was on a business trip and the night before our car had been broken into and I was feeling nervous being home alone with 3 small kids and wished I had a dog to make me feel safe. I had taken the kids to the mall and in the parking lot was a truck with a sign that said "Lab puppies". We just had to take a look. Well of course we fell in love and Tiffany's birthday was just around the corner and she cried "mom, the puppy is all I want for my birthday". He chewed our shoes, fingers and toes, listened to our tears, always up for a cuddle, tended many puppies, went on the boat and the water tube, climbed slide at the park, and couldn't wait to go for a walk. He always offered unconditional love and was always happy to see us come home. We will miss his smile, and his love.
19th Annual Fire Hydrant 5 Event to benefit the Larimer Humane Society.
I have always wondered if I could run a 5K race. I have always run inside on my home equipment and was not sure how that compared to running on the road. I month ago I found out about this race the the local Humane Society and as you know I have a soft spot in my heart for dogs. I knew that this was a fun way to support them and also try to set some of my own goals. So, I started training outside. Let me tell you there is a BIG difference running on a treadmill and running outside. The race was early so I was rushing around the house in the morning and I was so nervous leaving the house for the race I forgot, my ipod (but remembered my earphones), my water and ALYSSA. Mark was able to call the house and wake Alyssa and Tiffany and they surprised me at the finish line!! It was great to have there support. My goal was first to finish the race without walking and under 30 minutes. I accomplished both!! My finish time was 29:27. I was 6th in my age group. Not to bad for my first race?! Next race (the 5k Rocky Mountain Labrador rescue) is only a week away, back to training.
My Precious Gift!!!
I love the vision of the future in your beautiful face, the twinkle of your eyes when you create you art. I want to be the best mom I can be to you and embrace you with all my love.
You are as precious as a flower and as gorgeous as a rose. You have been specially made from the tip of your head down to the tip of your toes. You are as sweet as honey, such an innocent young child. You are brighter than any star in the sky and every time you smile you raidate your grandfather dimples. I want you to be proud of who you are and strive to be the best. Put forth your efforts to achieve your goals. I will always be proud to be your mother, and am also very lucky you have you as a friend.
You are the most precious gift, that I've ever been given.
I love you, Mom
Oh is there nothing cuter than baby LABs. There was a lab breader in our area that had a litter of 9 puppies. The parents are show dogs and the puppies are just gorgeous. Of couse we had to go see them. The puppies that I am holding are the females in the litter. They are 4 week old and have just opened their eyes. This is heaven for me.
Mark's Dad, turned 80!!! For his birthday Mark, Tiffany and Jon (mark's brother) took him to the Air Force base in Colorado Springs to an an aviation museum that is on the base. Before they could even enter the AFB they need to go through a security check point. They almost spent more time getting clearance then they did at the museum. Then they rode the COG train to the top of Pikes Peak.(14,000 Ft.) Mark, Tiffany, and Jon got a touch of altitude sickness, but not Lenard. It is funny that the oldest one in the group could handle the altitude the best. It was a very special day for all.
On New Years Day we wanted to start our the year with trying something that we had never done. So we rented Snowshoes and headed up to Rocky Mountain National Park. It was a cold day and the wind was blowing, so wrapped up in "Goretex" we climbed out of the warm Truck to start our adventure. We hiked to three lakes starting at Bear Lake, then to Lilly Lake, and reaching out goal of Emerald Lake. It was Breathtaking, to see the mountains draped with snow and the Lakes frozen solid. Even our water bottles were frozen. I was a wonderful and adventurist day. I guess we have found a new winter hobby.
Look what Santa brought. My mom once told me that once you stop believing in Santa he stops coming to visit you. I have three teenagers that joyfully announce to me "I believe, I believe" and yes you are right Santa still visits them.
After working for 8 years in retail, it was a Christmas blessing to not be so up close to the hustle and bustle of the shopping world. It was even more wonderful to spend Christmas with Family. We were blessed to share Christmas day with Mom-mom and Papa Dean, Angie and Scott, their two adorable boys, and Michael. They made the Christmas just a little brighter.
Ryan participated in a meet in Denver where 12 high schools were in attendance he place 3rd in the heavy weight beating a guy that almost weighed 300 pounds.
We got the call "puppies in need" so we rushed right down to the animal shelter to jump into action. There was a litter of 8 puppies that was found by a farmer in his barn, the mother had died and the puppies were left abandoned. They were close to death when they arrived at the shelter so they began feeding them as much as they could eat. When they were fattened up a bit they were ready to be placed in their foster homes. We took 3, 2 girls and one boy. It is a little CRAZY to have 5 dogs. But, it is just for a little while.
