August 2023

 Alma

Russ and Katie have a couple cabins in Alma, Colorado (right by Breckenridge), and they were generous enough to let us stay in one for a few days. We had a blast exploring, hiking, riding around in the Razor, and making s'mores.

We hiked quite a ways up Mt. Boss with the kids, just enough to get above the tree line, so we could show them the Picas. Clara is obsessed.

Pica watching! They are small mouse-like (bigger than mice, smaller than guinea pigs) animals that live all over the mountain in the rocks. They are really hard to spot among the rocks, so we sat and listened for their squeaking sounds when they talk to each other and tried to find them. I'm happy to report that every kid was able to see at least a couple, making the difficult adventure well worth it. All left the mountain happy.

We started driving down the mountain and realized there was a pure white mountain goat standing right next to our car staring at us. I think we were both quite surprised and it took him a hot minute before he ran up the mountain.

First Day of School!

Cole - 7th grade, Lexi - 5th grade, Clara - 3rd grade, Macy - Kindergarten, Benson - Mommy's buddy

Happy Birthday, Dave!

Indoor skydiving for the win.

Dave's assistant, Marci, spoils him rotten at work. I'm pretty sure she gives him more each year than I do...

New House Progress

Dave's wiring for the solar is a little wonky, but it got the job done.

We found a family of wild turkeys hanging out at the new place!

This is our elevator shaft/rock climbing wall.

A tornado touched down very near our house! The kids camped out in our utility room in the basement for a while as it passed. The yellow dot in this picture is my brother, Russ's house. So scary.

The price I pay for letting Benson on the counter to help me mix the batter...

Sometimes it is rough being a mom, literally. Benson jumped up while I was bending over to help him and gave me a black eye, and my wrists were hurting really bad from carrying around a giant toddler.

Cole had the chance to tour the flight simulator at the Air Force Academy with his Deacon's group from church. What a cool experience!

Benson was a breeze to potty train! The easiest of all 5 kids, by far. What a blessing! Plus, who doesn't love a little 2-year-old watering the garden in his new dino undies?

The hail destroyed our squash this year.

Current House Restoration

Our master shower had been leaking for a long time, and as a result, our entire master bathroom, dining room and most of the kitchen are blocked off for renovations (it leaked through the dining room ceiling). Not cool. We knew we were building a house, but did not think we would be living in one that was under construction too.

Our current dining room.