Finally! A Post!

After a nearly 2 year break from posting on the blog, I'm finally going to add some pictures today. These pictures go back to Easter until the present.

Here are our two angels on Easter Sunday. Emma was ready to go down for a nap and wasn't too smiley at the moment. She's normally all smiles.

Ethan finished preschool in May and will start Kindergarten this fall. He received the "Best Manners" award at preschool. He is such a kind and gentle little boy.

The preschool grad with best friend, Jackson!

Yep, She's crawling!

These crazy faces are very typical for Emma. She loves to smile and make goofy faces.

This is just pure cuteness!

Ethan is such a good big brother. He's finally more interested in playing with Emma now that she can get around. They both had a blast while Ethan pushed Emma around in the laundry basket.

Here is Ethan at yesterday's swim meet. He prefers the backstroke and has been improving all season.

Camping With Friends

We were invited to go camping some friends in our ward. We were really excited since we had only gone once this year and this might be the last chance to go before it gets to cold. We had a lot of fun.







What is it with boys and being in the outdoors?

Hiking

Today we had a great day hiking with a couple of other families in our ward. We started early in the morning, ate lunch at the top of the trail and then hiked back down. It was the perfect day. Overcast so we weren't hot, but it wasn't cold either. The hike was easy enough that Ethan was able to hike the whole thing all by himself with his friends.





Along the way, we ran into some interesting wildlife. We actually heard this one before we found it just off the trail.


Here's the view from the trail. That's Denver you can see off in the background.


From the trail we could see the Red Rocks Amphitheater. Papi says it's one of the neatest outdoor venues for concerts. He really wants to go to a concert there someday. He's wanted to ever since U2 played there back in 1983.

"Sprayground"

So today Mommy and Ethan went to a local "sprayground" with a few of the gang. What kid doesn't like getting wet and playing in sand on a hot day? Too bad Papi had to work today. He'd be as wet as the other boys!

A Year of Firsts

Ethan's had a lot of firsts this year - his first bike, his first garden and now, his first sting. Kristie and Ethan were playing at a local park with the neighbors when both boys started crying. Turns out there was a hornet nest close by and the hornets were none too happy about two little boys getting so close to home. Ethan got lucky with just one sting to his ear.

Here's Ethan's normal ear.


Here's Ethan's stung ear all swollen and red.


Ethan's a total trooper though. He got over it pretty quick once he started helping Mommy to roll out pizza dough.


Now Ethan knows that hornets, wasps and bees all have stingers in their "bums." He thinks it's pretty funny.

Jolly Green Giant

We had a pretty decent crop this year in our garden. This was just one of a few giant zucchini we let get away from us.

GRADUATION DAY!!!!

Cory's last graduation EVER. Today Cory graduated from University of Denver's Graduate Tax program receiving his LL.M. which is a master's degree in taxation. So far Cory has earned his Associates, Bachelors, Juris Doctorate (law degree), and LL.M. Not bad for a kid who never wanted to go to college! Of course, none of it would have been possible without his very supportive and VERY understanding wife to whom he is eternally grateful. He is now duty bound to shower her with unending praise, compliments and gifts (not necessarily in that order).





We were very glad that Cory's parents and most of his family could make the drive out to Denver to be with us today. Cory was especially excited to have them here.



Cory really hopes Ethan will follow in his footsteps someday.


Here is where Cory spent pretty much all of his time for the past year.