Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

So, after living here for over a year, I finally took my kids to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

I would say that the coolest thing about this zoo is the giraffes. You can buy crackers to feed them and get very up close and personal.


This one was a baby giraffe that could barely reach the bottom of the platform.

They have such long, black tongues! This one was slobbering all over the railing.


It is a beautiful zoo - up on the side of a mountain, but that is one of the downfalls - it is very steep! To get anywhere you are walking up steep hills (and I was pushing Emma in a stroller). So, we didn't get to the whole zoo, but I'm sure that we'll be back many times.

Here is Josh in the monkey house.

Smiling Emma

David, sporting his turtle hat.

David and Josh playing on the gigantic hose.

Rachel - checking out the chickens.

Petting the goat.


The view is really pretty.


I'm sure we'll be making it back to the zoo many times!

Oldies but goodies

Recently my Dad went through all his old slides and digitized them. He made CDs for all the kids in the family so that we could have some of the pictures from when we were kids. Here are some of my favorites.


Me and my brother by a covered bridge in Oregon.


The ginormous garden that we grew.



Me and my sister on Easter morning.


Me and my brother.


Me and my brother dressed up like Raggedy Ann & Andy


This is my absolute favorite!

My dad sent me well over 1000 photos. I picked out some of my favorites and put them in a slideshow.

It's so fun to look at old photos. I'm so glad that I have them now.

Rachel's Birthday

Rachel turned 12 on June 9th! I don't know what it is about that number, but it all of a sudden makes me feel very old. But, I couldn't be prouder of my sweet, pretty, smart, oldest girl. She is so responsible and is such a good helper at home. I've gotten quite used to a wonderful live-in babysitter - I don't know what I'm going to do when she starts getting tons of jobs.
Here she is opening the first present.

She got a new wallet and she is just discovering that it's already loaded with cash (that's what I do instead of parties).

What a cute smile.

She also got some fun jewelry.



She also wanted to decorate her own cake - picture is really blurry but you get the idea:)




Happy Birthday Rachel!

Trip to Utah

We left on the last day of school to make a quick trip to Utah. Aaron needed to help his sister move to Colorado and I got a chance to see my sister and her family that were visiting from Maryland.

We were able to play with cousins

blow bubbles

fly kites



picnic in the canyon





Go to a Bees Game


Ride the Frontrunner Train to Salt Lake




Visit the Planetarium



and walk around the Gateway


It was so nice to spend time with family and just relax.

Little Smarty Pants

Rachel has done really well for her first year of middle school. In addition to making the National Junior Honor Society, she got a special award. Our whole family was invited to a banquet where she received a FINO award (failure is not an option). Only 14 kids from the entire middle school received this recognition.

Here she is receiving her award.

Here she is afterward with her little plaque. We are so proud of her!

Then on the last day of school they had awards for everyone. Rachel got the Presidential Gold Award for having straight As all year and academic excellence in Language Arts, Science, and Ancient Civ. They also handed out awards for every single student and Rachel got "Most Responsible".


We are so proud of her!