{a lesson in perseverance}

At Tiny Town a couple weeks ago, our "meek and shy" daughter (hardly) demonstrated her skills. These two girls were chatting it up in their claimed playhouse, when Kate broke up the party. Notice the girls' legs up so that Kate could not come through... Most children would come running to their mom at this point, but Kate declared, "You are bein mean to me, an I'n donna put you in jail!" One picture says a thousand words!If looks could kill!She didn't care! Just made herself comfortable...Until she was queen of the castle!
I wonder what this story foretells in our vivacious Kate's future. She will overcome giants for sure.

{meyer farmly reunion}

We were reminded this weekend of just how refreshing family can be. With the Meyer reunion held at Mary's house in Wichita, we left Denver Thursday night anticipating a weekend of family fun. And fun we definitely had. I've also never seen so many kids in one place before! In keeping with the farm theme, we had wheelbarrow races, cattle round up (like a kid's easter egg hunt, but for cows), a weiner roast around the campfire, swimming, farm games, homemade ice cream, tractor and truck rides, seed guessing games, picnics with incredible food, and the highlight- grand(pa) ole opry. Here are a few of the pics... The rest are on Facebook and the family site (soon). Although I was not born a Meyer, I am more than thrilled that I have been adopted into the family. They say you marry your spouse's family. In this case, I am the lucky one. Already looking forward to the next time we all get together. I have an idea for that one: all the cousins and their spouses need to go out for an evening together on the town...

{here and there}

Wow! It's been a while since I last wrote! As usual, summer is underway, and with it, a host of things to do. Got my garden planted in mid-May, but the poor thing has had to battle with frequent spring rains and cool temperatures. So far, so good, but no products of my labor yet-except irises. Yay! After 3 years!

The last week of May, Jonathan went down to our property in South Fork, CO with 2 of his buddies from Wichita and put in the foundation for our cabin. It passed inspection and is ready to be built on. Our cabin floorplans were also just approved, so we hope to start building in July.

I went down to South Fork to see the finished product, then whisked Jonathan away for a weekend retreat in Telluride. A little R&R for our 6th anniversary. My brother and his wife were kind enough to take the kids with them to Kansas where they rendezvoused with my parents and siblings. The kids had a blast in the country while we got some much-needed time together and enjoyed the most beautiful scenery we've ever seen.

When we got back on Memorial Day, Kara (Jonathan's 18 year old sis) was at our house to meet us. She is living with us for the summer, and we couldn't be more delighted. What a joy for a mommy of 2 toddlers to have an extra pair of hands around the house! We only hope she is having as much fun as we are.

Enter the basement work... Our basement flooded last month, and much to our dismay, it was still in great disarray when Kara arrived. A literal booby trap to get to her bedroom in the back corner. This weekend, we got awesome new plush carpet, painted the walls, re-organized everything down there, and set up her room. Hopefully incentive for her to return after her week in KS for VBS!

So now we're packing for a family reunion in Kansas this weekend. We are excited to see family once again and catch up on all the news. We'll be seeing alot of you who read my blog- can't wait!

{fun at the Colorado Railroad Museum}

Our family excursion to the train museum was a fun and unique experience. And to top it off, a gorgeous spring day. There is a large model train display that is incredibly detailed.

The picture below was taken during a ride on the "Galloping Goose," a train with a truck engine.

{rite of spring}

I have been remiss in writing for a while. A lot has happened this month. My sister Michelle visited for 10 days of fun in March, bringing treasures from Japan and Guam. Just a note, bean candies (or whatever they are made of) is not to my liking, but the kids just loved them.

As Easter approached, Jonathan and I were reminiscing our childhood days and decided to buy chicks for the kids. After looking on-line for local feed and supply stores (most have closed down), we located a store (1 of 2 still open in Denver) with a new shipment in. When we arrived, we were greeted with a blast from the past. Entering a small store with dusty shelves half-hazardly arrayed with dusty items (some from the 1970's), we were greeted by a stooped elderly man and escorted to the back room, which was more like a treasure trove of old memories. There were layers and layers of chick holders, old feed bins standing empty, and a huge actually beautiful dark wood incubator about 15 feet long and 8 feet tall that must have cost thousands even in it's day.

In the store room was plenty of chicken feed for all chickens in Colorado for the next 10 years as well as what looked like every box that had ever been sent to this man. When we went to pay, the man added all the prices on paper and would only take a check, informing us that he would never trust "that new-fangled way of payin." He went on to tell us that his kids and grandkids were too "sophisticated" to ever want to take over his store.

We left both excited about our new chicks and saddened that our country has changed so much. It won't be long until there is only 1 store like this left around here.

So now we've had the chicks for almost a month, and we're down to four. Only 2 days had passed before Katelyn decided to learn a lesson on "fragility" and "death." She did not understand that they could not play as rough with the chicks as she does with Chad, nor did she like the fact that daddy had to bury it. She informed us that the chick could stay as a stuffed animal in her bed.

Now we have a partner in our "nostalgic adventure." My cousin came over with her 2 year old and, within a week, had 5 chicks herself. And it has got us to thinking about getting far enough out of the city to have a decent sized plot of land to cultivate our adventurous side...

{Easter box}

We got a box in the mail today, and among other treasures, was this dress that my mom made for Katelyn. It was an instant hit...seeing that the predominant color is purple!
Thanks Nana!

{March snow}

I'm thinking of a place where it is so warm and sunny that you, your husband and your kids (all wearing sleeveless) get outside and till the garden, plant spinach, clear out the flower bed, and get sunburned one weekend...then, 3 days later, go to work and by noon have a blizzard land a foot of snow outside and it takes almost 3 hours to get home...

Answer: COLORADO

Where you always live up for an adventure. The mountains keep you guessing.
LOVE IT
Yesterday, the kids and I played in the snow, built a snowman, went sledding...Next week, it'll all be melted and we'll be working in the garden again.Took this picture today as the snow was melting...