The Dress

Once upon a time, there was a dress. A pretty little dress...navy blue with happy red apples scattered all over it, and one big red apple on the front.
An apple for the teacher.
Apple of my eye.

In our family, this dress was worn by one frightened Kindergartner on her very first day of school. After that, it was worn by yet another Kinder who loved to wear dresses...first day of school or not, this dress was always her first choice. Finally, this good old dress was worn by a third Kindergartner, sad to be leaving Kindergarten on her last day of school.

This dress has seen teachers and friends come and go. It has been on field trips and school buses. It has ushered in new beginnings and now, it helped celebrate an end. It won't be worn by any more Kindergartners...not in our little family anyway.

What a dress...what happy memories...what stories it could tell.
This is one dress I'll keep forever!
I'll carefully pack it away and who knows...maybe it will be worn again someday!

Family

Tonight we had a lovely visit with my nephew, Mike & his wife, Sandi. They are here for an Estes Park vacation/belated honeymoon. Steve had a great BBQ in their honor...we were lucky to be included on their whirlwind tour!!
Grillmasters

Patient Mike & Sandi checking out yet another rock Julia found in Steve's garden (one of MANY)

Sandi suggested taking a family photo so we all lined up our cameras & set the timers...sometimes the making of a family photo is as fun as the actual finished product! Especially with this crowd!
General Mayhem

Steve, Come Back!

Whew! Got it!!

Field Day

Brrrrr! Not exactly a balmy day for outdoor water games but the rain held off and the girls had a great time! Sophie got to be a torch runner in the 'opening ceremony' & was thrilled about that and Julia was pumped that she got to go in the morning and then again in her after-school program...a great...long day!!

In Memorium

We thought we'd do our part remembering those we've loved and lost this Memorial Day...including the great racehorse, Barbaro...
I know--it's a stretch, but we had to have some excuse to go to the horse races...!!

We tried our luck at the track this afternoon...didn't have much success except for Emma's first place pick in the 1st race which won her $10.80!! It poured rain for much of the day, but we love seeing all the great horses and hoping for the best--watching the Kentucky Derby and Preakness really gave us the fever...oh well...better luck next time!!!


Sophie & Julia (and a new little friend) huddled under the umbrella)

Castle

We tried out an old favorite hike this weekend...Mt. Falcon Park. It has the remains of an old (early 1900's) 'castle'...a stone mansion built on the 4000 acre estate of William someone-or-other which unfortunately burned down a few years after he built it. Then the depression came and he ran out of money to rebuild. Poor guy!

I remember hiking there with Girl Scouts and finding pieces of ceramic pottery around the grounds...and the girls were lucky enough to find a few pieces themselves. I'm sure there is a park ranger in charge of planting broken ceramic pieces for people to find but it's fun nontheless! It was a very misty morning so the fog moved in and out of the castle walls...and yes...that is my ghost meter in Emma's hand!!! You never know when you might need it!!

now that's what I'm talkin' about!

love, love, LOVE my new camera...and I haven't even ventured into anything but "auto-everything." (Thanks for the great advice, Mark!!!!) : )
Some things are amazing to capture...



Other things are best left unseen...no matter how good the camera!
(Julia (and friend, Maya) swinging really high--and leaning back really far---yah, yikes)

Not to mention...

...my beautiful new Mother's Day gift...(cue the trumpets & choir of angels)...

Now I have to start wading through the large...rather frightening manual...wish me luck!!

Lucky Me!!

What a fun and fabulous Mom's Day I had...I am one lucky lady!! Check this out...
Breakfast in Bed--complete with cereal and my favorite donut accompanied by hugs and cards, homemade goodies and even a treasure hunt!! Then off to check out a decent sounding used car I found online. From there, we continued on to the outlet stores in Castle Rock for a day of bargain hunting and chocolate covered cherries. Then back home for planting seeds in the garden we built yesterday. Topped off the day with homemade lasagne & carrot cake. Like I said...how lucky am I?!?
Precariously Perched Pea Planting...

Before...

(I'm hoping to have an 'after' photo of the garden bursting with carrots, lettuce, peas, pumpkins & cantaloupe...stay tuned!!!)