Luke rides a bike

After Mass this morning, we drove down the mountain. We walked around a little lake while Luke got some extra practice riding his bike. We don't have any sidewalks near our house so it has made practice a little bumpy for Luke. Just in the short time we were out at the lake today, I saw him start out a little wobbly, but soon his confidence just took over and he soared.

We enjoyed a nice warm day and we think, that Spring has arrived at last. It's hard to believe that only a few days ago we had two feet of snow! It's still hard for me to get used to the Spring here in Colorado. In California, the weather is always nice, but here, the Spring starts and stops alternating snow with warm weather. Most people call it mud season. Truly, I do appreciate Spring more now that we live in Colorado. After a hard winter, I truly look forward to the change of seasons. We live among tons of evergreens, but it is nice to hear the birds chirping again and I suspect Rocky the raccoon will be back to eat out of our bird feeders again.

I think we may have seen the last of the snow for this season, but, I won't be surprised if we see snow in May.

Sammy's 2nd Birthday

As you can see, Sammy got a little Radio Flyer ride-on rocket for his birthday. We couldn't even get him off to blow out his birthday candles! Paul is holding him, rocket and all, while we sing. Too bad we didn't get the cake in that picture! Paul made fantastic shrimp tacos and my sister, Kat helped me with the chicken tacos. I made some vanilla ice cream and my dear friend Jen made a chocolate birthday cake (which somehow didn't make it in the photo). Anyway, I can't believe my little precious Sammy is 2 years old. I treasure it all in my heart.

The Good Shepherd

I love contemplating that I belong to this wonderful Shepherd who seeks me out and never ceases to search until He finds me. What a comfort the Good Shepherd is to me! What confidence He gives me! As I get older, I'm overwhelmed by the sense of security He gives me.


'The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me."

Happy Birthday Sammy!

My Sammy is 2! I can't believe it. I blinked and he turned 2. Right now, he's got these gorgeous curls and he's just so sweet. I'll post some pictures tomorrow. Right now, it's after midnight and this will post on April 28 instead of the 27th. Happy Birthday little Samuel Vaughn.

Ella, Cecilia and Sammy

Cutie pies on Easter!

Enough of snow, how 'bout some pics of the boys?

The view from here

Can you believe this?

So, I waited as long as I could to pack away all of the snow gear, but wouldn't you know it? It snows and snows and now, we've got 2 feet of snow! In APRIL!

Hattie Big Sky

I started reading this book this week and I'm almost done with it already. Hattie Big Sky is the story of a young girl who inherits her uncle's claim in Montana. She's an orphan who longs for a home of her own and she endures some tough times in the process. She braves hard weather, wild horses, wolves, and just plain old hard work in her quest to make Montana her home. She's brave and upbeat and it's refreshing to read about a girl who works hard and doesn't complain about the enormous tasks before her. I am glad to see a book like this one earn the Newberry Honor Award. Pioneer life was demanding and Hattie approaches her new life with confidence and hope.

"...the lessons this life has planted in my heart pertain more to caring than to crops, more to Golden Rule than gold, more to proper choice than to popular choice." ~Hattie

Chariots of Fire

So, I finally got around to watching Chariots of Fire. The last time I had seen this movie, I was eight or nine years old. My Dad had taken me and my sister to the movies to see Raiders of the Lost Ark, but it was sold out. So, we saw Chariots of Fire instead. I was the only one to stay awake for the entire film. I thought that now that I'm much older, I would really love this film, but I just didn't. I suspect that this film would not have won Best Picture if it hadn't been for the spectacular score by Vangelis. I did enjoy the story of the missionary runner, Eric Liddell, but overall, this film just didn't inspire me enough. By the way, Raiders of the Lost Ark was nominated for Best Picture in 1981 too, but lost to Chariots of Fire. Anyway, again I was only

a little kid when I first saw this film and in my little kid mind, I just couldn't figure out why anyone would choose Chariots of Fire over Raiders of the Lost Ark. Maybe I still don't.

What Luke is listening to

Luke really enjoyed listening to the original Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie earlier this year. So, he checked out this sequel from the library today and is already enjoying more adventures of Peter Pan even though it's not written by Barrie.

We're really enjoying listening to unabridged books on CD. I tell Luke that it's like listening to a movie! Somehow, it's exciting to hear someone else read a book.

"I am not left-handed!"

"I do not mean to pry, but you don't by any chance happen to have six fingers on your right hand?"

Bunny Tales

There's something about this 6 foot rabbit that didn't sit well with Sammy.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

I started reading the newly published The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart to Luke tonight.

I'm all giddy with excitement about this one. I don't know if Luke knows how excited I get about children's books. We're only a few pages into it and we're already hooked. As I closed the book tonight, he asked for more, more more! I know how he feels!!