Go Wyo!

A couple of weekends ago we took our long awaited trip to watch the Wyoming Cowboys play football! We planned the trip a few months ago and Max's excitement has been growing and growing since then.  Every night as Max went to bed he asked "Are we going tomorrow?"  Finally the day arrived - we hopped in the car and took the long drive to Laramie.  Luckily we were able to go with some great friends, so our drive flew bye. 

Quiet a few restroom and snack stops later we made it!  The Pokes took on Boise State...I know it was a very sad, sad game.  Even with our horrible loss, Max still seemed to have the time of his life! He was cheering as loud as he could-too bad the Cowboys weren't listening. :(

Oh my heck! The funniest part of the entire trip was after the game.  We decided it would be fun to eat at Godfather's Pizza with the kids.  As we waited the kids found some of those toy vending machines. One of the girls put in a quarter and out came a fake mustache....we made Max put it on. I couldn't stop laughing, it matched the color of his hair exactly! I was laughing so hard I could hardly take the picture!

Looking back on it now, it isn't quiet as funny. Maybe it was because we had been in a car all day long-but it seemed so funny.

Before we headed home the next morning we decided to let the kids go swimming...not sure if that was a good or bad idea. I thought they would be completely exhausted-but they weren't. (I think it recharged them.)  They giggled and played the entire drive home! We had a great time, even though the Cowboys got smoked. 



Family Pictures

This summer went by so fast, we were so busy that we had to bail on our family photo session-without being able to find a time to reschedule...I started to get a little desperate-we haven't had a family photo done since Max was 2 and Kaysie hasn't had professional pictures done since she was a few weeks old! I decided to bug my Dad enough that he would shoot some family photos for us-we had such a fun time-and the best part is it only took 20 minutes, it was just a few blocks from our house AND he made us dinner too!

 

Here are some (I think he took somewhere around 150 pictures!) of the results:

Thanks DAD! Mom-Thanks too, you were an incredible 'smile maker'!

School!

Max started preschool this last Tuesday! He was so excited to finally be a "Grizzly Bear," and he couldn't wait to meet all his new friends.  As Kaysie and I dropped him off and said goodbye...he ran off to greet his new classmates and teacher-he did manage to turn and say "see you later" with an over the shoulder-you can leave now Mom-wave.

As my Little Man walked away ready for a whole new adventure, I found that a giant lump was caught in my throat.  I tried to keep it down while telling myself, "he'll be back in a couple of hours," "it's only 4 days a week," "we are only 2 blocks away if he needs us." But those thoughts didn't seem to make my lump go away.  I am sad to say that my Little Man is getting to be not-so-little. That little fact hurts my heart like I can't believe.

I did manage to keep my lump at bay...I don't do public emotion very well. Kaysie was a different story.

Max plays with friends, spends time at his Nana and Papa's and spends countless hours on the course-all without Kaysie.  They have gotten to be great friends and do so much together that I seem to be nonexistent when they are playing. I really thought this time alone with Kaysie would be so fun for us.  Apparently she didn't think so...you would have thought she'd never see him again. I don't know why dropping him off at school was so different from dropping him anywhere else-but she lost it.  She was reaching for him the entire way back to the car.  As I buckled her into her seat she was sobbing-not crying, sobbing. That broken-hearted sob that no mom should ever have to hear. I was trying to calm her down while still struggling with my lump when I decided that I quick trip to Nana's house would be a great fix. By the time we drove a block and got out of the car Kaysie had a tear stained face, complete with tears and a wet shirt. Nana was a big help-she got a little teary when it was time to leave Nana's, so off we went to Papa's office. One candy bar later and all was well with the world.

Kaysie didn't want to let go of Max's

hand as we were heading out the door.

A few short hours later we ventured down to pick Max up from school. Our entire walk home was filled with raves much like these: "Mom that was so great! I love school." "I have a new best friend!" "I have some new girl friends too!" I am glad someone enjoyed those few hours! I am so proud of Max for being such an outgoing person-he makes life seem so easy. When we walked in the door Max had to immediately call his dad on the phone. The only part of the conversation I could hear was, "Dad it was so GREAT, it really was great!"

As our week continued the lump in my throat seemed to get smaller each time we said goodbye and Kaysie's crying has tapered off as well. I am not going to lie, she is still not quiet herself until Max gets home and boy does she celebrate! 

Max we are so proud of you, I hope you enjoy the rest of the year as much as you did this week. Love you!

Camping in a TENT!

We took these two excited kids TENT camping last weekend. This was their very first time -ever- sleeping in a tent! I am not going to lie...I was really nervous. I wasn't sure how Kaysie would do in a tent or how Max would feel once it got really dark out- they loved every second of it!

This is Max trying to calm down enough to sleep

This is Max celebrating that he slept all night in a tent

(Notice the tired Dad in the back! Poor Kaysie was still a little groggy.)

Part of the camping fun - FOOD! The two smallest girls in these pictures had a hard time staying away from the snack food!

We took the kids to a little spot so they could fish...

These three decided it was more fun to explore...

So of course, so did Kaysie

Next came nap. Our morning adventure wiped us all out!

After nap we decided to hike down to Porcupine Falls....ooh pretty!

Max caught a fish! WOO-HOO!

(he's got some nice camping hair going on :)

Max scaled the mountains and Kaysie played in the water

Of course no camp out would be complete without s'mores!

 Max is getting all geared up to start roasting the mallows

We had a great time, Max had really hard time leaving. He wanted to stay for '4' more days. Thanks for inviting us along Walker Fam! It was so FUN!

Hot Chicks and Max

A while ago my brother gave Max some 'smell goods' (cologne) to keep for himself. Max loves to wear his 'smell goods,' especially when he thinks he is looking really good. The other morning as we were all getting ready this little conversation took place:

Max: "Dad, why do you wear smell goods?"

Charlie: "Just in case I run into any Hot Chicks."

Thanks Chuck! ...after about 10 minutes of teasing and Max trying to convince Charlie that Mom is a hot chick we headed out the door.

The next morning as I was helping Max get ready he asked if he could use the "hot toothpaste, not the kid stuff." I asked him why he wanted to change toothpastes...I am sure you can imagine what he said..."Just in case I run into any Hot Chicks. This kind makes my breath smell good!"

The next time you see my Little Man and he is looking pretty sharp or smells incredible, I can guarantee he'll tell you it's for the Hot Chicks! Watch out Ladies!

What did you do this summer?

Well the Cooley's...

Danced in the rain

Relaxed...just a little

Took Swimming Lessons

Max can now successfully dunk his head-without freaking out! WOOT!

With Max's new found confidence we spent a lot of time swimming

Spent time with great friends!
Had loads of fun with one great cousin!

Went to the Cabin

Found fresh bear prints!
This bear walked right down the middle of the road!

Had to relax some more

Went Fishing!
My water baby proved to be a giant handful while fishing...we couldn't keep her away from the water! It was ice cold and she wouldn't stop putting her little feet in-I was afraid her toes were going to freeze off.
Played with Nana's new kittensMax is so completely in love with these little things..It almost breaks my heart that we can't have one. (allergies) I said almost-I am so not a cat person!

Found a "pet" toad living in our "waterfall." Max named him Flame-O.

So we now have Flame-O the toad living by our putting green...Yeah, we're pretty lucky. ;)

Believe it or not this is not the end to our summer adventures! We just got home from an awesome camping trip. That great adventure will have to be told later!