Annual Hawaii Trip

Only this year we had a surprise in store for the boys....Brent, Shelly and the girls were flying to Maui to meet us! We always love Hawaii and having the whole family together made it even sweeter.

Surprise!! You can't tell by the looks on their faces, but they were surprised and thrilled....as was Brent!

Nugget caught this little guy and right after this picture was taken LOST this little guy in my parents' condo. Grandma was NOT happy. But we found him before bedtime.

The lunar eclipse and blood moon

Hopped over to Oahu for the last day and visited Pearl Harbor

Best Summer Yet - 2014

We started off the summer with a road trip to South Dakota

I had read about Wall Drug and knew this place would be a hit with the kids. It didn't disappoint.

• Unplanned detour to Hot Springs, South Dakota where there is an active paleontological dig of the largest concentration of mammoth remains in the world!

After a week and a half in Colorado and quick trip to S. Dakota, we flew to New York where we picked up Kenny and headed south. First stop...Washington, DC.

And then on to Virginia Beach and a happy reunion with the Gakstatters! Other than a day trip to Jamestown and Williamsburg, it was all beach and pool...the boys' favorite kind of vacation!

Williamsburg - I could use one of these at home.

Jamestown

We had one rainy day and went on a nature walk to burn some energy. Lots of cool wildlife and we spotted a baby copperhead snake.


After a week at the beach it was time to say, "Until next summer" and we headed north to Gettysburg. What a cool area and town! Highly, highly recommend checking out Pennsylvania and Gettysburg.

 After a week+ on the east coast it was time for the boys and I to head back to Colorado and Kenny went back to work for a week. He joined us for the final week which included lots of skeet shooting, pool time, shopping and the Logan County Fair. The boys were super sad to leave friends and family and are already counting down to Christmas.

At the airport...our family of five and approximately 600 pounds of luggage!

Spring Break 2014 - Hawaii

Hawaii is exhausting. Yes, Nugget was dead asleep under that towel.

Luc making sand beards

Jack didn't quite understand the concept

Tidepooling near where we stayed. This is the biggest cowrie shell I've ever seen other than in a shop. Very cool!

Some amazing creatures to see and pick up. Lots of sea urchins and sea cucumbers

Luc's favorite activity - paintballing

War wounds from the two days of paintballing

After an eleven hour flight and missed connection in Seoul, the boys were DONE. Spent an unplanned night in Seoul and arrived back in Beijing a day later than expected. All worth it though - love, love, love Hawaii!

Christmas in Colorado 2013

Had to start with a couple of lead up pictures from here in Beijing.  First is one after the boys decorated Christmas cookies and the second is from our early gift opening.

After a week of keeping quiet about being in Colorado and about a zillion "When are the girls getting here?" it was time for the big reveal when my sister and brother came down to Sterling.  We made something up about a new tent in the basement and had the boys jump out of boxes and yell "Surprise!" when they came down the stairs and I think they were.

Christmas Eve at my parents'

Luc flying his new remote controlled airplane with a little help

Christmas Day and more presents

Something I miss about Colorado

Sunrises, sunsets and quick changing weather

A few days earlier Jack was at the park without a coat

Boxer puppies!!  Jack said he'd give up all of his Christmas presents in order to keep one.

Visiting the wildlife sanctuary outside Denver.  I learned about this place from a great and sad documentary called The Elephant in the Living Room.  Kenny made me surrender my wallet before going in to prevent me from donating the boys' college funds to this wonderful place that I wish didn't have to exist.  Luc wants to become a summer volunteer here as soon as he's sixteen and I may tag along.

First professional hockey game

Nugget was enthralled with how popcorn can be popped without a microwave.

Always a sad day when we have to leave family, friends and Colorado, but the long trip home was made a little better with a trip to the cockpit...

And Dennis Rodman being on our plane and being nice enough to take time out of his international diplomatic duties to come up and sign autographs for the boys.

Notice the Champagne bottle he was swigging from on the boys' table.  Guess Celebrity Rehab loses another one.  That show doesn't have such a great track record. Go figure.

Jet lag last night.  I pushed Dominic all over the house on that desk chair.