Happy Birthday!

I am not a very good birthday celebrator.  I don't do a very good job for my kids, and I really don't think that its a special day for myself.  Gifts are nice, but I don't feel like anyone should go out of there way for me.  So I am trying to do something a little different.  I tried with Savannah, but it wasn't as successful as I hoped. With Brittlynn we all ended up together as a family.  That was a lot of fun.  So when my day came around.  I decided we should go somewhere we haven't been and try something a little new.  So we drove up Pikes Peak.  Alex had to work so he wasn't able to join us.

We had a nice adventure we stopped to eat some lunch and take some pictures of the wonderful view.  This is when I realized my battery in my camera was dead.  This happens to me to often.  You would think that I have learned my lesson...not yet.  So this is what I got.  I know they are really amazing and I have the cutest family ever.  Luckily we have the back up iPhone.  What would I do without it. 

Someone was nice enough to take a picture of our whole family.  So now you know that I was there to enjoy the activities along with everyone else.  We had a chipmunk join us for lunch and the girls were in heaven.  

The next stop on the way to the time we decided to try out our mining skills.  Who knew that a bag of dirt with rocks in it would fascinate a 2 year old to a 16 year old.  I had so much fun watching the girls get excited about the treasure they would find. Dad is always the best helper when it comes to his girls.  Gotta love that man.  We also saw a strange man walking around with a donkey.  The best is we didn't see him until we were in the car so it looked like I was stalking him taking his picture as we were driving away.  He was also in front of the porta-potties, just what you want to see in a picture. 

So we made it to the top of Pikes Peak.  We didn't realize how fast the weather would change going up to the top of the mountain and we definitely were not prepared.  When it is a nice summer day 56 degrees is really cold.  Oh there was also a lot of wind. 

At the top we learned something perhaps the rest of the world knew, but I didn't.  The person who wrote America the beautiful was inspired by Pikes Peak.  The line the say's "For purple mountain majesties" was written after traveling to the top of Pikes Peak.  If you ever have a chance to go there you to will be inspired.  I tried to take some amazing pictures of me with the view.  It all just turned into me with a funny face and something for my husband to make fun of me for.  As he would say "how hard is it to smile when you are the one pushing the button."  Because of all the laughter that came from that one picture I saved it.  I took a good one of him.  We also went inside and tried the doughnuts.  I am not really a fan of doughnuts...but these where heaven.  I want to drive up to the top of the Peak just to have them again.

  Coming back down the mountain you have to ride your breaks the whole way.  Ours over heated and at the check point we had to stop and let them cool off.  We realized we should have driven all the way to the top and then took our time exploring on the way down.  So what do you do when you have time to spare with little girls?  You take pictures, or let them take pictures of you and then have someone feel sorry for you so they take your family picture, minus Emily because she is taking a nap in the van. 

It was a great day and we had a lot of fun.  We learned to pack a sweater.  It is cold on the top of the mountain.  We learned take you time driving down...you are going to have to.   Charge your camera battery before you leave.  Buy extra doughnuts to eat the next day.  It was a great day with family and I am so glad that we went. 

A Day worth waiting for...

For those in the military, especially enlisted, this is something very exciting to see.  Back in March, Eric received this from his boss.  For the rest of the world this was the way they chose to congratulate Eric on promoting to a new rank (Senior Master Sergeant) and the number is a called a line number...meaning he will be the 895th person to be able to promote.  We were so excited for him, but when the day finally came it was even more exciting.  His month to promote happen to end up during the cadets basic training time.  So they chose to have the ceremony outside at Jack's Valley (were they hold basic training).  There was a little rain but nothing was going to stop this great day from happening.

 Eric coming in with the General and another promotee.

Receiving the official certificate of promotion with the General and the Chief. 

Savannah and Brittlynn got to tack on his new strips

 It tradition to hit the person in the arm when they promote and Savannah wasn't sure if she want to hit her Daddy.  

Alex was way excited to be able to hit his dad on the arm.

 It was a hard hit.  Eric ended up with a bruise on his arm from this one.

 This was Eric's first day wearing his new strips.  

 And of course you always need a new official picture.

We are so excited for all of the hard work Eric does to support our family and we are grateful he was recognized for his efforts.  We were sad that Emily wasn't there for the day.  She was at girls camp.

4th of July

What a great day to celebrate, the 4th of July.  I love the country that we live in and the freedoms that we enjoy.  I am especially grateful for my husbands service to our country.  This year for the 4th we weren't able to celebrate in the traditional fashion because there was a burn ban on all fireworks. We still got together with friends to celebrate.  We started the morning off with a pancake breakfast and a BBQ dinner in the even.  Spending time with friends is something I really enjoy about this holiday.  Of course it is also a great excuse to take picture of my girls and their matching dresses.  I love that they have so much fun together.  I hope that they always stay the best of friends.  One tradition I have started with my girls is having them say the pledge of allegiance each morning as we hang out the flag.  My hope is they will come to love this country and the men and women who sacrifice so much for the freedoms they enjoy.  
 

Yard Work...

One of the joys of owning your own house is changing it the way that you want.  That includes the yard.  Yes, you always have yard work no matter where you live, but it is some different when it is your own space.  So Saturday became family fun day in the yard.  Okay for part of the family it wasn't fun (Alex & Emily), but for Savannah and Brittlynn they are so excited to do everything that daddy is doing and more.  I wish we had more days like this were we all worked together.  It doesn't always happen but when we do it feels good to work together and be part of something together.  

 The girls did a great job trimming the bushes.  They didn't want to stop.  

 Emily got to pull weeds...it was an awful task that we heard about the whole morning.  

 The fun really began when it was planting time.  I really don't like flowers...I just kill them, but my husband said we should try.  

Alex tried to look at the positive part of yard work...being able to work on his tan.  

Spartan Race

Eric and some friends from church decided they would enter in the spartan race.  I am not sure why, but in the end he came out loving it.  For those of you who have never heard of this race it is a running/obstacle course.  They recommend you don't wear anything that you want to keep.  You might not get it back.  We weren't able to go cheer him on (it was during nap time), but luckily he got a lot of good shots of himself.  After each obstacle if you didn't finish it completely you had to do 10 burbies...It was so much fun to be tortured, he is already to do it again next year.     

Cheer Clinic-Basketball

As a family more than anything we love going to Air Force sporting events.  This year Savannah was able to go to the cheer clinic sponsored by the base.  She had so much fun.  The best part for her was being able to work with daddy's cadets.  That is one of the perks that comes with his job.  He knows people and they love Savannah.  Brittltynn wished she could be part of all the fun, but she isn't old enough so she cheer from the side lines.  

 At some point during the dance Savannah decided to play ring around the rosies.  We really had a lot of fun watching her cheer for her Air Force Falcons.  

Ice Skating

 Eric loves ice skating, he loves playing hockey, watching hockey and being around the ice.  He is even more excited that Savannah loves going to hockey games, and of course when you daughter asks if she can skate like her hockey boys, how do you say no.  So we planned a family night on ice with our friends.  It was a blast.  This was Savannah's second time on the ice and she was daring enough to let go of hands and the bucket to try skating on her own.  Brittlynn had fun but couldn't go very far without her dad.  We were happy to have the Walqhuist family come and join us.  It is always more fun when friends are involved.

 Brittlynn is ready to take on the ice

 Jacob is having lots of fun.

 Benjamin having a blast

 Just starting out and she wasn't sure how much she liked it.

 Brittlynn loves being with her dad.

Emily and Alex even came along for the fun.

Abigail all on her own.