New Blog Address

Since my old blog is full, I have started up a new blog.  To continue following our story, log on and begin regularly checking into the below address.  We will see you on our new site!

http://hollygrayincolorado.blogspot.com/

Full Blog

My blog is officially full. Unfortunately updated posts will be delayed until I can figure out how to start a new one or start a new picasa account or start something that I can post pics on. In the mean time check back soon and I will let ya know how I have resolved the problem and where you can find the updates from our life. Thanks.

The North Pole!

Can you believe that the North Pole is in Colorado Springs? Well it is, and boy howdy the North Pole is fun! The North Pole is a Christmas themed family amusement park that has been in existence since 1956. There are more than two dozen family friendly rides for young kids and as long as you are 32” tall you can enjoy them all! Even if you’re under the height requirement you can ride with a parent and still enjoy the fun.

We spent the day at the amusement park and had a BALL! We slid down the twisty peppermint slide on potato sacks (several times), swung through the sky on the Aerial Tram (aka: ski lift), enjoyed multiple rides on the Antique Carousel and took a train ride around the park. Both boys rode carnival rides in various shapes such as cars, boats, planes, teacups and more. We rode rides that lifted up and down, went in circles and spun around and around. I guess we are adrenaline junkies! We spent so much time on the rides that we didn’t even get to see/talk to Santa or write/mail him a letter, maybe next time. However we did get to feed the reindeer, eat French fries and have so much fun that everyone was asleep before we drove out of the parking lot! I think I see park passes in our future. This summer has been so much fun. I am just lucky to be able to spend quality time with the boys and make lots of the fun memories. Hooray for summer! 

Check back to the blog in a couple days because, once again I had more pictures I wanted to post but can't get them to down load.  Once I get this figured out I will stick a few more up.       

On the Ski lift.

Waiting for the train.

Vrooom.  Vrooom.  I'm 1/2" under 32" but mom snuck me on this ride!  I rode the cars 3 times and had so much fun I had to be carried off the tracks by mom unwillingly.    

Happy Apple Farm

Last week the boys and I continued on our 2012 summer tour of fun and we visited the Happy Apple Farm.  We rode the tractor out to the fields and picked black berries and raspberries.  Just like last time at the farm, Case ate all his berries before we could get to the register.  Maybe they should weigh people before and after the fields :).  The boys stomped on fallen peaches and checked out the upcoming and growing watermelons.  Then we moved on to apple picking.  The trees were so loaded with apples that the branches hung down to the ground.  Both of the boys picked at least 2 bags of apples each and were very proud of their harvest.  Despite the heat, the morning was fun and I am sure a visit to the Happy Apple Farm will be in our future again. 

There were several more pictures I wanted to post but I am having problems downloading to the blog.  Until I can figure out how to fix the issue these will have to suffice. 

Has anyone elses blog become full?  I can't post or download pics and am wondering if I have reached my blog cap.  Any suggestions? 

I can't download pics and I'm behind by at least half a dozen posts.  Any suggestions?  Help.

Toot

Today Case was merrily chanting.  "I tooted.  I tooted.  I tooted." 
I said, "Case, stop saying, I tooted."
Silence.
Case, "I burped with my hiney.  I burped with my hiney."

Sigh.

Hug The Ones You Love

I overheard the most heartbreaking conversation as the boys played at McDonalds play place this afternoon.  A dad was talking to his son at the table next to us.  Dad, “do you want to go put flowers on your moms grave this afternoon?”  Son, “Yea, that sounds good.”  Dad, “We get to pick up her headstone on Thursday.”  Son, “It’s finally done?”  Dad, “Yea. Want to see it?”  He pulls out his phone and shows his son a picture and starts reading the headstone.  “Mother Name, born XXXX died XXXX, loving mother, wife, daughter, sister, etc."  

Hearing this personal conversation almost brought tears to my eyes.  I wanted so badly to comment to the dad before we left, but had no words to share.  All I could do is pray for him and his family periodically throughout the day.  If you could spare a prayer or two, I would encourage you to pray for this unknown family who was trying to go through the day as normal as possible despite having their entire life changed forever.  Hug the ones you love.  Love them every day. 

"Great" Visit

Last week we had a “great” visit from the great grandparents and Brandon.  It is always wonderful to have them visit and this trip was no exception.  We did all sorts of fun things like eating, drinking and being merry!  In this rare shot I caught grandma taking a sip of grandpas beer.  Can’t say I blame her.  Chasing after my tiny crazy crew can drive anyone to drink. 

We spent a couple mornings swimming at the hotel pool and lounging in the hot tub.

We enjoyed the beautiful 80 degree weather by blowing and chasing bubbles on the front porch. 

Of course we had to go to the zoo.  Everyone had fun feeding the giraffes.  It seems like all I ever post pics of are the giraffes so this time I decided to post a couple pictures of some of the other cuties we checked out.  A giant tortoise was close enough to touch, literally.  And the new reptile exhibit had all sorts of slithering things to find amongst the rocks.  

The entire gang went to the duck pond one morning and unloaded an entire loaf of bread feeding the fish and ducks. 

The boys even went rock climbing for the first time at Garden of the Gods.  Apparently there is something about being a boy and climbing on rocks that causes an overwhelming need to pose in macho stances.  Everyone was excited about the climb except Cole.  He just perched on a rock and waited until the excitement was over.

ACK! Snakes!

Today Case caught his first real live snake in the front yard while Cody was mowing.  Can anyone tell if he was excited or not?  He said, “When I go into the tv I’m going to tell Steve Irwin I caught a snake.  He will be so proud.”  I think Steve Irwin would be proud of our little snake catcher.    

Ice Cream Days

Maybe ice cream and popsicles taste better because it is summer. Or maybe we just eat too much ice cream and popsicles because they taste good. Whatever the reason, these are the ice cream days. Whether it is popsicles on the porch with friends, ice cream cups for dessert after dinner or sharing a cone with your brother at the zoo, this family loves our ice cream treats. :)

Prayers

Jaylynn wasn’t the only thing we had to say goodbye to this past week.  Our family also said goodbye to Danielle our babysitter for 3 years as she went off to college.  I have been dreading her departure for months, but now that she is gone the gravity of the situation is crystal clear.  I was so lucky to have had her watch the boys.  Danielle would take the kids to the park every week.  She loved to make cookies and other treats for the boys.  She would read to baby Cole and bring the boys presents almost every month.  She loved the boys and I always knew they were taken care of when she was in our home.  She was dependable and responsible and now she is gone (ahhhhh!) 

How can I see clients?  How can I do my prison job?  With Cody gone, how can I do anything without the help?  In the past I have put up a sign at the neighborhood park looking for babysitters and received calls within hours.  My sign has been up for days and not one phone call.  I need help and don’t know what I will do after next week without help.  If you are praying people, please pray for someone who is dependable, responsible and will love my boys to find my sign and find our home.    

Jaylynn

I need to take a moment to remember my sweet sweet Jaylynn who was laid to rest last week.  Jaylynn was the first dog I ever owned.  I picked her up as a puppy outside of Walmart after I got off work during my 4^th year of undergrad.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into!  Jaylynn loved to kiss and licked obsessively right up until she died.  One of the last things she did was grace me with one of her stinky kisses. 

As a puppy she never really walked, rather she bounced.  She always reminded me of Tigger from Whiney the Pooh and I always believed her to be a little retarded.  Jaylynn loved to bark at other dogs, although she was a huge scardy cat.  My favorite story was walking with her in the pasture when we came across some cows unexpectedly.  Jaylynn hunkered down, began to growl, looked at me and took off running for the house (chicken).  So much for a protector!  She loved to chase rabbits and roll in anything dead or stinky.  In fact I often found her “presents” on my porch step after an evening of play.  I will never forget, one day I found a deer head discarded by hunters found by my dogs on my porch (Can anyone say Godfather scare?).  Jaylynn loved to lay in the sun on a warm day or under the stars on a beautiful night. 

I believe her favorite times in life were when we lived in the country in Stillwater.  We would walk the 3 mile trail in the field next to our trailer every morning snow, rain or shine.  In the summer we would swim in the pond.  She was a pot licker and never turned down a treat.  Even on her last day, despite the fact that she couldn’t stand up and was in pain, she still ate an entire package of hot dogs.  She was a gentle dog and put everyone else’s needs first.   Even though she loved her food, if a cat came up to her bowl and wanted to steal a kibble, she would stand aside while they picked out their piece.  Instead of nudging a companion pet off her blanket, she would lay on the floor with only her nose on her pillow if another animal was already resting in her spot.  More than once I found her curled up in the too small cat bed because a kitty was laying on her bed.   

Jaylynn lived with me in town, in the country, in the city and in the suburbs.  Jaylynn lived with me through 2 marriages, 1 divorce, the birth of my 2 children, 5 moves and 5 other pets.  I have spent so much of my life taking care of her I feel very empty not thinking of her needs anymore.  Jaylynn lived 14 years and I will miss her for at least another 14 more.        

Denver Aquarium

Last weekend we took a family trip to the Denver Aquarium in order to check out Case’s newest obsession…sharks.  Case has a shark book and can identify at least 20-30 different sharks.  I was impressed with everything the aquarium had to offer.  The displays were all kid friendly, perfect height for toddler viewing and full of fish from all over the world. 

The otters gave a tremendous show up close and personal for the boys to see. 

Sting rays, giant fish and sea snakes!  The tanks were packed with sea life to check out.

The sting rays were in all of the large tanks and amazing to watch glide through the water.  Both of the boys were awestruck. 

Cole even managed to find a little aquarium romance while waiting for the tiger show.  We looked down and there he was holding hands with some little kitten in a stroller sitting next to us! The sight was so cute, of course, I had to take a picture.  Notice how he is looking for the tigers and she is looking at him?  I think both my boys have some girl magnet in em. 

The grand finale was the shark tank. The Tiger Sand Shark was one of the sharks Case was able to identify from his shark books.  The adventure was lots of fun and I am sure we will be taking other trips to the aquarium in our future.