End of summer fun and birthday time.

Ahhhhhh......I love this picture and I loved this afternoon. I was sorting clothes in Dylan's room and he decided to lay next to me and take a nap. He likes his tiger. I treasure these sweet moments.

More pics and another fun party at our favorite "secret pond' down valley. Colter was using a SUP as a taxi between the dock and the beach. and made trips for hours. The boys went out in a canoe for 45 minutes together and paddled all over the pond. It was so sweet to watch them working together and relaxing together. 

Our friends Julie, Keith and baby Ali stopped by for a visit during their vacation to Ouray after Trevor's ankle surgery and Ali had the boys wrapped around her little finger. It is always nice to see those guys.

The boys and I went to Fort Collins for a week or so of swimming, bug chasing, golfing, visiting friends and family and all kinds of other fun. Both boys learned to roller blade, and improved their skateboarding and scootering skills. From beginning to end this was a great trip and we had fun every day!

Colter captured many pet grasshoppers, made them homes and released them with varying degrees of success.

We were in the pool every day and it was so nice! Nana has got a great set up with the golf cart access making our 5 minute journey to and from the pool a fun adventure. Colter was able to drive the golf cart by himself and Dylan could steer it by himself. They were very brave in the pool, going off the diving board, slide and swimming underwater when they could touch and they made friends each time we went.

New West Fest is way bigger than when I was a kid! Dylan enjoyed his little train ride, Colter enjoyed the music and science exploration area and we all enjoyed the food.

MacMac delivers again! Colter couldn't wait to go snake hunting when he got to Loveland. This snake was a bit "aggressive" so Colter kept his distance. We had a great visit at Grandma and MacMac's that included bug chasing, snake hunting and Mustang riding.

More swimming...or should I say relaxing?

Oh yeah, Brandon and Ethan scored big points with this golf lesson. Ethan wowed us with his Johnny Cash songs and his great golf swing and after correcting my boys "hockey" style approach to golf I think Brandon may have some hope for the next generation. Dylan put up with the plastic club for about 2 minutes before he demanded a big boy club. They both did good, figured out a few things and had a great time. I think we will do that again.

I still love the underwater mode on my camera.

This could be the best feature of Nana's house, thanks to Papa. I will have this in my next house. It is a small door that connects the laundry room and the master closet.....true genius! And it serves as a great spot to surprise Mom. These two found a few great spots in the house for big forts. They can't wait to get back and play some more.

This became their favorite way to ride around, strapped in like golf bags. This is also the place they ran in protest when it was time to leave. The only thing that got us to leave, we would still be there, was that Nana decided to come back with us for a visit. The boys sang the Sid the Science kid song "Backseat driving with Grandma" for Nana on our way home.

Dylan started preschool at TECC this year. He goes for 3 half days a week and is loving it. Everyday he looks forward to going and that makes me happy as well. He also loves his Spyder ski shirts and is wearing them everyday, he is excited for ski season already! Colter was helping me haul pears and peaches to the car. We have been busy getting food ready for winter. Yum. Colter is homeschooling this year and it is going well. He is very happy, relaxed and enjoying the variety each day offers. He is a bright kiddo and picking things up very quickly. We are all enjoying the adventure and opportunities that this new challenge offers.
So cute. I love this little man!

For Colter's birthday our friends Annica and Rider invited us over and let him ride. He has been talking about horseback riding since his academy camp earlier this summer. He was excited to ride Huckleberry and was able to ride by himself around the corral. This is a very gentle and kind horse that is awesome with kids. Colter had a smile on his face for the rest of the day.

Dylan was not so sure about this idea, look at the almost smile in the first pic, but loved it after a few laps. He wants to go back again.

Colter's Cardboard Birthday bash at the Down Valley Park. He is so creative and spends a lot of time planning these events.

Noah was wearing his "birthday clothes" for the party. All the kids built cardboard boats for the "which boat can float the longest" contest.  Next pic is Jasmine, Rocky, Josh, Cole, Colter, Quinn and Roman working on boats.

Uncle Rob and Eli creating away and then Keaton, Eli and Colter sharing ideas.

Cake time. Colter chose a nice simple lemon cake with chocolate frosting this year, note the candles spell his name. After Dylan's all night skateboard cake extravaganza, I was happy for a simple request this time around.

Time for the show! The kids had a great time with this one. They stayed in for a long time and the water was not that warm.

Then it was time for kayaking and chillin' out. Happy Birthday to Colter, we love you bigger than the universe!

Cutie pie Grace. She is so sweet, happy and mellow to hang out with. The tutu is classic and the background of the Wilsons adds to the cuteness.

Out of order pics. This is from when Nana came to visit. Nana with kiddos and then Trevor is his management position. He is doing better each day and getting stronger. Lots of PT, stretching, massage and patience.  We spent his birthday weekend at the Stock Car races in Olathe and then out to dinner with friends, and co-birthday girl Penelope, for their annual birthday sushi dinner. Brady, our favorite chef, made Trevor a special roll with bacon, wagu beef, spicy crunchy tuna, avocado, topped with quail eggs. He was a very happy boy! We actually went out afterwards, watched a great art presentation called 20 by Telluride and shot some pool.

They took Nana up to the wall tent meadow to relax and watch the boys build forts in the trees. Colter and Nana really bonded this summer. One night when he was sleeping in her bedroom, the two of them were giggling so much that I had to go in and tell them to quiet down and go to sleep! It reminded me of times when I was a girl and had sleepovers at Nana and Papa's. She would always lay down with me and tell me stories. I like this pic of them all wrapped up in the blanket.

This is a great family pic. Rob had the plan to put he kids on the roof and it worked out well, despite the worried grandmas......This is the front porch of Rob and Sheila's new house up at the ranch. It is beautiful and they are enjoying every minute of it!

It has been another amazing month filled with family, friends, travel and birthdays. We honored Tyson on the 13th with birthday songs and cake. I chose not to write much about his anniversary this year, not sure why because it was still not an easy time. We have learned so much, grown and expanded beyond our wildest dreams and yet it still hurts each time we remember what happened and allow ourselves to feel it all over again. I do wish there were a few more hours to every day. I would like to write, record and remember all of the little moments that make life so wonderful right now. The boys continue to entertain, inspire and amaze me all the time, and yes, sometimes frustrate me as well. Trevor is doing a great job of staying positive and doing his best to heal from his "wake up call" and I am loving the hiking, biking, soccer coaching and teaching that fill my days. For instance, the boys are setting up camp at the bottom of the stairs in the hallway and we can hear them giggling and telling jokes instead of sleeping. They just came upstairs to say "Mom, what did the bartender say to the horse when he walked into the bar?" What? "Why the long face?" and then from Dylan "What did thre man say when he walked into the bar?" What? "Ouch!"  That's my little comedians.

 We officially signed off on the hydroplant and returned it to the former owner. That was an expensive lesson in renewable energy, real estate etc. We are trying to look at it like getting a Masters degree in life's lessons. Oh well, you can't win them all, time to move on to bigger and better things. We can't wait to see what is coming our way next!