"A-B-C-D-E-F-G"

A brief review of our summer so far:
"Look, Mommy! I'm going to crawl any second!"
Eating a Mum cracker in my jolly jumper.
Happy big boy!
Mom on the stairs.
Eating a frozen banana from a teething pop. I have 2 teeth now!
Buddy and Buck enjoy their summer in the way only little boys can - climbing, rough-housing, etc.
We have a "broken" ATV that neighbors gave us a while back. It doesn't work, so the boys took all of Buck's tools outside to "fix" it. They worked for hours on it!
The brothers.
I love the shirts here - superman and "my daddy is my superhero" how true.
After the Stampede and Thunder is TIRED.

July is nearly over (IS over, really) and we are off to New York State tomorrow. One of my closest (and now oldest) friends has a lake house and we are all headed up to spend time with her family. I've actually been friends with she and her husband since the beginning of University, although our husbands are having a mini "bromance" which makes it seems as though they are the 2 who have been friends for so long.

We are really excited to go although Buck has been counting the days and trying to get me to explain what our relationship is to these people we're going to see. His (nearly) 4 year old mind is big into labels these days.

I have about an hour of packing to do. Have to check the weather in New York (not sure what the nearest town is called). We have a bit of a playdate this morning - so at least Buck will be doing something that isn't watching TV. Tomorrow, we'll be on a plane with a 7 month old who is more than ready to crawl. Little nervous about that!

TK (SERVITE!) and the boys are having his bachelor party this weekend. Have a good time, bros!! RKZ missed you guys immensely.

"Pump up the jam"

The last shots of our Colorado vacation: "No child was harmed (or exposed to alcohol) in the taking of this shot. What is it with babies grabbing everyone's drinks? (appropriate or not)
RKZ and the Duke organizing their part of the fishing derby.
Auntie HAB and Thunder
C and B with their haul of fish
Buck (in his amazing shades) and Pahina before they begin their fishing.

I think I'm at the end of the Duke and Duchess' 40th anniversary party. It was a good time and we got a lot of amazing pictures from the trip! Now, I'm on to trying to make photo albums of it all. I have a number of 'summer projects' that I can use to make myself feel guilty in in September when I haven't accomplished any of them. I need to make a plan for the fall :)

It's another normal week here in cowtown. I'm excited to have Buck's summer camp switched to the afternoon for these 5 days. Next Saturday, we're off to my good friend's lake house in New York State. We're all very excited. I'm excited to figure out a new nickname for her!

"I will remember you"

A Kelly/Manulkin family trip somewhere in the late 70's or early 80's.
The cousins and the Buck.
C-dog and C-dog junior.
Thunder, Pahina & Buck
Thunder and Pahina

I've dropped Buck off at summer sports camp (last day so they are swimming today). Thunder is napping, so I took a few minutes to scan old pictures in to the computer. My plan is to scan all of the 10 photo albums I have from 8th grade to my wedding. I am going to order snapfish books of them and then throw everything away. It's good to edit, I think. But, it will also save A LOT of space. It's just finding moments like now to do it all.

I love the old pictures of my family. It's nice to think that the "new" pictures of cousins will become the old pictures of their lives. I can't wait to see how it all turns out (hopefully I'll be alive for all of that).

"Your love - is extravagant"

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
I feel I'm moving to the rhythm of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in the secret place
Cause Your love is extravagant

9 years married to RKZ today. We had a lovely dinner at home last night after the kids were in bed. Were able to sit out on the deck and look at the view while we drank some wine.

These have been the best 9 years of my life. RKZ is my best friend and a wonderful husband and father.
Blessed. Blessed. Blessed.
Everyone should be so lucky.

"Saturday - in the park!"

Some shots of us at the zoo in Colorado Springs (it's taking a long time to post these pics! Sorry!)




What a crazy week we have planned already. Another week of "sports camp" for Buck & Thunder is in the 3 days of babysitting. RKZ and I are trying to figure out what we'll do to celebrate our anniversary tomorrow...with the addition of the new little one, our personal celebrations seem to have taken a backseat (birthdays, etc). We are both bemoaning the pain in the neck that organizing babysitters seems to be. It's sad when it becomes simply easier to stay home than to get it all together.

I'm sure it will all work out. The weather is beautiful and the kids and I will be spending every afternoon at a different "swimming" area (mostly toddler play parks that have sprinklers). We might just take it easy today...naps are at a premium right now with all of the action of the mornings.

Buck plays "A Christmas Story" at the North Pole. It's actually FROZEN!
Mommy's turn to take a ride (usually daddy does this)
Buck boating. This was right before a 30 minute lightening and thunder storm caused us to camp out in the woman's restroom!
Our boys getting cozy
Daddy and Thunder (love the little 1/2 smirk)

There's a little amusement park in Colorado Springs where RKZ used to go as a kid (and older). He has such awesome memories of this place - it's called "The North Pole" and Santa is there year round. I'm adding pictures of our first trip to the NP with the boys. Buck LOVED it. Sadly, Thunder was asleep during the visit to Santa, or I would have that taken care of for this year. Instead, I'll have a 1 year old (the age they notoriously fear Santa and scream) to take instead.

RKZ is back from his work trip (got in very late last night) and it is this week's last astro-camp. It's so good to have RKZ back (he's at work now), but the weekend is shaping up to be beautiful!

"Baby, you save me"

Men doing what they do best at the party in Colorado
Adam and the kids again (couldn't get enough of him!)
Pahina, looking gorgeous.
HAB and Thomas and Rita. Such a good time. I don't think HAB ever takes a bad picture!

I'm just sitting here listening to a baby cry (scream) himself to sleep. We had a looong day. It was fun, but both boys were/are extremely tired. They both fell asleep on the ride home after dinner, Buck had the good sense to stay that way. Thunder...not so much. His eyes popped open as I turned off the car (bad sign). No rocking, holding or feeding will placate him. He just wants to be angry.

Motherhood.

RKZ is away in Sarnia, Ontario. It's some type of golfing/party thing, and I hope RK is having a good time. He wasn't too excited to go but I'm sure there's a good time to be had. He's lucky tonight.

"Because a thankful heart is a happy heart..."

More pics of the family party :
The "kids" all playing football in the yard.
I think every family must have the one awesome cousin or uncle who is great about playing with the kids (some families have a few). Adam was that cousin (once removed?) for Buck and his cousins on the trip to Co. Adam is about to be a senior in high school but was so great about playing with the little ones. We all loved him for it. An AMAZING guy!
RKZ and Me in the back yard.
Grandma Duchess and her baby sister, Rita :)
Cousin Tim and Uncle.

We're back in "listening to toddler music" mode as it's the only way to keep both boys from yelling, babbling, asking questions constantly in the back seat. It's funny to be hearing all the old tunes again. I've been spoiled with listening to grown up music. For a few years (or at least one), I think I'm back to Raffi and all things "sing along."

It's been raining daily. It's 50 degrees today. Buck loves Space Camp (his week long camp) and Thunder and I have been enjoying spending some time together. It's a nice bit of summer for sure, even if the weather has been awful.

"I go back"

Chuck and Patty!!! Are you excited to see yourselves on the blog!! Hello and it was great to see you! Thank you for everything!!
Thomas, our cousin. He graduated from High School this year and was really excited to begin college.
Uncle as the Statue of Liberty
Buck and the ubiquitous glass of chocolate milk
Thomas' parents (as well as his 3 brothers), Rod and Rita.

**I didn't change names on some of the pics because I wanted our family to know they are now famous on the internet :) **

After a brief hiatus so that we could "get our cowboy on" at the Calgary Stampede this week, I am back to posting pictures of the 40th anniversary party of the Duke and Duchess. It's a slow process (because I'm doing other things like watching Tv - ha.ha.) but I will eventually get all the shots up on here and Facebook.

Summer camp for Buck begins today. It's actually a string of successive week-long camps he's attending at our near-by club. The camps are 9am to 12pm and they do a lot of things I wouldn't be able to spend the morning doing. Thunder will be in day care for part of the time and I will be working out. This first week is ASTRO BLASTERS." It's a space camp and Buck is beside himself. I just hope he doesn't drive the counselors crazy with space questions they can't answer. Last night, Buck asked me what happens to the rocketblasters after they are jettisoned from the space shuttle. ???? I told him that they fall into the ocean - I'm hoping that's right. I need my older brother here to answer my child's questions. Seriously.

"When you're a celebrity..."

RKZ lighting illegal fireworks in the backyard
The Grady kids (so good lookin'!)
Auntie HaB and Marky-Mark
The RKZ's
The Duke and Duchess share a moment...

A few more pictures of the the Duke and Duchess' 40th anniversary weekend. It was so much fun. I am off to a doctor's appointment this morning (just a regular check up, nothing exciting). It's sad when I am so excited for a few hours off that I'll be happy to take my clothes off in front of a semi-stranger. My friend, Barbie, is watching the kids. She's a total gem.
RKZ had a good night at a Stampede fete last night. Home at 12:30am! Barbie and I had pizza dinner with our 4 kids. That helped the "single mommy" thing :)