last day of summer (vacation that is)

Yesterday marked the last day of summer vacation for us. Today our Mr. Fisher began his first day as a first grader, and tomorrow, two more little people from this house will join him as they begin their school routine as well.

This summer was a good one. We enjoyed every minute of it. Lots of sunshine, amazingly perfect weather(not too too hot), lots of playdates with friends, hours in the pool, traveling to different states, visiting places we have never been before. The list could go on and on. It was jam packed and crazy and just everything awesome.

Yesterday, after a morning of running errands, the kids and I decided to have picnic at the park. Which of course lead to exploring and walking along the paths.

The twins,  as I will sometimes call them because people are always asking if they are. They are too funny together, and even though they can fight quite a bit, they are still such good buddies.

We have this nice little park that has become our favorite new place. It's tucked away and hardly ever busy. It is also right near some train tracks which Fisher just loves. He loves to just sit and the grass and watch as the train goes by.
 

Both Wayne and I thought it would be fun to go grab a quick bite to eat for dinner to celebrate the official last day of their summer vacation. It wasn't anything too fancy but the kids loved it! And again, to finish off the night Wayne took them to their favorite park to play.

Yes, this summer was good to us. I am thankful for the fun memories we were able to create. Thankful for the endless amounts of laughter I heard or the rainy day snuggles and catching up on old movies. It was a great vacation and although it went by far too quickly, the kids are really so excited for school to begin.

Here's to a wonderful and awesome school year!

 

our adventures :: instagram

viva las vegas

I joined Wayne again at his super long conference in Las Vegas. This trip couldn't have come at a better time. I needed this. I needed the alone time, the time to sleep in a little bit longer. To be lazy and finally eat again. I needed this trip for so many reasons and I am so thankful that it was able to work through such a hectic time in our lives.

The kids and I drove all day the Sunday before my grandpa's funeral. It was another long day cramped in the car but it was greeted with family and laughter and love as we celebrated my sweet grandpa's life. His funeral was late Tuesday afternoon and once we were able to catch up with all our family we were back in the car for the 10 hour trip back home. By Thursday morning when we hopped on our plane I was completely exhausted. But both Wayne and I were excited to have this time together.

Wayne had that Friday off from classes so we decided to rent a car and drive down to the Hoover Dam. I have driven over this dam many times when I lived in Arizona but never really got to visit it. It changed a lot and now there is this giant bridge you drive over instead.

The dam tour was fun and our guide was hilarious. All I could think about was National Lampoons Vegas Vacation as I walked through the underground walls. We even stopped and ate at the most amazing little diner for brunch. Seriously, the best food I have had in a long time. 

After that, Wayne was pretty much gone all day so I just kept myself busy with running in the hotel's gym, laying by the pool and reading and of course shopping. You have to shop when you are in Vegas. In the evenings Wayne and I would walk the strip and eat yummy yummy dinners at new and interesting places. 

This trip was nice and relaxing and went by way too fast. I enjoyed the time I had to myself. It was really nice. But I honestly missed my four little kids waiting anxiously for me to come home. Now it's just us until daddy comes home in a couple(cough 6) more days!

hard goodbye

This post is a hard one for me. I have been writing and deleting and writing and deleting over and over again. I can hardly believe that just little over a week ago I was back in Colorado, surrounded by loved ones and family and just overwhelmed with countless emotions. I wished in all my heart that it was for happier reasons; a wedding, a reunion, or fun little gathering but sadly it wasn't any of those.

My sweet and wonderful and absolutely caring grandpa passed away.

I know that as we grow with age and the time quickly passes us by that we will eventually have to say goodbye to our sweet loved ones. It's part of life and it happens. But this one was hard. So very hard.

As I sit here writing this, I am once again overwhelmed with the emotions of his passing. It's hard to find the right words. It's a delicate subject but no less it happened. It is real.

My truly amazing and kind grandpa chose to leave this world on his own. Actually, I honestly believe the disease of dementia is what truly took his life, not my grandpa. And although it is hard and there are so many many questions, I know that my beautiful grandpa is peacefully happy up in heaven with our heavenly father. I know this, I feel his presence and comfort around me.

I had just saw my grandpa a week before this all happened. The kids and my parents drove up to their small town north of Greeley. We had a nice lunch and watched the kids play at the park. I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with him as I was chasing four little people around, but that small time that we had together was good. I saw him smile. I heard him laugh.  It's a good memory to have.

I was extremely thankful that I was able to get up at his funeral and share some of my love for my grandpa to both him and my family. Speaking about him definitely helped give me the closure I truly needed. 

"Saying goodbye to grandpa is really hard for me. I wasn't quite ready to let him go just yet. But I am thankful. Thankful for the time I did get to share with him. Thankful for the time my children my had with him. I am thankful because my grandpa was truly a wonderful and kind man. And even though my heart aches at the thought that he is really gone, I am so thankful for the love we got to share together. 

Grandpa Gregory was truly one of the best grandpas in the world and I am so glad that he was mine. That he loved me so much and left me with some of the best memories in the world. Growing up, fishing with grandpa were some of my most favorite childhood memories. I can still remember all of the specific details from these trips. From loading up in the old brown jeep, to driving for what felt like hours to his favorite lake. We would find that perfect spot along the water's edge and load up on some power bait. I remember it all. The sounds, the smells, the way he would say "now Kristin, you have a bite!' Man those were some great times. 

Grandpa definitely gave me my love for all things outdoors. And although fishing is definitely a big memory, I will never forget those camping trips up at Red Feather, or our long drives through the mountains looking for deer and elk. Grandpa really did give me some of my most favorite memories and I am so extremely lucky that I have these to remember him by. Grandpa was and extraordinary man who will never be forgotten." 

Grandpa- 

I love you will all of my heart. You have been truly an amazing grandpa to me, to my children and to my family. I will never forget the way you loved me, the sound of your voice when we talked or how you always asked how the kids were or about Wayne's fishing. I will never forget the sweet way you hugged me or your sly sense of humor. I will always remember how much you truly loved grandma, your family. I will always remember how happy you looked when you were surrounded by your grand and great grandkids. And grandpa, I will never forget the last time I got to spend time with you, you really did look happy. That smile of yours, that will be forever be etched in my mind.

Thank you grandpa for the wonderful memories. You will never, ever be forgotten. I love you Grandpa!! Always and forever! 

Kristin