Fun on the Fourth

***Happy Fourth of July***

We made the 3 hour trek over the mountain to celebrate the festivities in Gunnison. Yet again fun times were had!! 23 or so of Matthew's family participated in the fun and we had a great time together. There were many fun events going on. The hot air balloons flew the morning of the fourth. We were up early enough to go down and watch them set sail....very cool. Matthew and I had the chance to ride in one when we were dating. I highly recommend it! if you ever get the chance!

Parker, Spence and Madison

One landed right in the middle of main street...

There were festivities in the park all day long, so that is where we were most of the day. Matthew cousins Mitchell and Mason have a band called Half Aspen and they were one of 4 bands that played until the fireworks started that night.....

Parker trying to skateboard......

Still in love.......well usually........

Matthew, my wildflowers, inlaws, Kirsten and her wildflowers....

My little family...

Olivia and Elizabeth...

They had bike decorating for the kids and then the police escorted them down the main street in a parade all the way to the park....lots of fun!!

Kirsten and Spencer....

My wildflowers and their decorated trikes.....

Madeline.......

Fun at the park....

Madison and Daddy dancing the evening away...

Greg and Cindy....

Madison and an unnamed girl who she palled around with.....

The gang just chillin.....

The wildflowers and daddy.......

Gotta love that cotton candy.....

Kirsten and Robin in the festive spirit...

Matt saluting the flag....just thought that this was a cool picture...

Enjoying the fireworks.......

On Saturday night we went to my family's cabin and celebrated with my Aunt Donna and Uncle John and my parents.....

Grammy Patty and Papo Larry with the wildflowers....

We had a great time with everyone and we were reminded once again how lucky we are to have such a close family that actually enjoys one another!! : )

June- The Month of Many Firsts

It seems like this month we have a lot of firsts in our household...meaning the first time these things have taken place:

*We were gone for 2 nights and 3 days from our wildflowers.

*The wildflowers spent the night at Grammy Patty and Papo Larry's house.

*Parker slept in his crib converted into a big boy bed.

*Parker fell/rolled out of his big boy bed at 1:30 in the morning.

*Parker peddeled his trike

*Madison peddeled her trike

*Parker said the word "helocopter"

*Parker pulled a dresser over on himself....yes I about fainted when I seen this big dresser with my tiny little guy trapped under it!! He was ok, just freaked out.
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Faces only a mother could love......(after a long day of playing in the dirt)

Mexican Stuffed Shells

Last week I served Mexican Stuffed Shells for supper. It was a hit!! Even the wildflowers ate them!! So here is the recipe in the hopes that your wildflowers will like them as well!! Enjoy

15 uncooked jumbo pasta shells(I ended up using more than this)

1 pound lean ground turkey/hamburger

1 can enchilada sauce

½ tsp dried minced onion( I did not have any)

¼ tsp dried basil

¼ tsp dried oregano(I did not have any)

¼ tsp ground cumin

½ cup fat-free refried beans

1 cup shredded Cheddar

Cook pasta; drain. In a nonstick skillet, cook turkey over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in enchilada sauce and seasonings; set aside. Place a rounded teaspoonful of refried beans in each pasta shell; then fill with turkey mixture. Place in an 11x7 inch baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Cover and bake 350 for 25 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Makes 5 servings

I serve them with spanish rice, sour cream and salsa.

My Moms Night Out

So for 24 hours this weekend I had some girls time!! It started by driving to Denver yesterday afternoon around 1:00 and meeting with my girlfriend, Amber, from high school. It had been 2 years since I had last seen her. She expecting her first child in August and let me tell you folks, she looked sooo cute!! Her is a pic she sent me last week....

We had a wonderful visit, though we probably could have talked all night long!! It's funny when you have those friends that you go so long without seeing, but once you do get together it's like you've never been apart!! She was a large part of my childhood and teenage years and we have a lot of wonderful memories together!!

After leaving her house, I drove to a hotel where my girlfriend Amy from my college years was staying.

She was in town for a meeting. She is going to be a surrogate mom.....how selfless is that!! She just wants to be able to help a family have a child! Such a wonderful thing!! Anywho, I picked her up and we headed to downtown Denver. We ate a delicious dinner at the Cheesecake Factory....and YES we had partook in some cheesecake....YUMMYYY!!! Come to find out the Denver PRIDE Festival was going on, so needless to say there were some sites to be seen!! We had a wonderful time catching up. She is another one of those friends that no matter how long it is since we have been together....we just pick right up where we left off. We didn't actually go to college together, we worked at a diner called The WillyBurger while I was attending Barclay College in Haviland, KS. We hit it off and have been friends for like 14 years now. These are our kids last summer....

We got to stay at an Embassy Suites and it was great!!

After she left for the airport this morning, I stopped by my sister and brother in law, Amy and Dane's new house!! The just moved in on Thursday. It was wonderful!! Such a beautiful house!! So much room and closet space and all the things that I would want in a house really! They are very excited to have their own house and now just want a new baby so share it with. Hopefully that will happen for them very soon!! Amy treated me to a delicious breakfast and some girly chit chat....thanks girl!!

So I had a wonderful weekend, but I did miss the wildflowers and their dad very much!! When I walked up the sidewalk, Madison ran to me and said "Momma, your home!!" That made my heart smile : )