PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/4/11

Summer break is quickly coming to an end...Todd has two days off and we had some ideas of what to do, but when it came down to it, we headed to Dinosaur Ridge and then lunch at Morrison Inn all together. It is a great walk to take and it always amazes me to see real dino prints in our own "backyard." When Nick was little, he would check out all the dino books at the library...in the non-fiction section. He would spend hours pouring over the pictures and he could name ever single one perfectly. The geology and the history of the earth really is amazing and I think I started becoming interested in it when I had Earth Science in 9th grade.

We had a good morning...it was hot due to the black pavement, but it was nice to all be together doing something active. I don't take these times for granted, and each day is a gift to me. Afterwards, we came home and hung out. The boys are liking to watch "Criminal Minds" and I have been watching it with them. They are just amazing kids and so fun to be around and the house is most certainly going to be way too quiet next week when school starts...but I'll be looking forward to our next family outing and especially the every day moments that make life so good.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/3/11

Tracy Carlson and Brenda Sue...friends from the beginning. Was great to spend a couple of hours talking, catching up and just being together. We have been friends for 38 years...definitely friends for life.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/2/11

Today, Chris picked up his schedule for highschool, got a TRHS hat and sweatshirt and says he's ready for highschool. What I know is that this kid is one of a kind, a confidence in himself and his capabilities and the willingness to go try new things. Along with that is a kid that is growing taller every day, is in fabulous physical shape and is so handsome. There is a kindness within him that not many people have. It will be fun to see what directions Chris heads to as he starts a new chapter of his school career. What I do know is that I will be so proud and happy to follow him and support him all along the way. I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH CHRISTOPHER!

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/1/11

Final summer tennis match means that the school tennis season is right around the corner. Nick played really well this summer and his TR Green team came in 3rd in the standings very closely behind a Columbine Knolls team and a Ken Caryl team (like by 5 games only). He played in all but one match so he was a major reason for having so many wins.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 7/31/11

The grand initiation of our new patio room...we had the grandparents over to break it in with us. After getting a few things set up in there including seat covers, lamps, curtains etc... it was fun to show it off. More importantly, it was nice to all spend time together and talk and laugh and for the boys to have grandparents around that love them and care about them.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 7/30/11

"Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a super hero." (Marc Brown/creator of "Arthur")

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 7/29/11

This is imprinted on a stone at Hudson Gardens. I remember the first time I saw this was when I took the boys there in the fall of 2003 and it just hit me...this was a excerpt from the "poem" that Grandad Dell had a copy of with a note saying "I believe this." It is where he knew he would be when he died...and I remember stopping by the cemetary in Longmont when I was at CSU and I would sit near his grave stone and tell him that I knew that he knew all that was going on for me, but I just wanted to be close to him although I knew he was everywhere and not just there. Guess what...this poem says is exactly what I believe, too.

This is the poem in full:

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am the thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there. I did not die.