Lasts and Firsts!

We are crazy busy with the changes from summer to fall. Here are some pictures to recap some of the last days of the summer and first days of the school year.

We didn't get to do much camping this year between all those gymnastics meets, but we had one last hurrah at the ward camp out. Lots of fun!

Hey Jeannie, lookin' cute and ready for camping! The girls (big girls: Jeannie, Jenni & I) set up this tent all by ourselves. Who said girls can't camp?

Peek-a-boo Porter- We love you!

Martin's raccoon eyes from crying and dirt, with the bag of Doritos to help console his frustration is priceless!

Mason & Esaias all boys!

Marina & Alex
Hanging with my best buds, building forts...now that's a great summer!

and Becca too!

First Day of School...Are we ready???

First Member Night at The Museum...Can you find the leprechaun?

Gotta love Mr. Bones at the DMNS

The stars of the Antioxidant Super Heros @ the Exhibition Health.
Never to old to act crazy and be a super hero?

The Denver Zoo Carousel...never to old for that either!

E's first ride on the carousel..not sure how he felt about it??

Getting down and dirty, that's the way E likes it!

Esaias at the Ward Camp Out

Marina's summer hip hop class...showin' off her moves!

Gotta love washing the dog. That's a definite summer family activity. Maybe that's why we love Gandalf...he's so big there is enough room for everyone to help out!

Well, all in all it's been a good summer. Glad to welcome in the fall. Lots of new changes coming. Stay tuned...we'll keep you posted.

Training Camp Part III

Most of you probably think that Vycci is the only one who really posts to our blog. While she is the driving force behind many of our posts, I often think of things to add or insert and usually provide some positive feedback before she actually posts. Therefore, I have the honor of posting pictures and comments from my third consecutive year of visiting the Denver Bronco Training camp. I was escorted by both Marina and Isaac this year. Both of them had a really good time, even when Marina decided that she wanted to role around on the grass. To help detour her I gave her my phone to take pictures. Most of these pictures are Marina's doing (with the exception of two, guess which ones).

John Fox (The Bronco's Head Coach) runs a completely different camp than the impostor coach we had the last two years. It was good to see someone who actually got involved in practice and take leadership.

We ended our day with autographs. I for one am not interested in getting autographs from the players, but Isaac really enjoys it and Marina liked it as well. The set up for autographs at training camp is that a certain position signs autographs each practice. Last year we got the defensive backs, unfortunately we did not get Champ Bailey's, but this year we had Tight Ends. The kids got autographs from Dan Gronkowski (super nice guy), Virgil Green (not sure if he'll make the team), and Daniel Fells (the starting TE as of preseason depth charts).

Tebow is the reason most fans come to camp.

Our Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Lloyd

Danny providing quality control for Coach Fox. Knowshon Moreno and Brandon Lloyd.

Isaac, trying to ignore Marina.

Summer Daze Come to a Cloze

It's always great having time with my kids! They wear me out, and I am exhausted every night I put them to bed, but I go to bed with my heart full, knowing that I have spent the day loving them.

MARINA

Below: Marina is showing off her treasures from a good day garage "sailing"

Marina's big summer event has been doing her gymnastics...practicing, competing... she spends most of her life upside down. Yes, in my living room, her bedroom, the hallway, downstairs, outside...UPSIDE DOWN! We hit her top requests for her summer to do list, when we saw the musical Footloose performed by the Fox Theater outside at a Stapleton park, when Danny took the kids to Skate City for an evening of roller skating, and weekly swimming parties. We even got a Family Home Evening of swimming with Dad.

ISAAC

(Isaac's garage sale finds-We scored!)

Isaac's highlights consist of the annual watching of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Bear Lake with his friend Ryan, Harry Potter movie night, a trip to the public library, an annual swim party at the Glass House downtown, and his 11 year old scout camp with his dad.

ESAIAS

Esaias' top summer favorites definitely involve weekly swimming trips. He just plays for hours, in and out of the water. He won't nap while we are out to save his life, but he sure has been all over town and played!


For Me:
I think taking Esaias to the zoo has been one of my highlights. He gets so excited to see the animals. To see pure enjoyment of new experiences is one of the best parts of life.

Another highlight is watching Marina grow and mature, and become more confident and positive in her attitude towards life. I love hearing her talk about herself and her experiences in positive and empowering ways. "Mom, I've done a good job because I've worked hard. And I've already won, because I've had fun."

Seeing Isaac be a good big brother, as he learns to be aware and nurturing is at the top of my list as well. The other night we were gone, and the babysitter reported that Isaac helped Esaias all night. She said, "He's so good with him." What a great thing to hear!

Grandma's Blankets

My mom's mom makes the best quilts, perfect sized, and tailored to match each grandchild's personality. Well, Isaac and Lilli both had one made for them many years ago. In fact if you saw Lilli's blanket, you would feel sorry for it. It has been very well loved. Traveled to many places over the last 10 years. But somehow the grandkids started coming faster than grandma had made blankets, and so Grandma and Grandpa Mortensen had decided to catch up and make one for all the grandkids that had been born since Lilli and Isaac. Both Marina and Esaias got new blankets. Marina's has gymnasts all over it, and Esaias has little green frogs. And as you can see he loves it! Thanks Grandma & Grandpa.

Pirates!

This exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is one of my all time favorites. My mom and I took the kids, and had a blast. The history was amazing and the story caught all of our attention. We spent the entire dinner replaying it all for Danny. I couldn't help but take advantage of my educator discount and get a membership. We are already registered for 2 evenings of events in September and October. Fun, fun! Arrg!

My mom's new boyfriend???

Even Esaias enjoyed the pirates!

Let's Get Started Catching Up!

It's been so long since I could conscience free sit down and blog. I am free from my master's! All my coursework is complete. I will have a final presentation to the Master's of Education Board at Regis University to do in October, but having done that before for my endorsement, I am feeling pretty relieved to be done with just about the entire program. So a shot out "Woo Hoo" for finishing that! So on that note, here are some of the most exciting things that have occurred over the last few months, while I was finishing my master's.

I have so much to share that I am not quite sure how I am going to do it...all 1 blog or multiple blogs. So... keep reading... we can all get caught up!

With today being August 3rd, I have already had 2 school/work meetings to attend. This is what made Sunday, July 31st so hard. I knew that my summer was coming to a fast end, and that would mean returning to work full-time (yes, that's right, I got my full-time 5th grade teaching position back...which is fabulous). However, returning to work means leaving my new baby home (okay so he's almost a toddler, but he's still my baby). His new babysitter agreed to have him come a little early to help "Mom" with the transition. He did terrific today. Although, he hangs onto my leg whenever we go somewhere, it's not long, before he ventures out to play on his own. He did just that and without tears, I escaped to my meeting. And he was a happy boy when I returned. I might make it yet!

OUR STATE GYMNASTS!

Lilliana and Marina both qualified for state gymnastics this year, which is no small feat. With this being Marina's first year competing, we have been very proud of her efforts and growth. We all have an understanding of what a great accomplishment this was. However, Marina still struggled when the day of the competition she did not receive a medal. I hope she will weild that anger to motivation for next year. She recovered fairly quickly, but only after Auntie Marisa (the gymnastics coach) told her she did good, and she would work hard next year. I said the same things, but coming from me it just didn't work. They both had an amazing season, and Lilli her best season yet...placing 2nd in all around at State, and earning 3 other medals; 1st on vault, 3rd on bars, and 5th on floor. She really nailed it! It was a great weekend watching them succeed!

The gang was all there in support!

Even cranky, I need a nap, Esaias was there for both days!


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
This look might be a little familiar, as this was his costume of choice back in October 2010. However, Isaac sported this look again, at home watching part 1 again the night before and the 2nd time for part 2 in the movie theater on July 15th! Grandma Chris, Papa Joe, and Uncle Ben met us there, to share in the grand and sad evening for the Harry Potter Fans. We enjoyed ourselves. And the movie was fabulous. I don't know how many more times we will be blessed in our house to have Harry Potter visit, but it has been fun to share this with Isaac before it was all over. And Harry Potter definitely motivated our son to read! Who can complain about that?!?Nothing like a spooky full moon on the opening night of Harry Potter!!

A Toothless Grin!

Marina finally has been loosing some teeth. Many of our cousins and friends have been loosing teeth and they are much younger than Marina. If you read or were around for Marina loosing her first tooth, you know that there is major drama and anxiety associated with each individual tooth! How many teeth do they loose? No, I don't want to know!

Annual Zoo Trip

We had the fun of taking my good friend, and Isaac's 5th grade teacher, Heidi on her first Denver Zoo trip. My Minnesota friend has lived in Denver for 10 years, but somehow never made a trip to the zoo. We enjoyed our time walking around and running into some other friends from church. The zoo is one of our most favorite places to go each summer. Esaias really got into this time...making his barking noise for the animals he noticed. He loves dogs, animals and being outside...a perfect set up for the zoo! He finally fell asleep about 30 minutes to the end, and that was all he slept too! This is all for now. I will be catching up on the things I've missed over the summer and at the end of the school year, so check back for more updates! See you soon!