MONTH 3/4

Well, we knew that it would happen...the posts are becoming an afterthought, and pretty much non-existent at this point. But, we're going to attempt to get this going again. Even though summertime is usually associated with leisure and relaxation, it seems that we have more on our plates than we had previously thought. And when you throw in a few trips, everything else is put on the backburner (including this here blog).

So let's start off from where we finished last...the kids finished school just about the same time that Joe went out to Florida for his 'lil sis' graduation (sans the rest of the family unfortunately). Finishing up school combined with Joe leaving town for a few days was kind of an emotionally trying time for the kids (and Mom). There was a definite sense of loss expressed by the two youngest, which in a way was positive as it showed how strong of a bond had been formed between all of us. But things gradually came back to "normal" after Joe got back as the kids got into their new summer routines.

All of them took swimming lessons for two weeks, which has come in handy the past few months as the heat has driven us closer to water. We're still considering putting them in more advanced classes in August, but it's still up in the air at the moment. Ricky started baseball shortly thereafter...there was just two weeks (2x a week) of practice before he started playing competitive games with other teams. Overall it's been an enjoyable experience for all of us. Ricky has gained a bit more confidence in himself, and we get the opportunity to watch him excel in an activity that he seems to enjoy.

In July, we headed out on a road trip to Utah to visit Jill's family and attend her aunt's wedding. Spending as much time as we did on the road (approximately 8 hours one way) was a true test on the kid's patience, but they did surprisngly well. We attempted to leave very early in the morning so that the children could sleep for part of the trip, but their excitement got in the way, making for an exhaustive drive. They did great though, keeping themselves entertained with movies and such. We were fortunate to stay with Jill's cousin who has four children of her own, providing playmates for our kids. It was all a bit overwhelming as the kids met many members of Jill's family (including their first visit with "Great" Grandma Peters), but they seemed unfazed by all of it and they enjoyed getting to know all of these new additions to their family. The trip was bookended with an adventurous drive through the front range, stopping in Moab to hike around Arches National Park, exploring the beautiful terrain with its interesting rock formations. Despite the desert like heat, we all had a great time treking through the park. The drive back was LONG as we were primarily driving on moutainous roads, but well worth the effort (despite taking twice as long to get home). And speaking of home, it was refreshing for all of us to get back there after our week-long adventure.

But the break was short-lived as we found ourselves on the road again two days later to attend a good friend's wedding reception in Colorado Springs. The kids had a great time staying at the hotel (with its swimming pool and "jump friendly" beds), and later attending the reception. And once again they went through the rounds of meeting new people as a lot of friends and acquaintances of ours hadn't yet met the kids. I think the highlight of the evening (for the kids anyway) was the dancing as they danced themselves into a frenzy for over two hours straight. It was pretty entertaining to witness to say the very least...we're starting to get the hint that they have an ingrained love for all things music. Here's a link to a recent concert we all attended if you don't believe us.

And that's one of the coolest things we have been discovering the past few months when it comes to the kids: they seem genuinely interested in a lot of things that we also enjoy. One thing they have picked up on recently is art appreciation. Fortunately for us, despite living in such a small town, Loveland offers a lot when it comes to the fine arts. A recent discovery for all of us is a sculpture garden not far from our home that houses a wide variety of sculptures for the kids to view (or in some cases climb on). It's a pleasant place to just explore and get some fresh (currently HOT) air; plus the kids are just into "checking out" the art.

And another thing we've been enjoying lately are family bike rides. We have always kicked ourselves for not taking advantage of the beautiful trails we have around out neighborhood, but recently we have been taking the kids on lengthy rides through these trails, soaking in the scenery and discovering some of the wildlife.

One of the biggest events of the last month was Ana's 4th birthday. We celebrated at a beautiful mountain park with family and friends. We had a lot of fun and the kids enjoyed the playground, the mountains, river, piñata and of course, just spending time with each other. Ana felt so popular to have so many people at her party and she continues to enjoy all of the lovely gifts she had received.

We continue to thoroughly enjoy our new family and the process of getting to know and love each other. We feel so fortunate to have our kids and to watch them grow. Thanks, as always, for everyone's love and support. We certainly need and appreciate it! For any of you who have not yet met the kids, we just want you to know that you are truly missing out. We hope everyone can meet them soon!

Also, if you want to see more pictures that we have taken over the past few months, follow the link here.