Sweet Peas and Ladybugs

We have lived in our house 3 years. This year is the first year that I have actually planted flowers. I am quite proud of the way they turned out. I have learned some things, so that next year they will be even better! :)

I love sweet peas and I planted them along our fence. It was definitely a learning experience, hopefully next year they can be even better. They smell really good!

Every morning the boys come out and help me water my flowers. There have been a lot of lady bugs lately. On Thursday it started out with just one for McCray. Today we found 6.

Everyone loves ladybugs!! I don't know if bags are the best way to catch them, but it is working for now.

Utah

Last Wednesday we got back from spending a week out in Utah. My favorite brother Scott and his two girls, Ellie and Cora flew in. Morgan Sophia was born July 21st. So, we went out to see Scott and Morgan. We also got to see Morgan blessed. It was a really fun week and we had a lot of fun playing with cousins.


We went swimming one day at Cottonwood Heights. Ellie was really awesome and took Cahl around and helped watch him. He loved it!!

McCray loved going down the slide.

McCray, Maddie, Cahl, Ellie and Cora playing in the water at the pool. I think this was the hottest day that we were there and the kids had tons of fun.

McCray, Ellie, Cora and Cahl. This was up at "This is the Place" monument. The bigger kids understood what the monument is there for, but I don't think McCray really got why we were there. He liked looking at the horses and the bulls.

McCray in the fountain at Gateway. The day started out cold, but by the time we got there it was warm enough to play.

Ellie was brave and stood in the middle of the fountain. Amazingly, she didn't get wet.

Cahl loved the fountain and thought it was hilarious when the water would get him and loved to play in the steam.

Uncle Scott blessed Morgan. She looked so cute in her blessing dress. Scott gave her a really awesome blessing. She was good during the blessing and didn't cry. She is really beautiful and we are glad that she is in our extended family. We can't wait for her to get bigger so that all the cousins can play.

Cahl loved holding "baby Organ." I was worried that he would get jealous when I was holding her, but he didn't. He just got mad that he couldn't hold her. He loved holding her. She is so sweet and cute, we just loved seeing her.

Camille and Kelly were the perfect host and hostesses. Thanks you guys for putting up with my kids and treating us like royalty. Thanks for letting us stay at your house and letting us eat all your cereal. We miss you and Harley-girl!We love you!!

Lasagna Recipe

I made this recipe today and love it and can't stop eating it. It makes a TON, I am not joking, but is really good and pretty easy. I am a huge fan of the crockpot. I got it from my mom's ward cookbook it's from Bethne Hickox. Thought I would share.
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground Italian sausage ( I used regular and it is still super yummy)
2 lb. 13 oz. spaghetti sauce
2, 15 oz. cans tomato sauce
32 0z. Ricotta cheese
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
1, 8 oz. package of oven ready lasagne noodles
1, 16 oz. block mozarella cheese shredded

In a skillet, cooke meat until browned; remove from heat and drain any excess oil. Stir in spagetti and tomato sauces. In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese, eggs, basil and oregano. In the crock-pot, layer the following: meat sauce, uncooked lasagne noodles, cheese mixture, meat sauce, mozarella cheese. Repeat the layers until the ingredients have been used. Cook on low for approximately 4 hours.

I did this before we went to church and when we got back it was yummy and helped me not be so grumpy after church! :)

Update

Here is the update I know that you have all been waiting for. I will do it in the order that the pictures downloaded.
We celebrate the 24th here. It is a big weekend celebration. Sanford has their celebration on Thursday and Manassa has a big celebration on Friday and Saturday around or on the 24th. Manassa has a carnival and rodeo and Moto X races and a parade on Fri and Sat morning. It is really fun!!

McCray and Cash riding the carousel in Manassa. They were really cute they would yell " Yee Haw" and whip the horses to go faster. True cowboys!!

Cahl and Ireland on the carousel. Cahl loved riding the rides and nothing scared him.

McCray running in the foot races in Sanford. Sanford's celebration is really family oriented and fun. In the morning they have a parade followed by a bbq and then footraces in the afternoon and then a family dance in the evening.

McCray and Cash riding their bikes in the parade in Sanford. They loved riding their bikes and can't until next year when they can ride again.

McCray and Cahl got matching cowboy shirts for the big pioneer celebration. McCray picked them out. My boys are so handsome!!

In May my sisters Mere and Camille came to visit. It was really fun to have them here and we were sad to see them go. Here we are at the gator farm. Totally random to have a gator farm in the middle of southern colorado, I know!!

While my sisters were here we also went to the sand dunes. This was fun, it is like a beach. The kids had a lot of fun splashing and playing in the water. Here is Cahl and Noah at the " Dunes."

McCray and Makaylee loved the sand dunes. They pretended they were surfing. The water really came in waves and they loved it!! So, anyone who comes to visit, this is one place we will go. It is like a beach and the kids played for hours!

Last but not least, on May 2nd I ran the Shiprock 1/2 marathon, 13.1 miles. Shiprock is in New Mexico and is about 10 miles from the Arizona border. It is a Navajo reservation. It was a really fun race and the weather conditions were just perfect. My time was 2:13. I was happy with my time, I wanted to finish in under 2:15, so I met my goal. I think that I could have finished a lot quicker, but Mother Nature called a lot. Not my best race, but one I am definitely glad I ran. I also ran the BolderBoulder race on Memorial day. I don't have any pictures, but I finished in 57 minutes. This is also a very fun race and one I hope to run every year that I am able.