It's been a slow week for us, I guess. I've been fighting a cold and trying to keep up with the regular weekly routine. Rho is working at home this week as his group is moving to their new site in Fort Collins. He's been able to help out more, which I really appreciate.

Karis and Kaela had a case of Spring Fever on Saturday when the temperatures creeped up into the 50s. They donned short-sleeved dresses and flip-flops to have a picnic lunch out on the driveway. It wasn't long before they were coming in to put on tights and jackets!

Kaela joined Karis for swimming lessons today after the swim teacher suggested that Corban might do group lessons instead. It was difficult for her to juggle the two of them with their differences in ability. Kaela enjoyed the lesson and was quite proud of herself, though she truly wasn't doing everything she was asked....like putting her face in the water! Maybe Karis can encourage her, though she has become hesitant about it herself. As you can see from the huge grin on Kaela's face, she had a good time!


The kids took to calling each other "buddy" this morning and were quite a tight threesome. Here's one more picture of the buddy trio:

My friend Tracey

This week started off great with a visit from my dear friend Tracey and two of her little ones, Ember, 2 and 1/2, and Calhoun, 7 weeks. Tracey, who is brave and crazy, was traveling to Vermont to attend a wedding. Her husband had left days before with their 4 year old, Annie. Ben refuses to fly, so he and Annie made a 3 day haul to Vermont. Anyway, Tracey and the two little ones spent the night with us on Monday night and the kids and I drove them to the airport on Tuesday. I'll go to pick them up on Sunday evening and they'll spend the night with us again! Little Calhoun is so adorable and cuddly! Tracey, by the way, is the person who coined the term "Greenery" for our family, which is why my blog is called "Colorado Greenery."

As most of you know, we went to Texas last week to attend the funerals of two of Rho's uncles, BJ and Felix. We left on Thursday afternoon, the 14th, arriving in Gruver around 10:00, if I remember correctly. Both of the funerals were on Friday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The day was sad, of course, but the services for both men were so nice and I was so thankful that the family gathered there could also be joyful in the assurance we have of our homes awaiting us with the Lord. What a blessing. Anyway, we stayed Friday night and went out to Rho's aunt Glenda's on Saturday morning, along with other family. We were able to visit there a bit before leaving around lunch time. There isn't much to report of our trip home other than to tattle on ourselves. Well, on Rho, really. I'll just preface this, (MOM), with the statement that Rho loves his family very much and would never harm them, (MOM). Trips can be quite dull, so, here's a picture of Corban and Karis doing a little van surfing!

Corban only fell over a couple of times as Rho swerved around on the road, making them unsteady on their feet. Just look at those smiles. FUN! Kaela is safely secured in her seat and looks bored out of her mind.

Here's just some kinda funny stuff the girls have said lately.

Karis on marriage: "I can't marry somebody who loves trains." (Said to me after suggesting she could marry her friend Cole, who lives for trains.)

Karis at the grocery store: "Corban! I found Larry. And Bob is over there!" (Shouted across the produce section after asking me to point out the cucumbers.)

Kaela: "Maybe Daddy's dead." (Said as the rest of us wondered aloud where Rho was.) Well, that one's not so funny.


Kaela calls this an "Injury Bar" (Energy Bar)

Swim Lessons

Today was the first of Corban and Karis' swimming lessons. I was a bit concerned about how it would go considering that Karis cried and cried when I told her last week that I had signed her up. Fortunately, she had a great time and is looking forward to next week's lesson. During lessons she said, "Mom, can we come to lessons again? This is fun!" She had a few moments of uncertainty, but quickly began to trust her teacher and did things I was very surprised by. If you look at the picture where the teacher has her arms raised, you'll see Karis' head almost completely under the water! WHOA! Later, she mustered the courage to go completely under and held her breath for 4 seconds. I was amazed. Though she shivered almost the whole half hour, she did fabulous. Corban actually surprised me as well with skills I didn't realize he had developed. (I don't swim with my kids very much.) He did a great job at working on things alone as the teacher needed to give more one-on-one time to Karis. He practiced the backstroke, which is challenging when you can't float very well. Unfortunately, he knocked his noggin' on the pool wall twice. Ouch!

As Kaela and I watched the swim lesson, I recalled what I believe was my first swim lesson. I was scared to death, of course, and remember scrambling out of the pool and escaping to the bleachers nearby where I attempted to climb to my safety, as far from the water as I possibly could. Oh, how pitiful. I'm sure they put me back in the dreaded pool, where I never, ever wanted to let go of the side. So glad we didn't have anything ugly like that happen today!

My Sewing Kit

Sharla, I don't know if you read my blog, but this one's for you, my seamstressly talented sister-in-law. I had to dust off my sewing kit the other day and actually thread a needle for a minor repair on Karis' sweater. As if it weren't challenging enough, Karis, my sweet girl, says something like, "Aunt Sharla sews better than you, Mom." Then Corban, my supportive son, chimes in with, "Yeah, and she braids hair better, too." Thanks, guys. I thought this was really pretty funny and had to share it with you, along with this picture of my meager little sewing kit. Oh, I DID get the sweater fixed, by the way, with only one needle poke!

Grrrrr......

A sign outside our church caused me to do a double take when I read it as "A Place for You to Worship, Serve and Growl." That "l" is really an exclamation mark that might be positioned just a little too close to "Grow." I wonder how many others read it the way I first did. Maybe I just need to wear my glasses! I do so like to growl at church though.

Cup Stack Update

I've got big news to share! I am now the House Cup-Stacking Champ! On Wednesday, after several days break from stacking, I broke Rho's record of 15.37 by .05 seconds! Then, moments later, I broke my new time of 15.32 with a time of 14.60! I immediately IMed Rho to let him know the good news, though I'm not sure he took it as good news. Strangely, he's not trying to beat my time.....I think he's scared.