The Candy Man

Jason and I spent Saturday morning walking with JR's Willy Wonka cast in the Broomfield Days parade.

 

 

The theme was "Colorado Living at its Best"...which means everyone threw on their Broncos or Rockies gear and called it a day.

I wasn't aware just how big of a production the parade was.

We were #71 in the line up, sandwiched between a dragon butt (pictured) and a truck load of square dancers. 

 

 Not sure if that placement's a statement about how the parade organizers feel about theater kids or not.

Kyle and Reed walked with us, and due to a "previous year's incident" throwing candy was strictly forboden, though you could hand it out. 

 

 

As you can see, I'm not sure Kyle actually passed any out. 

The only passing of candy he did was through his own lips!

Fashion Fabulous Friday

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before (and if I have, I'll mention it again) but school doesn't start until 9:30 on Wednesdays so the teachers can plan.

 

(Why was this not in place when I was teaching?!)

 

 

Our school has different activities kids can take during that hour, so, if you want, you can go to school like it's a regular day, or you can sleep in an extra hour on Wednesdays.

 

 

My kids take activities, because, as I see it, I only have to drop them off in one location for 3 different things. 

It's a win-win.

 

 

JR takes a computer/robotics class (he took Chinese last year, but was the only kid to sign up this year so they cancelled it).

Reed takes an art class.

 

 

And Kyle takes Tae Kwon Do. (or as he calls Kai Twon Do.)

 

 

On Wednesday they earned their belts.

 

 

The excitement of a new fashion accessory that was earned because of punching and kicking is pretty much a dream come true for this one.

And if you don't think Kyle wore his belt to school that afternoon, then you've never met Kyle.

 

I had to put my foot down though, I wouldn't let him wear it to hockey that night.

One From the Broncos Playbook

 

 Kyle uses the "Colorado play" and distracts the offense with his grass offerings.

 

 And look! Not only did it work, it's totally legal...cause ya know, we're in Colorado.

 

 

 The downside of Kyle's grass play is that it can make him a bit mellow.

 

 

Glory, Glory Hallelujah!

I got the call...and school is back on for tomorrow!

Yesssssss!

 

JR has play practice tonight, the littles have football...we are back in business.

 

 

It's been touch and go around these parts.  Not from floodwaters, but from stay-at-home-waters.

 

 

For the past two days I've made them go and jog with me...literal running energy off. 

(They made it a mile without stopping both days...though they certainly weren't complaint free miles.)

 

 

I have no photo evidence of JR since he wouldn't let me take his picture (I guess he wasn't movie star ready) but Reed has looked a lot like this.

 

 

And I found Kyle wearing both his hockey helmet and his football flag belt.  Just look at that face. Even dressing up in his athletic wear can't combat his boredom.

 

We're so mind-numbingly brain dead from a 6 day flood vacation that I'm sending a piece of tape for Kyle and Reed's 't' word tomorrow.

 

That's right, tape.

It has to be something smaller than 2 inches that you leave in the sound box for the entire year and you don't get back...ever. 

 

Tape it is.

 

Sweet Belle

My mom just gave me the sad news that their dog, Belle, died.

She was 15 and had a wonderful farm dog life.

 

 

 

My dad found her on the porch of the barn this morning, (she usually sleeps on the floor by their bed, but she wouldn't come inside last night) it looked like she just went to sleep and didn't wake up. 

 

 

 

My dad always says it's as hard to loose a pet as it is a person, and he's so right.

 Pets are such a sweet part of the family!

 

 

 

These are the last pictures I have of her that we took this summer.

She was the best dog.

 

 

  Here are some of my favorites.

(It's funny to see Belle with her summer hair cut and Reed with no hair!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, of course, my all time favorite picture. Ever.

 

Don't Send the Arc...Just Yet

We haven't washed away.

 

The rain of biblical proportions is still falling off and on.

 

The not going to school of biblical proportions also continues.

 

They didn't go Thursday or Friday, and now school is also cancelled for Monday and Tuesday.

 

 

Oh, serenity now....

 

A Good Rain

So you might have heard we're a bit damp up here in the Denver/Boulder area.

 

 

I say "a bit damp" simply because in Texas the amount we've gotten would prompt my dad to proclaim "we got a good rain".

 

 

 

Here in Colorado, my dad's definition of a "good rain" means school is closed today and tomorrow.  

Roads have washed away.

And I actually heard one friend use the words "biblical proportions" in reference to the wet stuff falling from the sky.

 

 

 

To be fair, this did happen a mile or so from our house.

But please don't let the above image worry you, we are totally fine and totally dry.

 

As evidenced by my childrens' request to go to lunch at Golden Corral where they proceeded to eat cotton candy in "biblical proportions".