Summer Camp 2024: Rocky Mountain National Park

What an incredible week at Rocky Mountain National Park last week with Ashlyn's BSA Troop 219 from Denton, TX.  This was the troop's summer camp this year.  We started our journey on Saturday, June 8th and arrived at Sugarite Canyon State Park in New Mexico.  Prior to arriving at the state park, we took a detour and visited the Capulin Volcano National Monument.  This was Ashlyn's first time to visit the volcano.

We had a windy evening while at Sugarite Canyon State Park in New Mexico.  The girls tented in one big tent, which collapsed on them.  The stories were funny between the seven of them since one slept through the tent collapsing and another was content and chill through the whole thing.  They were laughing and telling stories the next morning.  They ended up packing it up and just slept in a few vehicles instead of dealing with the hassle.  Prior to bedtime, we had one of the most beautiful sunsets.

After arriving to Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday June 9th, we stayed at Glacier Basin Campground which had incredible views from our hikes.  Our focus for our hikes were within the Bear Lake Corridor Trails.  We would either walk over or take a vehicle to the park & ride to catch a bus.  This bus would then take us to three specific trailheads: Bierstadt Lake Trailhead, Glacier Gorge Trailhead, and Bear Lake Trailhead.

On Monday, June 10th, we hiked up to Emerald Lake.  It was about a four mile hike overall with a variety of terrain changes including snow!  This hike was the most challenging out of all the hikes we completed and I am thankful we completed it first.  However, the end result was worth it and we had lunch prior to hiking back down.

 

The following day, Tuesday, June 11th, we hiked about two miles and saw the Alberta Falls.  Originally, we had a tubing excursion planned but were unable to complete due to the water speed.  Six of the seven scouts went to a water park and had an enjoyable day while the rest of us stayed at the campsite area.

Wednesday, June 12th, we all traveled to Colorado Adventure Center and scouts and adults completed a ropes and zip line course.  It was pretty impressive to watch them maneuver through the obstacles.

On Thursday, June 13th, four of us hiked another four miles.  We purposely started near the Bear Lake Trailhead which resulted in only a bit of incline and the remaining was primarily downhill.  In about three hours, we casually hiked four miles.  Our goal was not so fast paced as our previous two hikes had been from Monday and Tuesday!  Here is the picture of Bierstadt Lake from the hike.  Near the end of the hike, the four of us hiking could see our campsite from the hill.

Also on Thursday, June 13th, scouts and some adults completed rock climbing!  I suspect many were tired from the previous day's ropes and zip line course.  Those attending rock climbing stated the hike to get where they had to go was pretty brutal.  However, from all the pictures it appears they had a great time and experience.  Ashlyn mentioned rappelling was a bit challenging and required the most trust from the other person.

As scout led, they did a fantastic job planning out the meals for an entire week.  The girls decided to work on a variety of merit badges including astronomy, climbing, camping, cooking, citizenship in the nation, and first aid.  A few of the girls also worked on trail to first class.  Ashlyn completed climbing, cooking, and the astronomy merit badge.  She is almost completed with her camping merit badge too!

Between the scouts and adults, we hiked the trails at RMNP, went to a water park (due to the tubing plans getting cancelled), completed a ropes/zip line course, rock climbing and rappelling, shopped, and a few a scouts visited a Colorado University!  It was such an amazing experience and thankful I had the opportunity to attend.

2009

We went to Party City to purchase some basic party supplies to celebrate the New Year.  We purchased party hats, balloons, noise makers, streamers, bingo cards, and a few other supplies.  The boys enjoyed the evening and watching the ball drop on television.
 
Journaling: We brought in the new year at our apartment in Lewisville, TX.  Roland - 13, Jakob - 3.

Inspiration from the June 21st Sketch from Sassy Lil' Sketches.

Starting Master's Degree - Spring 2012

This past Wednesday, I received an email from the University of North Texas stating I was accepted into their Master's Program for Curriculum and Instruction!  I have to take the GRE test and plan to take it this Fall before starting my first class during Spring 2012.  I already have vocabulary flash cards that I can study for the test and will also get some other study materials before taking it.  I graduated from the University of North Texas for my undergraduate degree with honors in May 2008.

My first course is Curriculum & Instruction Inquiry I.
This first course is an introduction to critical reflection and inquiry through action research. Development of basic skills as consumers of educational research and as teacher researchers. Should be taken upon first residence registration in the C&I Master of Education degree program. Admission procedures are completed and degree plan developed. Includes a small-scale action research inquiry project that may lead to the program-required inquiry report. Includes initial development of the program portfolio. Pre-requisite for all other core courses.

Weekend Update

I finished reading a Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evavovich on my Kindle a few days ago.  I am finding that I am more interested in reading recently and just relaxing.  The author will be making an appearance on June 24th at a Barnes and Noble near us.  However, I doubt I will worry about it.  Wristbands will be distributed at 8am and then the event itself is not until 6pm. However, it is neat to me that she will be there!

Three To Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As always, Janet Evanovich writes a comical mystery involving her klutzy bounty hunter Stephanie Plum! Many laugh out loud moments throughout the book!

View all my reviews

Since I finished the book, I was debating on a different genre to read.  I started looking at USA Today's top books and came across Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin.  Reviews were pretty good so I thought I would give it a try.

Yesterday, the four of us went and saw Thor in Irving using some free movie tickets Jeff won from a radio station a while back.  The movie was pretty good.  After the movie, Jeff asked if I liked it and I told him the beginning was a little slow but other than that, I enjoyed it.  The whole time I was trying to figure out what movie I knew the Professor from and right as I was looking it up on my phone I realized he had played on Mamma Mia!

Jakob is excited about this upcoming Monday.  His teacher will return from maternity leave.  He also has Kindergarten graduation on Thursday!  Kindergarten sure went fast!

Saturday Morning

This has been a few rough days.  I mentioned Jakob broke his arm Thursday afternoon. 

Saturday morning, I logged in to check my scores for the high school math test I took three weeks ago and it shows I made the same exact score as I made the first time.  It was so annoying to see that even with additional studying that I made the same score!  I needed a minimum score of 240 and I made a 231 again.  However, it is a pretty tough test.  When I received my score after the first time I took it, I found the link displaying the averages for all of the state test on the website.  The average for the test is a 234, not even passing.

Our baby girl is due at the end of July.  Officially, I think my due date is July 26th.  Jakob's due date was January 27, 2005 and was not born until February 1st.  So I keep saying she will be born at the end not knowing if she will be on time, early, or late! 

The hardest thing right now is accepting the idea of not having my contract renewed due to the state budgeting problem.  Yet I know there is some plan and everything happens for a reason.  Last week at church, the message was to Dare to Dream and Believe.  It was one of those messages that felt like the pastor was talking directly to you.  My mom says maybe for a little while, I am supposed to focus on the baby, family, and starting my Master's Degree.

Jeff and I have a few errands to make today and go to Kroger with the coupons I already have ready using Southern Savers to help me match up the ad and my coupons.  Later today, I plan to scrapbook and not worry about these last few days.  I already found a few online sketch challenges that I would like to do and submit.  Happy Saturday!

2010 Family Portraits

Jeff and I have not done family pictures in three years, and knew it was time! 

Jakob (5 years old) and Roland (13 years old).  Roland is about to have his 14th birthday on December 1st and Jakob will be 6 years old on February 1st.

I really like this one of Roland and Jakob.  Both boys are growing like weeds, but seeing the height differences is really cool.

This was one of the last pictures and Jakob was wearing out.  Our photographer was great and kept Jakob just laughing and saying funny things.  Jakob was adding his own comments, but he couldn't have had more fun!

You & Me

This week's song challenge over at Scrap It With a Song is "ABC 123" by Jackson 5.  The lyrics are up on the blog. You can take whatever inspires you from this song, the words, the title or the overall theme of the song. Upload your creations onto the Scrap It With A Song blog by Sunday and you could be this week's winner.

Jakob and I went to the Fort Worth Zoo in March 2009 with Roland and friends.  I was actually able to get some cute pictures of the two of us together!  He was still terrified of carousels last year, hints the facial expression!



The paper for this layout is from Coordinates Collections and my inspiration for the layout design is from The Scrappiest Sketch #89.

8 Years Ago...

8 years ago on October 19, I married my best friend.  Let's take a trip down memory lane.  :)

I found out after the wedding, my brother, Randy, and his friend, John, played security at my wedding!  I couldn't stop laughing when my mom told me the story!

I really love this picture!  It amazes me to look at this picture and know Cherokee is in the 9th grade now.  I still remember how excited she was to be our flower girl.  She twirled around and really loved her dress.  She was so excited because our dresses looked similar! :)

Jeff and I danced to our song, "Hanging by a Moment" by Lifehouse.  The lyrics to the song are great for the two of us.

My mom sent us this card for our anniversary.

Jeff found this card and bought it for our anniversary.

Inside: ...and married me anyway!

Jeff's parents sent this card and it is too cute!

Birthday Celebrations!

Jeff was so sweet on my birthday!  He bought a cake and had Jakob help decorate it with M&Ms to say Mom.  We went to Olive Garden and had a nice dinner.  After we got home, it was time for Jakob to get in the shower.  Jakob looked at me with those sweet eyes and said, "I have to help Dad."  Jeff started smiling and laughing.  I was then put in charge of a few other chores to get me out of the kitchen!  When they were both finally ready, they called me into the kitchen and Jakob was full of smiles still!  They sang happy birthday and then Jakob clapped at the end since he's done the routine a few times at birthday parties!

Jeff also bought me a cute card for my birthday!

Inside: But I don't need a lot of words to say what's always in my heart - "I love you" says it all. Happy Birthday.

30 Years Old!

I received a few cards so far from family for my birthday!  I turn the big 30 today!

I was really surprised to receive the card from my neighbor Linda.  She loves to scrapbook and it was too sweet!!  I was not expecting it from her and really enjoyed receiving the hand made card.  I will have to ask her how she made the flower, becuase it's pretty neat!

Inside: Flowers Say Hello from the Heart.

This card is from my in-laws, Gregg and Lana.  They are the best and could not ask for more!!

Inside: Hope your birthday is filled with gifts of the heart --- the kind you share all year.

I also received one from Jeff's grandmother, Donna, in Florida.  

Inside: You've grown up to be such a warm, caring person ~ so kind, and thoughtful of others.  You're the wonderful granddaughter grandparents hope for.  And you're loved more every year.  Happy Birthday!

Boys are with Grandparents

This week is sure going fast! Last Thursday, I picked up Roland since Jakob and him were headed to visit with Jeff's parents for the week.  We met Gerry on Friday at Chili's in Fort Worth and had a nice lunch.  Jakob was funny as we were leaving.  I got him buckled in his seat and was saying bye and he was like, "Mom, we're leaving - shut the door!"  Jakob was extremely excited to visit with Jeff's parents and all he could talk about was he was going to the Mimi with the trampoline.  It is also the first thing he told Roland when we picked him up on Thursday!  The boys will return this upcoming Saturday.

On Saturday, Jeff and I went to Olive Garden with Joe and Brenda.  We had a nice dinner and afterwards went to Strikz Entertainment to bowl.  Jeff and I went and saw Toy Story 3 on Monday.  It was a cute movie and afterwards we did some shopping.  I found a dress to wear to my brother's wedding later this month.  I still need to do other things to get ready, but we'll get there!

I spoke to Lana today and she said Jakob was having a blast and said he wasn't ready to come home.  She said he says he misses us, but is obviously enjoying his time with grandparents!  She told me at the lake he jumped off the ten foot dock at Horace and Kay's house!  Once he did it once, she said he swam back to the dock, and did it again and again! At the lake, she said he rode the intertube with his Uncle Brett and with Roland.  He sure loves the water.  After they returned from the lake, they have been doing things around the house.  She mentioned she purchased a Slip'n'Slide and both boys have really enjoyed it!  As mentioned, Jakob was excited about going to their house because of the trampoline.  She said, they have been on it everyday since they got to the house! This afternoon, they are going to watch Toy Story 3.

I have been doing chores and scrapbooking this week.  I had a dentist appointment yesterday and it went well, no cavities.  Since I had no cavities, I treated myself to a pedicure.  I have made four scrapbook layouts since the boys have been with grandparents; three of the layouts are completed and posted on my blog.  (Links below).

• New Home
• Christmas '08
• Bright Day at the Zoo

WICKED at Dallas Summer Musicals!!

I saw Wicked on Saturday with my mom, Mema, and Alicia.  We were about 13 rows from the stage in the orchestra and it was amazing!  It was mom and my second time to see the show, but it was Mema's and Alicia's first time to see the show.  My mom was reading through the playbill for the show and read the The Wizard was played by Richard Kline.  I would not have remembered him if it was not for the notes listed, but he played Jack Tripper's best friend, Larry, on Three's Company!  Since this was my second time to see the show, I really wanted a shirt!  I picked up the green one that said Wicked and cannot wait to wear it!

The first two minutes of the video is really neat!  It goes over behind the scenes information.  From watching the video, I learned it takes three days to assemble the entire stage and 42 trucks to bring all the supplies for the show!

Grand Canyon Weekend Vacation

We woke up Friday morning early around 3:30AM!  Our flight departed Love Field in Dallas at 6:20AM and landed in El Paso.  Jeff had found a flight that we could stay on and from El Paso, it would go Phoenix, AZ.  After we landed, the pilot stated it would be a full flight and he needed to see a few people.  I knew he was calling non-rev customers.  He starts calling names and I'm hoping with my fingers crossed he doesn't call any of us!  Yet, all of a sudden, he calls Jakob!!  Jakob was really excited and said, "They called my name!" Jeff went up and shortly after we all got off the plane since obviously we could not fly without Jakob!  They have all of the non-rev people in a list on the computer and we were the top group.  They had exactly three seats available and we needed four for all of us.  The attendant then realizes again that Jeff is an employee and mentions he could ride fourth in a flight attendant seat.  It was super nice of them to let Jeff fly on that seat so we all could get there on that flight!  I knew the plane would be really full getting back on it since we were one of the last ones to get on board.  I saw two seats in separate rows but together and grab them.  Jakob did well on the plane and played his game a little.  I could tell near the end he was ready to get off the plane.  I'm sure it was a little different not sitting directly next to either Jeff or me, but overall I think he did fine and didn't appear to annoy the other two people next to him!  I was glad I grabbed those two seats since once we sat down other people were still debating where to sit.

We landed in Phoenix, AZ at 7:20AM (their time) and took the shuttle to get our car.  Shortly after arriving at the Rental Car Center, we had our car and were on our way toward the Grand Canyon.  We stopped on the way to get snacks and then eat lunch as we drove to the Grand Canyon.  It is about three-four hours from the Phoneix area to the Grand Canyon.

Once we arrived at the Grand Canyon, we purchased a few waters and began admiring the beauty of it all!  We started walking east around the edge and took many pictures along the way!  We walked and walked until we came to the end of one side and then took the bus back to the visitor center.  The Grand Canyon had three different color paths and we had finished the green path.  After we returned to the visitor center, we took the bus on the blue path.  We found a gift shop once we got off the bus before walking east again.  Jakob and Roland both bought hats and shirts.  I found a scrapbook and a pink hat with a shirt.  Jeff found a few t-shirts.

We stayed in Williams, AZ on Friday.  It is about an hour south of the Grand Canyon.  After leaving the Grand Canyon, we had a few snacks in the car but decided we would eat at the Pizza Hut in Williams near our hotel.  We did not realize until Saturday that it was really two hours behind CST, so by the time we got to Pizza Hut it was really 9:00PM to us!  I laugh because Jakob was exhausted and was pretty much asleep after eating a few pieces of pizza!

We woke up Saturday morning and had breakfast at our hotel.  It was a really nice continental breakfast including cereal, muffins, waffles, fruit, juice, and milk.  After breakfast, we finished packing up and checked out of the hotel.  We headed south to Phoenix to meet Jeff's uncle for lunch.  We arrived at his house around 11:00AM and had a nice lunch together.  After lunch, we had intentions of going to a Sea Life place that I thought would be like the Dallas World Aquarium.  However, it was a small attraction inside Arizona Mills.  The mall was designed the same as Grapevine Mills and the tourist attraction for Sea Life was not worth the $20/person price!  I was quite disappointed and we walked around the mall and then went to check into our hotel near the airport.

We relaxed at the hotel for a little while before heading out for dinner.  It was really hot in Phoenix.  The temperature for the weekend was 105.  Even though they do not have humidity, it was still really hot in Phoenix!  I was pretty worn out from the overall day at the Grand Canyon.  After watching some television, we went out for dinner.  We found an Applebees and then comically we went to a nearby Costco for ice cream!

Once we finished we went back to our hotel and relaxed for the rest of the evening.  We had an early morning flight to catch out of Phoenix to Houston.  Our flight left the next morning at 7:00AM.  We were able to easily non-rev the flight with plenty of seats available. We landed in Houston at 11:35AM CST.  We were able to eat lunch at the airport before our connecting flight to Dallas.  Our next flight left Houston shortly after 12:30PM.  The flight from Houston to Dallas was really short and Jakob slept most of that flight!  I told him before getting on the plane he was taking a nap!  He was exhausted and at the point where he was hyper-silly!  I wish I could have gotten a picture of him because once he fell asleep, he was OUT!  He even slept through the entire landing and did not wake up until our plane stopped at the gate.

Overall, it was a really fun weekend and great experience.  Here are a few of many pictures I took from the trip!