Airforce Academy

Ready for take off... 

 

B-52 Bomber
 Located at the North Entrance to the
Air Force Academy

Isn't that what you think of? A runway?  Well...above is actually the ceiling of a very large and very cool church building at the Air Force Academy, just north of Colorado Springs.  There are stained glass windows in geometric shapes and various colors running throughout the entire building. This is church is designed to accommodate most religious denominations at the academy. The protestants are upstairs and the Catholics, Jewish, and Buddhist are on the lower level.

To the right is more stained glass that run in diamond shapes from floor to ceiling. It is very geometrically based, but the stained glass and height of the building is stunning. Since it is sunny most days, the effect of the colors from the glass is beautiful! 

 This is the church from a distance.  It is very curious to look at from the outside and it makes you want to see what it is like on the inside. 

There are two very neat aspects to the building, besides the stained glass.  One...the exposed organ in the balcony at the back, with choir seats sitting in the balcony below the organ.

 

Two...There is one bench roped off and reserve for the prisoners of war and those missing in action.  To the left of it, it is hard to see, is a tall candle that has a small flame that burns all the time, in honor of them as well.  It is good to remember those who gave up their lives for our freedom.

 

 

Visitors are welcome to come and take a look at a visitors center, the church and a few other sites on campus.  

The B-52 was HUGE!

movin' right along



This kid likes to move! He is now 22 months.  I was mildly alarmed when I counted it out and realized that his Birthday is just a couple of months away.

 

The weather was sooooo nice yesterday --64 degrees-- that Sean and I went to the park. He loved the swings and such, but this was a new development:  Climbing stairs! He used the hand rails and went up and down and up and down and up and down...you get the picture.

 He also loves to run. You're not surprised are you? He has the cute toddler -twisty -bottom thing going on, of course. However, he gets his feet off the ground and he goes-fast, too!  He runs down the hallway to Dad's office and back to me in the family room.  Over and over and over.  It is especially fun when Guster joins in and Sean squeals and takes off, Guster, semi-interested in the game.

 

I just realized that he doesn't like to sit down and eat anymore.  If he can't hold it in his hand, he isn't happy with it. Things to do, places to see...

Sean just got some new shoes and he is proud of those.  Kaleb used to call his shoes, when he was little, his {Fast Runners}. I guess it is true, new shoes do make you run faster. 

 

Sadie and Sean watching Netflix.  Yes, Sean is holding a red pepper...No he doesn't normally eat those, I think he mistakes it for an apple.

life...

A very good friend of mine, Tracy Allen, died unexpectedly this past week.  I have known her for about 14 years. We both moved to Maple Valley, Washington about the same time as young moms with young kids.  There were several great ladies that came together at this time. We all were from different backgrounds but we ended up creating great friendships that have lasted years.  During those years in Maple Valley, we found time to laugh, help tend kids, play basketball, enjoy several 'girls nights out' to Red Robin - eating appetizers and chatting until it closed, served in our church's Young Women's organization, white water rafting, and most of all we made sure we were there as shoulders to cry on and lift our friends in bumpy times.

Now, I am not that old, in my eyes and in the eyes of those older than me.  {We won't be asking my children if they think I am old, though.} My friend Tracy was a month older than me. She has 5 kids, almost the exact same ages of my kids and loved being a Mom.  One of the quotes I remember her saying is..."If you aren't going to be an advocate for your kids, then who will?"

I was fortunate to attend her funeral in Texas. I am very grateful for her!  Her spirit was GI-NORMOUS! She was fun and spiritual and I loved being with  her. 

Her husband will miss her, her family will miss her and I am sure many, many more people will miss her that I do not know.      I will miss her. 


Here are some pictures I will keep to remind of all the things she taught me. 

Family first...Christ is the center of my life...take pictures of those you love and what you do...Laugh...

Put those things on the wall that mean the most to you...

Life is an adventure, go -  have an adventure...AND enjoy it!



{art}

Awesome brush markers from Sharpie...
had to try them out...
they blend on canvas!

I started piano lessons when I was small - like 1st grade or so.  I took them and practiced and moved along in the books and pieces until I was just about good.  I had a natural talent to sight read. I could sit down to the piano and plunk out the music pretty well, for the first time seeing it.  Even today, when I sit down and start reviewing those old books and familiar tunes, I can do it pretty well for not touching the keyboard for 3 months.

When I was a sophomore, I took an art class to fulfill an elective requirement.  I was playing piano, the flute and now I thought, this would be an interesting class. I had no idea what to expect.



Sadie and I worked on together
for Aunt Julie

That was the best class I took for myself ...the self as a teenager and the self as a mother and adult.  Here are a few things I learned:

1.  Shadows are not black, they hold color.  They are dark colors, because of the lack of or less amount of light present, but they are there.

2. If you can learn to draw by only looking at the object, follow the lines, move your eye at a consistent speed, look for shapes to draw...your final product will look more accurate than if you tried to eyeball it on your own. 

3.  A white flower is not just white...same type of concept as the shadow.{my 'juicy painting' of a white iris haunts me--I want to get it right, someday.}

4. You can look at something more than one way. {more on this later}
 
Carolyn Johnson was my art teacher.  She is great! She is more of the typical art teacher you think of...a little more of a free spirit, lost pencils in her hair quite frequently, and sometimes would steal my pencil or brush and "have-at" it for a moment. {Sometimes seeing something is easier to understand than words can describe.}

I am trying to find my own voice in my art work.  I love watercolor, thanks to Cheryl Renee Long and her class I took in Maple Valley {painting isn't just about recreating a photo, it's about putting paint on paper and expressing  something through a medium.} I am trying to get back to liking acrylic.  

THEN: Something that I did in High School and got some attention locally...

 The Old Thorpe Mill

NOW:  Christmas presents...


Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012



Sadie and I worked on this for her teacher, Mrs. Joyce.

Morrison Barn and Peoh Point--1st look at it:

{I will be doing this one again, another way.}

I started with this not long after we moved to Castle Rock.  It turned out too dark for what I had in mind, but I liked the colors and it was fun to blend and mix.  It has sat until January.  I have been thinking and working on something...

...and here is where it went today...

 

Not done yet...

 

I'll let you know what else I come up with...I feel great that I am {art-sy} once again!

 







Eight Boys?!

Eight boys...yep.  I must need to learn something from having so many boys around all the time.  I have 5 brothers, Keno and I have 4 boys...you get the picture.  So when you have boys, they typically have their friends over.  On December 26th we had 3 extra boys fly down to Colorado, to hang out with my boys.  That is a sign of a true friend.

 

You may ask...what do you do with all those boys? 

And did they how did you keep their stomachs full? 

Sunset View from Castle Rock

Well, the answer to the first question...you take them outside! 

And so we did:  Hiked Castle Rock, Camped in -3 degrees F weather, Visited Garden of the Gods and let them hike away, put them on a Cog Train and sent us all to the 'near' top of Pikes Peak, let them take Kam's new RC car to the park and make jumps from the snow. 

 

Epic Picture!

 



Jordan, Tanner, Kam, Kaleb, Bryce

 

 

 

Then we they are just about all burned out of that, you let them in your kitchen to make pretzel's, Thank you Dennison's!, then chocolate chip cookies, and let them enjoy whatever they enjoy on the Xbox.  Throw in a little Sean play time and it is a good recipe for fun, friends and memories!

 

Thank you for a great week!

 

 

 

 

Peppermint Meringue {Kisses}

I have a new found favorite!  I am sure many of you already know of these light sweet little morsels of yumminess, but I have just discovered them...

Not only are they yummy...they are pretty easy to make --that makes them sweeter!

Here is the recipe:

2 egg whites                      1/2 Cup white sugar
1/8 tsp. salt                         2 peppermint candy canes, crushed
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar      * optional and super yummy addition:  handful of white morsels.

1.  preheat oven to 225 degrees F.  Line cookie sheet with foil.

2.  In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites, salt and cream of tartar to soft peaks.  Gradually add sugar, continuing to beat until whites form stiff peaks.  Drop by spoon-fuls 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheet. Sprinkle crushed candy over the cookies.

3.  Bake for 1-1/2 hours in preheated oven. Meringues should be completely dry on the side.  Do not allow them to brown. Turn off oven.  Keep oven door ajar and let meringues sit in the oven until completely cool. Loosen from foil with metal spatula. Store loosely covered in cool dry place for up to 2 months.

* I have had these with white morsels...some people call them white chocolate chips but I can't taste or see how they are related to chocolate, so I refuse to call them that. 

Toss in a handful and stir a couple of times to mix them in before dropping on the cookie sheet.

{Little boy}

 This is our caboose...

 The runner up...

 (We considered naming him Dunn.) 

 

JUST LOOK AT THAT FACE!  He is such a charmer...his grin is contagious, especially with the sparkle in the eyes! and to top it off, he is just as sweet and easy-going as his smile is cute. 

 

From 1 to 2 years can be trying at times.  They are finding they can do and say things on their own.  They push their will and needs above everyone else.

 

Since he is our tail end of the pack, I watch him differently than I did my older children.  I watch a lot more.  I laugh a lot more and I stress about things a lot less.

I have seen my kids go through stages, have high points and low points and yes, exert their will?...most definitely!  One thing I have noticed that appears around Sean's age is that they love swords and things that make noise...things very gun-like...and they like to pack them around. 

A most handy place is the back of the shirt.  Makes sense. Easy to reach and remove, yet close to you as well.  Kaleb and Joel would pack their {Jaggy's} around in there for hours. 

Sean calls this aluminum foil sword his {shing} --think of what a sword sounds like when coming out of the scabbard.  He really wants his big brothers Master Sword, but it is off limits.  Joel loves to makes swords out aluminum foil.  In fact, a great present for him is his own box.  A sculpture-r in the making! 

What else can I say? I love our {little boy} and I love that my {Big Boys} look forward to playing with him when they get back from school. They play nerf guns and swords and make funny noises to get Sean to giggle.  They watch him in the tub...making great splashes and crashes. They even change diapers!  Can you believe it? I am convinces that my boys think they are getting big. Not little kids anymore. There are days that I agree.   

However, even when they are taller than me, I will think of them all as my {Little Boys}.