5 Years in Castle Rock!

We left Kamas, Utah, and moved to Castle Rock, Colorado, 5 years ago today! In some ways it doesn't seem possible but then when you think back through the years it seems at least that long or longer. I hate change and I hated it here that first whole year but I have come to love Colorado and all the places we have seen and people we have met. Things always work out and the older you get you can begin to see purpose and reasons for changes in your life. It always promotes growth and I would say that we have all grown (in more ways than one) since we have been here! It now feels like home!

Answer to Black Things on Floor

I know the suspense has been killing you -- Jessica you weren't suppose to zoom in on the picture and see all the other crap on my floor!!
The black things are pieces of "astro-turf." Jacob play on the stuff for P.E. and football and they are in his tennis shoes, his cleats, his socks ... EVERYWHERE!!!!
So there you have it ... something you will probably have in your house too, Camilla, someday. Now you will know right what they are and not think that an army of mice came in the night ... see how entertaining AND informative my blog can be?

Who Can Guess What These Are?

Who can guess what these little black things are that are all over my floor, carpet, etc.? Everyday now they are everywhere. Hint: nothing to do with animal droppings. A little challenge for my VAST followers: Cathy, Jess, Susan ..

Sherrill Wins Gold in Castle Rock!!

Got the kids off to school, rode my bike 5 miles to the Rec Center (mostly up hill there) -- did the 1 hour Body Pump class and sailed back (mostly down hill)!!! Can't believe I did it! Now if only that was all I had to do the rest of the day and could just sit on the deck and read my book! Hooray for me ...

Camping at Granby Lake

Kelsey's cell phone died the 2nd day (hooray), no ipods, no playstation,
we hiked, played games, fun, fun!



Taking Pocahontas (in the front)
out for a ride.






Didn't catch any fish ... but had fun trying! It's so nice just sit by the peaceful river.


Some of our furry camp friends -- when we were down at the river, Kelsey walked back up and caught a squirrel with an entire piece of our red licorice cross-wise in his little mouth. He opened the plastic container of it. You couldn't leave anything out of they would get it!!


While hiking, Jacob came around the corner and found the cousin of the fox that ate my baby Zoe kitty -- he was even smiling about it!!!



We made daisy chains -- a talent every girl needs to know how to do!















Just chillin' around camp.






Last picture before the camera got lost on this trail! We went back the next day and re-hiked the whole trail but couldn't find it. I was sooo bummed because it would have been the 4th camera I had lost since we have been married!!! However, I did learn a lesson ... I put my name and number inside the case of this one and believe it or not, some honest hikers found it on the trail and left a message on our machine when we got home. I drove up there yesterday and picked it up. I am sooooo grateful!!! Would have been the end of my blogging days for a while!!!

Auntie Em ... Auntie Em ...

We got back from camping last night, we had unloaded the coolers from the car and Kraig had to run over to some friends house. I was in the kitchen when he called and said that there was a huge funnel cloud and to get in the house and turn the TV on.

Well ... I looked off the deck and saw this huge black monster and totally freaked out. I have never seen a tornado and was not prepared for how scary it was that close. I panicked a bit (not what the mother is suppose to do)!! I don't know if it was because of our experience in the hurricane but I was not as cool and collected as I should have been!

The news said that it has touched down at I-25 and Happy Canyon which is 8 miles from us. Pretty amazing. This was just WAY to close. I got our emergency packs, water, lantern and the radio and got the kids into the basement back bedroom when the thunder and lightning and hail started. Marble-sized hail started pounding us. It was totally CRAZY! Kraig stayed put until it started to calmed down and then came home. It continued to hail for about 20 minutes like you have never seen. The entire lawn was white! My tree's leaves are all over the lawn and all my pots of flowers are a mess this morning. There was another one forming that we watched in front of the house. CRAZY, CRAZY!!!

My neighbor took this picture and sent it to me because I "lost" my camera while we were camping (but that's a whole other story). We are safe and sound but definitely shaken!!!! Just a little too close for comfort!!! I know God sent the tornado as warning to all the blasted democrats that are coming to town!!! (Just kidding!!) The excitement never ends around the Naylors!!!

Beverly Hillbilly Campers

We're off -- what a sight!!! We have my Pilot packed with the coolers and food -- so much for roughin' it. I think we brought everything in the house!!! We'll be back on Sunday! Remember this song, Cathy??? In my canoe I'm gliding, gliding .... my paddle flashing in the sunlight.... in my canoe I'm gliding, gliding .... see you later!

"Manly" Football Injuries

Jacob came home from football practice with an giant bruise on his forearm and a really sore knee from being clipped. Another kid was taken away by ambulance for a fractured foot. WHY or WHY do boys have to play football!!! We're suppose to go camping and hiking tomorrow!!

To the Country for Firewood

Made a quick trip out to a friends in Sedalia to get fire wood for camping tomorrow. She said, "take all you need, it's behind the chicken coop." The chickens had to watch my every move ... and they weren't the only ones!






Daddy and baby watched me load the whole truck. Very cute! Yeahhh ... free fire wood!

First Solo Ride

Got some poor girl out jogging to take my picture on my first solo ride on the new bike. Went 6 miles and felt so free with the cool wind in my face! Found a happy little sunflower along the path.

The Rain Makes My Flowers Soooo Happy

After all the rain we had, my flowers and yard are loving it. Plus ... we can turn off our sprinklers and not have to PAY for water this week. Because of our watering restrictions, water is our highest utility during the summer. Even higher than AC! How can that be possible when we have the highest snow fall in our mountains! Don't get how it all works sometimes, but for now we are happy for the free water from heaven!!

Rain, rain, go away!!

We were going to go for a long ride this morning on our new bikes, but it has been POURING for 35 hours straight now! Bummer in the summer!!!

A Very Sad Day ...

My little kitty, Zoe, was eaten by a fox or coyote on Wednesday night. She loves to be outside and we back to a huge open space where the foxes and coyotes run free. Knowing that, of course, we never leave her out past 5:00 or 6:00pm and don't let her out early either. But it was her quest to push the limits, ALWAYS!! She too, was in the teenage phase of her little life.

We had to go to a Boy Scout meeting the other night and she wouldn't come in -- you chase her and she runs just out of reach -- her fun little game. Anyway, we got home and you could see her but she wouldn't come in. At 9:30 before the kids went to bed she was at the door but when Jacob opened it she ran. SUCH A LITTLE BRAT. I watched the Olympics for a while and called and called her and she wouldn't come. Didn't see her again. We slept with the window wide open and I listened and listened and hardly slept. I woke up at 2:30, 3:45, 4:00, 5:30 and no sign of her. We searched and called before school and found a pile of her fur by the pond. I searched the whole field to see if there was any other sign of her but there wasn't.

She's gone and it makes me soooo sad. We just had to have our older grandma cat put to sleep 2 weeks ago because she had cancer. That is it! I'm done -- the Mom gets way to attached to these little animals. Zoe was my little baby who followed me everywhere I went, slept at the foot of my bed, on my lap when I typed. My heart is broken, especially because she must have been so scared. How can you love those little creatures so much!

The house seems so empty today. The kids are so sad too. I guess that's life.

MY NEW, FUN, FRIEND!

Kraig and I bought new bikes on Saturday. I'm almost 50 years old and this is the first bike with "speeds" that I have ever owned! FUN -- FUN -- FUN!! Hopefully we can get a picture of both of us on them tonight. I love it -- it calls to me from the garage ... "come for a quick ride, you don't have to mow the lawn ... you can go grocery shopping later ... the housework will wait ... come on ...." I only wish there were 4 days in each weekend!

OH HAPPY DAY

I didn't think we were ready, because it happened earlier this year than last, but today was the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!! Kelsey is a Junior and Jacob in 8th grade. Actually Jacob went to school yesterday but they are BOTH gone today and so are ALL THEIR FRIENDS and there is a wonderful peace and quiet throughout the house! There is just something about getting back to a routine that is a good thing. Of course, come November I'm sure we'll be singing a different tune but for today ... life is good!

Kelsey's First Date Last Night

Kelsey went on her first date last night with a good friend, Tyson. He is a great guy and most worthy of doing the great honor!! They went to dinner, came home and changed then went to the fair. She said she LOVED dating .... ohhhh nooooooo!!!

Kelsey's Sweet 16 Birthday

Kelsey invited friends for dinner and an overnight stay at the Marriott in Downtown Denver. Thanks to Dad's "Gold Elite" status, we got two "free" rooms and were treated like queens! The Marriott right by the "16th Street Mall" which is a big pedestrian mall that runs for blocks down the middle of downtown Denver.

We went shopping and for dinner at Hard Rock Cafe where they announced her birthday and everyone cheered and clapped. It was very fun!

Recent Pictures of Us

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3. 4.
5. 6. 7.

1. Kraig getting ready to get the kids wet down by the river in the Canyon at Mt. Timpanogos.
2. Sherrill at the Pioneer Day parade, July 24th, in Kamas.
3. Kelsey, yesterday, on our "Bishop's Back-to-School" boating trip with the youth group from our church.
4. Jacob at dinner before the show to see our favorite comic Brian Regan.
5. Jessica and Nate at the Pioneer Day parade, July 24, in Kamas.
6. Our kitty, Zoe.
7. Our little pig, Coco.

Wow I Did It ...

I can't believe that I actually created this!!! Shows you that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!! Now I have to figure out how to get the pictures in here ... I think I've created a MONSTER!!