32 Days and Counting ...

Our "Where's Dad" Map on the Laundryroom Wall

Kraig flew from Australia to Auckland, New Zealand last night (or whatever the crap time it was)! New Zealand time is even later than Australia time so trying to figure that one out is amazing. Now this weekend, they go into Daylight Savings Time because it's spring there and then who knows what the heck time it will be. I'm going to just wait until he calls later today and see what time it is .... We get to put a new "pin" in Auckland because he has never been there before and we move our push pin to where ever he goes. If nothing else, it's a good geography lesson for the kids.

Pictures of his Kraig's apartment in Sydney, Australia.

Kind of cute ... sure with the kids and I were there right now.

He walked around Sydney Harbor on Saturday.

KRAIG'S GONE FOR 5 WEEKS!

My husband has left us on a business trip to Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand for FIVE WEEKS!! I can't really believe that it came so soon. He hasn't had to travel anywhere, internationally, for quite a while and I remember that I really kind of hate it!! I am not going to be able to go over for a visit. The kids and I met him over there quite a few years ago but it ain't goin' to happen this time. So ... I'm gearing up for "single parent" mode. At least my Mom and Arnold are coming to visit on Tuesday for a week and then Jessica and Nate and Kraig's parents are coming to visit over Jessica and Nate's fall break in October. If you want to come to Colorado -- looks like it's party time! All kidding aside, we will really miss him. I even put a counter on my blog above the quote to count down the days until he returns. If you want to know what time it is "down-under" in Sydney, just count ahead 4 hours and then add 12 more. It gets pretty crazy trying to schedule a time when we can talk ... thank goodness for the e-mail!

I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN!

NO

NO

NO

I Looked out the window and what did I see ....

I was just sitting here, this morning, checking my e-mail when something caught my eye. Right out the window on the deck was Mr. Squirrel ... watching me from the railing. I have never seen any squirrels around our yard so he took me by suprise. I got the camera and just kept looking right at him and he just kept looking at me and flicking his tail -- he was really big! Wonder where he lives? Look at his cool long, "gripper" toes!

7 New Merit Badges PLUS Star Rank

We took this picture for Grandpa Naylor to show that Jacob's been working hard all summer and received 7 new badges and advanced to Star Rank last night at the Court of Honor. All the badges down the center of his sash are "Eagle Requirements" so he is really plugging away at those. Can't remember right off-hand how many "required" ones he still needs, but he's doing great! We're hoping he can get his Eagle Scout award before he starts kissin' girls -- once that starts happening the Eagle kind of flies out the window!!!

First Game of the Season and No Injuries!

Jacob's first football game of the season was yesterday, on our first really bone-chilling day of fall. He did a great job and didn't get hurt (a miracle). He's playing tight-end and some other position too that I can't think of the name of. I can really GET football when you can see it on TV and the guy is commentating every move but Kraig had to leave at half-time and then I was lost!!! Because it's 8th grade they don't even have a score board! All I know is that their team had 2 touchdowns and the other team only had 1 -- so we won!!! I think I need to go get a "Football for Dummies" book and do a little reading up on the sport!!

He looks so grown-up in his uniform!

Newest Members of the Family

Spent Thursday and Friday splitting my Irises and moving Peonies and plants all around in my garden. I sure hated to do it because you never know if by moving them they might not make it through the winter but I say that every year and they were all getting squished. Rearranging left room for some new additions, which is always fun. However, I've gotten more picky about who can be in the family. Nobody who goes crazy sending out shoots and growing all over the place -- nobody who grows really tall, they need to be late bloomers and this group couldn't have anybody with yellow flowers (I needed some reds and pinks). So they all met the perfect criteria and are now planted in their new spots happy as can be. Can't wait to see how they will look in the spring. If only I could stay in my garden all day and not have to be in the house!

The Rockies Game (they stink by the way)!

We decided to spend one of the few "nice" evenings we have left before the cold sets in and go to the Rockies game. Kelsey opted out, so Jacob brought his friend Jacob. My last "Rockie" experience was when I took a rapidly moving foul ball to the left boob last year and everyone kept yelling at me for not getting the ball!! This year I made Jacob come with his mitt and he was right on top of things trying to catch all that came our way. It was fun but the Rockies only got one hit -- sure wish we could trade out tickets back in for a more exciting game! That's why Jacob is a Red Sox fan -- the peanuts were great!

Around the House

I took some pictures around the house before our BBQ on Monday. Here's the new wall unit we bought for the "music room." Nana gave Kelsey the Treble Clef Hanging and Kelsey thought it would go nicely in that room too. The piano is behind to the left. I still want to paint this room and then I found a great quote I want to put on the wall up and to the right of the Treble Clef (it's vinyl and you just rub it on the wall. That room is still a work in progress.

Have these cute little vases I got from Pier One and picked some flowers from my garden to put in the bathroom. Planted a couple of Dahlia plants this year and will be planting more -- they are sooo pretty.

Made these orange sherbet cups for dessert -- everyone loved them -- very refreshing but need to tweak the recipe a little before I make them again. Suppose to be with Orange Sorbet and we'll have to try that.

Just a note to add because it is sad and yet hysterically funny. Yesterday, Kelsey took Coco the Guinea Pig out front to eat the grass under the tree while she cleaned his cage. I told her just to leave him out there for a while because it was a nice day and he LOVES grass. We put his wire cage over him but without the bottom and put a big rock on top so no critters could get him. ANYWAY ... the front door was open and pretty soon as I walked by I noticed the sprinklers were on!!! They had to be shooting him right in the face -- over and over again!!! He couldn't even run to escape it. Jacob hurried and scooped him up and we towel dried him and then had to blow dry him too. Too much trauma for a little pig!!!

Devil's Head Trail and Fire Lookout

Kraig and I decided to take a hike this morning, up Devil's Head Trail to the Fire Lookout http://www.stevegarufi.com/devilshead.htm. The kids decided that sleeping in was better than waking up at 7:00 am to hike straight uphill for an hour. Silly kids!!! Devil's Head is about an hour's drive from our house. You then hike up the trail for 1.75 miles climbing 1,000 feet from the trail head to an actual fire lookout built in 1919 and still in use today. The current ranger lives in the little cabin at the base of the 134 stairs that lead up to the tower. The first ranger to stay at the Lookout Tower from 1919 to 1921 was Helen Dowe (pretty cool that it was a woman). From on top you can see for 100 miles in all directions. Spectacular! Made me think of Grandpa Raymond and his Fire Lookout days.

Extreme Kite Flying

We went up to the high school field, Saturday, and went "Extreme Kite Flying." We bid and won (at the silent auction for Girl's Camp) an afternoon of "Extreme Kite Flying" with our friend Randy Smith (he's actually Jacob's Scout Leader). Anyway it is a huge kite that you can hook onto and the object is to have it lift you up and carry you. Of course, it doesn't carry you over buildings or anything but Randy really does it well and makes it look fun and easy. Our kids, on the other hand, kind of went through the ringer to even try to control it. FUNNY VIDEO!!!