Summer road trip to Albuquerque

Carl had a 3-day weekend in July so we were planning to go back to Mt. Rushmore. But then I randomly found some deal on Groupon for a hotel and waterpark in Albuquerque so we quickly changed plans. We hadn't been south of Co. Springs since living here and we both wanted to make the trip down. Carl lived in Albuquerque for a while as a kid and I visited there in high school once. 

We had a lot of fun, but we were disappointed in today's Albuquerque. We both remembered it as very cultured, but it was so insanely dirty and run down. The really small downtown area was still neat, but way too touristy. We both had memories of the old Indian ladies lining the street selling their jewelry and dried chilis, but now it was all white guys. Seriously? We found on the way back home that we should have stayed in downtown Santa Fe. Now THAT was an absolutely gorgeous little place. I found one cool lady in a corner packing up:

The boys love being out exploring with us and if we manage a lovey photo where they aren't punching each other I consider it a HUGE win!

The whole reason we went down there was for the hotel with an indoor water park, which was kind of a big disappointment. Let's just say they must have a really good photographer. The hotel was very old and run down. The water park was fun enough though. The boys liked it and Carson even braved the big surfing wall once. I didn't dare bring my camera into swim though.

We love driving to new places. The scenery wasn't amazing for the whole time, but we did find some pretty neat stuff. Carl has memories of spending time at his grandpa's in Taos so we took the trip home that way. We visited the Taos Pueblo which was really neat. Unfortunately we didn't feel totally welcome up there so we didn't get out to explore and left pretty quickly.

The weather was crazy and we ran into a few really neat storms. These clouds were so amazing!

A trip into the gift shop.....

We were in Random Town, Southern Colorado and I found this store sign. It matched my tattoo. :)

Strawberry Monster

This summer on a random weekday the boys and I went to Home Depot and bought some plants. I can kill every plant that I even look at so this didn't look great. We got pots with strawberries, bell peppers, basil and cucumbers. The basil was easy, the cucumbers never bloomed, we got about 3 peppers and the strawberries started to do great.

And then Max came along. Once he discovered everything he would ravish them when we turned our back. He stuck his finger through all of the peppers and pulled them off the plant before they were finished growing. And the strawberries had no chance. As soon as one would turn red he would run and eat it right off the plant. I was helpless against his sneaky ways. One morning I walked out back and he ran around the side of the house. I found this. It was the end of our summer plants for good.

Carson in Kindergarten

It just occurred to me that I haven't blogged in almost two months! Honestly, part of the reason is that I really haven't picked up my camera around the house much at all. I've been really busy shooting in my business, which I love, but it definitely keeps me so busy with those photos. I am realizing I've missed shooting a lot around here. I haven't done a ton of phone shots either.

Carson is doing so great in kindergarten so far. He loves going, doesn't love getting woken up so early in the morning, doesn't love that they don't get nap time, but does love everything else. I love the drive home every afternoon though. He tells me all about what they did and what he learned and has the funniest way of explaining everything. He has started to say "like, this..." and sound like a total teenager. This was on the first morning of school:

And this was on picture day last week. He's getting so big!  :(

Daddy's big helper.

Don't you mow the lawn in your pajamas and big brother's snow boots?

The Green Dragons: Summer, 2013 Tee Ball

We have had so much fun for the last 8 weeks watching Carson get into playing tee ball. The first game he was sitting on the ground, making friends with the baseman while on base, standing backwards....you get the point. Last night was our last game of the season and as he ran to the bathroom he told me, "Mom, I love hitting the ball off the tee!"  It is so nice seeing him have fun and learn some new skills. We're going to play with the same team for the fall season and then hopefully go with the same team to coach pitch in the spring. I kept saying every game that I would bring my camera and this was my last shot. I got photos of each kid hitting the ball and playing. These are a handful of the ones I got of Carson. He's such a ham. And yes, they named themselves early on "The Green Dragons". It makes me smile.

Carl was usually the 3rd base coach. :)

iPhone Roundup - June and most of July

Just a snapshot of phone pics. These are the ones I instagramed and who knows how many I missed!

Free day at gymnastics. Sort of.

The boys' BMW won its class at the car show this weekend!

A trend of Max and not being clothed. Let's just say he's discovering his body. The two without a shirt were while he was wearing a onesie...... And he hates wearing a diaper. Yay me.

My goof butt.

A sign we found in New Mexico that matched my tattoo. (I'll post NM trip pics soon!)

After tee ball.

Max sleeping. And sleeping. And sleeping some more.

Climbing on something like usual.

Despicable Me 2 at the drive in.

Swimming on Max's 2nd birthday.

Carson lost a battle with the pavement on his bike.

More of this please.

Sonic and monster trucks before tee ball.

Bubbles at the children's museum.

Sunday drive to Daniel's Park.

Girl's night!

Struttin' at the splash park.