June & July 2026

Camp Nina

This summer I got to hang out with Wes and Ev for my Monday-Thursdays of summer.

We had so much fun together!

Loving Legos

Our love for Legos began at our local library and by the end of summer we bought ourselves a couple of our own kits.

Something that I really love about Legos for our 3 & 5 year old is how it builds literacy skills before actually learning how to read. The Lego manuals do an excellent job of illustrating directions that will help them in developing their reading skills.

Another Summer at the Creek

On this rock, I finally finished "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry...oh, and I also caught me a mean tan.

"Librarium Time"

Weekly you could find us trying out different Denver Public Libraries around the city. Brother called this our "Librarium Time".

Traveling Picnic-ers

Along with trying out different libraries around the city, we also loved to bop around to different parks; but, we always had our mexican blanket and our supplies with us!

Bronco II

This summer I sent my Bronco II off to be worked on by a mechanic to help with the front main seal leak. That initial work turned into needing a new carburetor and a few other things. Good news: she is running and ready for the next step. We need a catalytic converter put in so that we can get her passed for emissions.

Handy Man Dad

My back fence fell down after one of our big wind storms in early Spring. This summer, my dad came over and reset posts and built a new fence out of the pre-existing wood. He did it in less than 24 hours and it is downright gorgeous. Along with being so talented with his hands, my dad also has a strong aesthetic eye for beauty....and his work highlights both of those things.

We love our neighborhood pool

We were here multiple times a week and the kids even got to meet one of my former students. One of the lifegaurds was my students at ND where I taught her for her 6th, 7th, and 8th grade years. It was fun to introduce them to each other and to hear that my former student is now on her way to KU this fall!

Fourth of July

My baby sister has been living in Caliornia for almost a year now. She came home for a week and we got to party with her!

We Love to Party

Dianna: my goddess of a sister in her third trimester with her fourth baby!

Bee's Blessing

The honeybees blessed my garden with some Brown-Eyed Susans. They have been so resilient and they lasted all of June and July!

Books with mama before drop-off

They are the best of friends

Terry Bison Ranch

We love a themed campground in my family...and Terry Bison Ranch in Wyoming did not disappoint.

Petting a Bison

This was a truly magical experience. At the ranch, you can ride a train that takes you across the property and through the Bison pasture. The train stops and then you are able to feed the Bison and even pet them. They were so mighty yet gentle.

Buffalos have been a favorite animal of my family. I do not know if it is because of our Native American roots or from our high school's mascot, but the love for them has been strong.

I personally love them because of their nature to "run into the storm". Buffaloes will run into a storm instead of hiding from it or trying to go around it. Instead, they charge and stampede through it so as to get through the obstacle. Whenever I come into an obstacle in life, I do initially feel the impulse to hide or to run away, but with the wisdom of the Buffalo, I know that it is best to look it in the face and charge forward.

Sharing my love for painting

We love to swim

Free and Floating

When toddlers take over the house

We read a lot of books

Over the course of the summer, we checked out over a hundred books.

Fabulous and Adventurous

I really love having a niece. We get dressed up together and then we go out and play like the boys. We are unafraid to dabble in both realms.

Start of the Party

The Fourth of July party this year was a huge success. My cousin Jaelyn hosted us and almost the whole family made it. This photo was taken the first 30 mins, and by the end of the night we had a much bigger crowd roll in!

Glamping at Yogi Bear

Baby Cousins

My two baby girl cousins are all grown up. Bella is headed to CU Boulder in August and my Rosie girl is going to be a Senior and she has her first boyfriend who is such a doll. I am so proud of them both.

Forever a hat girl

My mom and dad gifted me a new hat for my bday and I love it.

Infusing my love for the creek

Caretaker Duties

While watching the kids this summer, I got to take the kids to their doctor appointments. I had the honor of meeting their pediatrician who I had heard great things about. She was a truly magical woman who has such a gift with children. I left the doctor’s office so inspired and so grateful to see a woman doing a job that she loves and to do it so elegantly.