The Sanders Five

Dear Hank: I will miss the days when your chubby little fingers search the paper, looking for letters
to circle, and the effort you give to holding your pencil, just so.

Dear Charlie: You were amazing and determined, in your karate class.
You worked SO hard, just to earn clips, so you could choose a ninja sword, for both you and Hank.
So so generous of you to choose a prize to give away, after you worked so hard.

Dear Denver:
We are sorry it took us over a year to attend your Botanical Gardens. However, we choose the most beautiful day to go, and were totally blown away at the beauty you had to offer. Job well done!

Dear Crib:

Hank adored you. He loved you. He'd run his fingers through the soft sheets that covered the mattress.

He would climb in, and out, and be so content. We're sorry to replace you, but time has moved on.

Good bye crib. Hello big boy bed.

Dear Pumpkin Patch:

WOW! Certainly a cold day, and the landing of the slide could have been a bit more gentle on the toosh, but overall, laughs were heard, smiles were seen, and memories were made.

Dear GAO (Government Accountability Office)

Although disappointed, at great lengths, when the government announced a shut down, in the end of it all, the Sanders family enjoyed, to great lengths, having our pop home with us.

The first week, of Jeff at home, we were all stressed, but by week 2 and 3, we had FUN down to a science.

Bowling. Games. Bike Rides. More Games. Painting. Walks. More Games.....

In the end, 3 weeks brought more pleasure then pain, and, we're survivors!!

Thanks for the treat and allowing us to enjoy each other a bit more this year.

Dear accessories: The mask, aka Foxie, that Hank is wearing, has become a beloved 6th member of our family. The mask is worn and loved, on a daily basis. And as for Charlie's teeth, well, thank heavens they aren't real. If so, I think we'd be living out of a cardboard box, just to afford dental care.

Dear Pen:

Please never run out of ink.

This picture demonstrates Hanks 0's, H's (at the far right) and an illustration of dada.

Dear life:
Oh, you have been so good to us!! With each passing day, we are grateful! We rejoice! We sing praise for our lives!! We are so blessed!

We have been up to nothing!!

And, sometimes thats a wonderful thing!

This particular day, the boys found ski goggles, turned the water hose on full blast,

and, well, see for yourself....

While Lucy is at school (usually the mediator, counselor and resident angel) the boys find all kinds of trouble!! The me in the past would have gone NUTS over this, but the current me,

simply cannot get enough!

Oh the treasures!! One of my all time favorite activities, of all time has been going on 'treasure walks' Charlie has named himself the treasure expert, and at least once a week, we'll stroll around our neighborhood, garbage bags in hand, searching the street for 'treasures' From Charlie's exact description, 'A treasure is anything you don't know what it is' So, as you can imagine, we find amazing 'treasures' Its on these walks that I find myself basking in the beauties of life Breathing deeply as what could be a 10 min walk takes 45, as we stroll, hand in hand, talk about the pressing details of a child, and simply enjoy the passing of time!!! Its only been the last year or so that I've been aware and more sensitive to life moving forward. I'm devastated to thing it'll be just a few short years before I can no longer call these little people my babies, and these treasure walks I suppose keep time still, if not for just a passing moment.

One more day- one more wall- my most favorite wall design- to date......(yes, thats just the tape)

In a few more years, wearing Mine and Jeff's clothing won't be fun. It'll be old fashion. Until then....

TA-DA!!!!

The Wall!! Yes, the DIY string art says it all! Love the wall! Love the colors! Love the bench! LOVE!

(And the pillows I made! )

Sunday morning, looking particularly darling!! (SQUEEZE SQUEEZE!!!!)

Our high school, Arapahoe High, offered 'mini cheers' as a fundraiser.

During one of the games, Lucy danced, cheered and marched with about 30 other mini cheer-ers

It was ADORABLE seeing her out there, and she couldn't have been happier!

I feel like since moving out here, the word 'FREE' has been harder to come by.

In Virginia, it was a part of our weekly vocabulary.

However, we struck it rich when we heard it was pirate day, and Krispy Kreme.

Simply, dress up as a pirate (4 accessories required) speak pirate lingo (ARR matie)

and receive one FREE dozen doughnuts, PER COSTUME!!!

Yes, we got 3 dozen, shared, ate, shared and enjoyed!!! Ahh...we love FREE!

Horrible horrible picture, but WONDERFUL TIME!!!

The SANDERS adults came to town!

They all came, Sat, Sun, Mon for a sports weekend!

We were 'Bed and Breakfast Sanders' to 9 GUESTS!!!

We had plenty of room, plenty of warm water, plenty of FOOD, plenty of FUN!!!

We went to the Rockies game, enjoyed a hike, trail walk/run, dinner up the canyon, girls night, Bronco's game, sleeping in (some of the guests)....I did all the cooking, which was a treat, and hopefully they thought the same.

Short on pictures, but I had my agenda full, and hands occupied. Memories will live tho!

The weather was AWFUL while they were here. Windy, bitter cold, and rainy!! Put a damper on some of the plans, and Denver certainly didn't show its best, but we were THRILLED to have everyone here to stay, and hope they come again soon!!