A Rising Tennis Star

Micah now takes tennis lessons on Saturday mornings at a facility called Drop Shots.

Here he is all set up for a powerful forehand.Look at that concentration! Good eye on the ball Micah!

Nice follow-through. We have a tennis champion in the making.

Micah sets the pace for the obstacle course...

and finishes the lesson with a cone stacking game.

Kaleo Loves His Job

The Army does practice flights over the Sunflower Redevelopment Property that Kaleo manages in Kansas City. Last week he was invited to go along for a ride in a CH-47 Chinook Helicopter to get a different view of the 9,065 Acres that he calls home during the week.

Dance Team Results

This past week-end Mikayla auditioned to be on one of the competitive elite teams at the Colorado School of Dance. Results are in and she is now a dancer on the Elite Rubies team. She skipped an entire level from the team she was on last year! Mikayla, we are so proud of you. Keep up the great work!!!

3RD Grade

Yesterday was Mikayla's first day of 3rd Grade in Mr. Allen's class. She's starting the school year off with no front teeth! Time is going by fast because I remember very clearly watching her go through the front doors of the school on her first day of kindergarten.

Here's Micah wishing his sister a good day. He'll be going with her soon enough.

North Sterling Reservoir: July 25th-27th

Last week-end was the last week-end before Mikayla had to go back to school. We planned a camping trip with 5 other families up at North Sterling Reservoir. Friday we set up camp and then launched the boat for a great afternoon of tubing, skiing, and wake-boarding. Shortly after we pulled the boat out of the water and returned to our camp site, the sky turned black and the clouds started swirling. It was a long, scary night of high winds and pouring rain/hail. The next morning we were thankful to see the sun and get everything dried up.

All packed and ready to go!

Micah played some baseball with dad while he waited for Mikayla to get out of bed.

The sun was so bright he couldn't see where he hit the ball.

Jen Reid and Cindy Farrell

Travis is anxious to learn how to wake-board.

One more try and I'm sure he'll have it... "What now!?"
I think he's got it!
Mikayla and Grant

Craig Bradshaw

The Farrell boat

Victoria and Ella

Mikayla, Ella, and Ashley - Wait 'til these girls are teenagers!

Morgan and Ashley

Grant and Micah

Mikayla and Ella enjoying a wild tube ride.

Little buddies - Garrett and Micah

Ashley Jen Reid took this picture of Micah. I told her that he never likes to smile for the camera, but

he must like her cause it looks like he gave in.

Grant, Kaleo, and Micah

The beach set-up
Micah enjoying a nice nap in the boat while everybody else is playing on the beach. The ladies

Ella, Mikayla, and Taylor

Should I mention that the name of the game they're playing is called TROUBLE? Watch out!

The Farrell and Thompson boats

Mikayla told us that she wanted to learn to water-ski. We bought the skis thinking that she'd probably change her mind once we were out on the water. She had no fear and nothing but determination. Before long she was up and going...

and going...

and going! Even having her hold the rope with one hand, she wasn't going to fall. We had to stop to make her fall and get back in the boat. Way to go Mikayla!!!

Mikayla's friend , Ella, also gave a good effort at trying to ski. We'll get you up next time Ella.

Then it was my turn to take advantage of some of the nice water. By the way, thanks Jen R for the pictures...they're always hard to get when one of us is driving the boat and the other is in the water!

On the last day, our fuel gauge was stuck and we ran out of gas. Luckily we were boating with friends and the Farrell's did an awesome job towing us into the gas dock. We told them that we owed them one, but little did we know that we'd be repaying the favor that same afternoon! Here's us towing the Farrell boat in after their fuel pump went out. Time to just sit back, relax, and have a cold one! We started the week-end with some rough weather, but look how beautiful it turned out by the end of the week-end.

Chatfield: July 18th-19th

Chatfield Reservoir is a lake we like to visit on the week-ends because it's so close to home. We usually spend the day with the anchor down, listening to music, eating lunch, and playing in the water. The kids love it.

Mikayla and Micah playing in Le Tube

"Look mom, no hands!"
The pageant wave

Micah keeping an eye on his sister while she rides in the tube.

There's a waiting line to get out of the water

All that climbing in and out of the boat can really wear you out.

Mikayla and Kaleo racing to Mr. Turtle

Looks like Mikayla won!

Ending the day with some Daddy/Daughter bonding time.