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Showing posts from August, 2012

Best Buddies

 This weekend Hays and I flew back to Branson to spend some much needed time with his friend, Chase.  For those of you who have been following Braner Party of 7 for several years, you know all about Chase.  For those of you who are just dropping by, here is a little back story: Chase and Hays met in the the 1st grade. . .I first heard about their friendship when their teacher, Mrs. Shelton, called me to tell me that Hays was spending too much time during class giggling with his new best friend, Chase.  That's where it began.  She gave them extra work and they spent recess inside but the giggling didn't stop and thankfully neither did the friendship! Later that summer they discovered a tumor in Chase's brain and he has been bravely fighting ever since.  There have been several surgeries and treatments including radiation and chemo and God has blessed Chase with six more years.  There is the brief back story. Back to present:  we got to spend time Saturday, Sunday and

Pics

Lesley just sent me these pictures that she took last weekend.  She is so great about recording my children's lives for me and I am so thankful for that! Exhausted after her first two days of Kindergarten!

School

 The first day of school was Tuesday and the kids came home super excited (phew)! Hays is in the 8th grade.  I can't believe it.  He's the big man on campus at Miller Middle School and he is looking forward to getting out.  (Slow down already!) Maggie started middle school this year (6th grade) and she went in very nervous but came out feeling great!  She's a good friend maker and I'm sure the year will be fine for her! Tiki and Dax are in the 2nd grade.  They are both excited about their teachers (Dax wishes he had Tiki's teacher, though).  I am so thankful both of them were happy on Wednesday to go back.  Tiki was happy to behave and Dax was just happy (miracle). Gabby started Kindergarten.  What?!?  Yes.  She's in school full day five days a week.  She was so super excited to start!  The night before she was giddy and so hyper!  It was adorable.  On the morning of, she was up and at them an hour early and just bouncing around ready to be a "big

USA Pro Challenge

The USA Pro Challenge has been in town all week and Monday was Stage One of a race that will take 135 professional road bikers across Colorado.  These are the bikers who bike in all of the big European races. . .the Who's Who of Road Biking!  It has been so much fun to be here for this!  Main Street has been closed as tents of street vendors have been all set up.  The bikers have been around and all of the sponsors have been handing out free stuff.  The atmosphere has been the best!  I may be becoming a bike racing junkie!  (Tour de France here I come--someday!) Spider Tech is the team one of our Kivu friends rides for!  Go Caleb!!! These are the Team Radio Shack & LiveStrong guys just hanging out before the race. Team Garmin's bikes lined up for Stage One. Team BMC's bikes.  We saw them training on Sunday. . .what a rush! I think every single Colorado State Trooper was lined up to lead out the racers.  It was an unbelievable disp

DMR With Pops

 Every year Pops drives home with me so that I don't have to do it alone.  The first year it was a big necessity and a huge blessing. . .now it is just a ton of fun!  The rest of the tradition is to go up to DMR to ride the Alpine Slides and we continued that tradition as well!  We love our time with Pops!

BeBe & PaPa

Kamp Pick Up

Maggie with her two counselors. Tiki & one of his kamp BFFs, Jackson Brawner. My annual picture of Hays with Gabby for the first time after being apart for a month! Caption not needed! :) My cousin, Lori, with her mini-princess daughter, Ashlynn. Dax, my Honor Camper Runner Up & Tiki, my Honor Tripper Dax & Tiki with their cousins, Peyton & Caleb. Maggie & Ashlynn Sisters This is Dax trying to convince the K1 Director, Kris Cooper, that he needs to leave kamp one night early to be with me.  He was trying hard to fake a headache and an ear ache.

Dax Workin' Me

 So, the other day I got a letter from Dax. . .I laughed at first and then I went and cried myself to sleep.  He said that he misses me and that Andy and I are the best parents ever and then he wrote, "I hate K1."  My head knows that is a complete lie. . .he is just working me, but my heart broke and it took all the power I had in me not to get in my car and go get him.  (I may or may not have called my dad and given him permission to go get him.) I haven't been looking at the pictures online because I hate going through 200 pictures of other people's kids every day.  But yesterday was our day off and I had some free time, so I decided to browse the kamp pics. Well, let the pictures speak for themselves. . .my little nugget is happy and having a good time.  (Yes, there are also pictures of Maggie and Tiki, but Maggie wrote and said she is having a super time and Tiki was made for kamp. . .it is his heaven!)  Nice try Dax, but I'm calling your bluff!  I m