The 2007 National League Champs

Just in case you can't read it: that's the crew in front of Coors Field in Denver. Really a great venue for a ballgame, and not as many drunken idiots as you'd imagine for a big city. Even better: a fast-moving game: 2 hours in and we were at the 7th inning, a great time to call it a day when you've got a swim meet the next morning.
So getting a Rockies ticket is as easy as it ever was, excepting, of course, that fabulous fall of '07, but let's not speak of it.

The best part of any ballgame: the $8 mini bowl of Dippin'Dots.

Shane and Grace, self-entertaining. Reminds me of BYU football games back in the day: Hey, look! There's a ball game going on! That we paid money to watch! Try entertaining yourselves with THAT!

The whole gang got pix as Rockies pitchers; I'll include only Eve's, just to pique your curiosity.

These Are Days You'll Remember

Evie's end-of-year party for 4th grade...she and Emily, chowing on their sundaes. Emily's been a great relief to all of us: Eve's a friendly and outgoing girl, but finding a realy soul-mate-best-friend for her here in Colorado has been a challenge, and Emily's been what mommy prays for: solid, honest, loyal, and just loves Eve for who she is. Sigh of relief.
After her 80th go-round on those spinny-things...no vomiting!

Just hangin' around...no pictures of Eve and her teacher, Mr. Deck, but to say she's loved his class is an understatement. The lament of education is that there are so few male teachers, and, especially for the older kiddos, those men can be life-changing (had one myself in 5th grade, one Full-Metal-Jacket caliber instructor we called Mr. Kulwicki, who I also happened to know as "dad") and, back in September, I assured her that she'd never forget this experience. Hope I'm right, he was fabulous.

Lest you think I didn't love Ty's 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Strange, think again: just didn't have any year-end pictures. She, too, was fabulous, very impressive, and recognized Ty for the quick study he is. We will miss her and her amazing cow-filled classroom. Mooo!

Sailing Into First Grade

Behold the conquering Kindergartner...

Can I be honest? Shane had a GREAT year academically, but both he and mom were kind of relieved to shake the dust of kindergarten off of their feet when it came to a grinding halt on June 10. First time I've ever had a child in school where I didn't just love the entire experience, but how proud I am of this energetic, optimistic boy who bounded out of bed every morning, ready to go back and keep at it (with mommy hoping that her angel didn't pick up on her own helpless feelings when times got tough).
Mrs. Clouthier gave the kids a great sending-off party, complete with musical numbers and a slide show of their first year of school. Shane and I have so much enjoyed the two or so months she was in the classroom: he really blossomed with her, and I truly appreciate her and the dynamic she brought to the group.

No occasion is complete without cake.

Shane's end-of-year project was to construct a boat, so he and engineer-wonder dad made it killer. Shaney couldn't have been prouder, and that's what it's all about.

The vessel proved wading-pool worthy, and, I assume, sea-worthy. I'd love to say he named it the S.S. Linda, but...

It's Going Swimmingly, Thanks

Spirit gear is very important to the Crawford family...

Shane's second season as a Castle Rock Cruiser: a crazy weather month with the constant late-afternoon thunderstorms and lightning has kept the entire team out of the pool for the first 2 weeks of the season, but even without practice time, Shane's rockin' it.
That looks comfortable.
What we all love about swim team: no one pays any attention to you except your own family. No games hinge on your personal performance, no one is let down if you have an off-day. You swim against you. And if you beat your best time? You get a Super-Swimmer ribbon and a donut. Bring it!
Backstroking.
Shane's placed 2nd in every heat he's swam to this point; 3rd overall for back, free, and breast for the all-important first meet. Now if only meets could start later than 8 a.m...

Oh, You Know Where to Take Me...

The Rattlers take back the field, this time with a vengeance! If I had a cool voice like the movie-preview guy, you'd have goosebumps right now.
Truly amazing how much these kids have matured in the last 12 months since we last convened around the backstop. And Ty? I just love this kid: he is so earnest and focused; comes to every practice and game with his own hard hat, gloves, and gear in his baseball bag...he don't mess around.

First pitch of his first at-bat of the season, and bam! He oughta run a clinic.

Having a Field Day

So here's the thing: I love volunteering at Clear Sky Elementary. This time around: Field Day, which was its own brand of hilarity and incredulity. My disclosure: good action shots are hard to come by, so, trust me, Eve was a vision in a tie-dye swim team t-shirt and a hula hoop.
Here's the other thing: Field Day ain't what it used to be. The vast numbers of kids who didn't even know what a 3-legged race was, how to play tug-of-war or jump rope was staggering, but even more baffling were the parents: either the kids weren't competitive enough and the staff weren't taking the event seriously, or the kids were unfairly disadvantaged by their lack of experience. The teachers were so petrified that the kids would actually touch the turf with anything other than the soles of their shoes, my Shaney, irrepressible Shaney, walked the race. Walked it. My wild child walked it. Unbelievable.

After about 5 sessions of hearing parents provide little Johnny and Janey with pointers on how to "win" and/or avoid actual physical activity that may nor may not result in injury, my opening spiel evolved into: "It's a race, but there's no one to beat. If you haven't tripped, fallen down, come out of your tether or giggled, you haven't done it right." Ty's definitely my kid: if you can't be a goofball, what's the point?

I'm just saying: it's a crazed world out there. Protect your kids all you can. But maybe drawing the line at indulging their obsession with 6+ hours of DS would be good. Take 'em outside and let 'em touch the grass.

Walkin' in a Red Rock Wonderland

The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend found the Crawfords charging into unknown frontiers...today's project: The Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs. Must see! Our impeccable timing ensured our participation in a 20-minute downpour, requiring all 7 of us to remain in el coche...this is what 4 kids and a pup look like just prior to implosion.

The natural red rock formations are breathtaking, and there's a handy little walking path for your perambulating pleasure...

We picked the perfect day, really: once the rain stopped, the park was relatively empty, cool, clean and lush by Colorado standards. Still covered in red dust, but I can only imagine what it would be like on a hot summer day. True to form, Ty was incapable of following on the path (he thinks outside of the box, y'know), and Shane was unable to resist knocking the pooling moisture off of every rock overhang, bush and tree.

Next time, Eve has mandated that we horseback ride through, which would be great except for that, well, it would require horseback riding for the vast majority of Crawfords who have no gift for it. That would be an excursion where video would be key.

This Is Not A Rebel Song...

So, 26 years after Bono and the boys descended upon Red Rocks to make the concert event of a lifetime a matter of public celluloid record, Eve Crawford took the stage as part of the Clear Sky Elementary School choir as they were invited with all of the district's singers to belt out "Battle Hymn of the Republic" for Castle View High School's first graduating class' commencement. She's the blonde angel 4th from the right on the first row of singers.
They didn't let her bring out a white flag. Or sing "Party Girl." Hmph.
Still pretty spectacular, and Evie was plenty aware of the gravity of the situation: "Bono could have stood right there, mom!"