Goodbye, KSE...Hello Rain!

WOW! That is all I can say. My Baby Bear Jesse graduated 4th grade. This is always the bitterweet graduation (4th grade) in our family.... Kathryn Senor Elementary School has been the most wonderful school my boys have attended. I cannot explain to you how wonderful this school is! I was able to attend the annual "Rendevous" festival. This is where everything they learned throughout the year is acted out. Teepees are set up, complete with Native American tribe members who come to bring us song, tradition and words of encouragement...as well as great dancing! Storytellers and mountain men, horse painting and pottery, coal mining artifacts and Indian fry bread...and even a planetarium! And so much more! "KSE" is a school that cleary ebraces the love of learning....EVERY child leaves feeling loved.. and with a wonderful start to a wonderful life, filled with great adventures. I am so glad I have one more child who can go on to enjoy 5 years at this wonderful school. KSE has been a part of our lives for so long. It was hard to see Jesse leave, but know he got the BEST start for his new adventures! See Ya Soon, KSE! Cheers to the best teachers, principal and staff....Ever!!!!

Graduation behind us...the band played for "Operation Vacation"..... (Operation Vacation is a grassroots, nonprofit organization based in Glenwood Springs whose purpose is to reunite deserving soldiers with their families on free vacations in the Roaring Fork Valley and Grand County in Colorado and Dallas and Austin in Texas.) .....in the Glenwood Springs mall parking lot...They had a 4 o'clock slot....just in time for the monsoon of the season! After 2 songs they had to jump off the flatbed truck that was the stage, and into dry shelter while the equipment was protected from the rain...Once the storm passed and a slew of able body persons created a tarp tent over the stage, they were able to perform...and What A RESPONSE! The crowd loved them! It was great!



Now.....Please, God.....Can you make them stop growing? It is too fast! Seems like yesterday they were so tiny....

Jesse and his geode---cracking open a treasure!

Panning for gold! (with good buddy Wyatt in the tie dye)

"Animal", the mountain man. Showing us how to create fire, the mountain way!

The Indian Chief, also showing Jesse how to create fire.

Painting horses

Thank you, Mrs. Rickert. We will miss you!

"Mom....why are you crying????"

GoodBye for now, KSE

Those lightening bolts don't look too close!

Rocking out right before the downpour

Hanging the the "Burbara" (suburban) for shelter!

Blue tarps and a flatbed truck! Now THAT'S a stage!

Like the post office...not rain or sleet or snow...will stop them from delivering "MELT YOUR FACE METAL!!!

"Mashas Day" and Bella's first trip to the park

A great "Masha's (Mother's) Day.....The boys and I, along with Nana and Papa's help, landscaped the front of our lawn...( Haul them rocks, boys!!!). Hard work made our dinner at Tequila's restaurant that much more tasty. "Uno Mas Chardonnay, mi Amigo!!!...Carne Asada!!!!!" Ahhhhh, yes...good food, good drink....good kids! It was a great time! The warm weather has brought about a renewed interest in local parks. Jesse and Cole joined Bella and myself on her first trip to a wonderful park- chock full of swings and slides. All three of my boys grew up playing at this park, and it was w0nderful to return and remember the "good ol' days" of twirly slides and bouncy horses. Thank you, Isabella, for reminding us that twirly slides and bouncy horses never get old! You refresh us daily, and to that I am thankful. Mother's day....a day to think about the best gifts in my life.....James, Cole, Jesse and Isabella. Wow....I am BLESSED!

Catching some rays a la carte!

Happy Mother's Day, NanaMommyNanny!!

Thank you, honey, for taking me to my Favorite Mommy's Day restaurant!!

"Oh my goodness...I am in a big yellow tube...this is SOOOOO COOOL!!!"

"I feel the need for speed! Push this swing higher mom!!!"

"Mom! Tell my brother to leave me alone! It is MY camera time! He had his time....I am the cute one now! It is MY spotlight! I am the queen! Stop getting in my shoot! It is all about me, don't they get that?? I simply cannot work under these conditions...where is my manager?"

All Good!!!!....in the end!

May 3rd should have been our depature to Playa Del Carmen in Mexico....15 years to plan a honeymoon and we get shut down by the ...."H1N1 ("Don't say Swine or U.S. pork sales will drop") flu" ....which put the kabash on our plans. But that is OK..The boys (James, Cole, Dylan and Bo Bad Ass) won first place high school garage band at the Jas Aspen Battle of the Bands!!! Way to melt faces boys! The upcoming show at Snowmass is to be announced...they get to open for some hopefully big name groups! After, Jay and I took Jesse to Denver...Bass Pro Shops and Dave and Busters! All is good....Jay and I look forward to replanning our trip (Thank you. Jo..for our wonderful Arbonne basket!.....[our good friend from church packed us a wonderful Mexico Romance Basket to ease the pain! Wonderful skincare, spa items, music CD's, food, flip flops...you name it!!] so that we can h0neymoon in Mexico in Silt, CO!!!) In the end, there is no place like home (when you got sweet kiddos like ours!)

Arch Angel - Rockin the house!



Already 0n a Tee Shirt!

Looking ever so cool after the win!

Kings 0f Burgers AND metal!!!!!!!!

Better than Wal Mart!!!!!!!

Hmmmmm. Won't comment 0n the comment.........

Didja ever see the movie "Big Fish?"...well.. he lives at Bass Pro Shops!

EXTREME CLOSE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhhhh. the "Shark Bite" cocktail.....".Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dearAnd he shows ’em, pearly whites Just a jack knife has macheath dear And he keeps it way out of sight......."

Good Stuff!!!!...Mexico Who??? Let's Dance!

And Yes we did ....all they way from our Lobsters and mussels and clams to our coconut bread pudding and some sort of chocolate thing that was THE BOMB! Food, fun, music ...the whole shebang...right here in our own backyard!!!!!

Easter

Happy (be-lated) Easter! I hope everyone enjoyed Easter as much as we did. We started with a few gifts to the boys...(fishing gear and leggos have replaced the traditional baskets!) Next, to our church for a wonderful service! The boys were able to eat after church at our annual Easter dinner. Jay and I saved ourselves for "Nana and Papa's Fabulous Easter Feast" Featuring...Gumbo, beans and rice, HoneyBaked Ham, Collard greens with cabbage (OOOOOH so very yummy!), sweet taters, ooodles of appetizers, wine and even cigars! Top that off with "Straight out 0' NewOrleans flaming Banana's Foster and my goodness was it wonderful! That is why I love Easter. It is the most meaningful day for me, as it remembers my Savior...represents new life (spring!) and is always a time we gather with those we love. Thanks, Nan and Paps for bringing your Illinois Easter to us!

Bella in her beautiful bunny jacket from Auntie Donna and Uncle Kenny!

Her Ralph Lauren Easter dress from Nana. You think she is loved????

"Hey Mom, get more pictures of my brothers next time, OK???" (OK Bug, next time I will...Love, Mom)

Why we live in Colorado

The weather has been just wonderful lately! I just love this time of year....fishing to skiing in a matter of days...sunshine and snow, not too hot, not too cold! We have been taking advantage of the fabulous spring skiing weather. And don't worry, Jay got the OK to ride his motorcycle while we were skiing, so he had his fun as well! So if you are planning a trip to Colorado, March and April are like a run in Vegas... you may hit it big with great sun and skiing, golf, shopping...etc, or you may just bust and not make it over the pass to our neck of the woods because the pass is closed because of too much snow! At any rate, these are a few photos taken by my in those moments where I say..."Yes, THIS is why I live here!" A bit of my Rocky Mountain High from my camera to your house! Along with love from our house to yours! Happy Spring!

The weekend before the skiing pictures to follow...we barbequed at Harvey Gap Resevoir. Windy, but nice!

Just a couple thousand feet up, no more fishing and LOTSA great skiing! James and Cole, prepared for a face full of POWDER!

Now seriously...where else can you see a view like this, get fresh air and exercise, Vitamin D, wind in your face and the feeling of sheer freedom? THIS is why we ski!!!

A day after blue skies and skiing finds us in gray and windy, but comfortable, deck weather worthy of the finest Cubans. (Cigars...I think Papa and Jay are French and Italian) But yes, Nana and I think they are FINE! :-)

Aint NOBODY messin' with the Bear......Nobody!!!!

"Hello, my name is Isabella Grace Duplesys. I am being held hostage in a household with stinky boys who think it is funny to dress me in their gross knit hats. As you can cleary see, the hat does not match my dress. This is unacceptable. I must accessorize while being held hostage. SEND HELP! "

"Oh Nana, Where Art Thou?"

Nana has left us for sunny Florida. Yes, it is true....and yes....she is missed! Papa is working until Thursday, which leaves dad in charge. He is such a great dad, but a 5 month old girl is definately a challenge when you are overcoming a broken leg! Dad is kind enough to let mom work, so he is in charge of the "Whole Shebang!"...and many kisses he will get for it! But Bella feels the effects of not having Nana there every morning for wonderful playtime, hugs, green beans (stage 2!), snuggles and kisses. Nana...............................................Please come home soon! We miss you!

"Oh, Nan...they just don't get it. I need constant attention and love. Come home soon!"

"Hey Nan.... I pooped 3 times for Dad today! Heeee heeee!!!"

"Check out my new bow from Rebecca! Thanks Becca!!!!!!!"

"All right now! Bows and poop aside....Nana, please don't leave me again! Look at this face...How could you leave me??????!!!!!" (xoxoxoxoxo see you Sunday for Brunch! Love BELLA!!!!)

Making Deck Skiing that much more fun!

Wow! The boys played their first real "gig" up on the deck at our FAVORITE ski resort, Sunlight Mountain! It was a blast! A beautiful Colorado day made it all the better! It was for a mini X games type competition day. A bunch of our friends showed up! Eileen, our wonderful friend and her equally wonderful husband Don scored a great big table for us all....and proceeded to adorn it with linens and wine glasses as well as fabulous food! (shrimp, anyone??!!homemade guacamole??!!) The rest of the crew showed up as well... Sheli and Jim, Tina and Clark, and the kids...with more fabulous food and even better company! Top that with our best videographer/photographer/roadie Bob and his lovely wife Sandi (the band chef)... Dylan and Bo's family......Nana (Super Nanny) and Papa...and of course Cousin Frank from Illinois (Happy Birthday!!!)....it was truly a fun day for all! Even Bella bundled up and deck skied with us to the tunes of Arch Angel! I have to say, regardless of the fact that I am not heavy metals biggest fan in the world, they kicked some butt! I really enjoyed watching them! And considering they were called back for an encore, I think many others did as well! ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bo "BadAss" on the drums, and Dylan on the bass!

James in the groove! Poor guy came down with a horrible cold the night before, but that did not stop the shredding!

Cole Monster and Dylan, rocking the house!