The Rest of Beautiful Colorado

The Air Force Academy chapel

Landon saluting.....

and Payton posing.

Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Is that a smile I see?

 Garden of the Gods 

 They will always climb....and I will always stress. (I observed other children that day - and they all stayed on the path, except mine. Ugh.) 

Notice the rock balancing above...

.....and the Maxwell kids thought this was a rock they should climb?!  Really? But since they're there...might as well get a picture.  :)

Strike a pose!

This is the only picture I got before we went river rafting.  We had so much fun! (And, my kids were so glad I didn't have a water proof camera.)  :)

Cave of the Winds

The Royal Gorge Bridge is one of the world's highest suspension bridge. It was built in 1929 for $350.000, the cost today would exceed 18 million!

And of course you have to drive up the scenic (very steep and narrow!!) highway to Pikes Peak summit - where everyone was a little light headed and giddy because of the altitude of 1410 ft.  :)

It was a wonderful family vacation. With Landon a senior this year, we are treasuring all the family time we have. 

The Olympics

We have definitely gotten our fill of the Olympics this year! 

We are rooting for Oscar Pistorious, the double amputee. He's so amazing and inspiring!

We love Ryan Hall. His coach dumped him, so Ryan decided to get the best coach ever--God. In the past, he said he was a marathon runner, who was a Christian. But that's changed. Now he says, he's a Christian, who runs. Love it! 
Of course, there's the adorable Gabby Douglas, who's an amazing (young!) gymnast. During an interview, she gave honor to God saying, "When the praises go up, then blessings come down." So true!

We are thrilled for the USA, and for every athlete who has put so much hard work and dedication into their sport. 

Anyway, my kids went to a speech and debate camp in Denver. (They learned a lot, but unfortunately, Payton sprained her thumb while playing ultimate frisbee during their breaks. Only Payton would hurt herself at an academic camp.) :) 

When the camp was over, Max and I picked them up and spent a week in Co. Springs. It was a lots of fun....(and a nice break from the heat). We went to the Olympic training facilities. Unfortunately, we didn't see any athletes, well because, they were at the Olympics! :)

Of course this was Landon's idea of this little skit. Obviously, the weights were foam. :)

The athletes.

When we were stationed in Germany, we were extremely blessed to get a great (actually, amazing!) deal on a Greek cruise. (We found out after the fact, that the reason we got such a gonga deal was the cruise line was filing bankrupt. There was no way of telling - they didn't take any shortcuts! It was an absolute wonderful experience!)

One of the Islands we visited was in Olympia, Greece - where the first Ancient Olympics took place. The records indicate they took place in 776 BC. 

This is the stadium where the torch was lit.

Another part of the stadium...(with a cutie pie in front). 

Entrance to the stadium where the races took place....and another cutie pie.  :)

Let the races begin!

Summer Time

We are having a wonderful, relaxing summer. We are enjoying the down time without all the activities, schedules, etc. The craziness will start up soon enough! 

Here are a few pics of summer. 

They are on their way to a Lua.

Aloha! :)

A movie in the middle of the day. A big treat.  (Notice Landon with the remote in his hand. Really? For a movie? I think it's a male's security blanket.)  :)

Somethings you just can't take off for the summer. Music is one.

I LOVE hearing my children play their music. But when they decide to play at the same time - heads phones are needed. They both use them, but I'm especially grateful when they're used on the electric guitar. I'm an acoustic gal myself.

Fortunate for Landon, we paid for an online SAT prep course for him this summer. (He tried to look at it as a burden during the summer, until I reminded him how blessed he is that we care to use our money to help him this way. I try to teach my kids to look at things as with a different heart when it comes to chores, school work, etc. We are so blessed we have the mind and physical health to do these things. There are so many people in the world that can't wash a dish or study for an exam. But we can, and I am grateful for that. 

Payton working on some art work for her room. 

Landon hosted a pool party at our home. There was not a dull moment with 12 teens for the day.  :)

Bathing Charlie outside = dry floors inside!

And you can't have a summer in Tucson without the monsoons.  The storms are amazing and scary at the same time. I wish I could capture a lighting show, it is spectacular. 

“The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
Psalms 19:1

Baptism

Payton was baptized this past Sunday, June 24.  It was a very exciting day for us! 

Both my kids accepted Jesus as their personal Savior at the age of five (which was even more exciting!). But we wanted them to wait until they were old enough (and it be their idea) to make this public declaration for their love and trust in Jesus Christ. 

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. "Matthew 28:19

                                     Praying after she was emerged into the baptismal.

                             Here Pastor Chase was quoting a special verse he chose for her.

Landon was baptized (also at the age of 13) in the Gulf of Mexico. It was so special that he was able to emerged into God's very own baptismal....the sea! :) 

“We may never be martyrs but we can die to self, to sin, to the world, to our plans and ambitions. That is the significance of baptism; we died with Christ and rose to new life”  ~ Vance Haver

Father's Day

It's past Father's Day, but I didn't want to ignore this special day. Max is the greatest father in the world! He is the most unselfish man (person!) I know.  It doesn't matter what he is doing, or has planned...he will drop everything if the kids need him, or just want his attention.

 I had some yummy muffins and his gifts waiting for him to enjoy before church.
After church we took him for a nice (steak) lunch. I also put together an album with before and after pictures of all the work he's done on our home. He's worked his tail off, and the pictures confirmed it! :)

Since eventually I am going to print this blog. I want to add some pictures from the past.

Here are just a few:

We were living in Germany when I looked outside and saw this precious site.  Like Father, like son.

On this morning, Landon got to go with daddy to work.  It was bring-your-child-to-work-day. (Since there were such great bike trails in Germany, Max road his bike to work as often as he could.)

Here the guys returned from a morning run in Florida.

Do they think they are cool or what?!  :)

This was taken at a father-daughter tea at church.

Daddy and Payton would make pancakes every Sunday morning before church while we lived in Germany.  (Notice the chocolate syrup on the counter. They would get very creative at times!) :)

Payton got a remote helicopter for Christmas one year, and made the mistake of flying it outside where it ended up in my neighbor's tree. Max spent hours with her trying to spot it...hoping they could retrieve it. Unfortunately, that one was never seen again. But he did come home from work with a replacement for her.  :)

He was her soft ball coach this year. They both LOVE sports, and I have always been grateful for the special father-daughter bond that gives them.

Apparently they were tired of walking.  :)

He will join in and have fun with them....at any cost.  :)

Happy Father's Day & thank you for being the best father in the world to our children. We adore you!!

Romans Road

My kids and some other homeschooling friends started a band. They got to play at Hotel Congress on Tuesday night, and had a blast. They've only been playing together for six weeks, so I thought they did really well. (Payton has not done much singing, so it wasn't perfect, but I thought she pulled it off. It's not about perfection. It's about bringing God glory and doing what you love! And they love this. 

 One of the songs they played was, "I'm Not Ashamed" by the Newsboys. It was an awesome testimony, and I pray our Lord was blessed by it!

 (Payton's singing and playing the keyboard on the right, and Landon is lead guitarist on the left.) 

Here's the link to hear them on youtube.

http://youtu.be/fjZIK8sFO0A