Lasts and Firsts!

We are crazy busy with the changes from summer to fall. Here are some pictures to recap some of the last days of the summer and first days of the school year.

We didn't get to do much camping this year between all those gymnastics meets, but we had one last hurrah at the ward camp out. Lots of fun!

Hey Jeannie, lookin' cute and ready for camping! The girls (big girls: Jeannie, Jenni & I) set up this tent all by ourselves. Who said girls can't camp?

Peek-a-boo Porter- We love you!

Martin's raccoon eyes from crying and dirt, with the bag of Doritos to help console his frustration is priceless!

Mason & Esaias all boys!

Marina & Alex
Hanging with my best buds, building forts...now that's a great summer!

and Becca too!

First Day of School...Are we ready???

First Member Night at The Museum...Can you find the leprechaun?

Gotta love Mr. Bones at the DMNS

The stars of the Antioxidant Super Heros @ the Exhibition Health.
Never to old to act crazy and be a super hero?

The Denver Zoo Carousel...never to old for that either!

E's first ride on the carousel..not sure how he felt about it??

Getting down and dirty, that's the way E likes it!

Esaias at the Ward Camp Out

Marina's summer hip hop class...showin' off her moves!

Gotta love washing the dog. That's a definite summer family activity. Maybe that's why we love Gandalf...he's so big there is enough room for everyone to help out!

Well, all in all it's been a good summer. Glad to welcome in the fall. Lots of new changes coming. Stay tuned...we'll keep you posted.

Colorado Springs

With most of our family out of town for the holiday, we planned a little trip of our own to Colorado Springs. We camped at a newer State Park called Cheyenne Mountain State Park. While this pop-up trailer camping, is not the camping Danny and I remember from our youth. It still gets us out with the kids and makes it possible with a new baby. The amenities at this park were quite nice, and we were even able to shower. I do miss the backwoods more rugged experience however, from a girls perspective, I don't miss peeing in the woods.

Esaias is handling camping quite well, I must say, and staying at the State Parks also means warmer weather. A little too warm sometimes, but I don't have to worry about him freezing all night long.

We chose Co. Springs due to all the fun activities to choose from. So, after a great camping egg and potato camping breakfast we headed into town for studying the Anasazi and geology. Well if that doesn't give it away for you or if your not familiar with Co. Springs then I'll explain. We first hit the Cliff Dwellings. Isaac having studied Colorado History this year really wanted to take a trip to Mesa Verde. We would have loved to indulged him, however funds and time did not permit it this year. So, we went to a smaller version. I had never been to the Cliff Dwellings before and it was a fun adventure. Although the gift shop was triple the size of the actual dwellings. Reading about the history was the most fun. They had an old advertisement that read roughly, "Only about a 2-3 hour trip by carriage or auto." Wow, can you imagine? The kids loved walking through the dwellings and seeing how these ancient people once lived.

And of course this is right where my camera had "exhausted battery." Can you believe it? One of my favorite places to go was up next, and the camera dies.

I teach Science to all the 5th graders in my school and so I couldn't help but make sure Isaac got some background knowledge in geology. Cave of the Winds is one of my fondest and youngest memories I have of my parents still married. They took me and my 2 brothers there when we were quite young. I distinctly remember the picture they have of us in the cave on the tour group. Cave of the Winds takes your picture right in the beginning of the tour. Now, in my day, it was with the whole tour group. Now, they take it with your own individual family. I even remembered exactly where they took the picture, and was surprised when they moved the picture spot. Normally, I would not buy the "way over-priced" picture, but due to a lack of my own camera, and for posterity sake to compare to my childhood photo, I had to have the picture. Well, there's a story. We had to take the picture 3 different times because for some reason our picture kept not turning out. The first time, we don't know what happened. The second time at the end of the tour was on a full card and didn't get taken, and finally the 3rd time was a charm. As soon as Danny scans it in, I'll post it. It's a dumb "over-priced" picture, but I had to have it!!! Thanks to Danny and the kids for being so pleasant about the many retakes.

Marina kept complaining before we went to Cave of the Winds that she didn't want to go. Saying it would be scary. Good thing we don't listen to her. Even she agreed. She will tell you that she thought it would be scary, but in fact it was very cool. She told me in one trip to the girls restroom. "Mom, why are mom's so smart?... I can't wait to be a mom, I'll be smart then too." I'll save that one in my memory, especially since this morning when she was mad at me, she told me I wasn't her mom anymore. That child is giving me gray hair!

Well we wrapped up the trip by watching the fireworks shot off from Fort Carson on Saturday evening.

Father's Day Weekend Fun!

We're really enjoying having Danny home on Fridays this summer. We decided to go camping for the weekend and spend some time together as a family. We started our Friday a little later in the day because Isaac finished up the week by enjoying his golf camp. He is eager to play with his dad and grandpa this summer. He also has some scheduled play days during July. After golf we drove up to Boyd Lake State Park set up camp and then played in the lake for a few hours. It was a nice and hot day. Esais enjoyed being outdoors for the most part. It is a little challenging trying to juggle keeping a baby out of the sun, while playing with the other kids in the water. We managed by playing frisbee in the grass for a while.

After an eventful afternoon, we went back to camp and cleaned up to go to the Holiday Twin Drive In in Ft. Collins to see Toy Story 3. It was very cute. I would recommend it as a fun summer movie for the kids. I was excited because the double feature include Prince of Persia. I had been wanting to see it. I recommend "Netflixing" or "Redboxing" this one. The best thing about the drive in was that we were up so late we didn't need to wake up for Esaias' 3 am feeding. Of course this wasn't so great when we woke up at 6 am.
Saturday morning brought a cloudy cool breeze making it nice for breakfast and packing up camp. The clouds cleared and made for a hot mid-day. Which of course is when we decided to take the kids fishing. I pretty much sat in the car with Esaias while Danny took the kids fishing or should I say casting practice. Anyone who has taken kids fishing knows that it's really not about catching fish. It's about casting, reeling it in and casting again until the bait falls off and you call Dad over to bait it again. Danny actually enjoyed this. I suppose it was good that he wasn't trying to fish himself.

Isaac would say he got 5 bites. I'm not sure how true it is,
but he thinks it, so that made it worth the fishing for him.
I guess that's all that counts.

Marina the master caster. Left handed no less.

We finished the trip with a picnic lunch watching the boats load and unload. It brings back fond memories of my youth. I spent many weekends on the lake boating and water skiing. Even the smell of the boat exhaust brings a smile to my face.

Home at last to rest and recover. We called it an early night and slept late the next morning. Bringing Father's Day to a late start. We spent the day as a family, and according to Marina, "Mom has to do all the cooking today. Dad can't cook at all!" I'm glad we followed her orders and cooked steak and potatoes, a yummy favorite of Danny's.

Our Father's Day present consists of dinner and a pedicure this evening without kids. We're double dating with my sister and brother-in-law. It should be fun. Danny never wants a present. That's so true to his character. I am so blessed to call him my children's father. He is a terrific, patient, loving, and kind father. Who is always willing to take time to talk, laugh, play, and enjoy his kids. He knows who they are individually and strives to provide them with the best home he can. I appreciate that he sees this parenthood experience as a team effort and he never ceases to amaze me. He treasures his knowledge, and membership in the gospel and honors his priesthood. He is willing to share all his time and talents with us. Thanks Danny for being such a great DAD!

Isn't he gorgeous!