Plan B

This weekend we were planning to do our first camping trip of the year. BUT when 6 inches of new snow fell in Estes on Wednesday and the forecast for the weekend was rain, M&D decided that heading out to the high country was probably not such a good idea. So time for Plan B. M&D had saved up a couple free hotel nights and M had 2 restaurant gift cards that hadn't been used, so it was decided a cheap weekend away in Denver was just the right thing for our family time. Since M&D had already taken Friday off, we got up early and worked on the camper to get it ready for next weekend. Then M&D did a couple other projects around the house and we were off to Denver, after stopping to say hi to G and her sister who was visiting for the weekend. The first thing we did when we got to Denver was to stop and get M's wedding ring in for her 6-month cleaning (2 1/2 years late!!). It was a good thing too, since one of the prongs was loose and about to break off. Having to wait until Sunday to pick the ring back up wasn't too big of deal, since we were already planning to be in the area.
Upon getting to the hotel, we found supper and then came back to swim before bed.
Saturday morning after breakfast we swam for a short bit while we waited for the Children's museum to open. M&D had never been to the Denver Children's Museum, but M had heard lots of great things. So once we knew it would be open, off we went for our day's adventures. The first thing we did was drive the fire engine.

D even helped C dress as a firefighter. The sirens and horns worked too.

Then we went to the room that taught us all about the animals--both under our feet and over our heads. There were tunnels and trees to climb.
C even dressed up as a rabbit and got into the spirit of scampering around the forest looking for food.There were trains to build--I supervised while D built the bridge between tables--puppet shows to put on...

and dance shows to perform.

C even stocked the produce shelves while I waited in line to check out my groceries.

We sat during story-time...
and D & I stayed longer to finish some more books.There was so much to do and we could have stayed much longer but it was getting close to lunchtime. Besides M&D kept looking out the window at the beautiful sunny day. So we decided to go get lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon outside. However, by the time we got to the Zoo the wind started picking up and the clouds were rolling in, but we decided to make the best of the sunny day we had left.
C wasn't too sure about the wild peacocks roaming free.

One was even in full plume.

The polar bear playing with his broken ball.

Another bird safe behind the fence. C wasn't too sure about the glass exhibits. She didn't quite understand the animal couldn't get to her, so when the huge fish and Komodo dragon came near the glass C backed away from it.

Enjoying one of the many animals. Notice I am holding the map, ready to tell M&D which way to go next.

2 hours at the museum and 2 hours at the zoo were long enough. I got tired of walking and M&D got tired of carrying 2 little girls around the Zoo, so we headed back to the hotel. After a short nap in the car I was ready to swim again. It was a wonderful weekend, full of family togetherness. And it turned out to be two beautiful sunny days. M&D were a little disappointed that we cancelled the camping trip, but I am sure we stayed much warmer in the hotel and we were all together so that is really all that matters. M says it was the best weekend she's had in a long time. No cleaning or errands, just fun time together with D and us girls.

The bubble room at the Children's museum.

End of year celebration

Last Wednesday, we had our end of the year celebration for Y school. From the weather that day, you would have thought it was a day in March rather than mid-May. My whole class singing to our parents.

Waiting patiently for my name to be called....

and my teacher to give me my present. Then I got to go sit with M while the older half of my class went through their graduation ceremony. I will be returning next year, so I just watched.

Singing YMCA.

We even know our months of the year.

Enjoy and have a great summer everyone. I have one more week of school and then Day Camp starts. I plan to have lots of fun enjoying the outdoors.

New van

We bought a new van last week, and it is the oldest vehicle we have so far, but it looks really nice. I've had fun riding in it so far. M and D hope to get a few years out of it and so put off having to buy M another commuter car. It is AWD so it will do good in the winter months, while the car still has a few years of life in it to commute during the summer months.l

Hair cut

M decided she was going to try to cut my hair herself. It just needed a trim and M didn't see spending the money for someone else to do it. After we got done and M was complaining to D that I moved too much, D said "that's why it is worth paying someone else." So now it is voting time. Did M do a good enough job to continue in the future or not?
BeforeAfterM's verdict is that it isn't perfectly straight, but my hair is so wild and crazy anyhow that most people probably won't notice. And I'm too young to care anyhow!!!

Yard Work

Last weekend was such beautiful weather that M decided it was a good day to replenish the rock alongside our house. It is a project that has been needing to get done for three years, but with little kids running everywhere, M just never had the energy to take on such a project.
As with any special event, the right outfit is essential. So I did my best to choose a good outfit!!! M just laughed at me and let me run outside. Part of the reason M laughed so hard was because this new dress I am wearing is actually a shirt that is only 2 sizes bigger than what I currently wear. I guess whatever works!!Part of the reason M was finally willing to take on this project is because she solicited the help of P and his trailer. We did about 6 wheelbarrows full to the flower beds and the back patio.

Then with the rest of the load P tilted his trailer and slowly drove forward, while M raked and leveled behind him. But with a ton of rock and a good hour of work the rock is again level with the driveway. Thanks P for helping. And it's a good thing P was there to help us since M was busy chasing after C as she was visiting the neighbors' houses!

The other excitement for me that morning was the huge crane that was in our neighborhood. P thought maybe someone was trying to move a hot tub or something.

Swimming lessons

Today was the last day of swimming lessons at Y school. All the parents were invited to watch us as we showed off everything we learned this year.
Doing the back float.Getting my bubble on so that I could head down to the deep end and practice my freestyle stroke.

Swimming down the side of the pool, heading towards the deep end.I was trying to be patient and wait for my turn, but sometimes it is just more fun to play around while waiting. Here my friend B and I are playing Ring around the Rosy.

The grand finale....jumping in and swimming in the deep end.

Easter weekend

For the Easter weekend we headed up to MN to see Uncle S and Aunt S. It was a long drive Thursday, but we made it in only 3 stops. C and I were very well behaved until the last 30 miles and then C started complaining about being in her seat for 13 hours! So for the rest of the weekend, M&D tried not to put us in the car at all. So to honor that promise, only M headed down to Minneapolis on Friday to meet up with one of her high school friends and go to a Good Friday service. It was a short but sweet time together.D stayed in Fergus with C and myself, so that we could play with L all day long. It was pretty rainy all day, so we just stayed inside and hung out. G&P also showed up Friday afternoon.

Saturday morning we headed to Bethel church for their Easter Egg hunt. They hid 2000 eggs, so we were each allowed to find 12 eggs. It took C a little while to warm up, but once she found a few eggs she was eager to find more. We found all our eggs in one corner of the nursery.

After getting back home and eating lunch, we started to dye our Easter eggs.

C even dyed one when she woke up from her nap.

After egg dyeing, D decided it was time to go get ice cream. It was only a short distance from the house, so we headed out on a walk to get our treat.

Hurrying along to get to ice cream!

Taking a short break while waiting at the street corner.

Since it was so nice outside we continued to stay outside and play. We played catch, rode around in the wagon and L even taught me how to ride his scooter.

Sunday morning we found our Easter baskets on the dining room table.

I had the princess basket. M let me wear all my new jewelry to church because I was truly a princess that day--My King has Risen!!!

Once we were all ready for church, it was time for pictures. What a cute family I have.

Hanging out with cousins....

Host family.

Aunt M and Uncle B came to church with us Easter morning. Then they headed down to M's cousin's house for dinner while we headed back to S&S for dinner and Easter Egg hunt.

Pretty Easter girls!

C needed a little help from D to get some of the eggs that were hidden.

Even L got some help from P.

A very full basket. Since I was told the day before I could only get 12 eggs, I listened and picked my 12 eggs on Sunday too.

After dinner, we headed down to spend the afternoon with M's relatives. When we got there, a good game of Bocci ball was going on.

For every game, you need a cheering section!!

We also played a mean game of croquet......

mean because 3 of the contestants ended up across the driveway.

Teamwork to help stop the ball from rolling back down the driveway again.

The Easter egg hunt on Saturday at church.

The great outdoors hunt!

We had a really good time. It was too short, like every vacation is. But after a 14 hour car ride Monday, we were all ready to be home and out of the car!!