Day Camp 2011

This summer found me back at Day Camp again. I enjoyed each and every day. M came to watch one of my last pony ride days. You can't actually see me in this picture, but this is the Bennett Beavers singing our camp songs in the morning before heading out on the Y grounds. I've gotten pretty good at my songs and sing them to M on the way home and D&C when I get home.

Nod if it's a YES!

C has learned her newest trick. Nodding! M doesn't remember when I learned how to do this, but thinks it is so cute how you can see the concentration in C's eyes when she nods. It is a big deal for her!

In addition to this new skill, C's vocabulary is exploding. Everyday she is learning and repeating words. What a miracle how fast kids learn such important lessons and skills!

County Fair

On Saturday, we all went to the County Fair. We saw pigs race and then went to look at all the animals. Walking from the barns to the carnival, C and I started holding hands. M thought it was cute, so she took a couple pictures of us.
I went on all sorts of rides. This fair didn't have a Merry-go-round, so there weren't very many rides that C could go on.

C waiting patiently with D for her turn on a ride.

The ride we all went on was the Flying Elephants. D rode with me and C rode with M.

C excited for her Dumbo ride to start!

After all the rides, we found a shaved ice stand on the way back to the gates. Just as we finished that up, the fireworks started.

Now I haven't seen too many fireworks since usually we are camping on the fourth and for C this was her first. Look how excited she was!

Hike with Sister

A week ago Monday, M took the day off to hike a mountain with her sister (Aunt R). The goal was to climb Mount Lady Washington--pictured behind R to the right. (Long's Peak--the 14,000 peak of the park is to the left). Since they actually didn't start the hike until after 9 am, they were racing the storm clouds all day--trying to get up and back below treeline before the afternoon thunderstorms started (and day-cares closed!).M with the two mountains behind her. M woke up Monday morning with a sore throat but decided to go on with the hike anyhow. She did fine on the trail and below treeline. But once she got above treeline, she started slowing down.

Mount Lady Washington. This is where M and Aunt R went off trail and went straight up to the top. This is also where M started getting dizzy and nauseous. It took more than an hour to climb and scramble up the rocks, stopping every few rocks to take a break. After veering to the right near the top to get over the ridge, the storm clouds that were fast approaching scared M and R into turning around--and the fact that it was already 1 pm. They almost made it to the top, but decided safety was better than summit-ting, especially with how M was feeling.

Another glance back at Long's and Mount Lady Washington on the hike down. Aunt R thinks they made it to the ridge at the top right--so close to the top!

A view of Long's and Mt. Meeker overlooking Chasm Lake.Taking a nature break!!

By the creek just below treeline and 2.5 miles from the trailhead on the trip back down.

A scenic water break!

Even though M and Aunt R didn't quite make it to the top and actually weren't rained onto until just before the trailhead, they both decided turning around was the best thing they did. Especially since the next day M was diagnosed with strep throat (along with my ear infection and C's strep). In addition, the blisters that M got within the first few miles still haven't quite healed up over a week later!

You might think it wasn't the best hike ever, but really it was quite good. It was a good 7 hours of bonding time and enjoying God's beautiful creation. Again even though the top wasn't met, the views on the climb up and down were still well worth the effort!

Thanks for the adventure R.

Fountain Park

A week ago Sunday we went to the old fairgrounds that have been turned into a fountain park in Loveland. Before getting wet in the fountains we played in the sand.

C was a little apprehensive of going into the fountains, but I jumped right in.Once M showed C how to try and catch the water, she was much happier.

Where did the water go?

The day was hot, but the water was cold, so C had to warm up with D for a little while.What a fun day in the fountains staying cool!

County Fair Parade

Today was the Larimer County Fair parade. C, M and I headed downtown to watch. M thought the parade started a half hour earlier than it did, so we got there in plenty of time to get a front row seat.M was looking at the camera, but a motorcycle cop had just passed so C and I were focused on him.

What county fair parade would be complete without a couple tractors...

horses....

a donkey.....

a four-wheeled cycle....

a marching band....

a 4H float....

The local minor league hockey team Zamboni......

and of course an old-fashioned fire truck!It was the first parade C had been to and my first local parade (the only other parade was in Disneyland almost 2 year ago) and once C figured out that people were throwing out candy, she was excited to go and pick it up.Our stash got pretty tall near the end. Most of it will be sent to Uncle W in Afghanistan. M was actually surprised at how long the parade lasted. There were lots of horses, floats and people throwing candy. By the time we left downtown we had been there over 2 hours. But it was a great way to spend a beautiful Saturday morning.

Loveland Sprint Triathlon

Last week M did a sprint triathlon. In order to prepare she had to train running, swimming and biking. Aunt R helped her with the running up at the Y on lunch breaks. I took her to the lake and reminded her to swim at the Y pool and C did her job by taking her biking a few Saturdays before.

M's transition station. All set to dry off from swimming and grab the bike for the next 13 miles. Since this was only M's second triathlon she didn't invest in a proper road bike and had to make do with D's mountain bike.

The was only about 250 athletes total. Small sprint triathlon only 4 miles from home.After the race....maybe even ready to do it again someday!M's original goal was 2 hours. She figured it was doable but not too hard to accomplish. When she got on the beach after the swim and looked at her watch and saw 15 minutes, she redid her calculations and figured 1 hour 45 minutes was the new goal. The swim was a little short due to the 300 meter run back to the transition area--up the beach, the length of the parking lot and up the grassy knoll. So by the time she got back to the transition area and crossed the chip timer another 2 minutes had passed. But as you can see from the link below, M accomplished her time goal.

http://results.virtualroster.com/results/index.cfm

She has room to improve, especially on the bike portion, and has decided that she had at least enough fun to do another triathlon some day. Maybe even the Loveland one again next year. Since this race she has gotten a road bike given to her, so she is excited to start training again. Maybe not too soon though!

Daddy's girl

C has always been D's girl. Even now she says D and P with ease, but still refuses to use M or G regularly. I guess she just likes the men in her life.
Although I usually prefer to have M put me to bed at night, I have my moments when I am all D's girl.
Curling up with D at G&P's house after a swim in the pool.
Curled up on D's side of the bed with his stuffed lion and my I love D pjs.
I guess I really am D's girl.

Cheyenne Fun

Before M's friend C and her family moved back to Iowa to finish up their last year of seminary, we got together in Cheyenne for a day of fun. We went to see a train engine and after that adventure only lasted 5 minutes we decided to spend the rest of the 90 degree afternoon at the lake bordering the park. It wasn't a swimming beach, so at first M didn't put our swimsuits on and told us to stay close to shore. You can see how well that worked out......after we both completely got wet, M decided she might as well put our swimsuits on and give our clothes a chance to dry.

C and S enjoying the lake.

The longer we stayed, the braver S got with the water.After an hour or so playing in the water, we spent time at the adjoining playground before finishing our playdate with supper at "the old farm" (McDonald's for those of you who need a translation).

Friday night camp-out

Since we couldn't go camping, D decided we should have a camp-out in the basement. So we gathered some end tables and some blankets and built a fort.

I'm ready to sleep in the fort. D slept on the couch and M&C slept upstairs in their beds.

It took me a while to settle down since I was so excited, but I once I did it was a good camp-out.

Fun at Gramma's

Thursday nights when we go and visit G&P we entertain G. Sometimes G&P entertain us though. A few weeks ago, P found the Kangaroo shoes Uncle B. left. He took me and C for a ride.

Then G found a clown's wig to show off.

We even have time to serve tea and treats.

Funny Kangaroo shoes.