A Couple More From The Zoo

Birthday Party and Lily Pads

One week ago, today, Grant went to a birthday party across town. While he was at the party, Dave, Kate and I headed to a local zoo that we love. (It is also free! :-)) Right by the entrance to the zoo there is a lovely little pond with all kinds of lily pads in it. I did not realize there were so many varieties of lily pads, but we saw beautiful pink ones and some that were just huge! We enjoyed looking at the lily pads and the animals at the zoo and soon it was time to go pick up Grant, who had a grand time at the party. :-)











Pretty Pink Lily Pads and Huge Lily Pads!













Katie wants to touch those lily pads!

First Day Of School

We started our school year yesterday with our annual first-day-of-school-pictures in front of the flag. We had a pretty fun day. Grant and Katie were excited to use new books and pencils and when I surprised them with a few little gifts from the dollar bin at Target, they were thrilled! For lunch I took them to McDonald's to get Happy Meals and they were also given an extra-long recess after lunch. The day had the feel of a celebration and I am hoping they caught the idea that it is exciting to learn and a privilege to do it together at home! :-)

Summer Days

What have we been up to lately? Let's see... we have been enjoying the last bit of summer before school starts up again! The kids are really used to spending their days outside playing and it is going to be a shock to their systems (and mine!) when we have to get up earlier and have our days more scheduled! Until then, we will have a few more lazy mornings and trips to the park. :-) Grant and Katie have both had playdates with friends recently. Here are Gabrielle and Kate on a hot day at the park.

Swimming Lessons

Grant and Katie finished their swim lessons yesterday. They both passed the level they were in and will move up a level when they take lessons again next summer! All the time they spent in the pool while we were in Colorado really helped them become better swimmers and be more confident in the water. I'm so glad we were able to get them in these lessons when we got back.

Here is Grant during his swim lesson.

Gabrielle and Katie were in the same swim class, which made them both very happy. :-)

Glasses

For someone who has been asking, here is a picture of me in my new glasses. I am not real crazy about them and am already thinking about the style I will get next. When I got these, I had tried on too many glasses and was just so sick of the whole thing. My husband said these were the best of the bunch we had narrowed it down to, so I went with them. They are okay, but I kind of wish I had gotten a different shape and maybe a brownish color. But, here they are and this is what I will have to use for now. At least I can see! :-)

My Little Cowgirl

Katie couldn't wait to wear her new boots. And, when she put them on with this dress and hat, she became a little cowgirl. Here she is... out on the prairie. :-)

A Wedding, A Baby

Last June there was a wedding. This June, a baby was born. Misty and Reid welcomed little Emma Leigh to their family and what a tiny, sweet, perfect gift from God she is! Oh, and four weeks later, guess who got to meet and hold little Miss Emma? We hit it off famously. :-)


New mom, Misty, with her daughter, Emma Leigh.


Precious Emma.

Tea Parties Are Fun!

Katie and I were invited to a tea party yesterday. While the grown up ladies enjoyed tea and scones, the little girls had tea and treats at their own table. I couldn't resist turning around and taking pictures of the little girls ~ they looked so cute in their dresses, having "grown up" conversation over tea. :-)


Katie and Gabrielle discuss important issues over cups of tea. :-)


Anne, Ellie, Kate and Gabrielle ~ full of tea!

Bridge Collapse

Many have heard by now of the terrible tragedy that happened last night in Minneapolis. It was rush hour. People were in their cars, backed up bumper to bumper, as they headed home from work. The interstate took them over the Mississippi River on a huge bridge. I have been over that bridge. You hardly notice that you are actually on a bridge because it is such a wide interstate highway. Last night at 6:05 pm that bridge collapsed. It is unthinkable that something like this could happen. There was a school bus full of children that had just crossed the bridge before the bridge fell into the river. All of the children got out safely, but oh how scary it must have been for them. We are praying for the families touched by this tragedy.

The Rock Shop

Did you know that taking your kids to the rock shop is about the same as taking them to a candy store? I could not believe the squeals of delight that came from my children as they ran from pile of rocks to pile of rocks outside the rock shop we visited in Estes Park, CO. And then, once inside, they ran about giddy as can be, scooping up handfuls of little polished rocks and oohing and aahing at each new color, shape and shimmer of rocks they found. I let them pick out a few rocks of their own to buy. Oh, my, what a decision each chosen rock was! They were still ecstatic when we drove away with each of them clutching a little bag full of ...rocks. :-)


Look at all of these big, colorful rocks! (And colored glass.)



Grant found Fool's Gold!



So many rocks, so little time...

Mt. Rushmore

We finally are home again! On our way back, we went to Mt. Rushmore. It was the first time the kids have been there. Dave and I hadn't been there for about ten years or so and, oh boy, has it changed. It is rather like a carnival now, with flags, music, shops and a parking structure. Much different than the last time we we there!

The kids got little booklets with questions to answer to earn Junior Ranger badges. They really got in to it! It was a fun way to learn about the monument and explore the area. They were so excited when they got their badges! :-)

It is nice to be home again and to sleep in our own beds! :-)

Kate & Grant are Junior Rangers!

County Fair

Every other summer our staff conference begins with a fun night for families after a short meeting to welcome everyone. Carnival rides, games and food are set up on a parking lot and thousands of people pour into the roped-off area for a great night at the "County Fair." Grant and Kate look forward to this night with great excitement. Here are a few pictures of this year's "fair."

Estes Park

The kids and I took another trip into Estes Park the other day. We happened to choose a cool and rainy day, but we had a good time anyway. We enjoyed looking at the shops and walking along the creek. The kids were excited to try caramel apples for the first time. The drive back was just gorgeous! I love the mountains! It's times like these that I wonder why we ever left Colorado. But really, I know it is because God brought us to where we live and minister now. And even Colorado is not better than where ever God has called us to be. :-)

Kate by the creek


Grant on rocks by the creek


Caramel apples ~ Yum!

YMCA of the Rockies

This is one of my favorite views!
(Click on the picture to get a better idea of how beautiful the view is!)
It is what you see from the big porch of the administration building at the YMCA of the Rockies Camp near Estes Park, Colorado. In our ministry with high school students, my husband and I have spent a week at the Y~camp for many summers as we have helped put on our summer conferences. The camp has great activities for younger kids as well, like day camps, that Grant and Katie have really enjoyed.

Yesterday we drove to Estes Park and, of course, found our way to the Y~Camp. We sat on the huge porch in front of the ad. building and took in the view. The camp recently celebrated their 100 year anniversary and had a sculpture put on the grounds to commemorate the occasion. The kids enjoyed playing on it. :-)
















Isn't that a fun sculpture for a YMCA camp? :-)



Besides being a place that we love, the Y~Camp also plays a role in our family history. When Dave's father was a boy, his family spent many summers in a cabin at the camp. His father was a teacher, so he had the summers off and he spent them with his boys, fishing and hiking near Estes Park. The family always stayed in the same cabin and the two boys even built a tree house in a tree by their cabin.

Yesterday we decided to go find the actual cabin that Dave's dad stayed in all those summers. When we found it, we wondered, "Where did the boys build their treehouse?" We saw a big tree right next to the little cabin. Could it have been in that one? Guess what we saw up in that tree?














Can you believe it?! Those boards were put there by two little boys over 60 years ago!

It was exciting for our family to see the remnant of the treehouse still up there in that tree! It was fun to imagine what their summers were like and all the fun they had exploring and playing in the area. Dave grew up hearing stories of those summers. Now we tell our children stories about Granddad and his summers at the Y~Camp.

Birthday Parties Are Fun

Kate & Anna are ready to party!


The bubble-catching game was a hit! :-)


Birthday girl, Emma, Anna, Kate and Caeley wait their turn during a game.

Fourth Of July Fun

There is a tradition here for the kids in this apartment complex to decorate their bikes and scooters and ride them in their own little parade on the 4th of July. Grant and Katie were thrilled to be a part of it and set to work decking out their bikes in red, white and blue. At the appointed time everyone met together and a dad on a motorcycle led the parade of kids around the parking lots a couple of times, while moms and dads ran along to get pictures. It was actually quite fun and the kids were so proud to be in a parade! :-)

Visitors!

We've had some visitors! Our friend, Arthur, and his four kids stayed with us for a few days on their way to visit the kids' grandparents who live a few hours away. We had lots of fun with them! Grant and Katie last saw Arthur's kids three years ago when they visited us, but they picked up right where they left off last time and had a blast together. There were some tears when they left yesterday. We sure hope we will see them before another three years go by!

Dave and the kids hit the pool.


The boys were really focused on a video game ~ serious business! :-)

YUM! :-)