Next best thing

It's not that we didn't try.

The concert was last fall,

just in time for Sydney's birthday.

We went online to get tickets

the day they went on sale.

Well, I guess you had to buy them

in the first 4 minutes, or they were gone.

Rather than pay $300 a seat

buying from scalpers,

we decided to wait.

We settled for the concert on tv

in 3-D

last Saturday night.

Not quite the same as being there,

but almost.

Campout

Friday morning
we headed up
to Rifle
Mountain Park
for a fun
night of
family camping.
We were lucky
to find an awesome spot to camp. Mostly shaded and pretty secluded. Austin had some scouting requirements to fulfill, so he helped set up the tent.

There were lots of trails and rocks

for the kids to climb on and explore.

Doug and Austin

got busy whittling

some branches

into marsh-

mellow

roasting sticks.

then we had a

3-mile hike to do, so we took a long walk down the road. On the way back to camp, this deer jumped out in front of us. It was the biggest doe I've ever seen. Doug thought it was an elk at first, that's how big it was.

In the evening, Doug took

Austin and Sydney fishing

on the stream, while

Jordan, London and I

gathered wildflowers for

a table centerpiece.

Austin helped build

the fire

and we had more

s'mores than we

should have,

but what's a campout

without s'mores?

Yum!

We actually got

a pretty good

night's sleep,

and the next morning

had a hearty

breakfast

(cooked by Austin,

yes, another

requirement)

of breakfast

burritos.

He told me he wants

to do more cooking at

home, he kind of

enjoys it!

We ended our adventure

with a rousing game of

"upset the fruit basket",

then packed up and

headed home.

What a blast! We need more

of those kind of trips.

Girls' party

While the guys took a little trip

to Denver for the Rockies' game and some golf,

we girls decided we weren't going to

let them have all the fun.

So, this morning we

went to the store and

rented a chick flick.

Then we came home and

packed a picnic lunch

and headed up to Rifle Falls.

After lunch we hiked the trail

around the falls

and explored the caves.

The view from above the falls

is spectacular!

After that hike, they wanted more,

so we went over and hiked the trail at

the riparian zone.

After a little break,

the four of us went out to dinner

at Rib City. Best ribs in town!

Then we all got our p.j.'s on

and had a little

foot massage/nail painting

while we watched

College Road Trip.

They got to stay up late

and then wanted to sleep

on the hide-a-bed.

You can always judge

how much fun they've had

by how long it takes to get to sleep.

Tonight it took them about 2 minutes.

Matching

London came upstairs after she had

dressed herself today.

She said, "Look, Mom,

my socks match my shoes, see?"

She was so proud of herself.

I didn't have the heart to

say anything about her outfit.

Another 2-year-old battle,

best left unfought.

Daisy & Minnie

Our friends who own

the local pet shop

have been trying for awhile

to tell us how great

these little animals

are as pets.

We thought it would be

a good opportunity for us

to give the kids

some responsibility

of their own.

They are
really having
a good time
keeping
Daisy and
Minnie
so far.
They clean
out the
cage
and make
sure they
have food
and water.

Maybe you think

it's a little creepy

to keep rats for pets.
I thought so too, at first.

But we've learned

that the

domesticated

kind are far from

the ones you

typically think of.

They're actually

clean and

love people!

And with a life span

of only about 2 years,

it wasn't a huge

commitment.

They're not bad!

You learn

something new

every day. :)

4th of July

We had a little surprise

on the 4th this year!

Sydney started to feel

pretty sick all day.

Her tummy was hurting a lot,

so Doug took her in

to the emergency room

to find out what was going on.

They decided to admit her

after a couple of tests.

She was pretty tough

about the whole thing.

She wasn't even afraid of that

big machine that takes pictures

of her insides.

It turns out she needed to have her

appendix removed.

So, as the fireworks began,

here I was.

And they took Syd through the

big scary doors for her surgery.

All the doctors and nurses

loved her. They were so amazed

at her good spirits and sweet attitude.

They commented on how she

came out of surgery smiling.

She was such a trooper for the whole 4 days

we were there (her appendix had ruptured).

It was nice for me to be able to just

stay there with her the whole time.

We are grateful for so many

wonderful friends who helped

Doug and the kids while we were gone,

and all those who came to visit

her in the hospital.

We are so blessed!

We are also thankful for

the great doctors and nurses

who took such good care of her.

They were wonderful!

Yesterday when we found out

she could come home,

they all let out a big cheer.

We are glad she's home now,

and that she's getting better!

We love you, Syd!

Houseguest

Last weekend

we had a new friend

come and stay with us

for a couple of days.

This horse, er, I mean dog,

was named Chinook.

He was bigger than London,

but she had no problem

hanging out with him.

Like two peas in a pod.
He was very popular with

all the kids in the neighborhood,

once they got over being

scared to death of his size!

Clowning around

Our library has a

summer reading program

which the kids love.

Every Thursday they have a

show at the school

for kids who participate

to come and watch.

Last Thursday it was

a clown and his dog.

The kids
thought he
was
hilarious.
They were
laughing so
hard.
















It was
a fun little
diversion
on a hot
summer
day.

Can't resist

Okay, so I know I just did a post

on London and her naps

a few days ago,

but this was too funny.

I just had to do another one

when I found her like this

yesterday. . .