Monday, July 10, 2017

Summer, Please Slow Down!

I can't believe how fast the summer is flying by! In fact, it makes me want to cry. We only get about two months total, because they start school so early in August here in Colorado, and by the time the first month is over and done with, it feels like we're just counting down weeks, and then days until it's back to the grindstone. I ((mostly)) like having these kids at home all day, every day, and I will miss all the fun we've been having when they have to go back to school.
Back when Whitney was here we did a picnic and nature walk up in the front range of the Rockies at the Lair 'O the Bear park. Whitney had never been up in the Colorado mountains, and it was high time she checked them out.
We picnicked next to a gorgeous river the kids were just aching to put their feet into!
And so they did... Nothing like wading out into a crystal clear mountain river at the peak of summer! We walked around a bit and enjoyed Colorado's finest, and didn't even manage to find any bears. Oh well.
We ended up buying our neighbor's old swing set when they moved, and it has been such a fun addition to our backyard! The kids have loved playing on it, putting the sprinkler on the slide, and Lizzie could just sit in that baby swing all day, every day. I lay out in my chair and just enjoy watching them play.
Three little beauties enjoying some sun!
Meanwhile, Zach was having a ball at his Cub Scout Day Camp with a million other little rascals. They played games, ran races, shot bows and arrows, fired BB guns, whittled wood, worked leather, made crafts, and ate lots of slushies and hot dogs. He had SO much fun and was completely exhausted (and FILTHY) by the end of each day. I think I want to go next year! 
One night on our way home from the gym I bribed the kids with Hawaiian slushies. Shorty was sporting her signature "fashionista" look, with backwards shoes and all.
Lizzie enjoyed playing in the clover and yelling at everyone.
Yum! That's some good shaved ice. We figured Moana probably ate shaved ice in Hawaii just like this. But without the sweetened condensed milk on top!
Zach and Lucy got theirs Butter Beer flavored. They loved it! We'll definitely have to go back again before summer is over.
I found matching Minnie Mouse dresses at Costco and of course anything matching ends up in my cart because it's just too fun to make my girls be twinners!
Lucy and Savannah snuck one last sleepover in before we consider her to be totally gone and moved away. We had a pizza party that night, and then pancakes and bacon for breakfast in the morning.
Last but not least, we recently hiked Chief Mountain, which was a sub-Alpine hike basically to the very top of the mountain. It was 5 miles roundtrip and really steep in some parts, but the kids were game and they did AWESOME. Even Leah hiked it start to finish by herself! We took a little water/snack break about halfway up.
We kept telling the kids through all of their whining, "Keep going! It will be worth it! The views at the top will be amazing!" So they listened and kept plugging along, and sure enough, the views were spectacular! I just hate how cameras don't do it justice.
There was one more rock formation we had to scale to officially be at the tippy-top.
Ta-Da! It's pretty surreal to be up so high and have 360 views of Creation. We could see the Continental Divide and most of the 14'ers the Rockies are famous for.
Hanging out on top of the world!
Baby Lizzie who isn't really a baby anymore, but a wild and independent toddler did mostly okay in the backpack. She walked parts of it, but as we got higher up she felt safer in the backpack, and then ended up falling asleep on the way back down, thankfully.
Mountain top selfie!
Zach found a very friendly chipmunk, who just wanted us to feed it. It would have eaten out of Zach's hand if we'd had something to give it other than crumbs and grapes.
Making our way back down to the bottom....
Hellooooo Lucy and Leah! They look so tiny down there at the bottom of the trail.
So proud of these hiker kids for topping Chief Mountain! Now my idea is to wake up super early one morning to make it to the top by sunrise. Any takers?
We headed back down to Evergreen to eat our favorite Colorado-style pizza at Beau Jo's. Yum! It sure tasted good after a long hike in the sun! We are sure loving these long summer days and wish they could last forever.... or at least another 6 months before the Colorado snows come again.

2 comments:

Joan Morris said...

I'm so glad you are loving exploring Colorado. That hike looks amazing! You better not let anybody hear you say your want to go to Cub Scout Day camp or you might end up the Den leader next year ;)
That shaved ice looks yummy and now you know why I used to love dressing you and Whitney like twinners.

Unknown said...

I'll hike it with you in the wee hours! I actually love hiking and am sad that we don't do it as much as I would like. I love seeing all the places you guys go...gives me more places to add to my bucket list!