Firefighters

Denver is such a fun city to explore with the kids. When the weather cooperates we enjoy taking the train downtown and checking out restaurants, museums, and other fun places. There was a lot to see and do at the Denver Firefighters Museum. We learned a lot, both about firefighting and some of Denver's history.

Mt. Evans

Scot's parents visited us over Labor Day, and it seemed like a good time to get another 14er under our belts. This time it was Mt. Evans that we hiked.

It was cold, and the path was rocky, but the kids were troopers, and all of them made it to the top without complaint.

After posing for these group pictures, Tyson informed me that he needed to pee. Now! Asher was also with me, but everyone else had wandered a little higher up. So, not wanting to waste any time, I took both boys with me and booked it down the mountain. The group of college kids that was hiking down just ahead of us accidentally veered off the path at one point, and we mistakenly followed them. Things got a little dicey when we had to scramble down a steep part to get back onto a lower section of the trail. I explained the them why we were hustling, and they were extremely helpful in helping/packing the boys down the rocks when necessary.

In the ruins of Crest House, a ranger did a presentation on how to identify mountain goats and bighorn sheep. He had a lot of visual aids, and the kids were quite entertained, especially when Riley was invited to sport a bighorn sheep hide.

On our drive back down the mountain we were able to put our new knowledge to use when we saw this mountain goat right off the road.

Touch A Truck

For the second year in a row, our town sponsored an event they call "Touch a Truck." Tons of different types of trucks and machines congregated in a large parking lot, and the kids got to climb in and on them. They sounded the air horn on a semi and ran around inside the back of a moving van. There was a farm tractor, a front loader, two dump trucks, and a race car. They could open and close the compactor door on a trash truck, and even go for a ride on a brightly airbrushed monster truck. They got to check out all the compartments in a blood donation van and pretend to load crates in the milk truck. And there were many more.

They even had a table full of paints and brushes next to this truck, so kids could leave their mark on it.

Tyson's is the orange T.

Garden of the Gods

Colorado is not lacking in beautiful scenery, but I think Garden of the Gods, in Colorado Springs, is one of the most amazing places I've ever been. The rock formations are incredible! It was our last stop on our three day camping adventure.

The kids had a lot of fun climbing on the rocks. Even Asher, who has been more timid in the past that his big sister, got into the fun.

A rattlesnake crossing the path as we headed back to our car was an unexpected surprise.

Florissant Fossil Beds

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument was a 30 minute drive from where we were camping. The area is full of fossilized redwood trees. The process of fossilization was unique, and instead of looking like rocks, these fossils look like trees, but feel like rocks.

After completing a few projects and activities, including a short hike, and watching a movie that taught us about the fossils, the kids were sworn in as Junior Rangers, and took an oath to protect Florissant Fossil Bed National Monument.

Near the visitors center is the homestead of one of the early settlers to the area. We were able to do a little exploring there too.

Soft Camping

Our second camping trip of the summer was the cushiest camping trip I've ever taken. We heard good things about a campground outside of Colorado Springs, so we decided it would be fun to check out. We do nearly all our camping at state parks, with outhouse-type toilets and few amenities, so this place seemed luxurious to us. Not only were there flushing toilets, there were showers, a playground, a stocked fishing pond, and a swimming pool & splash pad.

S'mores were high on the kids' priority list, so we built a fire and enjoyed them the first night.

Riley and Asher thought it was a real treat when we let them roast their own marshmallows.

After a breakfast of oatmeal and hot chocolate, we headed to nearby Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. 

After our morning at Florissant comes the part of the camping trip where we got really "soft." As we were headed back to the campground for lunch, we passed through a cute mountain town called Woodland Park, and Scot spotted a little shop called The Donut Mill. He spontaneously pulled the car over and told the kids he had a surprise for us. As we walked into the building he and I spotted a sign that said they served Blue Bell ice cream, in addition to donuts. When it comes to sweets, I don't have a lot of restraints in the most ideal conditions. But when we're on vacation, I have almost no will power. So I suggested that we get ice cream to eat now, and we could take a box of donuts back to the campsite to eat with our breakfast the following morning. Scot was easily convinced.

By the time we got back to camp, no one was hungry, so those ice cream cones ended up being lunch. Instead of eating, we put on our swimsuits and went to the pool. After swimming and showering we got back in the car and headed toward Colorado Springs for one of our very favorite things, Rudy's bbq. We fell in love with Rudy's when we lived in Texas, and wouldn't miss the opportunity to partake when we are in (or near) the same town as a Rudy's Country Store.

After we got the kids to sleep in the tent that evening, Scot and I went on a date. . .we watched a movie on the DVD player in the minivan. The next morning was donuts for breakfast, the kids played for a little around the camp, and then we packed up and headed to Garden of the Gods. I think more people would camp if they knew it could be that cushy.

Adventure Day: Highlands Ranch Mansion

One of our local landmarks is called the Highlands Ranch Mansion. It started out as a farmhouse more than 120 years ago, and has been added on to by various owners over the years. Now this historic building is open to the public for tours. It was the first thing I put on my list of possible adventure days for this summer, and I'm glad we fit it in before we ran out of time. 

Adventure Day: Lair o' the Bear

For Adventure Day number 5 we explored Lair o' the Bear. It's an open space area surrounding Bear Creek. There were plenty of places to play at the edge of the water, and several short hiking trails on both sides of the creek.

I picked up some inexpensive pith helmets and binoculars early in the summer. I decided this was the perfect time to pull them out to complete the sense of exploration.

After a half mile of hiking, we stopped for a picnic lunch and visited with some other hikers. It was a fun place, and we'll definitely go again ... maybe with swimsuits next time, so we can really get in and play in the creek.

Adventure Day: Colorado Railroad Museum

Our second adventure day was a trip to the movies, which I forgot to take pictures of. Things didn't go as planned. We bought tickets for Mr. Popper's Penguins, but the projector wasn't working, so they moved us to a different theater to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked. I wouldn't have chosen it, but the kids thought it was great. It was Tyson's first time in a theater, and he loved it!

During week three of summer break we took a trip to the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. Since it's just a few minutes away from Scot's office he joined us there at lunchtime.

The kids all had a fun time exploring the trains, but Asher was especially interested. He asked us several times if the trains "used to be alive." We knew he meant if they had been real working trains, and it was fun to explain to him what the different cars carried, and where some of the different engines had run their routes.

First Camping Trip of the Year

I wanted this summer to be a fun one for me and the kids. Since I'm not a spontaneous person, I knew that if I didn't do some advanced planning we'd end up sitting around the house more than any of us would appreciate, and our outings would, more likely than not, be trips to Target and occasional playgroups with the same group of friends from church.

I set a goal for myself to have one trip to a park, one trip to a pool, and one "adventure" each week. So far we've accomplished that goal every week, and even exceeded it most weeks with multiple park visits.

Our first adventure was a little more ambitious than future ones will be: a three day/two night camping trip to Golden Gate State Park. We lucked out with a great campsite that was right in front of some perfect climbing rocks.

Riley and Asher spent so much time climbing and exploring together.

The first morning we were there we took a hike to a nearby pond called Dude's Fishing Hole.

Both boys had had enough hiking by the time we got there, so after looking around for a little bit, I headed back to camp with them, while Scot and Riley continued on an additional 3 mile loop.

By the time they got back, Riley was worn out and insisted that the hike had been too long. But you can tell from these pictures that it wasn't all bad. The first is one she took of Scot just before they headed out on their own.

Then, one of Riley posing for him later in their hike. Think she's a daddy's girl?

But as always, one of the favorite parts of camping for the whole family was just sitting around the campfire.