Colorado Springs-Day 2

Seven Falls- This place was a little disappointing for me as I THOUGHT (shows you how much I know) that there were seven DIFFERENT Falls throughout the park that you could hike/walk to you. That would be a BIG no. So I saw where there were seven "little falls" all on the big one. The funnest part about this was walking up all the stairs. We did it and it was fun. Kudos to Brent for carrying O up and down ALL the stairs. Pictures are backwards. Sorry, might want to start at the bottom of post and work your way back up.

Base of Seven Falls

Brent and the kids at the top of first staircase overlooking seven falls. We did take the elevator down!

View from the look out of Seven Seven Falls

Owen throwing one of many fits! Not wanting to go up the steps. I think it says 196 steps. But didn't really want to ride in the backpack either!

The start of the adventure.

After 7 falls we went back and checked out of hotel. Grabbed some lunch and then checked into the cabin. First off let me say this cabin was one I found on short notice via internet and through CO Springs Chamber office. As Brent was driving closer to Manitou Springs, our little navagition "lady" kept saying we were getting closer. The buildings were not looking good. I mean they were scary. You know the ones that say 50 bucks/week scary. I'm starting to panic thinking I've made a huge mistake. Can we get out of the minimum 3 night stay??? Can we just cancel, it before 4pm? But low and behold between 2 "sites" there set the Timber Ridge Lodges. They were only 2 miles from our orginal hotel. Very nicely located. Still close to everything. Very relieved. Our cabin had 1 bedroom w/queen bed, pull out futon in L.R. and 2 bathrooms. Plus a little kitchenette, with 2 burner stove fridge, microwave. Again not fancy, but for the price, fit our needs. Our neighbors were from Wellsville, KS (by lawrence) and then the next 2 cabins down were people from KS too. It even had a pool.(which was FREEZING) and a little playground. We got settled into the cabin, again O needed a nap, and the kids went swimming. That night we went to the FLYING W Ranch. (this was not cheap either, but fun) This was a pioneer town again with different buildings set up as a town, BUT you got supper w/your ticket. A BIG Supper. All 3 kids got the same amount as the adults. It was bbq chicken or beef, HUGE baked potatoe, baked beans, homemade biscuit, homemade chunky applesauce, spice cake and coffee tea water. Served all on tin plates and cups. Very cool, They feed an average of 1000 people a night. I think they said there were 800 people the night we were there. (I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of that), Plus they had a ranch band that played after supper. We didn't last through that. A very good day was had by all!

Colorado Springs - Day 1

We are back from our vacation to Colorado Springs. We had a great time. I would recommend going as there was a ton of stuff to do, but I also recommend bringing your cash, because things were expensive. Especially the touristy places. Some worth the money and some not. I promise I won't give you a minute by minute detail of every fight, scratch, french fry, snoring, wiggling, crying, fighting, arguing, breath taking, cold, hot, cabin, hotel, pool, car ride detail of our vacation. Don't get me wrong we had an awesome time, but in all honesty it took us a couple of days to get used to each other. Brent didn't realize that each of our children have little quirks...like G-likes to hop, jump, skip, dance any down time he has. He seiously can't stand still for more than 10 seconds. He had a tendency to wander, thus causing a little friction. M-stays w/us, but tends to be a little dramatic and screeches A LOT. O-well, he's 2 and you can only imagine the melt downs, screaming fits that we incurred. I won't blame it all on the kids, because Brent and I had our moments too, but only seconds really.... BUT AGAIN-IT REALLY WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT. Owen did really well in the car. On the way out Wed. afternoon we only had to stop 3 times and on the way home only 2 times. Made pretty good time.

Day 1-Garden of the God's (FREE!). We took pictures and walked around. We also went back Sunday afternoon and did the back half of the park. It was really neat and we had such a beautiful morning. I also recommend going fairly early as peopel started coming around 10 to 11am. Tons of biking and walking trails too.

scenic pictures

Owen, Maddison, & Garrett at Balanced Rock-explanation: Owen trying to hold up the rock!

Brent back-packed Owen a lot on walking and hiking. So some pics don't have O because Brent was either taking the picture or Brent didn't want to be in the picture, but mostly because it was too much effort to take O in and out of the backpack. I forgot to crop the gawking sight seer in the back ground.

More pics of the kids!More scenic pics. I'm know all of these rocks have names, but Brent isn't here standing over my shoulder telling me. If you really must know, I'll find out for you!

We also did Focus on the Family play land-which was free too. We didn't however go on the tour of all the buildings. Just did the kid stuff. We were going to go to a castle but missed the tour time and decided to hit Rockledge Ranch-pioneer town. It was neat, a little hokie, but ended up being the cheapest place the whole vacation. We toured the 2 orginal farm houses and watched a blacksmith, who made us a "C". We also saw a "farm wife" making jelly. For some reason I didn't take any pictures of those. We then ended up back at the hotel for naps and kids to swim in the pool at our hotel. I will say. the pool was small, but by far the WARMEST indoor pool we've ever encountered. They had no hot tub, but none was needed as it was nearly as warm as one. Kids LOVED it, and nice for O, who isn't a huge fan of cold water.

South Dakota Pics

We got back from visiting family in SD on Tuesday. I haven't had a moment to even download pictures from that. And even now I should be packing as we leave on Wed (sometime) to head as a family to CO for a vacation. Brent has been swamped at work and got a big order done and out, so going to try to get away before the next big order comes in. Really looking forward to that. Anyway..back to SD. We had a good time visiting. But mostly we ate and ate and ate. But oh was it good. One day we went to a local public pool that was turned into an aquatic park. G & M really liked it, O. who usually likes water was a little shy. But of course warmed up to it about 15 minutes before we were ready to leave.

Garrett going down the slide

Maddie on the ropes!

(the gal behind her was RUUUUUUDE) I finally told her to stop. Of course I just got the "I don't have to listen to you Lady" Look!

Owen w/my cousin Chris playing

We also went to the river and had a picnic and went and visted the nursing home. But other than that we just hung out and talked and laughed and again ate. Another thing that kept O entertained was my aunt's dog Pooky. But I didn't get a picture of the dog and O. Sorry

A little getaway

The kids and I are going to be AWOL for a few days. We along w/my mom are going to SD to visit family. The kids REALLY enjoy going and don't really mind the car ride which can vary from 6-8 hours depending on how many times we stop. I'm seriously considering making the kids drink water for supper because if they have pop, Maddison seriously will have to go every 10 minutes. Drives me nuts! I hate to admit it, but I'm not much better however I can go longer than 10. Brent is staying home to work. I think there are enough leftovers to tide him over, however Wendy's does make a mean chicken sandwich. I am hoping that we can still get away for a few days for a quick family vacation before school starts, but not sure when. If anyone knows of someplaces for a quick 3-4 day mini-vacation that kids will enjoy please feel free to share. Or if you just went somewhere those suggestions would be appreciated as well. I am hoping I can post a few things while we are gone, but shall see how much work I want to do. I have some younger cousins who I am banking on to entertain my children for awhile so I can get a break!

A Blonde Moment?

First, let me just say, I wasn't sure I was going to post this as I didn't need any more blonde comments, but then I decided I should be able to laugh at myself and really it isn't THAT bad. Ok..now the story
Ever since we moved I have tried to have a garden, but when you build a house in the middle of a pasture, "garden rich" soil just doesn't appear in the pasture. So for the last 2 years, I have tried to fertilize and weed to get a rich soil. And for the last 2 years I have managed to get things to grow. They start off fine, and even do great mid-way, then everything stunts out. I mean my corn starts getting husks at 2-3 ft and I get mini corn (yes like the appetizer kind, but not edible), I get cherry tomatoes, but they don't turn red. Ok so you get my drift. Well, THIS year my garden actually started out really well, and the good LORD has sent enough rain our way at just the right times, that I've only had to water a couple of times. This year I've tried to grow my normal potatoes, onions, tomotoes, zucchini, lettuce and corn. Plus I bought one strawberry plant and some green beans. Everything looks good minus the weeds (because of the good LORD as well). Actually this years corn looks better than any other than I've ever had. Doing good, green, not dry, good height in spite of the fact I was a couple of weeks late in planting. Last week we had a pretty good rain storm w/a lot of wind that pretty much layed the corn on the ground, grrrrrr. But by the next day perking back up and 3 days later good as new (or so I thought). Usually every other morning I go check it out and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw one of my rows was completely eaten in half. I mean the stalks were half eaten.

Stalks eaten off to the ground and 2nd row half eaten in parts.

All I kept thinking was how my dad who is like a master gardner was having a terrible time with racoons. So the next morning went out and my middle row was eaten in parts and the first row was completely eaten to the ground. Brent (who hadn't looked at the corn) suggested a live trap. I was mad and wanted them gone, but didn't want to deal w/a trap so said no.

So on Sunday we had Garrett's bday party and I took my dad out right away to show him and ask him his thoughts. I said " So do I have coons?" He just looked at the corn, then at me and said "No, you have "COWS".

Go ahead and laugh. He did along w/the rest of my family...Never ever thought cows would be to blame. The cows apparently got a taste of the corn when it was laying on the ground from that storm. It must have gone through the fence where they were eating and the row that was eaten was right along the pasture fence. Never, Never, have I had this occur w/my garden. That means one of two things: my garden wasn't even edible for the cows or I've been plain lucky. The 3rd row is done. 2nd row parts my come out of it, 1st row-the row that can't reach is looking fine.

Birthday Party #9

Garrett had a really fun birthday party yesterday. Both sides of the family got together and shared snacks, cake and ice cream and presents. All th kids were really good and played so nice together. Some days you just never know, but they ALL did. Even Owen who lately, has a very rough time sharing. Garrett wanted and X-Men cake. Not sure exactly what that/they are, so his cake was rather easy. (I have a TON of blue butter cream frosting left, if anybody needs any). The X was a little tricky to square up, and its decorated w/silver candy shaving things, which were fairly easy to decorate except for when he blew out the candles. Silver shavings blew everywhere too, but again they were easy to clean up.

Garrett by himself w/the cake. Doesn't he look so grown up?

G-Man is 9

Garrett turned 9 @ 6:14am after a LONG labor. Forceps and suction (excuse my man hands, but if you look close you can still see the red marks from the forceps) But it was SOOOO worth it. He is such an awesome kid w/a good heart. He loves to be social and thinks he's never tired! He likes movies and books and some sports (as in recess games). He had 2 friends over Friday night and we went to the lake. Last night we ate his favorite food-Chinese. We have church this morning and then our family bday party this evening. He's really excited. Thought I would share a few bday pics from years past. I attempted early to do some scrapbooking, so the good pics are used at them, but these are a few maybe more to come later.

One week old

Birthday Party #1-We had DQ make this ice cream cake!

I will post more when I can find the pics (no digital camera 8 years ago)