Summer Vacation Day 1 -Georgetown CO

This summer we had the opportunity to go on a family vacation.  A vacation where no one played ball, or had meetings, or really an agenda.  Sure we wanted to hit a few places but no real specific time frame.  In fact our first stop was the only place we had reservations and had to be on time. 

We did some research and I would HIGHLY recommend Trip Advisor.  I used it everyday to check out different things to do and many, many people gave ideas and off the beaten path roads and hikes and even where to find coupons.. 

Anyhoo...first stop was Georgetown Colorado.  We road a train and toured an old Silver Mine.  It was ok.  Owen enjoyed the train and the weather was great.  It is amazing to me how in the mountains it can be sunny and then rain and storm and then be sunny again..in a matter of 10 minutes or less.  CRAZY. 

 Waiting for our train..yes bridge in background we go on it and under it...

 Still waiting

 waiting some more.

 Finally...here it comes

 View from top of bridge...we had an open car on the way to mine and closed car on way back.

We ate Subway sandwiches along with chips and grapes that we packed in cooler before train trip.  It was a good thing, cuz our train left at 11:45 and on the way back from mine train broke down for about a 10-15 minute repair.  I think we were back to car by 2:45...

We had stopped to ask about white water rafting and a local told us about this glacier so we decided to check it out.  Owen fell asleep on the way up in car and we did drive a ways.  So between being woke up and hungry..he was in no mood to hike.  And it was a little jaunt to the glacier.

 You can sort of see all 4 of my family.  Garrett didn't hang around to close to us.  Apparently he  thought our family cheer was to embarrassing for an 11 year to stand!

 Maddie was faking this fake smile...she wasn't really in the mood to hike either and again it was a bit rough and hard, but in the end SO WORTH IT..

 Taking a breather...Seriously Owen was in NO mood...

AWWWWE...There she is St. Mary's Glacier

 It is hard to see but it started raining on us...

G & M posing for a pic.  

 Owen wanted to eat..but no picnic in the rain.  And seriously he had atleast 2 granola bars on the hike up.

 FINALLY FOOD...He was good after that.  Yes we ate subway again..5 dollar footlongs are just to hard to pass up..

A very nice man offered to take our picture. 

Owen still didn't smile for him though. 

 Brent and Garrett slid down the glacier on their rear ends right before we left.  Pretty sure that was Brent's favorite part of the entire vacation..

State Champs 2011

This past weekend was CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY....

Maddison's ball team placed FIRST at State this past weekend in wichita.  Where heat indexes were 110-115 degrees for 3 days that we played.  We won Friday night and then played Sat. morning.  After a heartbreaking loss 10-11 we came back and played and won Sat. afternoon.  Then played again Sat. night and won again. 

Sunday morning we played at 9:30.  We won.  Then we had to play at 11:15  the team that beat us on Sat. morning.  We pulled it out with time ran out on game (we were home team) and won 11-10!  Because we beat them and that team had not been beat we played them again at 12:30.  We then won giving us the CHAMPIONSHIP.  Very proud of 11 girls playing their hearts out this weekend..

DIY Corkboard

Owen's room got a small makeover a couple of weeks ago.  I say small because a plain brown corkboard that was hanging on his wall got a makeover.

A regular corkboard (i found at garage sale YEARS ago).  I spray painted the frame black

 Sorry I can't rotate this picture.  Took off newspaper so this is the painted frame.

 Let frame dry and then taped off the frame with painters tape. 

 Primed the corkboard with white spray paint

 Let dry and then I spray painted the whole thing with red matte spray paint

 Let dry and removed painters tape

 Then Owen decorated it with stickers from hobby lobby.  Stickers on sale half off.  He put them on where he wanted.  I only made sure they were right side up...(yes, I was anal about that!)

 Finished product on the wall of his room.  The stickers are football and baseball his two FAVORITE sports

In a nutshell this project took about 2 hours and cost less than 5.00.  However I did have the extra spray paint, painters tape.  But still well worth it and he LOVES it.

Issues

Blogger and I have had some "issues" so for now, its basic template and older pictures.  Hoping to update soon, very soon.  And this time I really am going to try.

Playin'

Well...our family has been playing.  Playing a lot.  Here's a quick glance...

Garrett played 3 on 3 soccer agin this spring.  They had their tourney last Saturday and took 3rd place.  Very, Very, proud of him...I would show you pics, but they are lost.  I have no idea if I deleted them or not, but I can't find them on my camera or in any file or folder on the computer. grrrrrrr

Garrett also plays in the 5th grade band playing the trumpet.  He also played special music at church!

Playing Ball....Maddie is playing this summer on a traveling team.  We have been to Beatrice, NE and then to Abilene last weekend.  In Beatrice they took 1st and Abilene took 3rd.  Both weekends had some great ballgames. 

 

 Owen has been playing with cows and friends.  Here is his friend Jonah at the CC Sale Barn....

And we can't forget Lucky...Here he's playing dead!

 Here playing in the pond!

Brent and I have been playing as well....we play the drivers, referee's, coach, washers, dryers, cooks, gas pumpers, gardener's and everything in between....BUT we LOVE it and wouldn't trade it for anything!

My Mother's Day was great and had a wonderful day...AND A BIG SHOUT OUT to my parents who celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on Mother's Day!!!!!  Couldn't ask for better parents, how blessed am I that God chose them to be my parents! Love you!

Spring Break 2011

As some go skiing or to the beach and warm temps, we have in last 3 years or more gone to SD.  No, not San Diego, SOUTH DAKOTA. As was the same this year, we miss out on 80 degree weather in Kansas and bring back 30 degree weather with us.  BUT this year we did get to enjoy 2 days of 60-70 degree weather.  Regardless of weather my kids and I had a blast!  (Brent was solo  for 5 days and survived!)

Sunday after church weather was nice, by lunch it was great.  So after a quick lunch we headed to Wagner Lake.  Which is a man made lake with a walking trail around it.  Great place to run off some energy from a long car ride the day before (which btw, my kids did AWESOME.  Only a slight "moments" over dead batteries on dvd players was all)

Little Gazebo

 Of course we had to have a cattle stick..see Pooky the dog in the corner.  OR the calf

 Stopping to throw a few rocks.

 These are some pics of the "Goldhammer Century Farm" that we stay at.  My mom is from South Dakota and her sister JoAnn still lives on the "home" place.  The kids and myself included LOVE to look at and check out the old buildings.  Garrett did a "name" collage with nature items with my mom's camera.  I'll see if I can get those soon. 

The Barn

 Check out the hinges on this old shed.  See the stars?

 The loading chute.  I don't know how long this has been here, but I think a LONG time.

 Inside the barn

 Owen playing sale barn.  Obviously some updates have been made in the barn.  Thus the green metal gate.

Aunt Jayne and Carter working the gate.

 shoo'n cattle up the chute

 Maddie working the gate for the boys loading more cattle

Awesome weather vane.

We are so blessed to have family that welcomes us in the drop of hat.  We were no small group with my mom and my sister Katie with Carter and yes 4 wk old Gemma!  Also my Aunt Jayne from Minnesota came and even brought along my cousin Rebecca with her little girl Natalie, who was born in January.  Not to mention our Hostess Aunt Jo and her companions Pookie and Lexi (who had to be bulls, cows, and calves, more than they ever WANTED too!)  We love you and THANK YOU!

The weather here today stinks and we are praying the weather man is right and we WILL have 80 degrees by Friday!!!!!