Week 2 in Colorado

After the 1st week poor Phil had to head back to work, so the kids and I stayed and partied.

 and laughed

 and napped

 and hung w/ cousins

 and spoke, heard or saw no evil

 and got braver, standing up while we were moving

 and snuggled momma

 hail, hail the gang's all here! sooo fun!

 what's boating w/out a lollipop (or sucker if you're from the west)

 Jess and I in our bandanas. Keeps your hair from becoming a rats nest!

 The Denver Zoo. Poor Eliza got hurt or something as I took this pic. 

 Dan really loved pulling the girls. Can't you see the joy in his face?

 the 3 amigos

 Noah was a champ and played w/ Chasey

 Here we are slowly losing steam. Or was it fast? It was soooo hot that day!

 Elephant dork 1

 Elephants dorks 2 & 3

 and lastly the sad little elephant. do you think he lost his momma?

 Yea! We're leaving to get into our air-conditioned cars!!!

 Dinner at The Spagetti Factory. YUM!!! Chase loved the old railroad cars inside.

 While we ate dinner a balloon guy came and made us the funnest balloons! Eliza w/ her Little "Wormaid"

 Rapunzel, an apple, a corsage i think, and flower head

 i don't know what's happening here, but his face cracks me up.

 sword, alien head, train, pickle and who knows...

 We had fun swimming in their neighborhood pool.  

 It was fun to see their yard transformed over the 2 weeks. They got 2 fountains, a fire pit, grass and all of their landscaping done. The girls loved the fountains! Thanks for having us Morty's! it was a blast!

I Heart Colorado

We were able to spend 2 weeks in Colorado staying w/ my sister and we had a blast! Our first day there was the 4th of July. Reagan and Eliza became quick buds and look very festive in red/white/blue.

 We did some improvising b/c my sister had just moved into her house (so we didn't do crazy bbqing) and b/c of the wildfires in the Denver area fireworks and even sparklers weren't allowed. So we played games at a park and chilled, it was great!

 Boating. Oh how we love the boating at Cherry Creek Reservoir. All 3 of my kids got brave this summer and LOVED to go out on the tube. Here's Ty, Kennedy and Luke.

 Sitting right here is Chase's happy place.

 Chase, Noah and Rylee

 Phil w/ all 3 kids. Eliza loved itt!

 Who did learn to make such weird faces from? I can't pinpoint it...

 The kids (and Phil) loved swimming and jumping off the tube.

 The driver-Senor Daniel-son.

 The girls just playing.

 Kennedy. She's a teenager and so she's cool.

 Me and my babies. I had the worst stomachache all day and luckily here I was starting to perk up. I wasn't in the fetal so that's how I can tell.

 We FINALLY got to go to Red Rocks Ampitheater. We went during the day when there wasn't a concert, but the Beach Boys were playing that night so they were setting up for that. Pretty awesome!

 The rocks are amazing!

 If you can get past me looking totally perplexed, you'll see the rest of my goofy family behind us! Phil and I were about dying w/ the high altitude. I could hardly breathe and there were people there exercising, running up and down the stairs. I am weak.

 Again, Kennedy is a teenager and so she's cool. :)

 Some cute boys. Luke, Ty, Chase and Noah.

 My babies.

 Look-they love each other!

 And so do we! And why do I always stick my rear out in pictures?!?!? Why?!

 A view from the top. The acoustics were amazing!

 Cousin Besties!

JUNE'S GOOD TIMES

The Pinewood Derby heard 'round the ward. 

 After hours of sanding, and oiling and who knows what else-Tyler won FIRST PLACE!! I'm pretty sure Phil was living vicariously through his child-but it was for good and not evil. And they had some serious father/son bonding time. I am so proud of Ty!

 The kids made Phil this candy bar card for Father's Day.

 Daddy loved it!

 Ty being, well, Ty.

 My 2 little train engineers. Those Thomas trains have been a good investment!!

 Once school was FINALLY out, we started the fun summer festivities.

 I saw this cute idea where you freeze small toys in a balloon and the kids figure out how to get them out. Here they are using spoons.

 But these kids are no dummies-between the heat and their brains they realized they could simply throw them on the deck. Then they started throwing sharp bits of ice around. we had to put a stop to that!

 I introduced the boys to cards on their bike spokes. We spent many a day riding "motorcycles" through the neighborhood. I'm sure my neighbors hate us. :)

 My 2 cute boys.

 They all sat here quietly for almost an hour eating popsicles and talking quietly. Heaven I tell you.

 Please note the big wheel tied to the wagon. Poor Chase pulled Eliza up and down the sidewalks until I thought he'd pass out from the heat. Hence the popsicles.