Hiking

The past couple weekends we finally decided to introduce the kids to hiking.  The first hike we got lots of complaints, "I'm tired...it's hot...the sun is in my eyes...my shoes don't fit...I'm hungry...etc.   I didn't think we'd ever make it.  But the last part of the hike we saw an amazing view and all of a sudden the kids got their second wind and loved it.  When Ella was crying in the beginning she was now skipping along singing.  So in order for them to get used to it we went on another hike this past weekend.  It was heaven.  It was just 20 minutes west of Morrison in a park called Lair 'O Bear.  We went early in the morning and the sun was out.  We hiked alongside a babbling creek and the kids loved going in and out of the small paths that lead to the creek.  Towards the end of our hike there was even a castle that they said looked like Belle's from Beauty and the Beast.  The colors on the trees were golden and it was so peaceful.  Riley looked at me and said she wanted to come back tomorrow.  I don't know why we hadn't started this earlier.  Now we look forward to the different hikes we can do every weekend.

Roxborough State Park

Ella at the beginning of the hike

Incredible view

At the end of the hike

Lair 'O Bear open space

A little break

Love the sun shining down just on the tree

"Princess Castle"

Summer recap

It's been awhile since I've posted something, I must've been busy?  I haven't taken a whole lot of pictures lately so I'll just give a quick summary of the past month.  After my sister-in-law left, my roommates from college all came to visit!  We were only missing Nicole, who happens to live in Brazil so she had a pretty good excuse.  We all lived together our senior year in a big house called Petticoat Junction, ever since then we just all refer to each other as Petticoat.  These are the best friends in the world and we would do anything for each other.  I need to get more pics of the weekend, but one thing we did do was drive up Mt. Evans.  I haven't been up there in about 10 years and now I remember why.  The roads are extremely scary.  No guardrails, just a sheer drop off right out your window.  It was raining and some people were getting carsick with all the twists and turns.  My hands couldn't grip the steering wheel hard enough!  So we stopped about 9 miles from the top and took a couple pictures.  It also happens that we stopped just to encounter the second highest recorded tornado!! It was quite a sight.
  Riley had soccer all summer on Saturday mornings and she really liked it.  She got better each week and even scored 3 goals in one game!  Then I left for Ohio with Owen to help my parents organize all their stuff since they're moving here to Colorado :)   They sold their house within 6 weeks and will be heading here the end of September.
  The girls started school and after a hard first week for Ella (including having to be peeled from me kicking and screaming), she asks me in the morning if we're going to school.  So it's definitely gotten better.  Riley loves school, her favorite subject is gym of course.
  Then Owen ran face first into the bathtub and chipped three of his top baby teeth!  Hopefully the dentist will have a fix for us so he doesn't have to be called Chip until he's 6.
  We're having our stairs redone.  It was an ugly white carpet and we took that off to put a dark stained wood.  I'll have to update when we have it all painted and finished.
  Jarom leaves on a business trip in about a week and then my parents will be checking out houses.  So much going on...

2nd highest tornado

Jen & Red

Cheering Riley on

Riley running the ball down

Freak hailstorm in August

Eating popsicles are a daily occurance

First day of school

Just driving home and caught one of the beautiful sunsets

Owen's chipped teeth!

Cousins

My sister-in-law, Kista and four of her kids came to visit us a couple weeks ago from Utah.  We didn't see them very much when we lived in WA, so at least now it's only an 8 hr drive.  The girls loved playing with Sophie & Mady and they seemed to only come up for air when they were hungry.  Aaron and Avery entertained themselves riding around the neighborhood on our bikes and playing with Joey. We went to a nearby park and the kids played in the creek.  We also went to Lakeside Amusement park, it's been there since 1908, so it had a lot of character and the kids just loved it.  We were there for hours and they never got tired of riding the little roller coaster.  It was nice to have someone here to just hang out with and talk to.  Wish we lived even closer :)

Tiny Town

This past weekend we drove up into the mountains (20 minutes) to this cute little place called Tiny Town.  It's basically a park with miniature buildings, a playground, and a train you can ride around on.  The kids loved it and the mountain air was a relief from the 90 degree temps at home.  It was fun to see all the details they put into the different houses.  One had a square dance going on with barbies dressed up in western wear, another had a saloon complete with Barbie can can dancers!  I'm sure we'll be back someday.

Owen checking out the first building

Boston Vacay

This past week I took the kids to Boston to visit my sister.  Yes, I went alone on the plane with 3 kids, it wasn't meant to be that way, Jarom couldn't come at the last minute because of work.  My sister has two girls and lives in Rockport, MA which is a beautiful little town on the ocean.  We rented a house about a 5 minute walk from the beach.  My sister lives about a mile from there.  The weather was great all week until the 90 degree heat wave came with all the humidity.  But it made for great boating and beach weather.  The kids had a blast playing on the beach, in the backyard, and with all the new toys at my sister's house.  It's nice to know family in fun areas to visit.  Maybe next time we'll go visit my other sister in NYC, um, maybe without kids, that's always more fun ;)
For some reason I can't post the rest of the pictures so here is a link to some photos my mom took:
Shutterfly album

They didn't want their Aunt Megan to leave

The beauty queen waving to her fans

Class of 2024!

Ella was more excited than Riley, she loves her big sister

Wow, class of 2024, that's crazy.  My oldest baby, Riley, graduated from kindergarten last night.  Yes I shed a tear, it's just the beginning of what will fly by until she graduates high school.  Grandma & Grandpa Eberhard came with us to watch her little performance.  They sang about 6 songs and then there was a video presentation with pictures and videos of their year in kindergarten.  There was one background song in the video called "Let Them Be Little"

                                              **Warning...you will bawl your eyes out.**

We are so proud of our sweet girl, her kindergarten teacher is retiring this year and couldn't say enough good things about Riley.  She said she's bright, kind-hearted, and that she's going to go really far in life.  That we are sure of.  We love you.