Colorado Trip 2012

My mom's cousin, Michael McGoldrick, celebrated his 75th birthday this June. I got to know him well when I went to school in Colorado so when we were invited down to Colorado for the big celebration, we were happy to make the trip! The kids once again did AMAZING for the 20 hour car ride, especially since it was a quick trip. Basically 3 days of driving for 2 days of fun. There were terrible forest fires in many parts of Colorado and when we made this trip, many were actually leaving due to the fires, but we were were going to an area not affected. Although I will say I have never seen it so dry there so early in the year. Even the drive through Utah, Wyoming and northern Colorado was much more barren than I recall from my previous drives to and from school. There was a strict no open flame law in effect. They couldn't even burn tiki tourches or candels.

Elle is drawing our tent and a tree.

The girls getting ready to unviel a statue Michael got for his birthday.

"Coronal Ram"

Elle's new friend McKenzie

Michael and statue made of bronze

Our little river explorers! This trout stream is lower than it has been in 400 years! The kids had SO much fun playing it! Elle was always leading to forge it and would have stayed there all day if we let her.

Elle, McKenzie and her mom Summer

We took a little hike up behind Michael's home. Because McKenzie was the only other kid there, we spent a lot of time with her and her parents. So much fun- we saw a fawn on this little hike. 

Here's the hiking group! (minus me of course, taking the photo!)

Elle watching the steal drums band

Blue grass band the last night. The set up was amazing. Such a beautiful property in the mountains.

Balloons!

Look who's look'n JUICEY! =)

Our kids standing on our front porch watching the cows graze.

It is so great to have the cows so close to enjoy-  the kids love it.

Just about 2 more weeks and then we will be enjoying them in a different way... wink wink... BBQ anyone!?

Fun time with cousins!

Such sweet cousins. Chloe and Elle. Elle says "I just love Chloe, she gets me."

The Nanarotsy  =)

Nothing puts Christian to sleep like a boat ride. =)

Summer time!

Kids and popsicles! It's summer time! We have acres of grass, and they choose to sit in the gravel driveway to enjoy their popsicles! =)

Strawberry Jam! Thank you Spooners Berry Farm for growing DELICIOUS strawberries!

 

Setting up the tent to make sure all parts are there for our Colorado camping trip. No rain fly- glad we didn't really need it. Rained a little, but we just through a quilt on top and it worked well enough. Everything drys so fast there.

Building stairs in the barn

We are moving back up to the main house! (7 months sooner than planned) Early July we will be back in the house... which means... we need to finish some things up in the barn to have it ready to rent out! (already have a tenant lined up) Elle was really sick this week with a stomach bug, and this was the first project she has been up for doing all week. She loved hammering the nails. She sincerely set the nails and hammered them in all by herself- at least 30 of them! (the steps are cedar from our milled cedar we had done last year). She was so cute, so happy to work. She said "doing family projects is my favorite thing to do". And as always, she is wearing a dress for the project and Christian is mostly naked. HA! =) Christian was in charge of getting her nails and sitting on the steps to hold them down while I pre-drilled the holes. They turned out perfect. I was super impressed Michael got the risers just right since the floor isn't level and the beam they attach to isn't level so they both had to be at a unique angle.

Shoemaker Music Camp

 Michael's mom (AKA "Grammie") put on a music camp this week with the cousins. So sweet, the kids loved it. Victoria (Michael'sister) gave all the kids private lessons, the played games, sang songs, made T'shirts, enjoyed food together and played on the beach. It was truly an incredible time for the kids.

These are their shirts, they did puff paint on them.