FINALLY - Camping!

We've both been itching to camp and ATV but life has just been too busy!!  But I knew we had 2 1/2 days before the next set of company came so as soon as I dropped off Kenzie and Aleah at Jaime's on Wed morning, we headed out!

Our plans were to go to the north part of Buffalo Peaks, over by Buena Vista, but when we arrived the gate was locked for elk calving season!  We knew they did this but didn't realize the dates of the closure and we were just a few days early!  I wrote down the dates in my phone so we'll remember for next year!  So headed over to Poncha Pass and found a nice spot to camp, although we were disappointed there were so many people out that way camping!  Luckily almost no one was ATVing so we had the trails to ourselves!

Just as soon as we got the 5th wheel in place, I happened to look out the window and there was a turkey walking by!

We went for a ride on Wed. late afternoon and spent about 6 hours on the trails Thursday!  Always a great time and beautiful scenery!

Of course there were no campfires allowed - I think the entire state of Colorado is on a fire ban due to the dryness!  We had hoped to ATV a few hours on Friday morning but Glenn's shoulder was hurting him so bad that he said he just couldn't do it!  Which means it is time to get an appointment with the dr for an MRI and finally deal with this pain that he's had for years!

Girl Time

It's sure nice to have two grand kids the same age who are as close as Kenzie and Aleah!  I never have to worry about entertaining them as they LOVE to just be together and play!!

We decided to make a loaf of bread in the bread machine - the girls had fun measuring and dumping in the ingredients and couldn't believe that a loaf of bread would come out!!

Time for outside play - bubbles and balls!

And here's the finished product!  Boy was it good with our homemade jelly!

We decided to play Monopoly and the girls had so much fun!!  They aren't quite as competitive as the boys are - and the game went on and on and on...................

Their special activity this year was swimming!  Since Woodland Park has that awesome new pool, I figured that would be the best thing since they both love to swim!  They had both forgotten their goggles so we stopped at the Dollar Store and sure enough, they had them!  But they didn't fit super tight and the girls didn't wear them very much.............

Then it was off to the Playpark with smoothies in hand!

Whoops - an upside down pic!!  Well, you get the drift, the girls were thoroughly exhausted after swimming and running around the park!

Before it got too late, Papa took them for a ride on the ATV!

And all too soon, it was time to deliver them to W. Pk, where Jaime ended up taking them back to Denver since they had dr. appts!  What a great time with Kenzie and Aleah!!

Kenzie and Aleah

It's that time of the year again where the grand kids are excited to come to our house for a few nights!  It's tough trying to find a date that will work for everyone and transportation issues!  But June worked out best for the girls and early August will work for the boys!

As usual, we met at Caribou Coffee for coffee with the kids enjoying smoothies from next door!  Evan was invited to go to Kylan's during the time the girls were at our place so there was a bunch of us meeting in Co. Springs (Brad's crew was heading to the Warrior Games!)

The 4 grand daughters in Caribou Coffee - even though Gwyn doesn't look thrilled, she did enjoy her smoothie!!

Back home, the girls were more than ready to get into the hot tub and because it was cloudy out, it was a perfect time!

Must have been cool out as the girls have on their "name" sweatshirts!!  They always request their favorite snack:  cut up fruit with marshmallows, eaten with a toothpick!

Of course they love their electronics!!  They were pretty limited at our house but enjoyed the time they did have!

I had bought the "quarter" books from Current for the girls since I had given them to the boys a few years ago - along with the books they get to sort through our money jar and keep whatever quarters go in the book!  Because we had cashed in the money jar a few months ago, it was only about 1/4 full.  Then I remembered that when I had done the quarter books as the different states came out each year, I had filled 4 quarters from each state into small books - then had gotten a large book where you just put one quarter from each state.  So before I gave the girls their books, I emptied the small books into the money jar which would assure both of the girls that their books would be complete with every state!!!  (I'm sure their moms wondered how they got full books when the boys' books aren't even full - ha ha)

Painting and drawing was next on the agenda!

Of course we had to have a tea party - the girls are way too big to use the plastic set anymore and I remembered I had these beautiful cups (I think from Jaime but maybe one set was from Jessi?) and the girls loved them!!

Matching tanks that I had given them at Christmas were perfect for their "outdoor chore".

I gave the girls a choice of filling a trash bag with pine cones or picking up little pieces of trash around the property - they chose the pine cones and I got stuck with the trash!

Lunch on the deck always tastes better than eating it inside!

And so goes the first day and 1/2 of their stay............................

A Celebration With Friends

We usually go out with our friends, Jan and Jan, at least once a month OR we go to one of our houses for dinner.   This time we decided to eat out and celebrate Glenn's late birthday and Jan's and mine early birthdays!  So to The Steakhouse we went over in Cripple Creek!!  One of my favorite places to order a steak!

 The steak didn't disappoint!!!  And since we were celebrating our birthdays but were too full for dessert, the waitress brought each couple a mini cake to take home!!

Check out the top of Glenn's head - see those nice red marks?  He went fishing in Pueblo for 2 days and wore a straw hat, not realizing the sun was coming right through part of it!!

The AWESOME Moon

I love full moons - and it's not very often during the year that the moon comes up right over the mountain - but I caught it as it was coming up and luckily there were no clouds!!  The pictures aren't great but I can still remember how beautiful it was!!

Celebrations!

Sunday was for celebrating Mothers Day, Fathers Day, and Kylan's, Gwyn's and Glenn's birthdays!! 

Aleah and Gwyn had fun licking the bowl after I made German chocolate cupcakes for the afternoon!

We headed over once again to Jaime's place and had another picnic by the pond so Aleah and Parker could try out the paddle boat!

Rayna and Aspen just enjoying the nice weather!

I left early to get home and get Gwyn down for a nap before her family arrived!  Jessi's pulled in about 3:00 and I wish I would have videoed Gwyn when she saw her family after being away from them for a week!!  It was so precious seeing those awesome hugs!!

Glenn started the gift opening and was thrilled to get 4 new fishing shirts!!

We gave Kylan a trip to Cave of the Winds and the ropes course there - he was excited!

And Gwyn had fun opening her new dresses - one of which she opened early so she could look "perfect" when her folks arrived!

Once again I received my AWESOME Mother's Day gift - my blog in print for the 2017 year!!  I LOVE getting these books and so enjoy reading back over previous years of what we've done!!  Whenever there's a question about WHAT we did or WHERE we did it or WHEN it was, we just check the blog book!

Our 3 birthday people - all ready to blow their candle out!

And just a random picture of what our kitchen looks like when we're all hanging out!!  I LOVE it!

We all had a nice evening together and all the little boys went home with Jaime's.  Jill's and Jessi's both headed out mid-morning on Monday to escape the Memorial Day traffic!  And me, I believe I collapsed.................ha ha!

Pool Time

Saturday morning was busy making a couple of large salads for the weekend and some appetizers!  Gwyn loved licking the spoon from the sweet salad!

Gwyn took a morning nap that day as by 1:00 we headed into the NEW pool in W. Pk for Kylan's birthday party!  WOW - I was super impressed as I hadn't been in there yet!  Jill's family arrived soon after and we headed into the pool!  I figured the water would be cold but it was actually warm so that made it nice!!  And all those windows you see?   Yes, they look right out at Pikes Peak - awesome views!!

Gwyn had a ball swimming around with her floaties on and the best part of the pool is the lazy river so we ended up just going round and round and round!

This is the little kids area which Gwyn enjoyed for a while till one of the large buckets of water hit her as she was standing right under it!  Oops!!

It was nice and warm in the pool but the "party room" was freezing!!  BRRRRRR!  But what a great room to have the party in and you can see right into the pool which made it nice.  There's also another big pool for swimming laps with a couple of diving boards!

I brought Jill and Aleah back home with me - Robby was helping his mom out - and Parker went home with Kylan!   Aleah and Gwyn had a fun time playing together!

Robby arrived later and after dinner, we watched some tv and relaxed!!  It was a great day!!  And Gwyn was excited that her family would be arriving home from TN the next day!

Picnic At The Pond

Friday was Kylan's 11th birthday!!  Happy Birthday Kylan!  The Smiths' came out to our place late morning for coffee and muffins - and then Jaime and Brad headed over to their property to get a "surprise" ready for Rayna and Kylan.

We all came over about 1/2 hour later (with a picnic lunch included) and Rayna and Kylan were excited to see a paddle boat waiting in the water for them!!  What fun!!  We all took rides on it!

Nap time?   Nah!!

On the other side of the pond is a perfect picnic spot!!

More rides on the paddle boat!

And then it was time to head home for Gwyns' nap, because late afternoon we headed into Dick and Jane's place so Papa could take Gwyn fishing!!  I was the official picture taker!

Gwyn was so excited when the first fish got on the hook!

But not so excited when the fish moved towards her!

This picture makes my heart melt..................Papa DOES have a lot of patience!

And after a quick visit with Dick and Jane, we headed to Burger King so our girl could have her dinner!