Camping

We went camping the week after the Fourth of July.  It was the camping trip that almost didn't happen - but I am SO SO SO GLAD it did.  It ended up being the highlight of my summer.  The reasons it almost didn't happen: A) Finances.  It has (and continues to be) a rough year for us - and each month things get tighter and tighter.  We really should not be going on vacations or doing anything non-essential.  BUT we had booked this campsite last year and had already paid for it. B) Two days before we left the forest service announces a total fire ban - including charcoal.  I had already planned our menu and shopped - this went into the finances one - we almost "called it" the night before because I would need to go to the store and buy all new food.  Plus we didn't have a camp grill or stove.  Also - when we asked the kids if they wanted to go they said  they didn't because of the fire ban, they wanted to roast marshmallows and hot dogs, plus they were worried about being cold in the evenings (so was I).  We were camping in Rocky Mountain National Park at about 10,000 ft.  I worried we would freeze once the sun went down.  C) I am pregnant.  This wasn't TOO much of a factor.  I was feeling pretty good at the time and wasn't too big.  BUT with how much Jason doesn't like camping a lot of the packing, organizing, and camping part falls to me and I was worried I just wouldn't be able to do it AND be a happy camper.  I worried about sleeping at night, plus we booked a walk-in camp site, which I was excited about pre-pregnancy - but now I knew we were going to have to walk all our stuff into our camp site.  D) With all of these factors swimming in our heads the night before we left we found out Jason had a job interview right in the middle of our trip.  This was the nail in the coffin.  We HAD to put a job interview ahead of all of it.  I almost felt relieved to not have to go because of all the above reasons (especially the fire ban) - but the more I thought about it the sadder I got.  This was probably the last vacation with just the 6 of us. The last time it would be easy, the last time it was about the older kids.  Then, in my moment of self pity, Jason's interview got changed to the day after we got home, and just like that I decided to just "go for it".  Jason (being awesome) supported my sudden change of heart, we packed up early the next morning and off we went.

One of the main reasons I wanted to go camping (other than I LOVE camping and it is where I feel most as home) is that I wanted just the 6 of us for a few days.  This summer has been weird and a first for us.  The kids spend most of their days playing with friends.  We don't do much together.  I wanted them to remember  that they are friends and can play together.

Because of my condition :) I didn't have to help unload the car and walk it down to the camp site.  I guess that is why I birthed 4 kids 10 years ago - so I don't have to do much this time around :).  It wasn't far to our campsite - about a football field or so.  The kids and Jason loaded and loaded like champs.  Brock and I set up the kids' tent.

I absoulutly LOVED our campsite.  I picked it out a year ago.  It was in Rocky Mountain National Forest in Aspen Glen camp ground.  We knew we wanted to camp in RMNF this summer (we hadn't been since we moved to Colorado!) - but the more research I did the less appealing it became.  Their camp grounds arent that pretty and the "pack them in like sardines" and are VERY crowded.  Aspen Glen has 6 camp sites away from their tightly packed campsites that are "walk in" and away from everyone else.  We still have bathrooms and running water, and we had to haul in our stuff - but it was SO worth it.  We were in the trees, and nature, and we could not see another campsite.  It was so perfect - they go quickly (like within hours) - and I was lucky enough to snag one.  The other reason I picked it was becasue there was supposed to be a little river that runs along side of it that the kids could fish in or play in - but becasue of the drought it had dried up this summer.  Bummer!  But there was a BIG river just down the path - so we went their a lot.

Our favorite thing to do in our campsite is climb rocks and trees and have dad read to us.  Last summer we were reading Harry Potter (the summer before that was Narnia).  This summer Jason is reading his favorite childhood series "Red Wall".  We also like to eat, play card games, and find treasures.  The bad things about camping in Colorado is we are in bear country.  Bear Country is even more real in RMNP compared to down south where we had gone the last 4 years.  Before we could put food in our cars at night.  Here we had to keep our food, toiletries, cooking and cleaning stuff in bear boxes ALL THE TIME.  It was really annoying and made me miss Utah camping.

This was our river.  Some parts of it were a little scary - but other parts were calm and the kids could walk around.  They all handled it pretty well and followed the rules.  Surprise, surprise Noah had the hardest time following the rules and staying in the boundaries we had set.  He desperately wants to be trusted to do what HE KNOWS he can do - and if he falls and dies he wants to have that option.  He just can't understand why I I don't think that is a good deal.

See Noah down there on that rock (blue shirt).  He was trying really hard to find a way across the river.

We went down to the river several times a day to play, throw rocks, and fish.

On our first night we went on a walk around Sprauge Lake.  It was very beautiful.

We also got to see a moose walk out into the lake for a drink.  It was really cool.  

As TOTAL chance would have it our friends from our college days, the Curren's were also camping in RMNP that same night.  So we met up with them to get caught up on life.  For the last 6 years the Curren's have been living in their Airstream with their 3 kids and traveling around the country.  Our kids immediately fell in love (they actually played together A LOT as very young children.

The next day we mostly played in the river and fished a lot in the morning.

Brock found the perfect fishing spot on this log.

Megan's line kept getting tangled in trees and Jason kept climbing up and untangling it.

I mostly sat on the rocks with my feet in the river and didn't move much. :)

In the afternoon we went to this WONDERFUL place called Aluvial Fan.  It was PERFECT for the kids to spend hours climbing rocks in the river/waterfall.  

We all loved it.  Madison said it was the most amazing day of her whole life becasue she was able to complete her "rock challenge" (a obstacle course she set up for herself).  And I let Noah do pretty much what ever he wanted with out saying "no" or "be careful" - which helped him IMMENSELY.

Brock did more fishing down the river.

Brock was a diligent fisherman.  He always had his pole with him and would fish where ever we went.  Unfortunately he never caught anything.  In fact he has never caught anything.  It is pretty sad.

When we found out there was a fire ban every one's number one concern was the smores.  I did some searching around and found that doughnuts were an easy thing to make while camping.  We made powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar doughnuts.  They were delicious - but the oil was too hot and most of them were doughy in the middle.  :(

On the was home we decided to take the loooong way (and my "we" I mean I really wanted too and they obliged).  We went all the way through the park and came out on the west side.  Although it messed up the rest of our day I am SO glad we did.  It was one of the most beautiful drives I have been on.  I have never been in an environment like that.  I hope to do it again and take time to stop at all the look-outs.  (We had to get home in time for baseball practice)

We came across a herd of Elk.

Here we are at the highest point.  Just over 12,000 feet.

This camping trip ended up being the highlight of my summer.  I am SO SO glad we went.

Fourth of July

Out of the last 5 fourth of July's that we have lived in Colorado we have spent 4 of them in Utah.  This year, since Katie was having a baby in late July, I decided we would go to Utah at the end of summer so we could see the baby.  It would be perfect - we had 2 weeks in between baseball and soccer, the baby would be born, and it would be Sam's baptism.  My kids were pretty upset all summer that we hadn't gone to Utah yet - but I kept showing them the date on the calendar (July 28 - August 8) and explaining my reasons.  Well... today is August 1st and we are not in Utah.  Jason couldn't come becasue he had school and some job interviews so I was just taking the kids alone.  Not a big deal - I have done it tons of times - true not 5 months pregnant - but I figured it would be fine.  Then, the day before we left I got sick, really really sick.  Jason got sick and many of our kids got kind of sick.  I didn't get out of bed for 2 days.  Almost a week later and I still can not stand up or sit up for more than an hour.  I knew I couldn't make the drive.  My family had scheduled to go to Falming Gorge while we were there - so it didn't make any sense to go late and on top of that my mom's kitchen is torn up (being remodleled) - so I think it worked out for the best that we didn't go.  Although my kids are very upset (especially Noah) - and I am pretty heart broken as well.

but... back to Fourth of July - since we were here we had to find some fun stuff to do.  As I mentioned earlier my kids were pretty upset we weren't in Utah - doing fireworks at Bills.  So I tried to find some replacement stuff.  Our city puts on the worlds lamest parade.  We went the other year we were here for the Fourth and learned never to go again.  They don't have one float, one marching band, one cheer leading or dancing team, no beauty queens - nothing.  All it is in different businesses in the city walk down the street holding a banner about their buisness or driving their car with a sign on their car.  The ONLY redeeming quality is that they pass out candy - but only to one side of the street (we were on the wrong side last year).  Well - the boys were not interested in going - and neigher were the girls (phew - got out of going) - until the night before at 9:00 pm their friend told them that there is a children's bike parade before and she would help them decorate their bikes - fantastic! (eye roll emoji) 

So I took the girls, we did the bike parade and watched the parade.

Although it was just as lame as always - I had fun with just the girls.  They don't remember Utah parades - so they thought it was a great parade.  I had a great morning with them.

There was one good "float".  This was the best of the parade AND it was our neighbors.  Our neighbor opened a tap house last year and they got the whole street to walk in the parade and help advertise it.  We respectfully declined - but it was fun to see all their friends in the parade and cheer them on.

Madison made a flag out of paper for her bike.

In the afternoon we went to a neighborhood BBQ.

And in the evening we went to our friends house (the Birches) for another BBQ and fireworks. 

I think we had a pretty great Fourth of July.

Summer baking

The girls have really gotten into all those baking shows on Netflix (cupcake wars, sugar rush, nailed it).  It inspires them to try to bake things by themselves.  It's pretty great.  

Sleep overs

My kids area always asking for sleepovers.  I still don't know how I feel about them.  I grew up having lots and lots and lots of sleepovers.  Sometimes in the summer I wouldn't sleep at my house for days in a row and during school it was almost every Friday.  I loved them - they are some of my most treasured memories and formed friendships that made me into who I am.  But... I also know how many BAD things happen at sleep overs.  I try to balance.  Who, where, when - sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes the answer is no.  I think the older they get the more and more the answer will be no.  Late nights are a good compromise. 

Well, one day I decided to make up for all the "no's" with a huge sleepover at our house.  The girls had 4 friends sleep over and the boys had 3 - that's 11 kids!  The girls spent almost the whole time in the (old) preschool playing with their American Girl dolls.  That is what they have done ALL summer.  And I mean all summer.  They will set up houses for them and play with them for like 10 hours every day.  It is intense.  The boys played a few board games and then x-box.