Summer Vacation...Adventure #3 Family Camping Trip!

Chandler, Abbey (in the back) and Amelia (with her back turned...argh!)
Evan, Abbey, Travis (Valentine), Lizzy Lou (on Travis' back) and Amelia
One section of our campground...but the most important, firepit!
Garden of the Gods-The Crew trying to keep cool. Evan, Brian Herbert (with Alyssa on his back), Chandler, Travis with Lizzy, Johanna (Brown), Sarah (Valentine) and little Avery (Herbert).

I can't believe our 3day/2 night trip is over! We spent weeks planning and getting ready...and now its over! It was so fun being with such good friends morning, noon and night. We were able to share camping duties, watch each other's kids, and sit around the campfire and talk. If that's what being a pioneer is like, maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all! This morning I missed being able to wake up and have one of my friends around to talk to. I also missed the laughing/crying/squeeling of the 17 kids in our group! As long as there are "restroom facilities" I think I could do this camping thing more often!

Friday we all met at the Valentine's house and set off on our adventure...all the way to SuperTarget where we had to pick up a few things on our list that were forgotten. Once we fulfilled our list, we grabbed lunch at Arby's and headed down South. It was a minivan parade (since the Reiwerts weren't with us yet...they have a beefy Ridgeline)! We went to Garden of the Gods first. In the middle of pine trees and mountains, stand these bright red rocks...it was like they were totally out of place! We walked a long path around the park and boy it was HOT! Several water bottles later, we packed up and went looking for Lone Duck Campground. Yes, they have a website if anyone is interested... :)

I think because of my help, it took Evan an extra long time to set up our two tents. He was scoffed by the other men in the group...but I'll take the blame! We let the kids have the big tent and I claimed the small 4 man one for me and Ev...I could control the dirt and gunk that would get into my space. I think that decision ended up saving my sanity on the trip...especially after the girls went splashing around the creek and fish pond. Their tent ended up smelling like a cross between fish and wet dog...sorry Chandler! (Chase is in Idaho, so he missed out!). And while camping, you MUST have dutch oven so THANK YOU to Travis, Brian, Damon, Eric and Evan who were our Man Slaves. They manned the grill, dutch ovens, the many trips to wash kids, bringing down water, gutting and cleaning the fish, they were Captains of Adventure with the kids, they carried at least one child during every hike, they rescued us from the Fat and Hungry Raccoon that found a feast at our site, they kept us warm by continually feeding the fire and they never said anything about our "camping hair." So thanks to the wonderful men in our life who make things so easy for us girls.

Saturday was GO GO GO from sun up to sun down. We visited the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs first. We got lucky because it was a party day! They had a car show, free BBQ, games and demonstrations for some of the sports (like Judo and Fencing). That was a real interesting visit. We ate our lunch at a park that the Valentine's spotted nearby. The kids played for a few hours and then we set out for Mt. Cutter. We became the most blessed people ever when the cold front moved in and the temps dropped to the 70's with cloud cover. YES! So, our two hour hike with 17 kids on a gravel trail at 45 degree incline turned out to be pretty fun! Of course I forgot our camera, but my good friends were kind enough to snap some pics for us. Those will be coming on our continuation of Adventure #3. We topped off our day by stopping at Pike's Peak Popcorn off of Hwy 24 in Manitou Springs. Cinnamon is my favorite! YUM! Dinner was, of course, hotdogs, banana boats and watermelon! Heaven! After getting the kids cleaned up and tucked in, we sat around the fire and talked. I couldn't make it past 9pm...so I bowed out early.

Sunday came too quickly. We all sat around the fire and tried to eat any of the leftovers that we didn't want to take with us. We were able to break down the tents, pack the cars, follow Scoutmaster Eric in his "Leave No Trace" treasure hunt (all those kids with candy as a reward cleaned up the site in about 10 min...excellent!), and get on the road by 10am. Lucky for us, church starts at 1pm. I am proud to report that EVERY family was seen at church! We are lucky to have such awesome people to call friends...until 2009!

Summer Vacation...Adventure #2

GO ROCKIES! Thank you Holland & Hart for the YUMMY burgers, brats and chicken along with PERFECT seats for the game! What a fun night! It's always exciting to see where H&H will send us for the Firm's summer party. I think that everyone loves baseball so we go every few years.
In preparation for today, we had the kids work most of the morning doing extra jobs around the house to earn "game" money. Chase was outside with Evan working on the yard, Chandler got the kitchen (ask him how much he loves that!) and the girls got "Mom" jobs like folding, dusting, vacuuming and cleaning bathrooms. In the end, the girls earned $6 each and the boys earned $10 each to spend at the game however they wanted...you can see from the pictures what they spent their money on! Of course they ran out of cash after the second treat...oh how they begged for more! We told them "When it's gone, it's gone!" so we were absolved from being the "bad guys" when we said NO. Ahhh...what a relief!

Summer Vacation....Adventure #1 (con't)

In order: Instructor, Amelia, Abbey, Chandler and Chase

Amelia's Little Buddy

(Con't) I forgot to add a few pics that my Dad sent over. I have to add a small story, though...

So, Amelia says that she has a "bump" on her head and she wants me to take a look. I ask her to bring me a brush so I can check it out...well, it wasn't a bump at all. Amelia had brought a friend from Utah...a male deer tick! Oh yes, it was stuck right to her head underneath all that blonde hair. I was able to pull it out and then we walked over to the small Pediatric office to have them identify it. They said no worries unless she spikes a fever and has a rash on her body...Lyme Disease. FUN FUN!

Summer Vacation....Adventure #1

Special D and the Pony

PINATA~~

Farmer Chase
You wanna 'nother Corndog? (BTW...they are BANNED in our home for a year...blah)
Chase and Amelia...Alpine Sliders
Mr. Channy No Feel Good, Abbey and Amelia on the chairlift
Beautiful Park City

5 tickets from Denver to SLC: $750

4 Night Stay in our Favorite Park City Condo (thanks Dad): FREE

15 Bags of ice for Andrew's Bday bash: $35

5 Days of Spoiling, Playing, Riding and Shopping: PRICELESS


Where do I begin? I am still in "chill" mode from our trip to UTAH. I will let Abbey and Chandler blog about their versions of the trip, but from my perspective, it was the best visit. Evan was working all weekend, so I was able to spend Father's Day with my Father! Two years in a row. After he cooked steak, mashed potatoes, rolls and a salad (see Texas friends, we haven't steered too far from our roots!), we were able to sit out front by the fire pit and just talk. Everyone was relaxed and we enjoyed some nice conversation. That is also priceless to me. Time alone with mom and dad...well, and the kids too. They were busy saving fish in the waterfall, though.

OUR TRIP BEGINS: We fly in early on Saturday morning just in time to help Ang get things ready for Farmer Andrew's 1st Bday Bash. You can see from the pictures that it was everything that kids love: Bouncy house, sprinklers, snow cones, hot dogs, pony ride, a balloon guy and no stressed out moms! The sun was warm and the kids were sticky...a perfect summer day! It was a great party, Ang. Thanks for the invite!

Once that fun was over, Mom and Dad checked us into their newest venture...a "right on the ski hill" condo. WOW! It was comfortable, cozy and custom fit for any vacationing family. My favorites were the multi jet shower (which I figured out WHILE my clothes were on...) and the big jacuzzi! I think the kids loved the PS3, huge TV's, and the flip down TV with DVD player on the bottom bunk. Wish I would have snapped pics of the girls covered in blankets watching "High School Musical" at midnight...ahhh....gotta love summer!

We were also welcomed by huge stacks 0f tickets to the Alpine Slide, Coaster, super trampoline and Mini Miners rides...THANKS DAD! Those tickets kept us busy on Day #3 (because Day #2 was Sunday) along with the pool. Ang came up and watched us ride...Mr. Bday Boy Andrew did not like anyone that day. It was fun to have alone time with my sister. Day #4 was for my other sister, Melissa, and her kids. I think my voice was hoarse by the end of the evening from talking for hours and hours. Day #5 was horseback riding, Alpine Slide, sleeping in and lunch OUT! I went out with my mom while PePa took the kids on their mountain adventure. It was great to have Mom/Daughter time. I have really missed being with my mom. She is a great friend. I love to talk "adult" with her. She indulges me by nodding her head and smiling. I always feel like I am someone special when I am with her.

It was sad to go. I think the kids believe that Mema and Pepa always live a party life! They were very somber as we boarded the plane headed home. The fun must end...until next time!

My Best Birthday EVER!

My friend, Amy (and Alyssa)...the newly appointed "Tami's BDay cake baker"
The "Inside Crew" Jon, Jen (Teagan, 2 weeks) and Johanna
The Cute Miller Family
My Sweet Headband...Thanks Miller's! Gotta love new running gear!
My handsome hubby

Yes, we were outnumbered by kids approx. 4:1

I've had some great birthdays in my life...but this one was the best. I don't know why, but I have been quick to recognize that I have some amazing gifts (people, experiences) in my life. It was difficult to not tear up tonight while the people that I love most (here in Colorado) were singing Happy Birthday to me. I could hardly look at them because I was afraid that I would turn into a blubbering Birthday Boob. I have the best friends in the world. Each one of them bring something wonderful into my life and I am so blessed to call them friends. BUT...I would have to say that my sweet husband wins my heart tonight. He really wore himself out with this little shin-dig. After we got home, he said that he was glad it was over...it was cute and honest. I can only imagine what being a husband is like...trying to please someone that constantly changes their mind and says two completely different things in the same sentence. I didn't realize the scope of his abilities when we first got married...so, THANKS SWEETIE for the best party ever. And thank you to the friends that made it happen!

I guess after all of that you'll want the story now....

Well, it was a SUPRISE PARTY! Evan told me that we were going out with the kids to Chili's for dessert. I've been planning on this since last week. So, we are at the table eating dinner when Chandler asks Evan, "Hey, Dad when are we going to Chili's?" and he winked. I started laughing because I knew that it was no innocent trip to Chili's. Evan played it off pretty good. I just kept that clue in the back of my mind. So, the girls and I went upstairs to change and get all prettied up when I heard Evan's cell phone ring. I took it to him and went back to the bathroom...but all I could hear him say was "uh-huh.....yeah.....uh-huh." Clue #2...he was confirming something and I was not to hear the plans. We are all dressed and get everyone shuttled out to the car. But instead of heading out to the exit of our subdivision, we are going toward our friend's, Travis and Sarah's house two blocks away. Evan was telling me that he HAD to drop off some cable to Travis....and it had to be right now, not after dessert at Chili's...Clue #3. But, the final straw was when I was waiting in the car and my sweet friend (and not a very good liar) Sarah came outside and wanted me to come in "just for a minute." It would have been perfect, but we just did this same scam on another friend last month...so it was then that I knew. I grabbed the camera and keys to the car and went inside...It was the best party ever!

PS. AMY HERBERT is my newly appointed German Chocolate Cake baker...her cake was HEAVEN!

PSS. Thanks SARAH for letting us turn your house into Party Central!

PSSS. Thanks KELLI for the pictures that captured all of the small moments of the night!

Happy Birthday Chandler!

Our little Chan Man is 11...WOW! We had his "party" on May 9 so we could invite some friends from school. But, Channy had an eventful birthday anyway! First, he was able to drive up to Cheyenne with Evan and Abbey to watch Uncle Spencer compete in a Triathalon. VERY COOL! Chandler was able to be the "equipment man." Then, since Abbey stayed in WY with (very pregnant) Aunt Leah, Evan and Chandler drove home together...some MAN bonding. Oh, but the fun doesn't end there! Channy then came home and mowed two lawns (for cash of course!). He wanted a chocolate cake, so Amelia and I spent most of our day in the kitchen baking Channy's special treat. So, family, enjoy the pics of our Manny Channy moving one step closer to teen-hood!