Hiking, Museums, Rock-n-Roll, and Renaissance

We have been blasting through summer, I tell ya. Blasting! One thing seems to lead to another. Weekends are simply two days set aside to plan totally fun things to do that we just can't enjoy any other time of year. Up and coming : camping with a 4 year old and 18 month old! We just don't know when to quit, people.

Here are some shots from a hiking trip I took the kids on. Tessa's favorite part of the hike was climbing where Jack couldn't and laughing down at him. Jack's favorite part was the dirt. But he did really great! He hiked all the way by himself on his own two little feet.

I recently drove the kids to meet friends at the Littleton Museum. It has a working farm and an old house and schoolhouse built in the late 1800's. The kids just loved hanging out together. Here are some highlights:

Jack immediately stuck his finger in with the turkeys and it got bit! He spent the rest of the time at a safe distance.

Lookin' at the sheep.

The girls: Tessa, Audra and Hannah.

Then along came a cat, and we gave up on the group photo.

We also met the same friends (plus their plus ones) at an outdoor concert featuring a Beatles cover band. It was hot, and lots of eating ice cream ensued. Sticky rules!

We like to call him Linus around here. 100 degrees, and he wants his blanket!

Jump for joy!!

Today we traveled to Larkspur for the Colorado Renaissance Festival! And money can't buy the wonder and excitement Tessa experienced when she first glimpsed the castle. She also saw the procession of the king and queen on their way...uh...somewhere. She got to have her hair done, and we bought her a sword and cape. She is currently outside fighting a dragon as I type. And she is a Musketeer. Who needs Disney World??

We just had to get princess hair.

Then we bought a sword and cape. Because, well, I'll get back to you on that one.

And we topped the day off by riding an elephant! I would have TOTALLY been the one up there, but I was wearing a maxi dress. Not elephant riding duds.

Jack thought the elephant riding was hilarious!

On the way out of the park, we stopped to get these shots. Anthony is having to hold each kid up to their "necks".

Tessa's princess is named Nancy Noeneck.

Jack's knight is named, Sir Hangsalot.

Longest post ever. ;)

The Day Of The Lord

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Expected, Typical, Everyday, Ordinary

Yes Summer has its conventions. Especially if you are in a young family. For what would these dog days be without a rambling shuffle along a path with the difficulty level of "piece-of-cake"?

Made exceedingly more fun by a shoulder ride, a stick, and a camera case.

Usually, "pooped-out" carries an entirely different significance at our house. (Jack says, "Hey! I heard that.")

And we could not consider ourselves connoisseurs of calidity if we didn't drop anchor at the fountains for a little welcome wet. If only so we could strike a pose in our new beachwear.

(However, food stuck on the face does slightly diminish one's authority as a cover girl, am I right?)

A little rehearsal in the privacy of the back yard can increase the odds of those little faux pas never happening again.

And since synchronized swimming is only a spec on the horizon for us presently, we will settle for synchronized sitting.

Hey guys! Look over here, Mommy wants to take your picture!

OK. Now everybody wave! Wave to mommy! C'mon Jack! Wave!!

Tessa: (in a ventriloquist voice) Jack, wave your hand like me.

OK. Let's try clapping. Everybody clap. Yeah!! Clap your hands, Jack!!

Oh. Jack was waving that time. Let's try clapping again. Everybody clap! Yeah!!

Maybe another time.

Lost doesn't even BEGIN to cover it.

So we stayed up late last night to watch the series finale of Lost. Late meaning, after 9:30. Que Lastima! (I don't know how to say "Coulda waited and got sleep instead" in Spanish). Actually, I was totally with it until the last 20 minutes or so. I dug the characters finding each other and "remembering" what they meant to each other. But the ending was a let-down. Because it was too confusing! Nothing got explained, no loose ends were tied up in a pretty bow. The explanation they gave didn't make any sense. We walked upstairs to bed shaking our heads and trying to offer up ideas about what it meant.

I thought this was funny. How they got the little figures to look like everyone when none of them has a nose is beyond me. And why does Hurley have a scale?

Bye-Bye School, Hello Summer!

Last Wednesday was the last day of "school" (said with tongue in cheek) for Tessa and Jack. To commemorate the day, I tried to take a picture of them together right before loading up in the van to go. Here's how THAT went:

OK! Let's try standing together! Tessa, put your arm around Jack.

OK. He kinda walked away on that one. Try holding him tight.

(Struggle, struggle, squeal, push) Tessa says, "Oh forget it!"

Oh well. This is the best we could do. Done and Done.

It was a fun day for the kids. They got to play water games that involved changing into swimsuits. And there was mention of shaving cream, but I never found out how that factored in exactly. On a personal side note, NEVER get shaving cream in your hair and then immediately jump into a swimming pool. What happens is some kind of insane chemical stripping that no conditioner can touch. Frizz central will ensue. Maybe for days. What? I had a bad camp experience...

So now, ALL of my scheduled activities that involved childcare are over for a few months. Bring on the cross-eyes and lip drumming! I'm ready!

Our summer plans are in their infancy right now. We 'rents are in negotiations about a family vacay. It's in the word flinging phase right now. From me: fun, tradition, meaningful, needed-for-sanity. From Anthony: budget. (And sometimes variations like "travel budget" and "money")

Until that treaty gets signed, we will be filling the standoff time with trips to the park, the library, the pool, the zoo and long nature hikes. I have a love/hate relationship with summer.

Little boys come in all shapes and sizes,

Shy and adventurous, full of surprises,

With misshapen halos and mischievous grins,

Small dirty faces, and sweet, sticky chins.

They'll keep you so busy, and yet all the while

Nothing can brighten the world like their smile.

And no greater treasure has brought homes more joy

Than a curious, active, and lovable boy!

Angels must dream of little ballerinas...don't you think?