Soccer Season is Over

And we are glad.

and now we have a KINDERGARTENER!

First Day of First Grade

Adventures in Camping

 With school starting tomorrow, this week has been our "cram in everything on our summer bucket list" week.  On our list for several years. . . taking the boys camping!!  Note to self:  camping is a 'together all the time' type activity, and not a great idea at the end of the summer when you're all sick of each other.  Anyway. . .

We arrived at Lake Aquhabi (a 10 minute drive from our house. . . we wanted to be able to bail if disaster ensued) and set up our tent.  A tent, keep in mind, that was very snug for 4 bodies.

Next up:  a walk around the lake.  The boys are always content throwing rocks in water; we should have just done this the whole time!

A first for Micah:

I thought it would be an awesome idea to go canoeing!  What could be more fun?

Apparently, there are quite a few things that could be more fun than canoeing when you're age 5 and 6.  Both boys got "tired" from sitting and watching Ked and I do all the paddling.  I guess they should make canoes with reclining middle seats.

 Nevertheless, we had a mostly relaxing ride around the lake.  In an unrelated (yet significant) note, I am excellent at steering a canoe.

And then. . .our night began.  I knew I was in trouble when I forgot my sleeping pills.  I knew we were in more trouble when we forgot to charge the air mattress pump before we left. But the panic set in when, after several hours of charging the pump in the campground bathroom, it still wouldn't work.  So, my friends, we had to sleep IN A TENT. ON THE HARD, HARD GROUND. WITH NOTHING TO CUSHION US. AT ALL.

Needless to say, I slept better than I thought I would.  But I was a little annoyed when I heard my husband outside the tent. . . I kept thinking, "Why is he making so much noise out there?  Doesn't he realize I'm trying to sleep?"  Well. . . in the morning I learned that a raccoon was trying (repeatedly) to get into our trash and my awesome husband was outside, chasing it away.  So thank you, brave warrior Kedron, for protecting your family from what was surely a rabid beast.

We all made it through the night.  The boys slept well, I slept better than I thought (did I mention on the hard ground?), and Kedron did OK after retreating to the minivan to sleep after his potentially deadly encounter with the raccoon.  Kedron took the boys fishing in the morning, before we headed home.

So. . . check camping off our summer bucket list.  Next year we'll plan this trip for earlier in the summer. . . or maybe for the summer after that :)

Random Summer Pics

We've been busy this summer; apparently too busy for me to blog! We've been busy. . .

. . . At the Balloon Classic

. . . At the Denver Zoo, in front of the elephant bridge,

. . . And in Wyoming!

Good thing school starts soon; maybe then things will slow down!