Friday, July 18, 2008

We're Crafty

I know during the summer people take their kids here, there and everywhere. I'm not one of those people. We do go to the park quite often, and we do have some fun outings...but I'm not one to do it every day. With four kids and the youngest being rather young and another being "busy" it gets overwhelming. We usually wait until Dad is available to do our outings.
They do love crafts though. Yesterday we painted a lot and they loved that. We play with a lot of model magic clay (a great product--a cross between clay and play-dough--and non-messy and fun!). Today then, I thought I'd take them to Michael's and let them each choose a craft. We needed some new stuff and I thought this would be a fun summer activity, and give my kids some new projects to work on.

Isabel choose paint by number. She's always loved painting and I let her get two different kits since they are so inexpensive. It will take some patience to accomplish but I think she'll be pleased with the outcome when she gets there.

Rory choose Paint & Swirl. We actually already had the machine that spins your paper around and round, but we got refill paints and paper. He loves seeing it swirl and squirting the paint onto the paper.
Bryce choose a Tie-Die shirt kit. We bought t-shirts for the whole family (he'll do his first). He's really excited and we'll let you know how it turns out. There is some set-up time so we can't get straight to it, but it will be neat once it's done! This is perfect too as their elementary school's colors are "tie-die" --so he can wear it to school for school spirit! He also wants to make shirts for friends when it is their birthday (so invite him to your party and you just may get something tie-die)!

On a hot summer day, being crafty isn't a bad alternative!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Treasure Hunting

So many people haven't heard of it....it isn't actually called "treasure hunting" it's called "geo-caching" and it's so much fun! This is our favorite family pastime in the summer and "good-outdoor-weather" activity. Our friends that moved away, Alissa & Mike, introduced Jim to it while they were still here. Since then, we've enjoyed the sport as a family, and often on date-nights, Jim and I will geo-cache. Sometimes, Jim will even take the kids and go hunt for treasure! After all, it's free (as soon as you have a GPS).


So, what is Geo-Caching? Go to http://www.geocaching.com/ and learn more about it. There are caches that people hide (we've hidden a few ourselves)...in open spaces...like in parks, along pathways, hidden from plain view. There are different levels of difficulty and different sizes of caches. It could be a Rubbermaid container sitting nestled under a tree--covered by leaves and branches, wrapped in camouflage tape. It could be a 35mm film canister hanging from a tree branch. I've even seen a magnetic bullet that unscrews to keep the log in--attached under a park bench. This is a sport and you can begin with the easy and big caches and work your way to more difficult caches. There are riddles and clues for some caches and it can be a lot of fun and challenging, or really easy and simple. You choose.

For each cache, you locate one near you (search by zip code or through Google Maps) and then you find the corresponding GPS location coordinates. Then you go and find it! Each cache has a log that you sign once you've found it--and then you go back to the web-site and log your visit. Our kids enjoy the caches where you can exchange a little toy of some sort. They bring a toy (usually an old McDonald's trinket that is small) leave their toy, and take one that is in the cache. Not all caches have these, but usually the caches that are large enough, do have trinkets for exchange. This is how it got nick-named "treasure hunting" by my kiddos. They get new little "treasures" that they had to hunt for and find!

It may sound complicated, but it really isn't. Once you have a GPS...go to GeoCaching.com and read more about it. There are some really basic and inexpensive GPS units, and then if you find you like the sport...you can get more fancy. It's a fun sport and rather popular and growing in popularity all the time. There are TONS of caches all around you. Why haven't you heard of this before? Well, there's kind of a "cloak-and-dagger-ness" to the sport...don't let "muggles" figure out what you're doing. Just kind of fun and quiet--but a great FUN activity while you're enjoying your outdoor activities--and the kids enjoy it too!

Monday, June 30, 2008

Golden, CO


What a fun Saturday we had. We went up and visited a friend, Patty, that lives in Golden--Jim's known her most of his life--a close family friend. She took us to lunch at the Golden Hotel which is right along the Clear Creek. It was really beautiful as we lunched on the patio that overlooked the water. There were kayakers and it was just a lovely day--we couldn't ask for nicer weather.

We took a walk up the river--they have several "nature-y" sculptures along they way. The kids loved those! They had a mock pioneer town, with real chickens and people dressed as pioneers. Then we ended up going down by this great slide that has a mouth of a fish at the opening on the bottom. This was Kyle's favorite thing to do. He would go down, and just keep running up the stairs as fast as his little legs would take him.

At this same area, there was a concrete "jet-out" that went into the river. I was kind of scared, as the waters were rather fast and I could just imagine it sweeping a kid away...so we were super safe. It was COLD water! But, after a while, it was rather refreshing to stand in--kind of a neat thing, that you would think --in our sue-happy world-- wouldn't be so much allowed anymore, but it's cool that it's still there and able to be enjoyed.

My kids love rocks. They love to smash them, play on them, collect them...I find Isabel's backpack full of some "cool" rock she found at school or on the way home, or a cool rock that her science teacher gave her, or her bus driver...so I guess people know that she likes rocks! This has passed on to her brothers and they will go outside and play with rocks for hours. So, when they saw these big rocks to climb on, they were loving life!

I was impressed with Golden and want to go back and spend more time there. Maybe even try kayaking! They make it look so easy. =) It was really a beautiful place--it gets me wondering where else in Colorado we need to explore. Any ideas people???

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Heebie-Jeebies, Arg!!@#!@

I caught a vole. eeeehhhh. (I can't write the noise I'm making right now). The thing is, we noticed a small part of our yard had been "voled" but it wasn't bad at all and didn't stay, and you can't even see the remnants of it in our yard any more (lucky us). But this morning, I was up early to go water my garden, and at the bottom of my cement stairs, just out my door, was this little guy just looking up at me. When he saw that I saw him, he ran into our rain gutter (currently laying on the ground) and then jetted from there to under our stair steps...under the cement. Ok...look up on the internet..."how to get rid of voles." Have a few ideas, but really, that's the hubby's job (thank goodness for men).

Well, my kiddos were playing in the backyard, and Isabel says "MOM--there's a rat in our rain gutter." Evidently the little vole-guy likes to hang out in it. I said "Step away and be calm." I got a plate, put it on the opposite side of the gutter, and picked the gutter up...trapping the little scurrying thing. And it was scurrying, and my insides were quaking. I'm not good with things like this. I'll kill a little spider with a shoe, but anything bigger FORGETABOUTIT!! So, there I stood with a plate and a rain gutter and our furry friend inside. Thank goodness there was no way he was getting enough traction to climb up my vertical trap. "What next?" I'm thinking. "Jim will just have to come home from work! Plain and simple." No, we have a neighbor that can handle this and he's often home in the day-time. "Isabel--go get Todd next door." Phew--he was home and Todd was my hero today! He took the plate and the rain gutter and walked off cool as can be... This is why I'm so glad for MEN... (one of the many reasons)...but PHEW!!!

Yes, my skin is still crawling and I can barely hit the letters on the keyboard correctly. Ick! Now...if our little (hopefully dead) furry friend he has friends.....
Rory just said "That's cute...can we someday buy one" UM NO!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Last Day of 2nd Grade

I can't believe Isabel is done with 2nd Grade! It's gone so quickly. I know...such a cliche as parents say that all the time...but really, it did go quick!

I wasn't really ready for her to be in 2nd grade, and now she's done with it. In fact, I went to the time for the 1st grade orientation...thinking "She's in 1st Grade"--oops. Maybe this next year, I'll show up for the 2nd grade orientation?? No, I'll actually try to remember 3rd grade, 3rd grade, 3rd grade. (I have to say it over and over in my head to drill it in)


It's been a great year, and Isabel has LOVED being in Ms. Luebbert's class...she's done fabulously. Congratulations Isabel!

It's beach party day (hence the fun hair and lei)

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

It's In! Better Late than Never!

We got our garden in! It was just about a week ago that I decided I wanted a garden. I've been thinking about it for a few years, but every time I decide I'd like to have a garden, it's too late...it's summer and the seeds should have been sewn. Well, I decided --I DON'T CARE-- that it's late in the season to get started...if we build it, at least we'll have it for the next several years.

With that attitude, I planted several veggies and even did an herb garden in an adjacent planter. I figure --whatever grows--great! If not, o.k. too. I've never done a garden, so this is a trial year, and I figure by the time I'm in my 40's (sooner if I'm lucky) I may have a successful garden.

My mother and sister really inspired me...they have great gardens and I've always been very impressed. I may just have a nice one someday too! A BIG THANKS to Jim, my hero that can do ANYTHING. He really worked hard to get this done for our family and I so love him and his being able to do any project. He could build a house on his own (given the time and $$). He amazes me and I just can't thank him enough!
I'll update you on the success.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

What I Just Read


Specials by Scott Westerfeld

My'>http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18640834?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">

My

review: 4 out of 5 stars
I VERY much enjoyed this series...much more than I thought I would. This book had a good conclusion...although left me a little melancholy--wanting more and to tweek the conclusion for my own romantic purposes. I've never been "into" sci-fi or fantasy, but this may change my mind. The series was adventuresome and I couldn't stop reading. Good fun!

View'>http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/909838?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.