Frontier Days Parade and a few others

Here are the girls waiting anxiously for the parade to begin.

On Saturday the 23rd, Cory, myself, Scout, Ruby and Lacey headed on up to the wilds of Cheyenne, to view the Frontier Days parade and enjoy a day with Lexie, Jon, Ella and Addy.

Auntie Lacey and the girls

Perhaps there is a sighting in the distance. We were trying to watch out for clowns, given that there was some horror expressed at the parade last year by both Scout and Addy, but this year proved relatively calm when the clowns stopped by.

A little dancin' in the street

Afterwards, we enjoyed drinks and fine dining back at Lex and Jon's. Hula hooping was an added bonus.

Ruby watches in awe

Aunt Lexie, never one to brag, busted out some pretty impressive moves, so I will brag for her!

Ruby and Aunt Lexie at the parade

Prior to the clean up, the girls watched the street cleaners

  Last week Tuesday, we had a playdate with our friends Liam and Matthew. Kerri and I were able to find a spot about halfway between, in Northglenn. It was fun to see old friends.

The kiddos check out the spray park

Liam

Scout making her "stinker face"

Rubes, with Kerri and Matthew in the distance

Ruby watches Kerri help Matthew with his shoes

And today we went to the Farmer's Market, where Scout picked out some peaches, chocolate milk, and some carrots.

Scout, with farmer's market carrot

And a video to boot

An interview with Scout

I kind of cut myself off, but I started with: "We're here with Scout..."

And then we did an after-interview interview.

More of the same

Last weekend (June 16-17) we spent doing the same activities we did the weekend before: Taking in the City Park Pool and a picnic in RMNP.

Our summer has been flying by, and it's been good. Oh, so good. But sometimes you feel a little overwhelmed with this sense of urgency: Weather is good. Must. Get. Outside. Must do something. Many things!

It was nice to have a few weekends where we could make these spontaneous decisions to enjoy our family with some of the wonderful places we have access to here in Northern Colorado.

Cory paying admission to the pool

Scout and her beloved water wings (thanks Aunt Lexie!)

Ruby getting her swim on (You can see in the background some of the cool different attractions at the pool)

Scout in front of a sprinkler (If you look behind her--you can see a blue kids' slide. Scout did that one all by herself many times. So great to see how much she's enjoying the water this summer.)

On Saturday night, we did a pizza/movie night and had Aunt Lacey over

Maybe I'm the only one that finds this funny. Kids' toy in the foreground came from the Polly Pocket veterinarian set, a dog with a cone.

Ruby at our picnic spot

When Aunt Lacey comes over, Ruby really busts out the downward dogs

Watching dad put on his hiking boots

Running around in the picnic area

Fortunately, Cory noticed a bunch of poison ivy in our picnic spot, so we were able to avoid it. The girls had a lot of fun at the picnic--we grilled hot dogs this time. Towards the end of lunch, it started to rain, though, so we never did any real "hiking", we just played around the boulders in the picnic spot. The girls seemed to be delighted with this arrangement, and both fell asleep on the ride home. Ahhh.

Next weekend our plan is to head up to Frontier Days. Yeee-haw!

Assorted photos from Sundance, WY

Now that we have hit a lull in our summer (read: a much-needed lull), I have a minute to post about our different adventures.

From June 29 through July 4, we went to Sundance. First, it was just me and the girls--Margie was sweet enough to pick us up so that Cory could come up on the weekend and we wouldn't have two cars up there. Then Cory arrived at 9 am on Saturday. Yes, 9 am. Meaning he left the house around 4:30 am. Kinda crazy.

Our adventures took place mainly in the Harper family backyard, where the girls enjoyed the swing set. (Scout called it "the playground." When we would talk to Cory at night, she'd tell her dad we went to "the playground.") And we had so fun with the little pool, some bike riding (no, neither of my kids can ride yet, but Ella is getting good!), some afternoon quiet time for the big girls (and a few movies, like Gnomeo and Juliet!).

After Cory came up, we got a little more festive. And on Sunday night, there were fireworks. The only bummer is that little Ruby burned her hand on a sparkler. I actually have a photo of this, but I can't post it because it makes me so sad. I am so remorseful for letting her hold the sparkler in the first place that I can't publicly post a photo of my hideous behavior.

I add this photo not only because Ruby appears to be using 12-packs of soda as her own personal bench, but also because she is holding a water bottle. A "Belly Splasher" I believe. In any case, Margie bought all the girls these bottles at the Conoco in Lusk, and they were a complete hit.

Some dancing with flags. I was hit in the face numerous times by various children. I don't think the world is quite ready for Harper-family flag-bearing toddlers.

Climbing the apple tree

Wearing the ever-fashionable Uncle Sam hats

Alan and his "spread"

The girls decorated star-shaped cookies with white icing and strawberries and blueberries. So festive.

Festive AND delicious, actually.

Scout and sparklers. While I already mentioned Ruby's mishap, I cannot tell you how whimsical (read: haphazardly moving about) Scout was with her sparkler. I hereby decline any further involvement with fireworks of any kind.

Dad and Ruby, pre-incident

Loving the sparkler

Addy, in red white and blue dress

I'm not sure if this was an "opening ceremony" type of move. It's hard to say, those guys sure had a good time with the show.

Daddy and Ruby

And then we were home again before you knew it. We hope to make it back to WY later this summer.

Trip to Breckenridge: weekend of June 24/25/26

Bonus photo: Scout in the hat and apron she made at VBS

Another bonus photo: Scout struttin' her stuff at VBS. The theme of VBS was "Shake it Up Cafe" where kids carry out God's recipe. We had a lot of fun doing cooking/restaurant style activities.

At the end of a long, stressful week of teaching toddlers about God's love at Vacation Bible School (insert tongue in cheek), we headed quite literally for the hills. My mom had never been to Breckenridge, which made our time so much more fun.

We did some swimming, some eating, some drinking, some dress up. Everything you need to make for a fun family getaway.

Margie, Lexie, Ella and Addy met up with us on Saturday, and we enjoyed more of the same.

At play in the kiddie pool

On a walk, the kids stopped to check out a teepee made of leaning branches

All of us taking photos of the girls on their walk

A little swimmer

Ella continues to build the teepee

Addy climbs on the teepee

All of us enjoy a little dinner

The application of sunblock

Karen cleaning up the kitchen

A little goof bug

My little sweet Ruby

Cute cousins

A little shoulder shrugging

Some more mealtime enjoyment

The girls on their walk, where a dandelion picking fest ensued

On our travels home Sunday, we stopped at Cory's colleague's home, which was a lot of fun. That night my mom and I enjoyed our last gimlet together... until the next time, whenever that might be.