WOW Children's Museum--with friends!

Today we went to Lafayette to check out this children's museum that I'd long wanted to check out. We met some of our old Denver playgroup friends there, and it was such a hit. Everyone had a great time, and the mommas even had a chance to chat and catch up.

Hayden and Scout attempting to make the full-sized bubble

Ruby in the ticket booth

Semi-success!!!

Lachlan runs behind his mom's legs

A bit of dress up

Just a funny story about the dress up: At home, we mostly do "dress up" starting from nothing. Meaning, my kids strip off their regular clothes in order to don their dress-up duds. Today at the museum, Ruby stripped off her dress and bloomers and put on this wizard costume (backwards) before I even had a chance to realize what was going on. We quickly refitted our model for public and I explained that when dress up in public, we don't need to take our dress off first. There, done. I'm sure we'll never have another issue like that...

Ruby and Hayden in the pulley chairs (Hilary and I got a workout lifting these guys!)

Scout took a turn, too

They could make a house with kid-sized lincoln logs--can you see someone peeking through the window?

The line up of cutie patooties

I think we'll definitely be back at WOW (stands for World of Wonder) one of these days. Lafayette seems really cute, can't wait to explore a bit more next time.

This just in: Scout rides Scout

We had an adventure tonight. Tonight was the first night of Scout's pony riding lessons at The Farm. The Farm is a local rec center here in town, essentially a refurbished farm that the city operates as a petting zoo with lots of activities and classes for the kids.

Last summer, we took a Pee Wee Farmers class. On the last day of that class, Scout got a pony ride. You can guess what the favorite part of the week was for little Scout. This summer, we decided to try the pony riding class. The class meets for four consecutive evenings, an hour each time.

Upon meeting us, the instructor, Katie, told us straight off that they had a pony at The Farm named Scout. And I knew from last summer that they also have a pony named Ruby. I mentioned this fact to Katie, and the fact that I have another daughter named Ruby. We had a nice laugh about that. She offered a few other names in case we have an additional child: Freckles, Fritz, Brownie, Dottie, and more.

Before we begin, the cowgirl with the red hat

The ponies that we'll be riding, all lined up

Our instructor, Katie, pointing out the ponies and telling us their names

Two additional ponies that weren't in the line up: the "red-head" is named Ruby

Scout en route to the tack room

Scout and her pony Scout

Scout riding Scout

A victorious cowgirl after her first lesson!

I took her tonight, but I'm not too sure I'll do it again. As you dear (three) readers may know, I have a weird fear of horses that started when I was a college student travelling through Europe (I specifically remember the large horses in the streets of Vienna scaring the bejeesus out of me). I sucked it up today, but one thing was clear as our horse, Scout, scurried off to the side of the riding ring to eat creeping jennies and fight my lead: I'm no horse guide. Alas, Scout and Ruby don't know about my strange fear, so don't tell them. I'm sure they'll figure it out eventually! Odd fears aside, Scout (the girl, not the horse) seemed genuinely thrilled with the whole evening. She was already talking about which pony she'll pick tomorrow night!

Camping trip #2, by Scout and Ruby

We have quite the shutterbugs around here. Here is our second camping trip, taken this past weekend to Boyd Lake State Park. Way too hot, but other than that it was fun. Check out some photos that the girls took--you'll notice an additional family member.

Admittedly, I did take this one--the girls are in the car getting ready for a trip to the lake

The camper setup--we so desperately needed that awning (temps on Saturday got up to 99)

Okay, this was me--the girls played in a bucket in the mud (is this quintessential childhood or what?)

Ruby's photography includes a lot of chopped off heads

Scout, on the other hand, is better about keeping everyone's heads in the photo

Another one of Ruby's techniques is to hold the camera the wrong way and snap a flash in her own face (we have a lot of these)

The campsite would have been more scenic without the giant power line, dontcha think?

Our dessert fixins--s'mores! Mmm!

Ruby's flipflops, which she refused to wear despite the visible pain in her face when she stepped on the gravel

Beamer came with us, and we have lots of photographic proof of that, too

Scout's handiwork: Happy Camper!

Our neighborhood pool and more

Scout on the diving board

After hearing about how fantastic the neighborhood pool is from every neighbor for the past two years, we decided to join this year. And it has been so much fun. We're so glad that we did it--the kids are having a blast (and my tan line is nothing to be ashamed of either, thankyouverymuch).

The big diver getting out of the water (you can kinda see Cory and Ruby behind her)

Another approach of the diving board

Climbing the stairs to the water slide

 But, as is even making the national news, we have been having another fire around here. So sad, 40,000 acres or more by now, at least one person dead, over 100 buildings damaged. We took a ride Sunday night and took this photo.

At the corner of Timberline and Mulberry

Scout's birthday party!

Well, let me start off by saying that our camera battery died (at the most inopportune time), so we are missing a few photos of the actual cake and blowing out any candles, but there was a very fun and festive weekend around here because.... (Drumroll, please)

Scout is 5!

Grandma and Papa drove down from Sundance, and for the first time ever we had friends at our party. We had it at this great place called Pump it Up--a bounce house type of place. Uncle Jon, Aunt Lexie, Ella and Addy joined us at the party, as did our local folks Lacey and Travis, and everyone stayed all day with us at our house for a fun backyard BBQ.

The night before the big day--Aunt Lacey and Grandma

Ruby and Papa Alan

Travis and Lacey

Lacey and the girls playing in the hammock

Scout gets her big gift from Grandma and Papa

Ruby would like to check this out, too

Okay, try it out... just for a minute

Checking out her sparkly Toms from Aunt Lacey and Travis

And Grandma helps her with the zippers on her new awesome cowboy boots

Dad checks out Scout's new wheels

Papa helps her ride for a bit

Go, Scout, go!

Aunt Lacey and Ruby check out the back of Papa's new truck (it has a handle! and a step to get up!)

Lexie at Pump It Up--ready to par-tay!

Scouty and Charlotte

Ella and Cory, Ruby on the ground

Rubers

Scouty

Ella (in helmet) and Ruby

Ell and Scout (in helmet)

Fierce competition between Lacey and Travis

This is two little boys boxing... however, I include this photo because apparently there was a boxing match between Cory and Alan and I missed it! So, picture Cory and Alan in this photo...

Anja (our neighbor) and Maddy (our friend Katrina and Calvin's kiddo)

Ruby and Rebecca and the plasma cars

Rebecca coming down the slide

Aunt Lexie talking to Charlotte and Scout

Cory and Addy

Rebecca and Ruby

The party goers--Photo from Ginger

The birthday girl and her crown and sceptor (another photo from Ginger, thank goodness!)

Seeking refuge from the rain, all the adults on the front porch after our bbq

We had so much fun, it was such a great experience for all of us. But once again, whew... I'm pooped!