A trip to Colorado Springs

Rob had a business trip to Colorado Springs lined up and we figured it was a great opportunity for us to all go along to a place we all know and love.  It has taken me a while to get this post up though; Miss E and Mr. K got sick on our way home and then Mr. K got sick again this week!  YUCK!

We stayed at Fam Camp on the Air Force Academy which was so very conveiniant  since that was where Rob's convention was and it is close to everything we wanted to do.  I LOVED staying in the trailer.  Everything was so much easier with it.

The kids all loved getting to play in the woods as soon as they got dressed to right before bed time as long as we were at the site.  They worked on building a lean to, contraptions, checking out wild life and goodness knows what else.

 

*Miss C was the only one I managed to get a picture of before it was bath/shower time, but this gives you an idea of how filthy they got having fun in the woods!  I asked Miss J if she had been rolling around in the dirt and she said "No mommy, I was just having fun playing in the forest!"  Lots of dirt = lots of fun!

*I'm so glad the trailer has a bathtub.  While everyone else could use the campground facilities Miss C and Mr. K would really rather take baths.

 

The trailer was a great place for Mr. K to hang out while camping, and the little girls really enjoyed it when they needed a bit of down time.

We enjoyed a morning at "the garden of the gods" hiking and playing with some friends.

 

The next afternoon we had a wonderful time with the same friends learning at Rock Ledge Ranch.  The  animal skins and tipi were a hit with everyone at the Indian station.

At the Homestead Miss J connected the dots and realized that Laura Ingals/ Little house on the Prairie was real; that was one happy moment! (Yes, we've told her before.  Somethings just sink in differently).

 

We stopped in at a shop there and I let all of the kids get old fashioned sodas.  Miss C was especially thrilled to be allowed her very own bottle.

The black smith was  quite interesting and informative.  We spent quite a bit of time there, and then it was time to head home to camp!

 

We all enjoyed camp eating, and just hanging out at camp.  Some friends even joined us a couple of times.

*I miss this dear friend (Mrs.B) so much.  It was an incredible blessing to be able to spend some time with her and her family. 

The playgrounds (at the campground) were a big hit with most of the kids, though Mr. K usually fell asleep in the stroller on our way there.

*Yes, I put the sunshade down for him after I took the picture!

I took our princesses (and the rest of the clan) to visit a castle, but that is a whole other post.

We spent one evening visiting our old neighbors there.  It was a lovely visit and the kids had a great time playing "grandkids" to our friends.

*He is showing off one of the many rabbits he raises here.

We extended our stay by a day so that Rob could enjoy some time with the kids.  They talked him into taking them fishing, and they enjoyed having Mr. B join them!

Slow days, sick baby

We've been out of town this past week, and I'm excited to post about our trip, but those posts will have to wait.  Poor Mr. K is sick and in need of lots of cuddles.

While it is rough having him sick and I can't wait until he is feeling better, I am enjoying cuddling with him and just taking it easy as he recovers from this illness and the rest of us recover from the trip.

Locks of Love... Miss J

A couple of weeks ago Miss J started asking if she could get her hair cut.  This was a big deal since she has always been adamant that she NOT get her hair cut.  She started asking if she could cut it off and give it to a little girl that needs it.

Miss E has given to Locks of Love three times, the first two times I did it with her.  I didn't last time, and I'm glad I waited.  This time I got to do it with Miss J!

She did a great job during the hair cut and enjoyed chatting, though I could tell she was a bit nervous.  When asked if she liked it she answered "Well, its kinda short"  The good natured stylist asked if she wanted him to put it back on, but she decided against that.

 

Miss J likes her shorter "do"   since she no longer needs to have her hair done every day.  Just some quick brushes through and she is free to go play!

*Our children teach us so much.  Two of our girls now have selflessly given their hair out of a desire to give to others.  They think nothing of themselves in doing this.  They have have a great attitude of "its just hair, it will grow back"  It was quite a struggle for me to let that beautiful red hair be cut off, but that was purely vanity on my part.  Truly, I did not really want to cut my own hair, but my heart changed as I saw the love my girls had for others.  What great examples they are for me!

Camping, mom style (with a trailer)

We recently purchased a trailer.  It is a gift to our family from my dad.  A fun way for the kids to remember the fun they had with him in his trailer, and an investment in our family.  We enjoy camping, but don't go often since pregnant bellies, babies, and I don't mix well with tents, sleeping bags and cooking in the great outdoors.  This is a way to get us out more with some of the comforts of home (a bed and kitchen for mom).

We've tested it out twice.  Just here in town at a local RV park where we purchased the trailer.  The kids have really been enjoying the "sleep overs" and playing in the pool there.

 

We are looking forward to taking it out on a real trip, and are grateful for a couple of practice nights to help us figure out logistics and such.  It will be exciting to see where we end up taking this!

Uncle Eric books review and giveaway

Go check out my other blog for a giveaway I've got going for an Uncle Eric book. These books are so educational, and fun to read!

 

Can I drive?

"Um, Dad....Can I drive?"  came from a tiny sweet, and very serious, voice in the middle row of our van.

She has asked this several times, each time very seriously with a confidence that shows that she feels that she is ready, willing AND able.  It seems that Miss J is very eager to serve her family by driving us all around. I think the rest of us are glad that there are about twelve more years between her and the open road.

She sure keeps us smiling, but then so do all of our kids, in their own ways.

*The picture was taken when we were up in Portland visiting family.  It was my Dad's car, and we thought it would be fun to get a picture of Miss J in it.

June Cupcakes!

My kids were so excited about the Ladybug cupcakes I would be making this month.

Obviously these are not Ladybugs.  I had sort of forgotten about the cupcakes, but was reminded by the kids on Saturday morning.  I was in the middle of contemplating skipping them this month (I mean, its a LOT of sugar.  I don't think the moms at church are too thrilled with all of the sugar and junk going into their kids, I know I'm not) when Rob said "You've got to do it"  Well, I could not disappoint my husband (or the kids) so off I went to the store to pick up all I needed for those Ladybugs.  Michael's was out of the red candy melts I needed and I really was not it the mood to go around town looking for them so I went home, regrouped, found the simplest "new" cupcakes I could and went back out for my supplies.

These were lots of fun to make and they were the first that all of the kids could easily help with.  Kids helped cut the marshmallows, mix the sugar,  and place the petals and stamen.  These cupcakes have the potential to take quite a bit of time, but with a bunch of helpers they really are a breeze!