Durango in August

The view from our bedroom balcony

Joe, Jeff, Dan and their dad decided it would be fun to get one more summer fun weekend in Durango... so, they arranged to meet up there on Thursday night. Too bad that everyone was flying in from different places (including Joe who was on a work trip) so that left me to drive the trailer with the toys ALL BY MYSELF! Joe had spent a good portion of last weekend teaching me how to drive it and pull it out of the storage unit and he was really sweet about getting me comfortable while pulling the HUGE trailer with our little Pathfinder.

Thursday morning, we said goodbye to Grandpoo (who was in town for 24 hrs for business and we loved seeing him!!!) and right after Aaron's lacrosse camp, we loaded up the trailer and headed down towards the activities for the weekend. I must say that I was pretty anxious driving that thing with its BAD brakes through the rain and the mountains... and the WIND! However, we made our way slowly but surely. Despite how I felt, my hands did not have to be surgically removed from gripping the steering wheel and my shoulders were able to relax only a few minutes after our arrival.

Everyone converged that night, and Friday morning (bright and early) the fun began. The brothers, Dad, and Aaron went golfing at Glacier Club, while I went jogging in the beautiful mountains. The boys came home after 9 holes and then went out riding. I made Nate go with them. Meanwhile, Michelle and I took Sydney and Charity to the store. By the time we got back, Jeff, Joe, Nate and Aaron were pulling in from their ride - cut short by hail and rain and cold (Grandpa, Trish, and Dan braved the weather and continued riding). We put the shivering boys in the hot tub and moved on to playing games and dinner.

Saturday, I had to take my car in to fix the brakes. Joe and I took it into town and on our way home, on the radio, I heard info about the county fair and the demolition derby going on in town! So, when the big boys headed out to their morning 4-wheeling excursion, I took the kids and Michelle joined me with Syd at the fair. Honestly, I have never been to a demolition derby and I must say it was one of the most interesting and entertaining events I have been to for a long time! I laughed so hard! I couldn't fathom why someone would invest time, money and their body in an event like that. It was amazing how these cars would still propel themselves after smashing up their engines and losing tires and getting stuck in the mud!

After the derby, we took the kids to see the 4-h animals and eat carnival food and then Michelle took Sydney to the store and I took my kids on the carnival rides. They all wanted to go on the crazy upside down ride. Even though Nate was tall enough, the guy was hesitant to let him on at first, so I sent Charity and Aaron to check it out while I took Nate to the "fun house". It was NOT cool enough, so after some begging, I got the carny to let Nate go with Aaron and Charity on the ride. Charity and Nate came off elated and LOVED the crazy ride, but after 2 times in a row on that thing, Aaron came off a bit green. He was miserable! So, we headed home and on the way had to pull over a few times to give him a break and a chance to retch outside the car. We came home and I finished a few books while waiting for the boys to finish their activities. Then Joe, Jeff, Michelle, Dan and I went to Purgatory to play Frisbee golf and eat dinner as adults while grandma and grandpa stayed with the kids.

stopped at the spring while waiting for Aaron to finish dry heaving on the side of the road...

Sunday was more of the same - the boys golfed, went on a ride, played games, I jogged in the rain and read my books. That night, Joe and I took the Jeep and grandma and grandpa took the Raptor searching for a trail we heard that would take us to a waterfall. We had a blast exploring - the road we took was AWESOME! Then, we hiked a couple miles but never found the waterfall. It didn't really matter though because it was a beautiful evening hike!

Monday, we woke up and the boys went golfing again, while the women stayed behind cleaning and packing. Then, when they got home, we had time to squeeze in a family ride on lime creek trail. Charity rode with Jeff and Michelle in the Raptor, Joe and I took 4 wheelers, and Dan took Aaron on the side by side. Nate started out on a 4 wheeler but lost interest and wanted to be with the kids in the truck. We hung out for a bit at the "lake" and then finished out the ride in the pelting and freezing rain. After that, everyone loaded up and headed home. It was a fun weekend! Durango is absolutely beautiful! The cabin is amazing! I feel so lucky that I actually enjoy my in-laws! I can't wait to go again!

 

joe always finds the mud.

Please put a stop sign HERE!

Please put a stop sign so cars coming down the hill near this park will stop. The rock wall is high, and creates a blind corner. I have seen several kids nearly hit by cars at this location. Even when a parent is standing vigilantly trying to get bike riders/ball chasers/small children from running past the stairs/rock wall into the street, someone always manages to run into the street. Bikers will often dart into the intersection speeding down the little hill riding either in circles around the park sidewalk, or across driftwood view and into the culdesac.
I am placing the pictures I took here so they can come with a description. You can also download them by clicking on them and saving them (if you need to).

 You can hardly see the mom's head. She is watching her children, but there is no possible way for a car to see her, or any other children standing near her ready to ride down the hill.

 Nearly at the corner, you can see the children running down the stairs, but you can still hardly see the top of the van, not to mention you can't see if other children are around, and you can barely see the top of the mom's head.

 from above, can you see anyone behind the rock wall?

 here is a 21" bike, in the road. it is well shorter than the rock wall. from this vantage point, i can see the road above, but the rider would NOT, nor would a driver coming DOWN the hill.

 placement of the bike

 cant see the bike - even though it is in the middle of the road.

 notice you can see the corner of the rocks, and the road is completely out of view until the OTHER side of the park. Cars often speed down this hill because there are no houses until AFTER the park. Kids, like to ride their bikes in a circle around the park sidewalk - often when they are turning at the bottom of the rock wall, they make their left turn WIDE, and end up in the street. Sometimes, they even continue down the hill into the culdesac on the opposite side of the road from the park.

barely at this point can you START to see the bike in the middle of the road, and that is only IF you are turning your head and NOT looking at the road in front of you while coming down the hill.

videos of charity

hey mom, you wanted videos of charity?

here is her and me playing our duet!!! ;)



here is her bar routine (she got 4th place)



and her beam routine... if you can handle me yelling at nate cause he keeps pulling my arm down and tugging on the camera...



love ya!

Friday Cleaning!

Well, toady was Friday CLEANING day!
I just have to say how amazed I am at my children. The entire day was AWESOME!
We had to wake up early to finish Aaron's school project, and were consequently rushed/almost late to school, so I thought the whole day would be as frantic.

It wasn't

I got a great deal done while the kids were at school - bathrooms, laundry, dusting, sheets, my bedroom and closet...
then I took a break to go to feed Nate lunch and do a reading lesson with him and go to a PTA meeting.

Then, the kids came home.
That is when the magic happened.

Charity was upset because she didn't get a stuffed animal (Aaron got one because he sold 2 entertainment books for the school). I was in the kitchen cleaning, and all of a sudden, I heard Aaron say "Hey, why dont you just have the frog - I don't really need it and I see you want it".

I hadn't even said a word to him. I was just about to go ask Charity why she was crying... then I heard him say that...

SERIOUSLY?

That started it all. The kids were so cheerful doing their chores. I didn't raise my voice and was so pleased with how awesome they did! Charity cleaned out under her bed and the boys didn't complain about cleaning their room. We finished all our chores and it was only 4:15!
Just wanted to say how happy I am to have the most wonderful children in the world. I am so glad they are such awesome helpers and so sweet to eachother!

Texas!!!

We left Monday from our "camping" trip in Beaver. Joe drove Mom Robinson up to her parent's house in Salt Lake. I cleaned out the car (it REALLY needed it after all that dust!) and packed for our trip to TEXAS!! Charity really enjoyed the visit with Joe's Grandma and Grandpa Harris.

I had everything ready to go so the kids and I left the following morning when we woke up! I had absolutely no expectations of how far I could drive that day, but I just decided to get as far as I could until I was tired. The kids were AWESOME! They took turns choosing movies, and then when I got bored or tired, we sang (loudly) to all our favorite songs. I decided to stop at 9pm, but I felt like I could have driven forever! The next morning, we had a quick 7 hour drive to KELLER!

Driving past Texas Motor Speedway Aaron said "Mom, this just FEELS like home!". Ya son, I know.
We were so excited to make it to my mom's house! Dawn's kids were there for the summer while she was doing an internship in IRELAND... so we were so excited to hang with the Howey kids!

Time sure flew while we were there! We went to the bounce house one day... Seriously, we stayed for 4 hours. Hey, it kept the kids entertained! Yay for cousins!

We also enjoyed doing a MILLION crafts, going to movies, McDonald's and SWIMMING... I also enjoyed spending time at CarieAnn's Pool! So glad she has one in her backyard (I know she has been waiting patiently for that).

It was great getting to hang out with cousins! Aaron went to the TCU baseball camp while we were there. I think he had a good time. It is such a great camp! He kindof missed out on some cousin time, but I think it all worked out.
The 10 days I spent there went by way too fast! It was great for the kids to all be together! So glad we were able to have the Driscolls, Howeys, Robinsons and Liddles in the same place at the same time! Sorry Steph, Kennedy is too little to enjoy it - maybe next year?

We also had a little birthday party for Brae. Those boys are so stinkin cute!

It was also great to see my friends! I saw Nancy Jetton in Frisco. Then, we had a girls ice cream night with Jen Sorenson (long lost friend), Valerie Nankervis, Ruth Brann and Carieann. Play days with Courtney Flynn and Cheryl King. Then, another girl night with Becky, Maleah, Amy (Maleah's S-I-L), Cherry, and Carieann.
I wish I could have spent more time with all of them. I wish I could have seen the ones I missed!

4th of July!

This year, we decided to join up with the Atkins for a camping/4wheeling trip! Big change from the rest of the weekends this summer I know! ;)
This trip was spectacular! Perry's family camps every year in the mountains above Beaver (where he is from). We joined up with their little reunion and camped with them on Big Flat - which is simply breathtaking! Beautiful grassy meadows tucked away in the mountains - up about 10000 feet. There are lots of ATV trails to enjoy too! The camping is so neat there because there are so many trees and different areas to camp that it is quite secluded and peaceful.

This is what it looked like. AMAZING!!!

When I say camping, I mean, all the Atkins brought RVs and we stayed in a suite in a hotel there in Beaver (30 minute ride down the mountain) every night. After 4wheeling every day, it was just too tempting and comforting to have a shower and a bed to sleep in every night. It was also very nice because Joe's mom came! I hope she had fun. She just hung out with Perry's parents while we went on our rides. I don't think she minded though because we always came back so dirty!

We enjoyed all the fun of camping though - fabulous camping meals - foil dinners, cobbler, marshmallows and hot dogs cooked over the fire. We enjoyed lots of sitting around and finding wood. We also enjoyed long walks to the bathroom ;)

It was great to spend time with Joe's mom and also the Atkins! It was great to get to know more of his family! Yay for another weekend enjoying the mountains!

Aaron was promoted/demoted to driving my ride because we returned his crappy one. A promotion because it is a huge machine and he gets to drive it. A demotion because he has to chauffer me around as I do not yet trust him to NOT go too fast and fall down ravines (because he actually almost kills me at least once every ride).

Joe and his mom!

Maleah loves to pose for pictures. So does Hoyt. Although, he is the cutest little thing you have ever seen!!!

BOYS!

Big John's Flat - we couldn't go any further due to "spring" runoff...

Nate decided to try to pierce his ear on a log. He thought he could balance and/or do log rolling like a lumber jack... I don't think he accomplished what he wanted. For DAYS this ear was black and blue and swollen - goose egg even behind the ear too... should I have taken him in for a CT scan?

The Atkins and the fire - yes, it was cold and we all very much appreciated our jackets and the fire.

A lake up there... think it was cold?

Do you see Joe? Some of the trails were pretty intense. So intense that I kicked Aaron to the back seat to drive myself. Thought I was going to fall off a cliff...

Our Family picture... We were all smiling I promise! ;)

Surprise! Nate fell asleep!

This was our camping spot. How beautiful was this?

The Atkins... and Joe waiting patiently for breakfast. Maleah, check out your legs. Seriously.