Frontyard zoo

In an effort to beat the heat, James and I have started taking the dogs for a walk first thing in the morning.  I always enjoy walking with my kids, but today's walk was the best ever because we saw a deer.

He was standing in Ryan's friend Kira's front yard.  At first we weren't even sure that he was real because he was so still.

All doubts were erased, however, when he started trotting down Nome Street!

James and I hoofed it back to our house to get Ryan and the camera.  Fortunately,the deer was still there when we got back.  He posed for a few pictures...

and was on his way.  

I hope he makes it back safely to wherever he came from!

June 2011

Camping at Cherry Creek

Carol and I took the boys camping last week.

Maggie...

and Darcy came, too.

Seth didn't spend the night with us, but he did help set up the tents.  He also played a few rounds of horseshoes with the boys...

and helped build the fire.

As soon as the fire was really rolling...

he gave me a goodbye hug and made his escape.

That was fine--Carol and I had everything under control.  

The boys gathered wood,

threw horseshoes,

and played with the dogs.

James found a really cool "ghost leaf."

Dinner was hot dogs cooked over the fire.

Dessert was s'mores, of course!

The fire is the best part of camping, and we kept ours burning for hours.

One big happy family gathered around the fire.

Just don't let Carol catch you cooking the cherries over the fire--that makes her mad!

Things started to wind down as the sun set... 

but then Kristin joined us and the party started all over again!

Happy siblings.

Everyone woke up bright and early the next morning and shared a healthy breakfast composed mostly of roasted marshmallows and s'mores.

After that, Carol and I packed up the tents while Kristin and the boys put out the fire.  Our first camping trip of 2011 was a big success--can't wait to do it again!

June 2011

Happy Birthday!

June 2011

Summer solstice

Today is not just the first day of summer--it's also Darcy's first birthday!  To celebrate, she went for a walk around the lake with her best friend.

June 2011

Backyard zoo

Even though we live in the heart of suburbia, our backyard is teeming with critters.

Some are invited. 

Some are not. 

This one only visits occasionally.

This one was imported from the park.

No, not the kid--I'm talking about the caterpillar!

June 2011

Golf camp

Seth signed the kids up for golf camp.  

Ryan was not amused.

He said, "I don't want to go to golf camp."  Then he said, " I hate golf.  If you make me go to golf camp, I will make your life miserable."  For the next two days he grumbled and crabbed and did just that.

It didn't work.  We still made him go to golf camp.

And guess what?  He liked it.  He really liked it!  

Yesterday was the last day of golf camp and the campers got to play at round of golf at Center Hills Golf Course in Aurora.  Ryan and James were part of a foursome that also included Zach and R'ron.

Gary escorted them around the course...

and gave them some pointers.

It's going in! It's going in!

Darn!  Nevermind. 

Ryan can putt, too...

but he prefers driving!

An action shot--you can see the ball in the upper left hand corner. 

The Center Hills Golf Course is fairly rustic with some unusual hazards...

but it's the perfect place for young golfers to hone their skills.

Both boys are eager to return to golf camp next summer, and with form like this, that's probably a good thing!

June 2011

Today at the dog park

Today I took Nate, Delilah, James, Maggie, Ryan...

and Darcy to the leash free area section of Cherry Creek State Park.

It was a hot day, so we spent most of our time in the water.

There are...

a lot...

of different ways...

to enjoy...

a creek!

Uh oh, it looks like the boys have found something...

It's a crawdad!

Stop poking it, James!

In addition to all that water, this park also has some good climbing trees.

Darcy can climb, too!

And of course there are lots of dogs to play with.

Flying Darcy.

June 2011