Summer Stuff that Happened

 

This is the Kid You Want on Your Team

Carter had a great baseball season! He memorized his schedule and knew exactly which team he was playing when and where long before I ever did. He enjoyed playing all different field positions but especially first base and short stop.

He was proud that he didn't have to hit off the tee at all this year, and got pretty good at hitting home runs off his coaches. He spends time every day practicing his swing and playing baseball with his neighborhood friends.

He also started collecting baseball cards and stickers and has filled his mind with all sorts of baseball related facts and numbers. He loves the game and is pretty sure that the MLB is in his future...I guess we'll see!!

 

Real Stunts and Fake Injuries

While going about my daily business I caught a glimpse of Cali and Caleb through the open blinds. I could tell that one of them was daring the other one to jump... I'm not sure who was coercing who, but eventually they both jumped. Uninjured and both pretty proud of themselves, they did it several more times.

Later that same day we had to go to the physical therapists office to pick up Christian's smallest and final brace for his Achilles's tendon repair. Caleb insisted on wearing it for the rest of the day.

He is only pouting in this picture because I asked him to take his foot off the seat. He is in no way actually injured. 

Then, for the rest of the afternoon, he insisted on assuming the Achilles's tendon recovery position. Although I in no way condone faking and injury, I will say that I really accomplished a lot while Caleb was "injured". He laid around for hours, which in and of it's self is kind of a small miracle.

 

Devil's Tower

This was a great place to visit. We were missing Christian and Caleb on this hike (they were feeding squirrels by the car), but a really nice stranger offered to take our picture, and I'm glad she did!

A Decade of Faces

 This past week my oldest child, my only daughter, my little friend turned ten years old. I always thought that people who had kids in the "double digits" were "old", now... here we are.

When Cali was an infant I had a friend, whose kids were 6 and 4 at the time, tell me that the days go slow, but the years go fast. I think I am starting to understand what she was talking about. One day when Christian and I were reflecting on the fact that our little girl was ten, he made the observation that time is relative to our experience. Or, in other words, the more time you have behind you, the faster it moves forward

As a new mother I was guilty of wishing time away. When she was an infant I wished she was old enough to walk, as a toddler I wished she was old enough not to throw a fit. However, as time has gone by, both slowly and quickly, I have made a conscious effort to live in the moment and not wish them away.

This has not always been easy. I have often wished that experiences which tried my patience, resolve, and abilities would move on and away more quickly than others. However, for as much as she's changed in ten years, so have I.

The moment I looked into her eyes a decade ago, I knew we would be best friends forever. Since that time I have also learned that she was someone and something very extraordinary before she was mine. She came to me with her personality and sense of self strong and ready for this world.

It is truly my pleasure to be her mother.

 

South Dakota Adventures: Day Five July 14, 2013

After a fun-filled few days, we spend the last night of our journey in Casper. We got a good night's sleep and then woke up bright and early to finish the last few hours to our home.

Driving in the car was wearing most of us a little thin at this point, but we still had some licorice and a sweet brother to share with, so things started looking up for the final hours.

The tears soon turned into laughter and 100+ ways to use a neck pillow.

We stopped along the way at several historical landmarks where Cali, thanks to fourth grade state history, enlightened us about the facts. She was very interested in seeing some of the places they'd learned about. It was fun to see her make connections to places and historical stories.

 

 

 

We didn't get to stop at Martin's Cove on this trip, but plan to in the near future.

We had a really wonderful vacation full of fun and family and we're still talking about the great times!

South Dakota Adventures: Day Four June13, 2013

On our final day in the great state of South Dakota we took our journey back toward Wyoming. When planning this trip, we decided to come back a different way than we went, so we could see a few more sights on our way.

First, we went through Sturgis. Thankfully it wasn't during a motorcycle rally. Without the motorcycles it was a really quiet town and very beautiful scenery.

On one of our tourist guide maps my dad found Bear Butte State Park, it was only about 10 miles off our planned route, so we HAD to stop by. We didn't actually explore the park, we just posed for some photos. This one specifically made my dad's trip.
 

 

 

Three happy kids in the car for many miles! They did pretty well, there were a few fights, but nothing serious. Caleb did figure out that if he flung his fists to the side at the same time he could punch Carter and Cali in the face at the same time.

We stopped at Deadwood to look around the town and get some lunch.

 

 

This  was one of our favorite photos of the whole trip!

 

 

 

We strolled the wild west while looking for things with binoculars.

And bought useless stuff and kitchy stores.

We took breaks from walking by sitting in front of random stores.

And watched the shooting of Wild Bill Hickock in a saloon.

Only a few hours from Deadwood is the famous Devil's Tower, WY.

 

 

We checked out the visitor center, and then went on a mile and a half hike around the base of the tower. By this time Caleb and Christian were both done with hiking, so they stayed near the car and fed small squirrels pieces of bread.

Carter and Cali read about facts and filled out worksheets in a field guide to become junior rangers.

 

South Dakota Adventures: Day Three June 12, 2013

 

We started off day three with a visit to Reptile Gardens. Carter had been doing some research online about reptiles and was beyond excited to see them up close. Cali and Carter both though the prairie dog hole was pretty cool. They were looking prairie dogs right in the eye.

 

Caleb loved the snake show, and was first in line to touch this giant snake.

 

From the snake show we walked right over to the alligator and crocodile show. Everyone was impressed with the handler's alligator taming skills.

 

 

At the end of the show, Carter and Caleb waited patiently in line to pet the baby alligator. Caleb wanted the handler to "take the tape off his mouf". 

 

Unfortunately there is a no riding the turtle policy, but that didn't stop Caleb from trying. He had to settle for petting it's head instead.

 

It was such lovely weather and such a beautiful place. I was hoping for a cute picture on this picturesque bridge, but this was the best we could do!

 

For lunch we headed back to Keystone and ate at a cute little pizza place. Caleb really wanted to put his head in "Mountain Rushmore", but he was a little too short.

 

 

The great thing about the Rapid City area is that there are so many attractions within short driving distances. So, after lunch, we took a short drive to the Cosmos. My mom remembered visiting this place as a young girl. When she first told me about it, I thought she was crazy, so we had to try it. Caleb and Christian stayed in the car for a little nap, while the rest of us hiked up a mountain to a little cabin.

 

Not sure what's wrong with the gravitation pull of the earth here, but it was pretty freaky!

 

 

 

 

 

I had to admit that my mom wasn't crazy and that she has a pretty remarkable memory. Someday my kids will tell their kids about it.

 

From the crazy-dizzy Cosmos we drove over to Bear Country USA. It was pretty amazing to see wild animals so close up.

 

 

 

 

 

We tried for another family picture, and got a pretty good one which included our pet bear!