2014 Weeky Twenty-Two | May 26 - June 1

I took a jump from where I left off in the weekly summaries to jump to the most recent week, so that I can write it while it's fresh in my mind... granted tomorrow another week will wrap up, so this is barely the most recent week.

Monday, the 26th, was Memorial Day, so we spent the morning at the zoo.  It was packed, and it was actually Ian who spoke up and asked to leave with all the people there.  We did visit the jungle, aquarium, and kingdom of the night before we left. 

Checking out the penguin from the bubble window.

Looking at a specifies of tamarin in the jungle. 

A tortoise grabbing a morning snack.  This was one of the few times the hippos were actually doing something other than snuggled in a corner not moving.

Back at home after the zoo, I caught this sweet moment between father and daughter.  Then we got a call someone wanted to see our house that night (it's on the market), so we headed to the park. Ian snapped this picture of Annaliese. 

During the week, there wasn't much that happened.  The school year was over, but I still had to work Tuesday and Wednesday, so the kids went to day care all week while I finished up there and had the house to myself on Thursday and Friday.   Accomplished a lot of video game playing :)  Friday Darrin and I did get new phones. We were at Verizon for over two hours getting it all taken care of.  It's going to be hard to grab the big camera now with the quality of camera on my phone. 

Picture of Annaliese taking during the week. I'm always amazed she doesn't fall out of bed more often, because she sleeps RIGHT on the edge every night. 

With the upcoming move, Thursday was Ian's last night of jujitsu.  

Saturday we headed to the library for the summer reading kickoff, followed by playing at the spray ground. It was only fitting that we headed to DQ after that for a summer treat. 

Coloring pictures at the library kickoff

Running from the water.

Dilly bars we couldn't eat fast enough before they melted everywhere!

Showing off her mustache prize from the library event.

Showing off his mustache prize from the library kickoff.

Earning those minutes of reading for the summer library program. It's nice when he reads to her, because that time counts double :)

Sunday was another beautiful day, so we did what I love to do on Sundays in the summer, packed a picnic lunch and headed out. This day we opted to go to Platte River State Park.

One of our favorite parts of the park- the outdoor education center. Where you can shoot an bow an arrow for a  half hour for only $3. Annaliese did really well on her own, but only used 20 minutes of time...

so I took the last 10 minutes of her time. Took me back to my Girl Scout camp days.  Ian had a blast, too. 

Then we moved on to pellet gun shooting towards a paper target. The target is on an 8.5x10 piece of paper, which are definitely ending up in the scrapbook.

Trail walking. Annaliese had on sandals that were great for walking in the creek. Ian posing in the teepee near one of the trails.

He didn't have water shoes on, but it was shallow enough he could jump from rock to rock and check out the creek.

Labor Day Weekend

We enjoyed lots of family time last weekend.  We spent Sunday at the Children's Museum, grabbed some ice cream, and then joined Walter and his family for a movie night.

Annaliese rode in her new car seat for the first time. She's getting so big!

She loves to shop!

Checking out the beetles fighting at A Bug's World

We saw a science demonstration, and they ended it by making it snow indoors.

Yum, yum. From the left: Ian's strawberry kiwi frozen yogurt, Darrin's quit your job and eat chocolate, plus regular chocolate, my triple berry pie and red velvet, and Annaliese's cotton candy.

Watching Peter Pan. It was nice and dark by the end. Lots of fun listening to the kids giggle together.

 On Monday, the temps were beautiful, upper 70s and little humidity.  We headed out to explore a state park. We choose Platte River because it's one we haven't visited yet.

After a picnic lunch, we headed up the 85 foot tower to see the view.

The Platte River from the top of the tower. It is one of the widest I've ever crossed. It's also one of the shallowest. That's all sand.  I remember distinctly playing Oregon Trail back in elementary school and having to cross the Platte River. I don't think it would have been too hard. Where we actually crossed it, there were lots of people hanging out on the sand bars and playing in the river.

After the tower, we hiked the trails. They seemed to follow the creeks.  We actually got lost several times, as the trails aren't labeled, there are lots of side trails people have created, and the map doesn't have them all identified. Darrin pulled out the compass app on his phone at one point to make sure we were actually headed in the right direction.

The falls- what we were actually intending to find while walking. Just took the long way to get there.

My little explorer. He would have played in the water if we'd have let him.

Couldn't convince the kids to stand by him. Love him for posing for me, though.

By far, Ian's favorite part of the park was the outdoor education center.  He was able to do archery for a half hour, and it only cost us $3.  He did comment that he wished they had a quiver (he didn't use that exact term) to wear on his back, and then proceeded to demonstrate with sound effects how he would do it if he did.

Annaliese got in on the action, too, and shot about eight arrows. We intended to have them trade off and on each set of arrows, but she was done after her first cycle. She was so cute while doing it. Darrin would count, "One, two, three, go!" and she would shut her eyes when he said, "Go!" and let the arrow fly.

Ian wasn't sad she didn't want any more turns. He had so much fun!

And I had lots of fun playing with different photo angles and composition.

I think we'll for sure be going back again.  Ian wants to try some of the other things they have at the outdoor education center as well (I think we'll pass on the tomahawk throw).  They also have paddle boating, catch and release fishing for kids under 15, arts and crafts, and a pool.  Plus, teepees and cabins you can stay in (no camping, though).  The fun weekend made it very hard to go to work on Tuesday.

Picnic Perfect Weekend

The weather was lousy here on Saturday, rainy and cold all day.  Ian matched his temperament with the weather that day.  Luckily Sunday and Monday both dawned sunny in both weather (right around 70) and disposition and we were able to have picnics both days.

Sunday we went and explored Schramm State Park, just south of Gretna.  You can tell it's fallen on hard times thanks to the budget, but we still had a great time. We ate a picnic lunch and then began exploring. It is home to a hatchery and the kids had a blast feeding the fish and the ducks would eat the food right out of your hand (of course, we didn't bring money for the fish food, so we only had enough after feeding the fish for one bite from the ducks).





One of the lagoons had this gross covering over all of it, and as we approached, we thought we wouldn't see anything. Turns out it was my favorite lagoon. Frogs would pop up through the covering, then quickly go under just to pop up nearby a second later. And on the lily pads we spotted a turtle.





Our favorite part was walking the miles of trails. It was flat enough that even Annaliese could walk most of it herself (though Darrin did carry her in parts... she is a slow walker). While we were walking, Ian would run ahead, turn around, and hold out his arms for Annaliese. She would scream with pleasure, pick up the pace, and head into his arms for a hug. This continued over and over on the trip. Loved it!







And of course, Ian needed a turn with the camera, capturing this shot.




On Monday, we headed to a local town park for another picnic lunch and some playing on the park equipment.













It was such a relaxing weekend (if you look at my to-do list, you'd know it was. Only one thing was crossed off). It makes going back to work even harder. At least it's only a four-day week!

Sunday Picnic

When I think back on my childhood, one of the things I remember is going on a picnic with my family after church.  We'd head to Pike's Peak, Effigy Mounds, or Osborne, eat lunch and walk the trails.  Whether or not that really happened or is just a childhood memory I've fabricated in adulthood, I have no idea, but I'm sure my parents could set me straight.

I'm hoping it was something we did, because it's something I'd like to continue with my family.  Today after church we headed to my favorite picnic place, Chalco Hills.  We ate a picnic lunch of Subway for Darrin and me, peanut butter and honey for Ian, and cheese cubes and bread for Annaliese, with apples, yogurt, and chips for all who wanted.  After lunch we walked the trails, spotting a turtle, along with two deer, all of which made Ian's day.  We finished off the trip watching Ian play at the park. 

Ian put his own hat on- my little homeboy

Annaliese ended up eating everything on her plate.

Ian @ Chalco 5/08                                          Annaliese @ Chalco 6/11

I love those curls!

The start of our trail walking. Wasn't long and Ian wanted to turn back.

And if we had listened, he would have missed seeing this turtle, which we heard walking through the grass before we saw it.  When it breathed, it's mouth puffed up like a frog's. 

The first deer we saw. We stood looking at it for 3 minutes before it slowly moved on.

Annaliese and Ian on what we call the Troll Bridge.  Ian was fascinated by the water running under.

Deer number two. This one didn't like us hanging around and started grunting at us.  I now know what sound a deer makes.

Darrin and Annaliese watching the deer.

Ian enjoying the park.