colorado vacation day 2

By now this is very old news. I misplaced my USB cord for my camera, but found it this morning (in my camera case…oops!) So I’m just now getting around to looking at the rest of my vacation pictures. Pitiful!

On the 2nd day of our vacation, we went to Garden of the Gods and Cliff Dwellings at Manitou Springs.

These are the remains of Cliff Dwellings built by the Anasazi Indians.

  

This is an actual doorway. No way I was squeezing in there. These people lived in a “house” that was the size of a very small bedroom.

This was a second story balcony. It had 3 more “houses” in the second story. Notice the tiny door by Delaney. I skipped that part of the tour!

Later that day we met up with my parents (who had Allison in tow, feeling slightly better) and Scott and Erika. We went bowling with Scott and Erika and if you’re on Facebook you were lucky enough to see pictures of that. Ha! Sorry, but they aren’t blog worthy.

such a slacker

We’ve been home from our vacation to Colorado for a week and a half and I’m just now getting around to posting about it. I guess I needed an extra long post-vacation recovery. Traveling with 2 teenage girls will do that to you!

The morning we were set to go, Allison got sick. We decided to leave her at home under my mom’s care and then my parents brought her to Colorado with them a couple of days later.

Growing up, we spent many vacations in Colorado. My family has LOTS of funny vacation stories. “Chevy Chase” kind of funny. Well, one of those stories involved mini golf in Colorado Springs. I’ll probably mess up some of the details, but here goes…

My dad and brothers were playing miniature golf in Colorado Springs. Scott hit the ball too hard and it went onto the interstate. My dad had to go ask for a new ball for him. Next thing you know, he hits a ball into a water feature. Rather than going back and asking for yet another ball, my dad decided to go in and retrieve it himself. He rolled up one pant leg (apparently my mom always made everyone dress for winter when we went to Colorado), took off his shoe and sock and stepped in. This is where my details get a little foggy, but I believe somehow my dad bumped into a metal score stand and scraped his back causing him to lose his balance and then step into the water with the wrong foot…the foot with a shoe and full length pant leg. Oh family vacations…great memories!

So back to our vacation…we started the first leg of our trip in Colorado Springs. Right next to our hotel was a miniature golf park. Well, not just any mini golf park, but the infamous one from so many years ago. Of course we had to go!

Fortunately there were no mishaps during our round of golf. But then again, now there isn’t a story to tell.

The next day we went to Santa's Workshop at The North Pole. It’s at the base of Pike’s Peak. Delaney rode rides, rides and more rides!

       

For a kid who is scare of almost everything, she sure does like fast rides!

I’m not really one for rides anymore. Rides that go around and around tend to make me queasy. And I’m scared of heights, so that pretty much eliminates the ferris wheel. But while Bri and I were sitting in the shade waiting for Jeremy and Delaney to finish their ride, the ferris wheel operator offered to take us on our own personal ferris wheel ride. No stops at the top (which is what I hate the most). So we took him up on it and he let us go around 3 times while there wasn’t anyone else around.

Now I can say I rode on the world’s highest ferris wheel!

another 4th in the books

We had a rather quiet and laid back 4th. Which is fine with us.

As a kid, the 4th was a HUGE holiday. Probably one of my favorites! We would spend the day with friends or family shooting fireworks, swimming, eating and shooting more fireworks. As an adult, I don’t get the same enjoyment in shooting fireworks. Maybe because of the awful mess it makes. Or because of the fear of doing damage to our property or someone else’s. Or maybe because I don’t get pleasure from watching our money blow up. (Have I turned into my dad??) The older girls like to hang out with friends and make the mess somewhere else. And Delaney is indifferent. So we enjoyed a nice BBQ and then watched the neighborhood displays along with the city display over the lake.

   

Happy Birthday America!!!

my summer saving grace

In my classroom I am super structured. I over plan. At home…not so much.

Delaney likes structure. She likes to know what’s going on. She’s like to be prepared. This summer chaos hasn’t done her any favors.

She gave up naps this past year. And I’ve tried to have her go to her room to play her iPod or watch a movie. But she rebels. Then I found an amazing idea on Pinterest. It’s so simple I can’t believe I didn’t think of it myself. Quiet time boxes:

Each day has a variety of activities. There’s a book in each box and a fine motor activity and a play activity. And the beauty of it…I used things that we already had at home!! I went around the house and gathered toys and games and activities that she had probably forgotten about. And now she’s excited about them! And I get at least 45 minutes of quiet time each day while she enjoys her Quiet Time Activity. Genius!!!

there’s a new park in town

Well, technically, it’s a very old park. But it has a brand spankin’ new playground. The play structure has been up for a few weeks, but Delaney has been patiently waiting for the soft surface to be poured and for it to be officially open. This week we finally tried out the new park!

This is her favorite thing at the park.

I don’t know how she stands getting dizzy like that. I want to vomit just watching her.

In 2 days, we went to the park 3 times. Delaney gives her approval!!