Further evidence...

that you do things YOUR VERY OWN WAY!

Arboretum

Today we went for a spontaneous hike. Rylan didn't like it, but you sure did. We caught ONE teensy tiny crawdad after gazillions got away. Man, those are some fast & feisty little guys!! Thanks for being such a great little wanderer!

California Seashells

When we first moved back to Kansas we started to visit the JoCo Library with regularity. Kenzie always stopped near the cases to admire the collections displayed. All displays are provided by and arranged by other library patrons her age. She finally asked a librarian how she could share her collection and her name was added to a waiting list. They predicted it would take 4 years for her name to come up for display!

At the beginning of July, we got a call from the library indicating that a child had not shown up to provide their display and inquiring if Kenzie would go early.

Well. SURE!
Her seashells will be there this entire month, and she's very proud.

Colorado Camping

As the 4th of July holiday, loomed near, Daddy envisioned a last minute camping trip to Colorado. We decided to do it - without a reservation or a solid plan ...and drove on up there in the RV. The kids were great sports, as they always are, and it proved to be a most excellent idea. Thanks Daddy! We ALL needed that! We considered it a "sign" that while eating Chinese food the night before we left...my fortune read: "Visit a Park. Enjoy what Nature has to Offer." YES! We did exactly that!

We decided to stop midway to Colorado, in Goodland KS, and stayed at a very nice KOA campground. After sleeping, showering, and playing on the playground for a bit...we trekked on to our final destination. We soon learned that "Kenzie is on Daddy's team" with a sheer love for the mountains. She declared them better than the ocean and smiled constantly once they came into view.



We lucked out by reaching Moraine Park Campground in the Rocky Mountain National Park and finding a campsite open for our use. We'd pinpointed this park after reading about it in a book which gave it the highest scenic rating out of all the sites in that vicinity. We learned, however, that the park was considered "full" throughout the weekend and we'd have to play a gambling game on whether we could get a campsite for the following nights. This would require us to put our names on a waiting list, hope someone decided to leave early - or better - cancel a preexisting reservation, which provide us an opening for another night's stay. This point made it convenient that our children wake up at the crack of dawn each day as we could easily walk down and be the first on the waiting list. :)




We took many hikes. Most were uneventful, however on the second day we decided to trek a few miles to Fern Lake. It was a glorious warm day and we were decked out in shorts and loving it. The weather appeared so peaceful and calm that we opted not to pack our rain gear for the hike.
And.....about 2.5 miles from the campsite..it started pouring. COLD rain.




The trek back was a bit nerve wracking, and a nice couple who had a spare plastic poncho gave it to us, which we ripped in half and made a cover for each of the kids. Mama & Daddy were cursing themselves as we walked back, teeth chattering. The walk back took forever. We saw some wiley coyotes who were stalking our campgrounds, and some marmots who were sunning on a rock just before the rains came down.



Finally, we made it back, warmed up in the RV and sat by the fire once the rain let up. The next day, when attempting another hike along the river, we packed up all the rain gear. And, of course, we celebrated a dry and uneventful hike. We celebrated with smores that night.






We ventured into Estes Park for a breakfast at a quaint little restaraunt and wandered around the cute little city. Everyone daydreamed about living there.... That's us. Always dreaming. While at the sites, Kenzie enjoyed jumping rocks, nursing the fire, making friends with neighbors and climbing to the tip-tops of the rock formations. In the midst of all that nature stuff, she still found time to groom her hair, paint nails, and pretend to be a supermodel. There was also a rather large water puddle on a nearby road which the kiddos pretty much bathed in.







Our trip ended with a final night in Moraine park at a 3rd lovely site. We departed early in the morning and began the longer trek back home...with nearly non-stop driving. Kenzie "babysat" Rylan by reading him stories and feeding him milk and snacks. The trip went extremely well, and will hold special memories for us all, I'm sure.

A professional

One of Kenzie's most favorites summertime antics this year is nail painting. I type this sporting some hot pink nails with purple polka dots -- courtesy of my "professional" in-home manicurist. As she paints, she carries on conversations just as you might hear in a nail salon, inquiring about the status of my family and what we've been up to on summer vacation.

No single paint color is sufficient. This professional takes her job seriously and often adds a second coat of another color, paint-pen polka dots, and maybe even a final coat of shiny glitter. WoW.



Even Rylan and Daddy have visited her place of business. And, when the client options have been exhausted. She turns the polish on herself. Often we'll see her with perhaps 5-7 coats of polish on her fingers. Now THAT's PRETTY!

X's & O's

Dear Sweet Pea:
This summer, at age 5, we find you to be especially snuggle-y. Often you come to us and just cling to a leg until we stop what we're doing and hug you back. It's so worth the moment that it takes. We love you, big girl. X's & O's always...
Mama & Daddy

L*O*V*E