My Kind of Saturday

I surfaced Saturday morning to find Jeff in the kitchen making farm-animal shaped waffles, eggs and chocolate milk for breakfast.

My kids were especially thrilled with this spread...I hope this trip didn't give them any feelings of breakfast neglect because I'm NOT making pancakes or waffles every day. All this time I thought I was a champ for letting them have Captain Crunch and Lucky Charms because I never got to have those cereals when I was a kid (except for special occasions).


Kristi returned from a long walk/run out on the trails of their enchanted community. She said there were warning signs about rattlesnakes, plus Jeff had told her what to do if she saw a coyote (make a lot of noise to scare it away). I love it that after her initial fear of a coyote encounter she decided she could take one if it came down to it. Go Kristi the coyote conqueror!


After some discussion about what to do that day, the kids chose to go back to the pool. I think this picture of Whitney pretty much conveys her feelings about that choice.

Annie Kate opted to lounge.

I started to read, but then ended up chatting with Kristi while we kept an eye on Sally Jane (she's a new swimmer) then ended up playing with the kids in the pool for over an hour (which wrecked my pedicure and gave me a wicked quad workout) while Kristi and Annie Kate went on a food run.


They brought back Chick-Fil-A for everyone, and surprisingly I enjoyed it (despite my usual dislike for chicken).


We discovered that Landon has two blond patches in his hair, and think they are a result of that crazy Colorado sunshine.


The ride back to the house is so short that the kids could ride in the back of Jeff's truck; I do believe this was one of the many things the kids loved about this trip.



After getting cleaned up, we went to the movies to see "Nannie McPhee Returns", which we all liked (except for Jeff).

Kristi's iPhone self-portrait of all of us.

Following the movie, we drove up to this park that overlooks a golf course and the whole valley. It felt like being near the top of the world! It was gorgeous, windy (in a good way) and rather peaceful.

I love this picture of Annie Kate looking out over it all.

Here is my windy, shadow self-portrait. I was wearing a skirt and flip flops, so I wasn't properly dressed for the rock climbing going on there.


Jeff and Kristi LOVE their iPhones and were showing me the new Denver App they got.

Our windy self-portrait.

Even though these two photos of the kids have sun stroke, I love them!


I think the streaks of sun help convey the joy they felt being there. (You can see Whitney's shark tooth really well in this picture. I've got to get her in to the dentist asap.)


Kristi got Whitney hooked on collecting these cute acorns. Of course, Kristi has a vision for them and will be putting them in a jar somewhere in her house.


I'm so glad we got to go on this trip, and to this beautiful place.


That night the kids watched "The Bee Movie" for the 2nd time and finished off the popcorn and treats Kristi had supplied us with.

**When was the last time you made waffles?
Could you take on a coyote?
Remember how much you loved swimming as a kid?
Have you seen Nanny McPhee Returns?
Do you love a good view?**

Comment Window Tidbit: It has been a rude awakening coming home to all the busyness of back-to-school stuff.

Mother Nature Makes Amends

Day 2 of our Colorado trip started out with chocolate-chip pancakes made by Kristi. I was surprised to learn that she makes her girls pancakes EVERY day! I am all about bagels or cereal at my house, so pancakes everyday is amazing to me.

I love this kitchen!

We had a rather leisurely morning of hanging out, blogging, and Kristi planted her hydrangea plant.


Whitney and Sally Jane played together while waiting for us to get ready to leave for the pool.


The weather was overcast and pleasant, so it wasn't really pool weather, but that meant we ended up having their neighborhood pool all to ourselves!


Kristi realized that Annie Kate was across the way playing football at recess, so she yelled "Annie Kate" loudly (I swear it echoed through the whole valley) until Annie Kate heard her and waved to us.


I realized this was my first time swimming this summer and the first time since my ankle injury last year (I could definitely feel it when I kicked in the water).


Kristi brought her fabulous underwater camera which entertained us and made for a seriously fun afternoon of silly faces, bubble blowing and underwater movie making.


We have never had this kind of technology, so the thrill of it didn't wear off at all.


It took way too many attempts to get a photo with both of us in the frame. It's surprisingly hard to stay under water and pose for a picture.


When Kristi left to take Sally Jane to afternoon kindergarten, she went home and grabbed a bunch of treats for us. The kids kept saying, "This trip has so much deluxeness!"


Kristi got to take her first ever (since having kids) nap by the pool!


Though it was cloudy for most of our time at the pool, the sun would appear every now and again to warm us up and decorate the sky.


It was quite relaxing to lie on our pool chairs talking while Landon and Whitney played in the pool.


Eventually Landon got out of the water to take a little rest in the sun.



When Kristi's girls finished school at 4:00, she picked them up, ran home to get their swim stuff and some snacks and then came back to the pool (they live super close by).


We ended up getting some serious sun through that cloudy sky, so Whitney is even darker than usual!

Jeff grilled some chicken kabobs and pineapple for dinner.

They have a fabulous backyard, and since the weather was really pleasant we ate out there.

Corn as art.


Their backyard fire pit was a big hit with the kids.

S'more innovation created by Whitney and implemented by Annie Kate.

Jeff and Landon played basketball for quite awhile.

Kristi helped Annie Kate with her homework. It's fun being able to see their household in action like this.


Kristi and I got to go to an 8:40 movie and got soaked during the run from the car into theater, good times. We saw "Good Guys" and did a lot of laughing.

**Do you have underwater technology?
Do you like to eat outside?
What is your s'more innovation?
Do you make pancakes very often?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Oh my goodness, this post took me like 2 hours to do, but I'm so glad I can do it here so that I won't be overwhelmed with 4 days of trip posts when I get home. Woohoo!