Friday - our last day here, 2013 Colorado trip

Today we set off towards Trap Lake.  When we head up into the mountians, I ride in the back cargo area of the suburban.  If we were in a car, would I end up in the trunk?  I don't know.  I don't like to get car sick.  If I sleep through the trip, tha seems to help.  So I missed seeing where the mud had recently been scrapped off of the road, due to a mud slide.  Mud slides are often a result after a fire.  Nothing holding that dirt in place.

So - we arrived at Trap lake and had to walk a long way to the fishing spot.  I wish I could show you photos of this amazing place.  One side of rhe lake buts riggt up to the side of a mountian, and the side of the mountian is full of stones.  Large, small and everything in between.  I believe it is the end result of a glacier.  Pushing southward, then stopping to rest on the side of this mountian, melting, leaving a hole, filling with water and leaving all these stones behind.  I may be wrong., but it makes for a good story.  It also makes for a difficult trip to ones fishing spot.  I had charged the batteries for the good camera.  They were still in Lovelamd, plugged into the wall.  I had left the tablet home to lighten the load.

Well the rocks were Tough travel. You will just have to believe me.   BUT worth it if you are doing the fishing.  6 fishers - getting their limit in around 3 hours.  Tori got the biggest.  A 2 pound trout.  Mansel caught the first.  Grandpa caught the last.  Milo caught the most at one time. . . Reeling in two fish at one time. 

Watch facebook for photos.  I have a few on my phone. 

We had a picnic lunch.  We headed to the vehicle a few at a time.  The speedy ones leave the others to straggle along.  Once again the slow ones got to see the fun stuff.  I heard a sound, turned to see if it were Grandpa - or a cow - LOL.  It was a moose.  Big as a horse, no antlers.  So don't ask for any more specifics.  I've got nothing for you.  Wayne was right behind me so I whispered, "Wayne. There is a moose."  We stood and watched it amble out of the woods, towards Aunt Karen.  Ha!!  We both pointed at it - so she kept on walking until she was no longer in it's path. And she stood by us and we watched it walk across the clearing into the woods on the other side. How exciting.  Wayne was thrilled.  It was neat to see. 

On the way home, we once again stopped at a shop.  Picked up some trinkets.  Utilized their clean flush toilets.  Oh happy day!!

Of course we ate trout for supper.  Tori cooked hers over an open fire and ate it all.  What fun.  The reat of us ate ours grilled. 

After supper Aunt Karen took us to a super neat ice cream place.  Chill, in Loveland, CO.  They use liquid nitro to freeze the ice cream - made to order. Delicious.

Then we packed our gear - getting ready for an early departure tomorrow.

I am refreshed. 

Respite - that is what this trip was all about.  Good conversation.  Helped me solidify some of my opinions.  Helped me see more clearly how our actions are shaping the children.  I have a tough job ahead of me, and appreciate all prayers said for me!! 

Thursday, 2013 Colorado Trip

Oops - I forgot to blog before I went to bed. Now I am awake at 2:30 a.m.  I'll blog now. 

We hiked up to Alberta Falls in Estes Park.

God's creation is beautiful.  It was a short hike.  We could do it in just a few hours.  We hiked up to the falls - one mile, which included some down hill hiking.  Then we hiked back, taking a different route, which included more down hill places.  I hope I don't lose my toe nails.  How long does that take to happen? 

Karen and I got to see a ptormiga.  It is a bird, about the size of a free range chicken.  We saw several, actually.  One mom with a few chicks.  We would spot these when we would see people photographing them.  I doubt I would have found any of them on my own, as they are not easy to spot.  They blend right in with the background. 

On the way back down from the falls, Aunt Karen pointed out to the kiddos where the youth group from her church used to stop and wade in the river and climb on rocks.  Wading in a river in Colorado  is similar to wading in a creek in Iowa.  Except it is much, much colder.  Tori mentioned it was like an ice bath after running in track. 

When we got to the vehicle - we saw lightening and decided to try to find a sheltered place for lunch.  We didn't really find one.  We stopped at two stores for the kids to shop at.  An Indian store.  The Indians happen to be manaquins who set on a bench on the porch.  The other was a Dam Store.  Not a typo.  One t-shirt for sale said, the store that allows children to cuss and not get in trouble.  I never saw the dam - but I bought 2 shirts there.  My mom mentioned to the kids that I sure wear a lot of Knoxcille Panther gear.  LOL So I added 2 Colorado shirts to the mix. 

While we were shopping it dropped 15 degrees, I bet.  I made sandwiches in the back of the suburban.  We ate in the vehicle in shifts while some were still shopping.

It was nap time for me when we arrived back to home base in Loveland.

Tori wanted to shop more, so she and Milo took off armed with the GPS.

After nap time, THEN I was ready for a Ticket To Ride game!!  I love that game.  Mansel, Danielle and I played.  (I won) 

Supper of hot dogs was delicious! 

The boys got haircuts or trims - then we retired.  What a fun filled day!!  :)

Fishing on Friday. 

Monday

Today I started the day by reading my bible outside.  They are having great weather here.
The grands took us to Chilson something or other.  It is like our Recreation Center in Knoxville, only 50 times bigger.   I played Pig in the water with Grandpa and the kids.  Grandpa lost.  Surprisingly enough - I kept getting lucky.  I bet he kept getting water in his eyes.   ;)  My mother can swim like a fish b.t.w.  I swam laps - only they were like 1/2 of what she was swimming, for 30 minutes.  If even that.  She swam for over an hour. 

Then we went to Kohls.  Dani couldn't find one shoe before we left.  So we thought we would buy her some new tennis shoes.  When I looked down at her feet - her current flip flops were too small.  Good thing she left her tennis shoes behind.  We got her size 3 shoes.  That would have been uncomfortable hiking in too small shoes. 

Then to Walmart. 

Then home for lunch.

Then Karen took some of us to a thrift store.  I got 3 books.  Surprise.  LOL. But - one of the most fun things of the day?  We went to Esh's.  Oh my goodness.  They sell groceries that are expired or damaged.  I bought the same exact brand of grapes before we left for $.99/ lb at Walmart.  They were on sale.  But at Esh's.  $.59/lb.  WOW!  I got a fun sort of k-cup.  The kids bought gum!!  :)  What a hilarious store.  My parents bought 4,751 boxes of cereal for this week.  CHEAP at Esh's.  (only a slight exageration). 

What a fun day.  While out and about - we found some statues to pose by. 

Home for grilled chicken for supper.  Once again outside.  It is beautiful here.  Did I mention that yet?  Absolutely beautiful. 

They kids are playing with Grandma's fiddle that we got her for Christmas from the Cracker Barrell.  That thing is hilarious.

Mansel has started rading Mr. Phill Robertson's book.  I hope he hurries up with it.  I want to read it too. 

And last, but not least, when ever we get a chance - someone is squeezing in a few hits of ping pong. 

Comparisons 2012 vs. 2013

I found the photo I took of the kids last year at the same spot.  WOW what a difference. 

She's 13... what can I say?

Um...

or...

Well -- we'll try this maybe.

OK -- group shot... that'll have to do.


I really tried.

I did.

I tried, and tried, and tried to get her to smile like the other kids were.

It's just like pulling teeth... I hope she grows back into smiling!!
Well -- she smiles... just not much for the camera.

Next Air Jordon... Maybe

Ya never know. My dad always says, "Aim high -- it's no harder on the gun."

Tori is #40.

Tori's First Basketball Game Knoxville vs. Pella from Jennifer J. on Vimeo.

Can you see that VIMEO video quality is WAAAY better than youtube or google? WOW!! I found this after REE posted a video of her and M.M. THANKS Pioneer Woman! Cool...

Wordless Wednesday

Something New & Something Blue

Tori has a surprise to share with you... can you see it?






Braces -- see? They let her choose what color rubber bands to put on... pink and blue. Awww... how pretty.


Now a days braces are different then they were 25 years ago. I never did wear braces, but had friends that did. Some wore big metal bands all around the entire tooth. Today they super glue a metal bracket right to the tooth. They line the brackets up so that when the teeth are straight, they will all end up in a straight line. Right now Tori's brackets on the two frong teeth are way low, see how the wire bends down.

Dan calls that spring wire, I think. The dentist told me it's wire that doesn't want to be bent, and it will straighten itself, pulling the teeth back into line. So -- her two frong teeth will end up going UP. She does have the metal band going around 2 teeth in the back. One week before the braces we went in to put spacers in.... these pushed the teeth far enough apart to put them bit metal bands around just those teeth. I can't imagine getting braces in the "olden days". Praise the Lord for medical advancements.

The third tooth from the front has a pink rubber band on it and the bracket looks like a J. In a few months her front teeth will be high enough to add braces to the bottom row. Right now her top teeth have such an over bite, they would bite off the brackets from the bottom row. So they have to move the top row first, then do the bottom row. THEN... she will have rubber bands going from the top to the bottom row of teeth to move them back and forth. They will hook on those J brackets. That's the unofficial plan. I have no idea what those things are called... it's what I'm calling them. Ü My friend Robin would know... what are they called Robin? She used to do that for a living.

The pretty pink and blue rubber bands actually are functional, they are holding the wire into the bracket. All along I thought the rubber bands were just decoration to make ugly braces cute. Live and learn.

She is taking tylenol for the pain.

Poor Baby!
We are noticing teeth a lot more then we did 1 week ago.
We probably will for the next 2 years.
Then it will be Mansel's turn.
Then Milo.
Then Danielle.
The verdict is still out on Wayne -- one can always pray!

Tori's First Meet

I promise -- I won't make you look at photos of EVERY meet. LOL This experience was a first for me. I've never been to a cross country meet before. Let me walk you through. They run on a 1 1/4 mile loop at this meet. Sometimes it's longer. So -- we all start here at the beginning... yes WE. They start the race... we stand here and cheer them on. She is supposed to be stretching before the race... she prefers to just stand there and look pretty -- she's a beginner... give her time. She'll catch on.


OK -- she's off. The runner in gold on the left. The one on her the right is her encourager. Ü Another home schooled girl.

Then -- after they take off... the parents run as fast as they can... lugging cameras and coolers, and stop watches and children with short legs to the part of the race across the field. Not quite 1/2 way, but probably close. It is VERY comical to see us all waddling around there. We see them coming -- so we start hollaring!! Some guys are veterans and start counting the runners... then when their girl gets there they say "14 -- you are in 14th -- go catch that group ahead." Ahh... I get it... I had no idea what number Tori was -- but I yelled anyway... and she glared at me. I hollared... "If you have enough energy to glare -- you aren't running fast enough." LOL

OK -- I didn't either yell that. But see her encourager there on the left? They like to run to gether in practice too. :giggle:

Now we, the parents, run back across the field to the finish line and jockey around for a space up close! I'm so excited about cheering her on that all I get is her back AGAIN, at the finish line.

Hooray Tori!! She did it. She had set a goal of finishing in less than 10 minutes... she met her goal. I'm so proud!!

She came in 44th out of 70 some. 7th and 8th grade girls ran together. Not too bad for her first ever cross country race.

A friend from church was there -- he has experience... he got out a business card and wrote down her time for us. YEAH!! He could tell I was chattering so much that I had no clue what her time was. Next time I'll know. Keep your mouth shut and watch!! Count. Encourage... hand her the gatorade. Ü

What fun.

I'm now a cross country mom. I wear many hats. LOL

Dynamic Duo

Tori and I got to do a babysitting job together. I'll tell you what -- when you babysit babies as good as these... it doesn't even seem like a job. Someone PAID me to snuggle with this little guy. Mucho Malachi. He loved our animals. He sat by Ebony for a long, long time. He squeezed our kitties. LOL He'd call for them and squeal when they would jump and play... oh it was fun to watch.

Being twins -- you'd think SAME, SAME, SAME... well -- they aren't. They are as different as two peas in a pod. HA! just kidding... They are individuals. It was very fun and interesting for me to watch.


This is Isaiah, in the blue... the go getter. I didn't get to snuggle with him much. Since he is the lite weight of the crew... Mansel usually grabbed him first. Mansel is my baby lover. Ü Malachi carried around a toy racket for a long time, and Isaiah pulled this wagon around. Having not had a baby in the house for a while, it was fun to remember what babies are like -- for a day. Danielle really pleasured in "talking" baby talk to them. Someone wondered if Ebony could understand them, since we couldn't.
Here they are together. I think they look as different as night and day -- you can see they are family, but not identical twins. My children on the other hand... they kept saying, "The one in the blue or the red?"

I did a horrible job on these photos - I'm disappointed I don't have better shots to share. I was taking them too quickly, I guess.

Thanks Bob and Necole for trusting us with your precious treasures yesterday. What a blessing they were to us. Our house was full of joy and laughter all the day long. (Well -- except when Wayne spilled his red drink on the carpet.) LOL AND... I even took a nap. Always nap while babies nap, that's my rule.

Uncle George & Aunt Joyce

Uncle George
Aunt Joyce

These dear folks are Dan's Uncle and Aunt. They have taken to us. We love them. They found out that our kiddos did little league softball and baseball this spring. Uncle George is an assistant baseball coach for Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. This man is full of knowledge.
He gave a little bit of his knowledge to our kiddos today.

He brought with him a net... a big enough net fit on our big garage/shed thing from floor to ceiling. We park our car in there. Well... now we've got a battling cage thing. I know -- my verbiage is so technical... I hope I'm not losing you. He also brought a "Tee". Tees are not just for t-ball apparently. Amazing... he stood Mansel up to the tee... showed him how to hold the bat in his hand. Hand him relax. Demonstrated how to lift the bat. Get ready. Elbow down... Relax... tense muscles are not as reactive as lose muscles. Get your bat off of your shoulder. Keep your legs relaxed. Get ready... swing... WHILE twisting your hips. Turn your back foot on the ball of your foot. Swing the bat so the heel of the bat "breaks the window" and then follow through with your wrists. Hit the ball with the sugar. Ever hear of the sweet part of the bat... that's your sugar. Let's do it again. Let's do it again. GREAT swing. Let's do it again. Good hit. Let's do it again. Did you feel that? The sweet of the bat? Let's do it again.

I mean -- he had a steady stream of information... just flowing out of his mouth. He stopped once and said, "I'm coaching them like I coach my Senior High kids." It was GREAT! He coached Tori, Mansel and Milo. When he was done... finally took a seat and sipped some tea... Milo, the 6yo was hitting the ball off of the "T" every time. He never ounce hit the rubber part of the "T". Amazing... It is amazing what good coaching does. I really am amazed.

He showed Tori and Mansel how to "soft toss" the ball to each other. One crouches down and tosses the ball and they hit it into the net. Did I mention he brought bats and balls and gloves for the kids? He found a left handed glove for Mansel. It's a Nokona brand. Leather... I did a search that glove new is worth over $100. This is stuff kids leave laying around. Can you imagine that? I can't... We were blessed today.

He left a bat bag, full of bats. One is a neat bats that is weighted so you can feel if you are swinging correctly. If not the weight slides to the end of the bat early, if so, then the weight slides to the end of the bat at the right time.

Ever hear a bat go "woosh"? Well -- if you hear the sound too early -- you are not swinging correctly...

He pointed out that good coaching is about teaching young kids correct technique. He named a baseball coach who didn't even play professional baseball... but he is a wining coach. That reminded me of Tony Dungee... he wasn't a FANTASTIC football player, but he IS an OUTSTANDING coach. I'm pretty sure Uncle George has athletic ability -- but I know for SURE he is a great coach.

I found an article in the Des Moines register about his Roosevelt Team. He was an assistant coach... he helped turn that team around.

I feel so blessed that we could squeeze a little bit of wisdom out of him today. In just a few short hours he poured himself into our kids! Thank you Uncle George.

Those photos above -- they totally capture their personalities. Uncle George -- layed back, deliberate, OK -- what's next. Aunt Joyce -- happy go lucky, laughing and hugging!

We really enjoyed their visit!

We can't wait to see the fruit from the seeds you planted today.

PLAY BALL!!

Dollars for Scholars

Tori and I are going to run, Lord willing, in the Dollars for Scholars 4k that Knoxville is putting on August 2nd. Our friend Connie is going to run it too.

I'm very excited for Tori -- I can't wait to see how well she does. She is always running with me -- not much of a challenge. I hope she pushes herself. She'll get a personal best... seeing as this will also be a personal first. HA!

Even typing this my hands got sweaty!! Oh my word... I'm nervous.

So -- this means no skipping my c25k work outs this week... or next.

I just hope I don't finish LAST!! Please Lord... help me not to finish last!!

Season's Over

This was our first year for little league.

What fun we had.

Mansel was on a rookie league - the Marlins. We didn't understand that the teams were named after professional teams. So Mansel brought home this hat with an F on it -- we thought -- Oh... Fish? A Marlin is a fish right? LOL Yeah -- we figured it out -- FLORIDA... Florida Marlins.
Mansel sure loves baseball. He'll be going out again next spring, the Lord willing. He can't wait to be in the Minor league -- they keep score and you can get out. The REAL thing.

Tori started out on the Diamondbacks. That's a snake... we never did figure out where her team was from. I'm sure if I googled it -- I'd learn. But it wasn't that important to us. She practiced for 1 month then played for several weeks with this team. She was put on a rookie team as well. But -- since she is 12 -- she finally figured out this softball stuff... she really started to play at HER level... not the 7 and 8 year old level. So -- they moved her up to the MAJORS. Totally skipping the minors. She ended up doing really well. Her final game she had 3 runs batted in (RBI - right?). I really enjoyed watching her learn this game and excel at it. She won't be playing little league next year because she turns 13 in a few weeks... and that's the limit. You can be 13 if your birthday is after December. She will be 13 BEFORE December... so this is it. I'm so glad we got her in! I think in the long run she will to.

And finally Milo. He played t-ball for the river dogs. So -- who can tell me where the River Dogs are from. LOL

He LOVED practicing and playing baseball. We were so glad when his season was over. Whew... t-ball is boring... if you aren't playing it. Ü We also decided that he will be our last t-ball player. We'll wait until they are old enough for the minor league.


Finished. All did really well. Tori exceptionally so -- Her league has a tournament. She was fornutnate enough to get placed on a good team. The Angels were the league champions. What fun to watch. It's always fun when you are winning. Ü

I learned a lot.

Now we'll stay home. We were going to town a lot -- now we'll stay at home and relax. For a little while.

Tori and her Grandmas

Tori is 12 now... soon to be 13. I so rarely get to see her smile for the camera... you know what these photos tell me? She loves her grandmothers! She loves them so much she will even smile for me and my old camera!

Thanks ladies for teaching her about hard work, loving God, and being a beautiful young lady. I couldn't have raised her to be like she is with out your help!

MAJORS

Oh... just so ya know... the Majors are waaaay more exciting then the rookie league. No offense rookies. :giggle:

(Although - the rookie league is waaaay more exciting than t-ball -- which is over as of night -- whew!)

I'm having fun with this little league stuff. Who knew?

Have I told you our story yet? Tori is 12. She has never played softball before. I wanted her to learn the sport. I love playing softball. She was resisting.. I said "Who cares -- you are learning to play." I signed her up. I signed the 3 olders up, yeah -- I'm mean that'a way. I put on the top of Tori's form. "Beginner". I heard that they had a draft at her age group -- so I wanted to coaches to know what her skill level was. Well -- she ended up playing at the rookie level... which is one step up from t-ball. She didn't even make the draft. A TAD bit below her age level. LOL She was learning to hit and throw and catch with 7, 8, and 9 year olds. That was OK in the beginning.

Then after 4 weeks of practice, and a few weeks of playing "games", she began to catch on.

HA!

Last week an opposing team's coach casually asked, "Hey -- how old are you?" :giggle: She innocently replied. "Twelve." Hey -- she's no liar.

He just so happens to be the Little League President. He's a rule follower. Um... she got moved. Right up the ladder to the Majors. Skipping right over the Minor league.

Dan asked him, "Why did you say anything during the first game you played against her?" He replied, "Hey -- I thought she was just a big girl." LOL I'm only 5'2" and my husband isn't much taller.... we are not "big girl" material. She's normal... but since her skill level was beginner... it didn't click apparently.

Well -- last night was her first night. She did GREAT! They stuck her out in left field... ya know... cause that's where you put all your lousy players. She got hit to several times. I didn't get to keep track because I was putting in a 3 game night... I was trying to watch a t-ball game and her game at the same time. I know... not hard to do... but you know me... I'm not real coordinated.

Anyway... she didn't let ANY get past her. Good girl. Threw them all to first -- whether she needed to or not. That's what they teach them in the rookie league. "Throw to first!" What for? I don't know... but that's what she did. She did throw a few out at first, I'm pretty sure. So she did the right thing most times. We'll work on getting her to think about where to throw it before it's hit. Learn a little each game.

She got up to bat twice. First time... she got on base because she got HIT BY THE BALL!! Yikes... she's got quite the bruise on her arm already. But she's not faint of heart. She got up a 2nd time and she went down a swinging. At least she's not afraid. She missed learning some of the rules playing in that rookie league. They let all players bat every inning, and they let you swing, and swing, and swing, and swing, until you hit it. So after 3 swings last night... she was out... but she kept standing there, waiting for the next pitch. Finally the ump (who knew she was new) quietly said, "You are out, so you need to go back and sit down." °Ü° That's my girl -- never give up. ROFL!!

I'll tell you what. I can't wait until her next game. These games are exciting... people cheer... they give advice... ha ha... it's fun!!

I'm gonna have her practice pitching -- I bet she... well -- I'm sure it's harder than it looks... but my word... she got hit -- she couldn't do any worse than that!! I'm just kidding about that... she won't pitch, but she probably could!

One of the BEST things about this new team? 2 of the girls are going to be going to our church's Junior Girls Camp with her in a few weeks. They are granddaughters of folks who attend our church. Hooray!! What fun. I'm thrilled about that.

So... another night at the ball field... but it was worth it. Fun was had by all. Back again tonight for Mansel's game, then another on Friday night.