SUMMER!!!

I know it has been way too long with out an update on this little blog but life has been fairly normal and not too exciting.  Kindergarten is now done and I'll have to say I am glad, it was a tough year.  I'll try to write more about that later.  For now summer has begun and we have been busy!

The weekend before school got out we ventured down to the Sand Dunes.  Because the snow pack was so small this year, there wasn't much water at the main parking lot where we always go.  We decided to go on an adventure up a 4-wheel drive road to find a better spot for playing.  At the Castle Creek picnic area we had lunch, played in the water and climbed the dunes.  This spot was great because the sand mountains were so close and so steep.  My niece and nephew made it up the first dune!

The two dots at the top of the dune in the bottom left picture are my niece and nephew.

After that we spent the rest of the afternoon at the Sand Dunes Swimming Pool which is in town of Hooper.  The water is soooo warm and relaxing.

Photos from May 2012

The next weekend began a week of fun with my mom and nephew Owen visiting.  We started off with an overnight stay at the zoo Saturday night.  Bunk with the Beasts was loads of fun.  We got to explore parts of the zoo after hours with our guide.

 

Then we had up close encounters with a Tenrec (similar to a hedgehog) named Karendi, a black breasted leaf turtle named Rua, and Jade the leaf nose rat snake. We learned about their habitats and what they eat.  Rua the turtle has a shell defect, it didn't grow correctly but she is happy and healthy.

 

 

 After dark we got to use night vision scopes to watch the hyenas and tigers.  The next morning after breakfast and packing up we had the opportunity to explore the zoo some more before it opened. 

 

 

 

 Our guides showed us around and told us many interesting animal and zoo facts.  Our stay wrapped up with an animal show by Tango the Macaw and Buster the African Grey Parrot. 

After our program ended we wandered around the zoo for several more hours.  Among other things we  watching the penguins eat, the gibbons swing over our heads, the grizzly bear smiling at us and cooling off in the water play area.

 

 

Monday we went to Casa Bonita for dinner and entertainment.  We watched the shows and cliff divers.  Rode the rides, played the games, swung at the piñata and took an old fashioned picture.

 

Owen took a whack at the piñata and broke it in two.       Milo riding a train.

 

Tuesday, which was the warmest day of the week, we went to Water World and had a blast.  Milo was cold for the first part but that didn't stop him from having fun.

Wednesday was a trip to Build-A-Bear where Owen created a Colorado Rockies Cheetah and Milo made Llama Llama from the book series.  After lunch at Panera we ventured to Chuck E. Cheese to play some games.

Thursday we went to Big Time! Trampoline Center and had a bouncing, hopping, rolling good time.

Owen (white shirt) and Milo (greenish yellow shirt) running & Milo Jumping

 

Owen climbing the net and rope swinging

 

Milo convinced me to go in this thing with him.  It was fun and a good workout too!

 

 

Friday afternoon we ventured out for ice cream, played in water fountains and ended up enjoying a carnival that was in the shopping center parking lot.

 

 

 That evening we met up with my cousin and her son (and his friend) at the Denver Outlaw Lacrosse game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Owen was able to be in the tunnel on the field when the players went out.   It was a great time and Milo even got to meet the mascot.  My cousin and her crew stayed at our house too.

On Saturday we had to say good-bye to Mom & Owen after an early lunch.  That afternoon we met my cousin at Dick's Sporting Good Field where her son was playing in a lacrosse tournament.  We only stayed for 1 game then went out to dinner before coming home.

Sunday we watched 2 more lacrosse games and my cousin's team won the championship of their division!

Phew!  It has taken me the rest of this week to recover from all the fun!