WATER FIGHT!!

I sent the kids outside to play while I did some laundry. Armed with bubbles, new sand box toys, and lightsabers; I assumed that they would stay out of trouble long enough for me to finish folding. Wrong. Eleanor (why do all stories start with our daughter?) armed with the garden hose blasted both boys, the dog, the house, the trash cans and a cooler that I had washed earlier and placed in the sun to dry; and our deck.

They had loads of fun as you can see.

Meanwhile, I am left with one wet and smelly dog; a pile of soaking wet, grass filled kids clothing; wet and grassy trash cans; and a couple of soggy rooms in our home as windows were open when they started spraying.

Isn't it time for school to start again?

Poor Will didn't want to get wet. He stood on the deck yelling at the kids "stop it"!

Durango, part V

Ellie checks out the scenery.

The conductor steps out on one of the water refueling stops.

An abandoned gold mine on a hillside.

The train pulls into Silverton.

Durango train ride (Part IV)

The kids were transfixed for the first half of the ride, no one moved. The scenery was breathtaking, so beautiful.

We're Moving!!

Riding the Train (Durango, Part III)

In our seats and waiting for the train to leave the station.

William clutching his choo-choo. He was very excited to be on the train at last after having watched it roar past the house for a few days.

The boys wanted train engines for the ride, Elle wanted pink and purple gemstones. If the engines had come in pink, then MAYBE she would have been interested.

The condo we were staying in had the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway running right through the back of the property. The kids loved having the train roll past three times in the morning and three times in the evening. As soon as we heard the whistle, everyone shouted "TRAIN!" scrambled for shoes, and ran for the door.

Silverton Gold Mine Tour (Durango, Part II)

Nick was dying to see a real mine, so this was his pick for the day's activity. We all wore hard hats and rain slickers and headed underground to the mine. It was actually really interesting and the kids had a blast. I was assuming that William would lose it big time as it is pitch black, cold, and wet down there; but he loved it!

After the tour the kids were able to pan for gold and silver. Nonie got pretty good at it, she was the designated expert.

William liked this part too, if only because there was sand and water involved.

Elle got the score of the day. No sooner did she put her pan into the water, than she came up with a teardrop sized chunk of silver. The adults around her were quite jealous and asked her to pan for them too.

We should have known that she would be good at finding valuables, as soon as we pulled into the parking lot she sniffed the air and announced "I can smell gold around here".

Shot of the hills surrounding Silverton.

Durango, CO Vacation (Part I)

The drive into Durango from the North. Sorry these are blurry- I was shooting from a moving car in the rain.

Outside the train depot.

We saw Thomas! No one was very excited on this day though. About two days later they wanted to go see him and get closer, but too late!

While Nick plays ball, the little kids....

William with his ring pop. These were very popular and both kiddos begged quarters off of us, then bee lined straight for the concession stand the second we hit the field. (His old man pants crack me up!)

Eleanor post ring-pop. It was a blue one if you can't tell. At least she sort of matches her dress.

Eleanor with her partner in crime, Aubrey. These two were little monkeys the entire season. Always up trees, conniving ways to get quarters for ring pops, starting fights with much bigger kids, and running away to the playground sans parental supervision.

The Last Baseball Game of the Season

Running home. And losing his helmet in the process.

Hope it's a home run hit!

"Hey look, it's Nick in there"
William was always fascinated by Nick in full catcher's gear.

Nick had a great time this season and can't wait for next spring. He is excited to be done with the t-ball and looking forward to pitched games next year! Good job buddy!

Happy 7th Birthday Nick!

The obligatory birthday picture at precisely 8:59pm on June 10. Our "baby" Nick was sleeping. (Actually he was pretending to sleep as he has now, after 7 birthdays, figured out that Mom is camera crazy on these anniversaries!)

"Hey, look a ball"

Big kids laughing at William's cake frosting stealing antics.

Happy Birthday Nick! And many, many more....

Triumphant Eleanor

Ellie climbed to the top of the rock wall at the new park all by herself and wanted Nana & Papa and Nonie and Grande to see her victory poses.