Bittersweet Anticipation

With less than two weeks before the start of school, my thoughts often wander to this school year.  Quite honestly, they've wandered there often over the last several months.  This is the first year that all three will be in school.  It doesn't seem like that long ago when the trio was 1, 2 and 3 with Chris deployed thinking that I was eagerly waiting the day when they could all go to school and how would I spend that first day.  Don't get me wrong, I would never change anything about those early days and would often remind myself that they wouldn't be little long.  There were days when a break just sounded nice :)  All that to say, August 13, 2013 is quickly approaching.  School supplies have all been purchased and backpacks are all packed.  All that is left is seeing who gets to be their teacher this year, meeting them and dropping the kids off on that first day.  How will I take it?  Many who know me well can guess that there will be tears.  They will be bittersweet.  We have left infants, toddlers and preschoolers in our rear-view mirror and have entered a new phase that will encompass our lives for the next two decades.  Yes, I'm sad, but the kids are ready and I'm excited to see what God has in store for them and our family as this new adventure is fully underway.

Bike Crash!

We have the perfect place for the kids to ride their bikes - many laps have been done up and down out cul-de-sac.  We've had our share of minor bicycle accidents, but yesterday, Luke took a spill that beat them all - hands down.  No one is sure exactly what happened, but according to Luke and an eyewitness neighbor, it sounds like Luke was going "really fast", his feet came off his peddles and got tangled with those same peddles and his handlebars made a sharp turn culminating in a wreck and Luke over the handlebars.  Luke thinks he was going "about 100 mph".  He is definitely scraped up.  I spared you the more gory pictures, but he has cuts, scrapes and bruises from his forehead to his ankle.  Thankfully, nothing was broken, but his right hand is really scratched up. 

There is so much to be thankful for.  Thankful that nothing was broken.  Thankful that it's still two weeks before school starts - writing would have been kind of tough on him.  Thankful that his glasses went through it unscathed.  Thankful that he had his helmet on.  It wasn't fun and still isn't fun for Luke and it scared his Mom and Dad, but God took care of him and created a body that will soon heal!

Some Summer Activities

With just a little over two weeks left until school starts, we need to finish up some things on our summer to-do list.  There isn't much left, but we had to keep a few things until the end.  Plus, we've had a full summer so it's good to just do a few things at home.

So, at the end of last week, we did a few experiments.  One of them involved pine cones.  When we were in the Rocky Mountains, we attended a ranger talk on forest fires.  One of the really cool things God does is how creation works.  These pine cones are sealed up tight.  They only open under heat (forest fire) and only then will the seeds fall out.  So, we gathered up a few of these, brought them home and put them in our toaster oven.  Just like they were supposed to - they opened up and relinquished their seeds.  The kids liked that.

Another experiment involved shining up pennies.  We put them in vinegar and a little salt and they were nice and bright when they were done.  Just as a side note, this works well for pennies before 1982.  After that, the composition of the pennies was changed and it doesn't work as well for them.

We're also trying to grow sugar crystals.  I should have started this earlier in the summer.  We'll see if these ever grow.

On tap this week, we're going to try writing secret messages with lemon juice.  We'll have to see how that turns out.

Long pole pine cones all sealed up tight until heat opens them up

Pine cones open after being in the toaster oven for about 20 minutes at 200 degrees

Relinquished seeds from the pine cones

 Shining up pennies

 Prized shiny pennies

Colorado Springs

When we were planning our Colorado trip, we knew a stop in Colorado Springs would be in order.  Our first stop was Garden of the gods.  The trails are short and very easy so the kids were okay with these.  I just love the contrast in their vivid red color to the blue sky.  Unfortunately, the sky wasn't so blue, so I had to enjoy the contrast of the reds against the green of the trees instead.  We even got to see a couple of climbers reach their goal of the top while walking around.  Balanced Rock also served as a fun place for the kids to climb around and enjoy the rocks. 

However, that all paled in comparison to a much anticipated stop at Focus on the Family and the home of Adventures in Odyssey.  We've spent countless hours enjoying episodes as we travel across the country or just play at home.  They loved it and said it felt just like Whit's End.  If you've ever heard an episode, you know it is somewhat centered around an ice cream store.  So, of course, they have an ice cream shop there and we had to each have a dip.  They also have a 3-4 story slide that the kids enjoyed - we were essentially too big.  Afterwards, we took a tour of the larger Focus on the Family.  What a treat we had since we were the only ones on it.  First, one of the ladies saw us and brought each of the kids two episodes of Adventures in Odyssey.  They were even ones we hadn't heard before.  We also got to meet one of the ladies who does random voices for the show.  Second, they were also taping a radio broadcast so we got to see (and actually talk to) Greg Smalley of Everyday Relationships that he co-hosts with Susie Larson while he interviewed Vicki Courtney, who I had the privilege of hearing speak at a Mom's conference back in February.  It was just a fun experience.

Garden of the gods

Whit's End from Adventures in Odyssey

The Lack of Toys

When on vacation, I load up a bag of books and a few toys for each child to take.  This is usually for the hours spent riding in the car (no dvd players here).  They've never known anything different and actually do a wonderful job in the car.  This year we tried something different and set all three of them on the same row of seats so we could have the entire back for all the stuff required for 10 days of camping.  We did throw in a soccer ball and a few board games, but we didn't really use them.  Instead, the kids were entertained with books, connect-the-dots (1-500ish) and a few small toys along with Adventures in Odyssey and VBS songs for their listening pleasure.  At the campgrounds, they found their own entertainment.  They were actually quite creative.  They made a teeter totter out of two pices of wood (I think it may have worked better if the weight had been distributed better), a mountain complete with a dual bore tunnel - just like the Eisenhower tunnel on I-70 just west of Denver that they enjoyed (they wanted to go back through!) and the last campground had a wonderful set-up that they made into a stage and performed various VBS songs from just a few weeks ago.  Thankfully, the neighbors enjoyed it as well!

When it was all said and done, they had a good time, but they were happy to be reunited to their beloved toys at home!

 Teeter-totter Robey Trio style

 

Mountain, interstate, and tunnel made from rocks, pine cones and pine needles

Speaking of toys and on a completely different note....we had the privilege of visiting one of Chris's college friends and his family.  While there, Chris and I had a treat of getting a ride in this :)

This is My Father's World

 This is my Father's world,

 and to my listening ears

 all nature sings, and round me rings

 the music of the spheres.

 This is my Father's world:

 I rest me in the thought

 of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

 His hand the wonders wrought.

 This is my Father's world,

 the birds their carols raise,

 the morning light, the lily white,

 declare their Maker's praise.

 This is my Father's world:

 He shines in all that's fair;

 in the rustling grass I hear Him pass;

 He speaks to me everywhere.

 This is my Father's world.

 O let me ne'er forget

 that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

 God is the ruler yet.

 This is my Father's world:

 

 why should my heart be sad?

 The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!

 God reigns; let the earth be glad!

Photos taken in  Rocky Mountain National Park
This is My Father's World written by Maltbie D. Babcock

Rocky Mountain National Park

 We spent four days in Rocky Mountain National Park and had a wonderful time!  We did a combination of driving and hiking.  None of the hikes were no more than four miles, but that didn't take away from the experience at all.  We camped two nights in the park and two in Estes Park.  It never really rained on us when we were out doing things, but we did get somewhat wet a couple of evenings in Estes Park.  Some of the highlights included taking scenic drives, playing in the snow, learning about the continental divide, hiking, listening to ranger talks, becoming junior rangers, watching the elk, dear, chipmunks, marmots and badgers and of course the road construction (that later one was for Luke).

We came into the park from the west side so one of our first stops was the continental divide

This is all Hannah wanted to do with the snow - make a snowball and have her picture taken.  The boys actually had a mini snowball fight

The snow was a novelty for mid-July.  We went back to this spot a couple of days later and it had all melted

 A morning hike and a generous photographer...unfortunately, it's a bit dark

 An awesome tree root to climb

 Nymph Lake

 The boys

 An early morning hike with breakfast included.  (we learned quickly that if you didn't want tons of people to join you, be in your pictures and to improve your chance of seeing wildlife, you had to get up early.  This picture was probably taken around 6:30 am.  A nearby parking lot was full at 7:30)

 Just love this picture of two of my men walking along

 Yes, he sat still just about long enough for me to get this picture taken and then he was off...

 Hannah - it was a bit chilly that morning and unfortunately, I'd left our jackets at the campground where it felt a bit warmer.

 Abram Falls - Luke wanted to touch the water here.  Bet you can guess the answer to that one :)

 Abram Falls

The Alluvial Fan left over from the 1982 dam break and resulting flood.  I remember visiting with my parents shortly after this happened.  It was neat seeing it nearly 30 years later.