In Summary

The vacation is now over and even though I didn't actually go anywhere it will be rough to return to work. Maybe next year we can rent a house in the mountains for a week or so and everyone can come!

New Bike!

Cale got a shiny new bike. He is learning to ride it. So is Carrie.

Walking the Dog

Storm

Well today we took a break from floors, lawn work, and dog taming to actually go somewhere. We drove to Rocky Mountain National Park and started to make the drive up Trail Ridge Road. It was obvious from the beginning that we may have picked the wrong week to go. Apparently this is the week for Texans in Suburbans to swarm on the park. I prefer to enjoy my nature as alone as possible (with the exception of a couple friends or family and maybe even a very stupid brown dog). I know it is my own fault for going to this particular destination but I wanted to take my little kids above treeline and this was the quickest way.

The first stop was some waterfall with a short quarter mile hike. The kids enjoyed sticking their feet in the freezing water. As I mentioned before, the entire city of Omaha was visiting this waterfall today but besides that it was enjoyable.

Next stop was on top of the world -somewhere between 11000 and 12000 feet. It was probably in the 50s and windy. We all noticed that is more difficult for even us highlanders to breathe. We found a little patch of snow which Aden fell in so we left. Once again there were a lot of people. I did notice that the Park Service is doing something right. All these people are so scared to step of the set path and damage anything to the point of silliness. This just leaves more places for me.


On the way down we pulled into the Hidden Valley picnic area and for some reason no one was there. I guess there were no spectacular waterfalls or alpine peaks to draw the crowds. Fine by us. We had a very lovely lunch.

Back in Estes Park we stopped at a large store shaped like Noah's Ark that sells stuffed animals. Cale got a flying squirrel, Maya a bear, and Aden a frog.

We are up to much of the same old normal stuff. Playgrounds, playrooms, and a lot of whining.

Tomorrow will be the hottest day of the week and the Watkins hate hot (seriously what's so great about summer?). Naturally we will head to the mountains.

Day 3

So yesterday we discovered that I am unable to stain hardwood floor without creating large visible blotches ... so I will focus on pulling up carpet, nails and staples. Carrie will put on the layers of conditioner, stain, and gloss.


Today I took down the eight foot TV antenna on top of the roof and I went to the landfill twice. You really can't beat that.

Carrie did more floor work and cleaned out the car.

Ruby stained the couch with paw prints.

Maya rediscovered her My Little Ponys!