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With so many mechanical issues with the bus and suburban it really cut into our trips planned this summer. We were fortunate to be able to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park . Here are a few photos from that trip.
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We woke up early this morning to head to the South Platte River for some fishing. We had a great time, and the boys worked on their casting, unfortunately with the heat not much was biting, and the river flow was pretty high. I managed to hook one decent sized brown trout, but it got off the hook just before I netted him. Great day anyway.

I go to pick up that one odd expensive part from Chevy today. After that just a few more hoses and it’s cross your finger time. I’m hoping this new radiator and water pump will help to fix the over heating it’s been plagued with for years. Time will tell, but unfortunately it’s taken too long.

Wyatt made it home today about lunch time from a week long stay at Peacefull Valley Boy Scout camp.  Jason and I wondered if we would get a 3 sentence explanation on how is week went.  Well we were wrong.  He couldn’t stop talking about it.  He had a fantastic time.  He earned 3 merit badges, and began working on a fourth.  The fourth one will take him a few months to complete the requirements.  Last night Stryder, Chloe, Olivia and I were able to go out to the camp for the Family Campfire Program. ( Jason had to work)  Since Wyatt didn’t attend last summer we didn’t know what to expect.  They fed us dinner, had a closing flag ceremony, and then the campfire program where the Scouts sang, and preformed skits.  It was so fun.  Wyatt was in a skit that was by far the funniest!  (Thanks to Wyatt.  He is such a clown)  He definately wants to attend next year.  That is always a good sign that he had a good time.  I took a few pictures.  Olivia sat with Wyatt and his Scout buddies during the campfire program, and she loved it!

The kids are finally back from TN.  I’m very glad to see them and can’t wait till we get to camping some next month.

We went to Jose O’sheas for dinner with some old friends from school. What a fantastic time. I recommend the place ad it’s pretty good food. Besides where elce cam you get a buffalo fajita.

Stryder and Chloe’s 2nd grade class went to the Butterfly Pavilion today. It was a really nice place. I wasn’t sure what to expect. The kids had a great time. There was a tarantula section, and Chloe even held one. I wouldn’t do it, and neither would Stryder. They got to pet a starfish, and a sting wray. In the butterfly room Stryder wanted one to land on him. One never did. He got so upset when one landed on Chloe’s shoulder. Here are some pics.

After the Phoenix Mine trip we headed a bit further west to Hwy 6 and headed up to Loveland Pass to see the view. As expected it was a bit windy and cold, so our stay up there was short. The Suburban also wanted to overheat a bit up the pass, but we will attribute this to the coolant not being mixed to 50/50 yet. Before everyone froze I took a few photos.

Stryder and Chloe were so excited that their cousins were able to be here to celebrate their birthday with them. That made it extra special for them. They wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner for their birthday. Jason worked the night before so he needed to rest , but before he did Stryder and Chloe got to open their presents from their cousins, grandparents, and us. After that Jason took a nap, and the kids all went out to play. After Jason slept for a while, he got up and watched the kids play and Andrea and I went shopping for a little while. We came back and got everyone loaded up and set off for Chuck E. Cheese. We got there and they had a great time. We stayed for about 2 hours. Jason and the boys left to go tour the haunted house that they planed on working in, and the girls went shopping again. After the boys were done, with the haunted house we met up at Good Times for frozen custard. The kids had a great birthday! hereare the photos

Last fall break we made a trip to Hammond’s Candy factory. I thought that would be something fun for Nathan, Evie, Allie, & Katie. They have free tours, and then they have a candy store. All of their candies are homemade, even the marshmellows are homemade. So after lunch we loaded up in the bus and the suburban, and headed into Denver to the candy factory. Andrea drove the suburban and I drove the bus. It took a little longer to get there since we had to take the bus. We made it though, and it took long enough that Katie and Olivia got a little nap. The kids seemed to have a good time, and there were several people in the factory making candy so they got to see first hand how they make all there candies. I took a few pictures here they are.