Lost Creek Wilderness

So the Tuesday before Memorial Day weekend, Clint announced that he wanted to go camping. One of the guys at work had told him about this beautiful place only an hour or so away. Since it was National Forest we could camp wherever we wanted and we would only have to hike in about a mile!!!! Usually, I am a good sport about these kinds of things. We have taken both kids on backpacking trips before and we all have a good time. Being 36+ weeks pregnant, I was not quite so accommodating this time. We compromised on a day trip with some hiking. After all, Clint's friend had said that it was pretty flat and a blog Clint had found said that the scenery was spectacular just over a mile into the hike. After driving on an isolated dirt road through a burned up forest for nearly an hour, we finally found our destination. We were sure we would find solitude, but were shocked to find the parking lot completely full and many cars parked alongside the road. Encouraged that the scenery really did justify the bumpy, dusty ride to get there, we headed off through the burned forest.

We only had to hike a quarter mile before we got into the forest. It was beautiful, but hardly flat! Both kids are good hikers, especially if you have all day.

Haden tried to collect every stick, pine cone, or rock he passed. Regan picked a beautiful bouquet of dandelions for me. Clint tried to hurry their pace, but was not too successful, although M&M's do wonders when it comes to bribing the kids to race to the top of hill!

Nearly 2 miles into the hike we passed a couple who said that we were only half way to the fabulous views. The kids were getting bored hiking and I was running out of energy, so we turned around. Clint had brought his fly rod, so we had a picnic and unsuccessfully fished. The wind picked up just as Clint started his first cast. Hiking out, Haden found a pile of crushed pine cones. He and Regan had the best time throwing it up in the air and letting it fall back down on them! They would have stayed there for a long time, but, with the promise of ice cream in Deckers, the kids made it back to the car in record time.

We'll have to try the trip again next year. Maybe this time we'll even get to backpack in and stay overnight!
What I wouldn't give for even half of Haden's energy. This picture was on the way to the car after 4 miles of hiking!!

The Butterfly Pavilion

Regan's final preschool field trip was to The Butterfly Pavilion. She hates bugs, but since Fancy Nancy had fun at the Butterfly Pavilion, Regan was very excited to go. Rosie, the tarantula, lets visitors hold her. Even though Regan's friends both let Rosie crawl across their hand, Regan refused to have anything to do with her. Peer pressure didn't even phase her. This was as close as Haden would get to any of the spiders-I don't blame him-this one was nearly the size of his head!
Neither kid was intimidated by the crab or the starfish that are available for kids to touch. I think the employee cringed every time Haden wiggled his way in between all the big kids to the front row so he could touch the starfish. He knows how to be gentle, but just needs a lot of reminders!

The kids were so funny in the Butterfly room. Regan's friend, Caroline, had been there a few weeks before with her grandpa, who is an entomologist. He had taught her that by holding out her hand and waiting patiently a butterfly would be more inclined to land on her hand. Caroline quickly explained this to Regan and Haden. All three kids would hold out their hands, say something to each other about having to be patient before losing interest ten seconds later with one butterfly and run off in search of another one.

They were eventually successful and both girls got to hold a butterfly! Regan would jump the first few times the butterfly stepped on her hand, but finally got used to it. The little stinker refused to look at the camera regardless of my cajoling.
Haden ran out of patience shortly after Regan's butterfly flew away and kept demanding to go home "right now!" until he found the crayon rubbings of different insects he could do. Thirty minutes and a thick stack of pictures later, I hauled him out yelling that he wasn't done yet.
On the way home, Regan insisted on calling her dad to tell him that she got to hold a butterfly! The trip was a success!

The Gift of Life & Breath

There are a handful of races that Clint does every year. The Gift of Life & Breath 5K is one of them. It is held at the Anschutz Medical Campus. This is the first year Regan & I didn't run as well so we got to cheer him on at the finish line. He was awesome, finishing in 21:37, 15th place overall, and the first stroller to cross the finish line (not that there was a stroller division)! After the race, the kids had so much fun exploring the huge doors that decorate the campus. Regan was a little bummed that she wasn't able to run as well, but is looking forward to competing in a couple of races this summer.

Regan's Recital

Regan had her ballet recital to conclude this semester of ballet. The theme was "Pocahontas." Regan was so worried, not about forgetting her dances, but that her dad would forget to bring her flowers. Luckily, Clint didn't forget and Regan remembered her dance steps. Regan cannot wait for ballet to begin again!