Santa Claus

At breakfast one day last week, Haden, out of the blue asked, "Mom, is Santa real?"  I was surprised!  One, because it is July and no one around here has mentioned Santa for a long time and two, Haden is my complete believer in all things imaginary.  I mean if Yoda is real, is Santa that far of a stretch?  My major complaint about both Santa and the Easter Bunny is that they bring more presents to some kids and not so many to others.  So, I never encouraged my kids to believe in any of those fictitious characters, but I didn't ever really discourage it either.  I just let them believe whatever they wanted.  So I was rather surprised that Haden was questioning Santa's existence.  When I asked him what he meant, he replied in a very sad voice that, "It just doesn't feel good that he's real".  Poor kid, reality really isn't nearly as much fun as his make believe world!

Lair o' the Bear Park

 Once again, this summer has nearly slipped by and we have yet to take the kids into the mountains (other than for Clint's bike ride, which really doesn't count).  We learned the hard way last year that the kids are NOT avid hikers.  They are fabulous treasure hunters, though!  We haven't visited Lair o' the Bear Park for several years and it is realatively close.  So, we packed a lunch and headed up there. Clint found a "treasure map" or geocache for a kid friendly treasure using some app.  The kids love to follow the compass on the phone to find the treasure.

Lila is actually a decent hiker, as long as you have all day.  She likes to pick up handfuls of dirt and let it slowly sift through her fingers after every few steps.  She's not one that can be hurried either!

Regan found something under the bridge that looked interesting, but was too chicken to climb under there herself.  So she sent the fearless two year old.  Lila didn't hesistate.

Haden is such his father's child.  He scampered out across the river as long as there was a rock within jumping distance.  Just a like a regular mountain goat.

Who needs rocks to cross a river?  On a side note, Lila has fallen in love with pig tails.  She threw an impressive tantrum the one time I tried to style her hair differently.  So, everyday, wherever we go she wears her "two tails".

Regan and Haden prefer blazing their own trail to walking on the established trail.

Clint and Lila instigated a berry fight. I was just hoping that the berries weren't poisonous and no one was going to lick their now purple fingers!

There was a fancy castle across the river.  It really was neat.  I would love to tour it one day.

We were getting close to the treasure, so the kids were all smiles.  When we did find the spot where the treasure was supposed to be, it was missing!  It was supposed to have been hidden in between rocks in a pretty high traffic area.  I suspect someone found it, had no idea what it was, and carried it off.  My kids were devastated!  They complained and complained about how could some mean person steal their treasure? We promised ice cream and that we could make our own treasure on another day to get them in better spirits.  It only kind of worked.  Poor kids!

Lila found a stick that she used as a horse.  She was galloping around neighing!  I guess she didn't realize her treasure had been stolen!

I love this old bridge.  I told the kids there was a troll that lived under it, but they didn't believe me.

This might have been part of the reason that Haden was so distraught.  Our sleeping schedule has been completely off since summer started and I don't think this little kid has been getting nearly enough sleep!  They cheered up by the time we hit the ice cream shop.  Hopefully, we'll be able to find more treasures that haven't been carried off before the summer is over!

Geocaching

 Clint's sister, Lisa, really likes geocaching.  (Using a GPS to find treasures, really just junk, that other people have hidden.)  While they were here, she wanted to see if she could locate a few.  It is the perfect Sunday afternoon activity!  My kids were thrilled at the prospect of finding "treasures".  One cache even had a post that someone had left a Darth Maul pen there earlier in the day.  Haden could hardly contain himself!  And the best part was that there were many within a mile of my house!  I really don't live out in the middle of nowhere, like this picture might seem.  We just have a fantastic trail system and open space behind us that I absolutely love!

This was the best cache ever!  You had to fill the the tube with water from the nearby stream.  (There was a clue online, so we knew to bring along a bucket.)  Ping pong balls would float to the top with the combination to the lock written on it.  The locked box contained all sorts of treasures, a couple of travel bugs, Haden's pen, and directions on how to lock everything back up.  The lady who designed it was very clever.  We ironically met her on the trail en-route to the next stash.  Haden and Regan loved selecting things from each cache.  Thankfully, Lisa had her own stash of "treasures" we could swap with.

The kids didn't care for the micro cache.  They found it inside a bone, yuck, and it only had a piece of paper to write your name and where you were from on.

 

 Lila had to be woken up from her nap to come with us.  We forgot shoes for her so she had to be carried when the stroller couldn't make it all the way to the cache.  I don't think she quite understood what we were doing!

 Double strollers aren't meant for single track trails!

On our way back home, we had to stop at the bridge for pictures.  The board that Clint sits on is responsible for the stream restoration project.  It is going to be awesome when it is done! 

The kids had the best time!  They have each insisted that we start "treasure hunting" every Sunday afternoon.  At least it will be a good way to get rid of all the prizes they get from their happy meals!

Triple Bypass

 No, Clint didn't have heart surgery.  The Triple Bypass is a 120 mile bike ride starting in Evergreen, Colorado winding over three mountain passes and ending in Avon, Colorado.  They climb over 10,000 feet and have an elevation of over 12,00 feet in places.  Clint's buddy talked him into signing up.  I thought they were crazy.  He didn't have nearly the time to train that he would have liked.  He's just too busy!  He would go out on long bike rides every Saturday morning, but the hills around here don't compare much to the mountains.  Clint's nephew, Josh, drove out from Utah (with Clint's sister and mom) to ride as well. 

All week the weather was beautiful.  And I think it was that Saturday as well, until noon or so.  Clint and Josh started in Evergreen around 6:00.  Josh left Clint pretty quickly.  How would it be to be 17 and have all that energy again? Clint called me from Loveland ski resort.  There was thunder and lightening and the rain was pouring down. Clint wiped out on his bike a few weeks ago going a mere 15 miles an hour.  He cracked his helmet and got quite a few bruises and some road rash, so he's a little more cautious than he used to be.  So, racing down a mountain side going much faster than 15 miles an hour in the rain with slick tires and people who think they are invincible racing past him didn't interest him.  Thankfully!  So, I picked him up and dropped him (and another guy who hitched a ride with us) off at the top of Vail Pass just a head of the rain storm.  Apparently it caught him again shortly after I dropped him off.  I continued on to Avon with all three hungry kids, found a Subway and met Clint's mom and sister only to get the phone call that both Clint and Josh had crossed the finish line and no one was there to cheer for them.  I felt bad, but neither seemed to mind. 

We found all the bikers under a tent scarfing down food.  The kids were thrilled to see Clint.  Regan commented several times on the long car drive that she could not believe that he biked all that way!  I can't believe he did either!

 

And then she ran off to dance in the rain. 

Lila was just happy with her new water bottle!  Poor little girl was drenched!  Haden would intentionally jump in the puddles.  He was drenched, too, but didn't mind until he started to get cold.  Little stinker!

 

 I think Clint biked 80 something of the 120 miles, but he was satisfied.  Josh did all 120 miles and the buddy that talked Clint into signing up bailed in Keystone about half way through because of the rain.

 

I wonder if either one of them will be interested in doing in again next year?

Idaho

 We spent our 4th of July in Idaho again this year.  It was a lot of fun!  Our friends from Denver, the Rowles, moved to Washington D.C. in March, but just happened to be driving through Malad.  We were lucky enough to meet them for dinner at a park.  It was wonderful to see them again.  I am really getting tired of my friends all moving away!

 The next morning was the biathlon that Clint was too sick to do last year.  This year, we both entered.  Clint biked and his friend was going to run for him, but his friend was sick, so he found a substitute.  My sister, Savannah, ran for me and I biked.  It was a 5k run and 15 mile bike ride.  Before the race started the organizer explained that the little town didn't get a lot of bikers and to be extra careful.  Such a difference between there and Colorado!  Clint was so sweet the night before.  He drove the route with me, pointing out loose gravel, and other things I needed to watch for.  Clint's nephew, Josh, took first place and set a new record on the course.  He ran and biked and still beat everyone!  Clint's team was third and Savannah and I came in as the 7th team, but I think the first or second all female team.  We finished in an hour and 18 minutes. 

 Clint's runner, James, Josh, Clint, me, and Savannah

 The race will have to be an annual tradition!  That afternoon we met several of my siblings in Pocatello at the water park.  Regan loves the lazy river!  Savannah and Dale went around and around with her.

 Lila loved playing on the stairs with the water fountains.  This is the only water park I have ever been to that requires swim diapers to be covered by plastic pants.  It didn't seem to phase Lila, though.  Haden had fun playing with all the levers, wheels, etc. that controlled the water.

 My kids love the freedom they have there.  As long as they told me where they were going, they could wander over to their cousins house a block away. 

 Their cousins have LOTS of baby animals!  Lila nearly strangled the baby miniature duck.  She was about the same size as the calves and wasn't so sure about getting licked!

 

Clint, Haden, Yoda, and the cousins slept out on the tramp.  Between the full moon, all the animals, and the roosters crowing at the crack of dawn, poor Clint didn't get much sleep.

 

 My kids helped with chores every chance they got! 

 

  

 We recently purchased a small piece of land a few blocks away from Clint's parents house so we can eventually build our own house up there.  It had been neglected for a long time!  We hired the kids to come help haul all the branches away.  We managed to get one corner cleaned out.

  It's the perfect place for a clubhouse.  Clint used to camp in that same corner with his buddies when he was growing up.  He showed the kids where he built his fire and where they would sleep.  It's neat that his kids will get to have all those same experiences that he did!

We paid all our helpers with admission to Downata Hot Springs.  It was perfect and nearly deserted!  The kids all had fun going down the slide and playing in the water.

 The next day was Independence day.  We went to the parade.

 Lila didn't appreciate the fire engine,

but loved the taffy!  She was such a sticky mess!

 The BLM firetruck cooled all the kids off.

 Regan refused to use the red plastic bags for her candy that everyone else was using.  Pink flower purses are much more her style!

 We watched the fireworks that night.  Haden made a lightsaber out of his glowsticks.  Somehow, everything is related to Star Wars with that kid!

 

 And no trip to Idaho is complete without a few visits to the Blue Goose.  When I would ask Lila if she wanted to go to Idaho she would say, "Grandpa, Blue Goose, candy, chocolate"  in that order every time.  She wasn't disappointed!

 We made many visits!  We walked one time.  Lila chased some chickens alongside the road. 

 

 The preferred method of transportation was Grandpa's new gator.  All three kids are pretty good at steering!  Lila would intentionally drive all over the road, laughing hysterically the entire time.  She would hit Clint's hands away every time he tried to help her.

 We visited Clint's grandparents' grave.  I love this picture!  Lila loves her Grandpa!

It was a fun trip!  All three kids were awesome travellers.  It will be fun when we can build our own house up there!