Last campout as an 11yr old scout!

Nature and Science Center

Great family time can be found at the

Denver Nature and Science Center

There was a worker there who had this amazing dinosaur costume. 

It kept eating up kids!

There was a showcase of russian folk sculpures made entirely from different rocks. 

This is just one of the amazing peices of art!

On the "map" of the center it touted "the best view of Denver" and I was kind of laughing to myself that they would claim that... then

Wow!

The best view!



The INCLINE!

At Marty's Birthday Dinner Megelyn said

"hey do you guys want to hike "the incline" with me?"

We looked at her like a couple "deer in the headlights"

So she explained that it is just a 1 mile hike up part of Pikes Peak.

So what's the catch??

In the 1 mile you make a 3,000 ft elevation gain!!

There are uneven stairs in the side of the mountain made with railroad ties.

They go straight up the mountain. 

Looking down.  This in no way does it justice.

At the top!  Whew!

Looking down from the top!

During it was a bit intense!  However we will certainly do it again.

It was nice to take 4 miles to go down after the "fast" hike to the top!

Marty's Birthday treasure hunt!

J. needed to plan a treasure hunt for his Geocashing Merit Badge so...

Marty got to hunt for his birthday presents.

He was quite worried that someone would take off with the presents while we were hunting but we fooled him (ok he figured it out half way through the hunt)

They were at home hiding!

The next day we had family come over for a Birthday dinner and dessert!

It was great to celebrate together.



Pumpkin Chunkin!

Last year when we were out visiting Colorado we went to the local

"Pumpkin Chunkin"

The kids had a blast and wanted to make it an every year tradition so attending this year was a given.

I ended up going to Time Out for Women (thanks Janis) and had a great time.

Therefore Marty was on full time kid duty.

It also happened to snow the night before and rained all that day.

  BRRRRRR!

and FUN!

Making rope!

Nice hat dude!

J. was FREEZING because she didn't have her coat.

  The snowball fight (earlier that morning) ended when she sliced her head open and was bleeding everywhere.  Hence the coat was in the washer.

Another craft!



Fall colors with Grammie and Grandpa!

Grammie and Grandpa came out to visit and see the golden aspen leaves in RMNP!

 We had a great day with them seeing the leaves.

One of the perks of living near family is that when other family visits we have an excuse to get together with the "locals" too!



J.'s plant cell

J. had an assignement to make a 3D cell and label all the parts.

She came home and asked if she could make it out of bread.

End result...

Delicious eh???