1st Week of Summer Vacation!

This week was the first week the kids were out of school and it did not disappoint! Actually, it felt like I was the one on vacation because I played as much as they did with my girl friends! Monday was Memorial Day and Gary and I were still on our rafting trip. We got home about 4pm. Our friends, The Chapman's, are staying with us for a couple weeks because they sold their house here in Fruita and they won't be moving to their new house in Texas for 2 weeks.

So we all had dinner and just hung out Monday night. Tuesday, I tried to get laundry done from the trip and then took the kids along with Bree's and Braden's friends Amber and Logan to the Shelledy Elementary School park. They played forever! I switched off from reading a book and pushing them on the swings. The weather was great. It was so nice to be outside. The one downside was that Aubree lost her favorite "Littlest Pet Shop" mouse. She has taken this mouse everywhere since she got it for Easter. She was very disappointed and sad. I told her if she wanted to spend her own money, she could buy another one. She promptly said that yes, that is what she wants to do! Michelle made us yummy lasagna for dinner and it great. Aside from the whole "sharing a husband" thing, I can see how having a "sister wife" would have its upsides! We help out with each others kids, clean up the messes and make food. It's been fun to have her around.

Wednesday I woke up early to go running with my friends. Amy, Darcy and Michelle were there. They run every Tuesday an Wednesday at 6:00am. I make it a few times a month with them. That is early for me! I am always glad when I go though once I get past the tiredness factor. After I got home, I took Aubree to help me pick out flowers to plant in our front yard. We met up with Chet, the guy who did our landscaping in the front. He took us to the Palisade Nursery, which sells wholesale. I (and Aubree) picked out a ton of flowers. Aubree kept saying, "this is paradise!" She said this was the best day ever because it included pretty flowers and getting a mommy daughter day all in one. She is so sweet. I took her to lunch and then we went to Walmart. We searched for another LPS mouse but couldn't find one there or Target or Walgreens. I told her we would look on ebay for it too. It was another great day.

I was preparing to make French Toast for dinner when I realized Braden and Payton had the water on (again outside). They had successfully created huge mud baths in the sand box and were literally covered with mud everywhere! This is at least the 3rd time they have done this. They love dirt, mud and water. It is like a magnet. I got them in the tub and got them cleaned off. Gary made the dinner (yea!) and we ate every last bite of the french toast and bacon. Michelle was at JUCO that night so she wasn't with us this night.

Thursday I went road biking with Amy, Darcy, Michelle, Melissa and Mindy D. We drove out to Highline Lake and rode the route of the triathlon that is happening next weekend. It is hilly and about 20 miles. Then they all ran the 3+ mile running loop right after our bike ride. I am not doing the triathlon so I plopped down and read a book on the park grass! It was relaxing and I loved it. It has been nice having Michelle's daughter, Cydney at our house. She has been a built in babysitter for when I go do these fun things! After we got home, we got ready, ate lunch and then took the kids to the Dinosaur Museum. They have a new T-Rex display that is amazing. It is gigantic and constantly moves and roars. My kids loved it. Braden had been just watching it for 5 minutes and it did one of the huge roars and he screamed in this high pitched loud voice. The loud roar sort of freaked him out! After the dino museum, I took my kids along with Mason (their friend) to another park. Again, I read, they played. That night, I made fajitas for the everyone but Michelle and me because we were going to a girls night out to dinner. Did I say that this week I played as much as my kids? We went to Famous Daves and just laughed and had a great time. We went to Red Mango after for frozen yogurt. Fun day!

Friday I went (again!) with my girl friends mountain biking. We did a trail called "Holy Cross" and it was very difficult. There were lots of "hike a bike" sections. However, the sections that were ridable were a lot of fun and pretty thrilling. There are lots of rocks and technical sections so I have a lot of room for improvement on this one. Afterward, we went back to Red Mango for smoothies and frozen yogurt.

After we got back, Chet brought by all the flowers I purchased. I set them all up and got to work planting. I even got Kylee, Aubree and Braden and even some of the Chapman kids to help! We dug holes, watered and planted for hours. I took them for snow cones after. I then took my kids to the Relay for Life field for about an hour. My friend, Jen Bensen, is a cancer survivor and was speaking at the opening of the relay. She is amazing and gave an uplifting and positive speech to us. Her husband spoke after. It was inspiring to see all the people there for a common cause. I couldn't stay but I was glad to have gone for a little while. We went home and ate Italian Chicken from in a crockpot (my families fave) with the Chapman's.

Today is Saturday and I am worn out from the busy and fun week. I need to get the kids breakfast and start on "Saturday's work!" Tonight Gary and I are going mountain biking with friends (Horse Thief). It is Tyler Jolley's b-day and they organized a ride and dinner after with their friends. Gary has been gone to Green River since yesterday morning. He is working on fixing a tractor part and needed his dad's shop and tools in Green River. Hopefully he will be home soon!