Washington, D.C.: George Washington

Yesterday Kenedy and Tucker took a trip to Mount Vernon.

It started on the metro, was delayed with a long wait at the bus stop but eventually we made it to George Washington's old plantation.

The story of George Washington is enlightening.  His father died at 11.  While most kids would have been sent back to England at that point, his family did not have the money.  Nor did they have money for his education.  Much of what he knew was from books.  A good lesson  about the importance of ambition, self-sufficiency and determination.

Kenedy remembered that he had many slaves and invented the 16-sided barn to separate wheat seeds from the stalk.

Tucker remembered that George Washington did not sign the Declaration of Independence because he was commanding troops in New York. 

We left tired, hot, sweaty and full of new knowledge.  

walking to the bus

Yesterday was bike to work day. I am not the type of cyclist that can ride up and down 2,000 feet on major highways to get to work.  Though there are people in our mountain community that do!  That said, I do not prefer driving to work and we chose our house, among many other reasons, because of proximity to a bus stop.

Timing to leave for the bus is tricky.  I try not to stand too long at the bus stop and the bus is usually on time but sometimes it's a little early.  

The stop is placed sort of like an afterthought along our main parkway - no bench, no LED sign with ETA and not really any safe harbor from the cars, semis, garbage trucks and buses that blow by.   

The rest of the commute is a piece of cake.  The walk to the stop is serene and sparkly in the morning.  

Today a field of lupines were in bloom.

The ride is equally beautiful though long. The bus is mostly quiet, comfy and the continental divide peaks over the hills at several places along the way.  

I miss bike to work day.  It's a great way to start the day, feel supported and ride with others.  Unfortunately I don't anticipate that kind of fitness level in my future.  Instead I'll stick with the bus, sip coffee and work or enjoy the views.

one last summer day

We had one last evening with the Illinois crew in Summit County. 



We stayed as long as possible, watched the thunderstorm roll in over Buffalo Mountain and the sun set over the power lines.

Kids pretended to be American Ninja Warriors on the playground.

We miss Bella, John and Jen. 

Father's Day

Wildfires raged all across the West on Father's Day.  Denver hit 107 according to the car thermostat.  All we could do was sit, sweat and eat ice cream with Grandpa.

at Beth and Matt's house...

sleepover

The crew from Illinois came to town for the week.  We started with a stop in at Mimi's art show and wrapped up with dinner down the street followed by a sleepover at Mimi and Granddad's house.



On the morning after the sleepover, the kids colored shirts and wore them for the rest of the day plus some.

Watermelon and scrambled eggs for breakfast.

Slip and slide for the afternoon!

And group pictures to wrap up the day.

Summer sleepover and fun with the Illinois crew...check!

in the shop

The shop is so clean and colorful.  It begged a picture.

 

RMNP backcountry day #2: Green Mountain

Steam evaporated in the morning sun after a cold and wet night.

Kenedy and Tucker kept themselves occupied with a long-jump competition while we waited for the slow dry.



At about eleven we loaded up and set out once again.

 

 Today we would complete the second part of a 7.1 mile loop.

Tucker is so skinny that his backpack kept pushing his shorts down.  He ended up with 14 mosquito bites.

We stopped for an unsatisfying lunch (granola bars, GORP, bagels) at about halfway.

After lunch we passed 5 moose.  The large bull moose below was less than 40 feet from the trail.

Promises of ice cream kept one foot moving in front of the other.  At about 3:30 we made it safely back to the car just before another afternoon downpour.  Ice cream ...here we come!

RMNP backcountry day #1: Onahu

We unloaded the car and loaded up our shoulders, hips and legs with gear and food for one night in the backcountry.

Kids did not carry much: ground pad, sleeping bag, clothes and...maple the moose (it's peaking out from the top of Tucker's backpack below).

 

The first day of the first backpacking trip of the year was painful.  We hiked 2.5 miles in and up about 1,000 feet, not without a few complaints and several breaks.

Once at camp we gladly freed ourselves from packs and set up tents.  We took off to explore the nearby meadows and filter water in the gushing creek.  On the way back, clouds rolled in and soaked us.  We ran back to camp for shelter, dry clothes and games in the tent. 

In usual Colorado-style, clouds rolled out and the sun shone.  Raincoats stayed on to protect bare skin from mosquito hoards which did not spoil the silliness.

I will take creative silliness and mosquitos at camp over TV and chores at home, anyday!

BFFs

Almost every day that we arrive home, Tucker sprints down the street to see if Joseph can play.  School vacation and weekends are best when the two of them can embark on hours immersed in boyhood pretending.

They can have fun doing anything from playing football men to sitting in the drainage gulley, ready to ambush, to collecting sticks.  

The beauty of boyhood!