Garden of the Gods ~ 2013

We were having a lazy day 3 of vacation. 

Spent some time at Rock Ledge Ranch with cousins. 

Then they needed to head home.

Daddy-O and I decided to take the kids to Garden of the Gods. 

Wow!  You would have thought we were going to torture the kids or something.

The thought they were going to miss some time with cousins

quickly turned us into vacation ruining parents!

 

Below: Kissing Camels

 

 

We bribed them with time in the gift shop!

And found photo opportunities on the balcony.



 

We made it through the gift shop, with minimal tears.

Mostly cause Daddy O threw some money out and let the kids buy a couple of things.
Plus, there was the purchase of fudge!

Then the promise, we would only drive through the Garden of the Gods, to make the torture go faster.

 

It didn't take long for them to begin to appreciate the beauty of the park.

 

By the time we arrived at Balance Rock, they were ready to get out and explore. 

 

Just the perfect amount of rock scrambling.

I think they quickly came to believe their parents weren't the wet blankets of vacation history.

Sugar and spice

Every once in a while it is just me and one of my sweet kiddos! 

The urge hits to do something special just them and me.

After a day at the home school conference, my sweet Princess and I

had ice cream for dinner!  Oh yeah!

We ate at the park to prevent the inevitable chorus, "What about me?"

I love times like these with my kids. 

A Dog's Best Friend

Gus was being a nuisance this spring.  In addition, we had to put him in the front yard while we started the reseeding process of the backyard.  Boredom is an issue for this beast.  My term of endearment for him.  You would think with all these children around he wouldn't be bored.  Daily walks were initiated to help wear him out, to no avail.  Then I was at the commissary and they had femur bones for sale.  Oh yeah!  Score one for mom.  As long as he has one of these big bones, he is quiet.  He doesn't even care if the kids are out in the yard.  He just wants his bone. 

Soccer ~ Spring 2013

This Spring was the start of something new....Soccer.  The Man loves soccer.  He started talking about soccer last fall.  Too late to start on any leagues or teams.  Talked so much about it, his aunt shopped soccer gear for Christmas.  Long wait till spring, but he made it!