Finishing our drive home...day #2

With our late start leaving Colorado we didn't make the trip home in one day like we had hoped but it actually worked out for the better. We stayed the night in North Platte and the kids had fun swimming at the hotel before bed.
The next morning we were able to see my folks who just happened to be in Grand Island for an AFLAC convention and banquet for my mom's work. The kids loved seeing grandma and grandpa.

Ethan loved riding his bike around the campsite

Evie and grandma playing with flowers and huge leaves

Grandma made Evie and Ethan a snack. The kids love playing in the camper. Of course grandma and grandpa always have good snacks. It wasn't long before we found the oreos too.

Evie is giving me the 'don't take my picture mom, I'm riding' look...

Ethan however is saying 'cheese' for me with his whole face.

My dad and Joel watching Ethan scoot his bike though the leaves...and of course their bitchen camper - I just love it. That thing has seen some sites. Winter is coming and it might finally get to rest for a while.

Ethan is using his carrot to shoot cars we pass on the road...

I guess its like a Reeses...there is no wrong way to eat it...

VIDEO: Ethan shooting with his carrot. By the time I grabbed my camera he was done. It was pretty cute...

Drive home from Colorado

Well, sadly we are saying goodbye to sunshine ranch until next summer. We all had a wonderful trip and a great summer. Unfortunately it just went by too quickly.

Packed up and headed for home

One last look. I miss it already.

We stopped in Fort Morgan to let the kids run around...all of the kids...

Poor Ethan. He missed his morning nap and it's way past his afternoon nap. Half way through the tunnel he said 'night night' and put his head down.

We had a lot of bread left over from the week which was good because the geese were hungry. You'll have to check out the video at the end of this post.

Joel was dropping bread on Evie's toes and the geese were making her laugh as they were nibbling her toes to get the bread.

What an unusual hairdo...

VIDEO: Ethan needs a nap...

VIDEO: Feeding the geese

Christian camp art...

One of the neighbor's at sunshine ranch is a Christian camp. The kids usually keep to themselves and don't come on the Smith's property but one day Joel came back from checking out the property and said that someone recently has been on the land. We all piled in the jeep to check it out. At the time we didn't know it was work from the Christian camp but maybe someone from the forest...but then we saw the lunch trash; chip bags and soda cans. Not that a hiker couldn't carry a bag of fritos and a can of soda but it narrowed it down pretty quickly...

This artwork is on the moto track near the fire pit we have dinner and roast marshmallows at.

They made log henge out of the logs the guys used to jump their motorcycles over

We drove to the christian camp so Joel could talk to them about not being on the land, especially leaving their trash, etc. While Joel was at the camp the kids ran around collecting sticks for their pretend sword fight.

Ethan was pretty restless in the jeep on the way back to the house. Clarke finally calmed him down shaking a box of matches. We laughed at the fact that we gave him a box of matches to play with but really we try to be safe parents... Clarke is so good with the kids. We're super lucky to have him around every day. The kids love him too.

Dinner by campfire

We are home from Colorado but I have been slow with posting this week. I'll try to finish posting our trip this weekend.

When I came back from my bike ride Joel had the car and the cooler packed and ready to have dinner by the campfire. The kids love the campfire because it means 'marshmallows'.

Evie is being a good big sister...she is telling Ethan to stay back while daddy starts the fire. Ethan found a wire for marshmallows and is ready to go...

While we wait for the fire to turn to coals the kids had a hot dog appetizer.

Evie with a little smoke in her eyes while Joel cooks her hot dog.

...And there is Ethan's hot dog...right where he threw it, in the middle of the fire.

The kids being their goofy selves

Forget about the smoking fire...check out those smoking legs...

Cooking dinner. Joel wrapped up salmon and veggies - yummy.

The kids got one marshmallow while dinner finished cooking

Ethan is just dragging his marshmallow around in the ash. Of course he wanted to do it all by himself. I traded him with a clean one when he was ready to eat his.

Dinner is served. It was fantastic too. The kids finished their plates with out a peep. Evie actually ate her salmon and most of mine and Joel's and then asked for more.

Thanks for a great dinner daddy!

Deer in the meadow

We went on a family quad ride to the upper meadow the other night and saw about 15 deer. The cool thing is that they weren't afraid of us and let us watch them for a long time. We went back to the meadow a few nights later and luckily they were there again. There were still about 15 but it was getting dark for pictures.

The sunset was beautiful, just like it is every night.

Evie standing on the Jeep to get a better look. She said she is freeeeezzzzing.

Clarke and Sara.

Ethan, who loves to be behind the wheel! Like father, like son...

My hubby and I.