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.

South Main - Buena Vista

The kids and I picked up Joel in Buena Vista after he biked there from Sunshine Ranch. After he got there we checked out South Main, a new housing and business development just off of main street. We played in the water for a bit before lunch. The kids love watching Joel throw huge rocks into the water. Ethan actually has a pretty good arm on him already. Unfortunately I didn't think to bring my camera so here are a few pictures from my phone.

The style of the new development is really nice. The homes are all a different design and seem to be quality construction.

It's hard to tell from pictures but this development looks really modern compared to downtown main street.

Denver Zoo

The kids had fun waking up in the hotel this morning. After breakfast and Ethan's morning nap we got ready to go to the Denver zoo. Both beds had 4 huge fluffy pillows on them. I put them all on one bed and had fun throwing Ethan into them.

Ethan would just roll around the pillows, it was so cute.

The moment after I threw Ethan into the pillows...

Evie was on the other bed playing Rapunzel, pretending her blanket was her long hair.

Ethan after being tosseled a few dozen times

Joel trying to get a few last minute e-mails done before we go

And arriving to our first trip to the Denver zoo. The kids had a great time!

Ethan, chilling with Mr. polar bear

Taking a snack break; Joel trying to sneak a bite of Evie's corn dog while she was being playful.

Ethan happily shoved his in Joel's mouth

Ethan sizing up this crazy million year old looking turtle

Evie and Daddy looking at the crocodile. Ethan moving fast, as usual.

We just happened to catch this lady feeding the seals. A minute sooner or later and we would have missed it. She did it so quickly.

Okapi, a relative to the giraffe. They have stripes like a zebra. They live deep in the rainforest's...but somehow they survive in the Denver zoo...

Joel's favorite animal, the warthog.

Ethan hanging with the elephants...actually just a cardboard cutout of one displaying the new Asian elephant area to be built next year.

Evie was on the look out for all the animals in the movie Madagascar. She would see the Lions and say 'there's Alex', etc. Here she is happy to have found 'Gloria', the hippo.

And... a tired mommy as we leave the zoo. We're off to the car and a 2 1/2 hour drive back to Sunshine Ranch.