Grizzly, Badger, Bobcat and Mountain Lion!

Our homeschool group {OK only 3 families} went on another adventure this past Thursday. We drove an hour and a half to Pagosa Springs to see the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Park. It was pretty cool I thought. Not one person looking in this picture!

Got off another one before the walk. It's ok....Everyone but Mark and Kim. At least more people are looking in this one.I had 2 of the Bleger girls with me. Mark, thankfully, was able to take off the afternoon and come help me. The best time to see the animals was at 2pm when they feed them. 2pm is right in the middle of Jack's naptime. Not good. But with Mark's help it went alright. Jack got a bit fussy at times but in the end he did really well for being a 2yr old with no nap.We followed around the park lady as she fed the grizzly bear...
the coyotes...(no good picture of the porcupine - bummer)the black bear....the wolves....the grouchy bobcat...the mountain lions (aren't these awesome pictures?)...the donkey and goat (although no pics of those - they weren't quite as cool as the mountain lion)

the elk...and the emu.We stopped for a break in the middle for a rest.
Ashley Beach, Jack, Mark and Violet Bleger
Ashley, Madi, Kate and Violet
The youngest member of the group - Sommer
Then we had to take a bunch of fun pictures with the kids!and Mark :)

Fun on Friday - 2

We're 2 for 2 so far! We decided to go to the Rec Center and go swimming today. The kids have been bugging us for months to go! Literally months. Not even kidding. Months....

Anyway, Kale got wind last night that we might be headed to the pool and he was uber excited. They were in our room at 7:01 (although Kate came in at 6:30 to tell me she was hungry - mean mommy made her wait till 7), breakfast eaten by 7:15, dressed in swimsuits by 7:30. Mark and I took our time but we were still out of the house by 8:15am. A bit early for my taste but how could I argue with 3 excited children?

We got there, took a quick picture (for the blog!) and went inside only to find out that all the cool kid stuff (waterslides and toys) don't start till 10. Seriously?!

So we played in the almost empty pool (one good reason to go early) for an hour before we could go down the slide.

Mark and I were more ready than the kids for the water stuff to turn on so that we weren't the only source of entertainment! Once the slides came on Kale went 3 times, Kate went about a dozen and even Jack drug me up the steps a few times. Fun stuff!

After swimming we came home, had lunch, then painted (at least the 2 littles did).

This is what Jack does when we tell him to smile. So like Chandler (if you've never watched Friends you so totally won't get that reference - sorry).

"Yes you can take my picture but make it quick!"

Jack's palate

And Kate's

We told him to think about candy rather than to smile...it worked!

Been missing these peeps...

No not the sugary-fluffy-marshmallowy peeps. *gag*

These peeps. The Danquahs. Sadie and Jack - birthday buddies! Born on the same day. She, just a few hours earlier. They are quite a pair!

And this little pumpkin - Lily{pills} as I call her. Little buds since they were born. Love. Her.

And then there's Kale. There's no Danquah the same age but Megan is cooking another one due in June. Another Danquah princess to add to their gorgeous collection :)

And I'm so bummed not have gotten a picture of Megan and I! You know moms...love getting their pictures taken :) Frankly we were so busy talking and catching up and herding kids that we had no time to stop and take pictures. I barely remembered these!

Megan was in town for a few weeks (she and her hubby used to be on staff with us and moved to staff at a YWAM base in LA 2 yrs ago). Megan used to be in our youth group. I feel like I've known her forever! In fact she and I were having coffee together the morning of 9/11 when we heard about the planes. She's such a dear, sweet friend and I miss her living all the way in CA. So glad to have had time with her while she was here.

Kale and the Kamera

Here is what happens when you give a 7 yr old with an obsession for the cat your cell phone and show him how to take pictures. This is what he's interested in....

Obi

Obi again

Obi's eyeball

Up Obi's nose

Himself

What do I look like with my tongue sticking out....

I didn't feel like posting all 12 pictures of the cat since I figured it wouldn't be too interesting. Just got a few of the "best". He also shot a picture of a picture of himself....Nice Kale.

Fun Pictures

Mark's phone takes some neat pictures. Here are a few of my favorites.