"Cactus Jack"

This is now Hamp's new nickname.

Unfortunately, it's kind of self-explanatory... but I'll indulge you anyway!

On one of their expeditions, Hamp & a buddy were riding a great trail (just the 2 of them I might add!) when apparently Hamp fell off his bike and right into a cactus. He very bravely walked (hobbled?) all the way back to the campsite, with cactus spines sticking out of his whole right side, where he immediately received superb medical attention (read: tweezers and neosporin!) from the resident nurses. (Trina, Meredith & Shelly - my gratitude is endless!)

He howled and cried, but overall was pretty strong - and when asked if he wanted to go home once most of the spines were out and his hand was bandaged up, he very matter-of-factly said "Duh mom, I want to stay here"! (I think that had everything to do with the other dozen friends that were there to play with!)

Here he is getting some encouragement from Dad:

And here he is the next morning, still a little sore and not quite awake yet but ready to get right back in the mix!

So now it's almost 2 days later, and he's healing well. Lots of welts still on his leg and hip, and perhaps a few still buried little spines that we hope will work their way out eventually... but he is starting to come around to the idea of the legend of Cactus Jack!

camp trip

Our weekend adventure was a camping and biking trip with friends in Fruita -

a biking mecca and all around warm and beautiful place!

Thanks to the Deming family for organizing/motivating/transporting most of us... and for "hosting" the campsite!

By Saturday midday the whole gang had arrived and began to set up camp,

but most of the kiddos took off as soon as we opened the car doors:

The best part about the whole adventure (if there is a "best" part?!) was the fact that with so many people there was always something going on - a bike ride, a hike, a bathroom run, a conversation - so there was always some way to keep occupied.

And then sometimes, it was nice just to put your feet up (especially when clad in very funny looking shoes!) and enjoy the whole experience!

Or perhaps the best part was watching the kids play - at times it was funny, adventurous, imaginative, collaborative, quiet, crazy, or sweet - but it was definitely non-stop!

Certainly the highlight of the whole trip was all the bike-riding...

some riders were more advanced than others, but everyone had a great time:

Then again, the best part might have been the campfire

(or more specifically, the marshmallows roasting over the campfire!)

The collection of bicycles took a short rest while we slept, but no doubt they were back on the trail as soon as the sun was up...

recipe for a fantastic 24-hour adventure:

13 kids under age ten

8 adults

1 dog

the desert

some great sunshine

awesome singletrack bike trails

delicious pizza

a campfire with s'mores

and enough tents and bikes to keep everyone happy!

p.s. Happy Birthday Liam!

school's out!

I think a dozen or so friends and a pizza party at the park all day Friday is a pretty good way to kick off the summer, don't you?!

1st grade pic nic

An end-of-the-school-year treat - a pic nic at the park with the whole 1st grade!

(parents & siblings were totally invited, too!)

Hamp did not vary from his usual lunch recess routine:

football with friends!

Frisco

Our adventures this weekend took us to one of our favorite places...

to reunite with some very dear friends!

Of course, our original plans were to go camping and biking.

Fortunately we were smart and checked the weather first...

so we ended up renting a great little mountain house. Thank goodness, too because I don't think anyone would have liked to awoken from their tent in the woods on Saturday morning and seen this:

And after much lamenting of the spring weather in Colorado, we were relieved to wake up Sunday morning to this:

But the weather never slowed anyone down... it just changed some of our activities!

The five adults didn't seem to mind long mornings of coffee and magazines and catching up on conversation. Mornings melted into long afternoons of games and naps and more conversation!

But with a group of six boys age 13 and under, no doubt that the best activity was the hot tub!

Here's the hot tubbin' gang on Saturday morning anxiously awaiting the clearing of the snow!

During hot tub breaks, the boys all played games or hide-and-seek or (much to my great anxiety!) truth-or-dare! Don't worry, it mostly consisted of eating snow or making fart noises or something like that!

Our one foray out of the house all weekend was a side trip to Breckenridge for the afternoon on Saturday. Though the weather was still crummy - cold rain! - everyone managed to enjoy a hot drink, an ice cream cone, some fun shopping, the museum, and the park!

Of course, as soon as we got back to the house the boys were back in the hot tub!

(Sam chose to play a board game instead!)

3 college friends...

The whole gang!

What a great get away...