Canon City

My parents went on a vacation to the Grand Canyon and on the way back up we decided to meet in Canon City.  The kids were obviously excited to hang out with their grandparents and sleep in a hotel.

We got to hang out at a great park while waiting for our train ride.  The kids were excited to feed the ducks and run around a little after our drive down that morning.

Rilyn throwing out her gang sign lol

At the train station, they had a telephone booth.  The kids were very confused ha!  Rilyn was actually afraid to go inside at first.

We went on the train ride that takes you through the gorge and it was a great way to see it from ground level.  The outdoor cab was really neat and we spent a lot of time outside.

After the train, we drove to the bridge and tried to brave crossing it.  It was really windy so they mostly closed everything by the time we got there.  Rilyn was really frightened of the bridge (so was Papa) ha.  So, we turned around before we crossed it.  Really with the wind it was like a wave going through the bridge and scary!  We hopped on a shuttle and took that across.  On the way back, we footed it and Rilyn and my dad were so brave.

 

Ryder fell while on the train.  It was stopped and he was sitting go figure.  He ended up with a very fat and bloody lip.  I thought we were going to get stitches for our first time, but the bleeding stopped...eventually.   This boy hurts himself on our couch.  He's kind of a disaster most of the time. But he does like telling his story and it always starts with, "once upon a time I was on a train."

It was a fun "mini-vacation" for the kids and I.  We don't get to see my parents often but we make the best of it when we do.

Cousin Fun

We've been so lucky lately to hang out with the Decker cousins.  We get to see Xander and Aebrynn quite often because they also hang out with grandma during the day.  When I work the first thing my kids ask me when they wake up, is if their cousins will be at grandma's.

Sawyer loves snuggling Aebrynn, which is kind of funny since he is usually more of a bully.
I guess he knows he has to take care of his little girl cousin.  I'm guessing he won't let anyone
mess with her.

Henry was in town a month or so ago and we got to spend a couple hours with him.  It's always fun to see him and Sawyer together since they are so close in age.  I can't wait to watch them as they get older.  Hopefully they will be best buds.

I love the look Henry is giving Sawyer.
He always looks at him like this...just waiting for Sawyer's next move.

We also got to have Xan and Aebrynn over here for a day and the kids loved having them join us. We did preschool, played with every toy we have, and played outside.  We even painted.  I may have been a little crazy to paint with 5 kids 4 and under, but it worked out fine.  Also, grandma Decker is seriously the best because as much as I loved having them I couldn't do it all day as often as she does!

Zoe was pretty sure it was her job to watch Aebrynn all day!  She never left her side.

                                      

Of course, we've been able to hang with the newest cousin lately too and Rilyn jumps right in for snuggles.

We have the best of both worlds.  Awesome older cousins to look up to on my side and younger or same age cousins to be best buds with on Tyler's side.  Couldn't have worked out any better!

Fabulous Fall

It's been a great slow start to fall.  The weather has stayed warm and we've been able to enjoy lots of outside time.

The older two have been working hard on riding bikes and both are pretty proficient on their bikes. Rilyn is on a pedal bike no training wheels and Ryder is on his balance bike.  Rilyn has needed lots of encouragement to overcome her fear of falling, but other than that has needed little support to learn to ride a pedal bike.  I love that the balance bike gave her the skills she needed to learn with minimal hassle. So, we've taken to some paved trails in Castle Rock and with Sawyer in a stroller we can cover 2 miles.  It's a good way for all of us to get some physical activity.

He gets to just hang out and eat the whole time.

We've been trying to be consistent with preschool.  We are not going to send the kiddos to preschool since I'm home and really want to be as present as I can be while they are young.  Also, I LOVE teaching and nothing is more rewarding than teaching my own children.  It's such a joy to watch them learn and amazes me how quickly they pick up things.  Of course, it's totally different since I taught special ed I didn't see the quick and effortless progress that I see with Rilyn and Ryder.  But, we do have to be intentional about making time for it and it's been a little of a learning curve for me to fit it in, in addition to all the other things we have going on.  Play and social opportunities still take precedent!  They really don't need much in terms of formal learning right now, but since we all enjoy it we do it.  We are using a free bible based curriculum I found online so we learn a bible story, a memory verse, and a letter each week.  In addition, there are science and math targets intertwined, but I mostly just focus on whatever interests the kids and what math skills I think are important.

reading in a box with a lantern...

As I mentioned most of our time revolves around playing.  All 3 kids play really well, and minus the referring I do it's a great part of our time.  It's fun to watch them be so creative and learn from each other.

We have been busy doing lots of things outside of the house too.  To name a few, The Children's Museum, park visits, a surprise fire truck tour, and swim lessons for the older two.  

Rilyn and those bears at the museum.  March 2012 and September 2015

This fire truck visit was one of those spontaneous moments that just happened.  We were driving home from Sunday brunch and I was tired.  Church and then brunch with these three is exhausting. Especially since church starts at 8:15.  I usually get home and am completely worthless through nap. But, when I passed the park and saw a fire truck there I decided to turn around and see if the boys could spend some time drooling over the coolness of it.  Rilyn stayed with grandma (usual for her on Sundays) or actually any day that ends in day lol.  I'm so glad I decided to stop.  The fire chief was so patient and kind and took so much time explaining everything on the truck.  Some times those awesome moments are unplanned but are all around the place if we take the time to notice them!  

Swimming lessons was great for Rilyn.  She is very close to being able to at least swim enough to be in water fairly independently.  Ryder's still is a fish, but doesn't have the attention span to learn anything.  He acts like it's a trampoline and just jumps up and down the whole time worrying the teacher that he will drown.  We don't get to the pool often enough for a couple of reasons but mostly it's dang expensive since we aren't residents of Castle Rock and I can't take all 3 by myself without constant worry.  Sometimes living out of town has it's downfall...

But then I get to wake up to this every morning so swimming doesn't matter...

We've been doing lots of baking with the cooler weather.  Too be honest, I almost always want to do it by myself lol but I try to be patient and let those three monkeys help.  We really don't have enough room for all three of them to help at the same time but they seem to think so.  Cooking is one thing that all three of them is always interested in.  

Enjoying a new season with my favorite people!  Can't wait for more fall fun with these pumpkins.