Balloon Glow, 2016

SUCH a good day that we all went to the balloon glow at John Stiff Park that evening.

to have a best-friend

daddy!

Grace strapped on

Hiking the Lighthouse Trail in PDC

Julie and I decided to take the boys on an adventure down in the canyon.  We had a pretty lofty goal of making it to the lighthouse (3 miles there + 3 miles back) BUT it was a gorgeous afternoon and we psyched them up, brought a lot of water and treats for every mile-marker with a picnic at the top... 

 LOVE these boys!

umbrella sun-shade for the ginger

 Excited for mile 1!

 catching a first glimpse of our destination

 In about 20 years, I hope these kids realize what a COOL childhood they had... 

Sure, Julie and I are crazy, BUT we do a LOT with these kids.

 picnic in a shady spot

 BAM!  

Made it!

 Julie and Luke

 It was hot out and these boys didn't complain.  

You could tell that they were running on gas fumes by mile 5, BUT we tried to keep their minds occupied by deciding on snow-cone flavors during that last weary mile.  

 "tiger blood" was the final decision

  Owen... keep this confidence.  Never change.

during the hike we collected trash and looked for plants/animals from our junior ranger sheet.  As we were leaving the park, the boys turned in their papers and trash and received badges.  

1st Day of School, 2016

Yes, I LOVE making Ben do this too!

(I'm glad he played along this year... he's slowing learning what makes me happy.)

 1st day at his NEW school.

Grace (20 months), Kaden (7), Owen (4 3/4)

 Grace hitching a ride on the 1/4 mile walk to school.

Fast-forward two weeks to Owen attending pre-K at Sonlight Preschool: 

Gracie desperately wanting to be BIG and have her "school" picture taken.