Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park

We went camping this past weekend in Estes Park so that we could visit Rocky Mountain National Park.  We wanted to squeeze in one more camping trip before little sister makes her debut.  We arrived Friday and got settled in our camping spot.  We had a spot right on the Big Thompson River.  We walked around Estes Park that afternoon.  It was nice but full of old people tourists.

Walking around Estes Park.

Watching a glass-making demonstration.  Gus was really interested in it but Cormac could take it or leave it.

Cadel was pretty unimpressed as well.

 We found a place that had go-carts and little rides so the boys were all thrilled.  Naturally, everyone had to have a turn on the race car.

 Cormac went on the go-carts first and loved it.  When he was finished he kept talking about going again and again.

Cadel wanted to ride so badly but he just isn't big enough yet.

Gus had a blast as well.

 This is the Big Thompson River from our camping spot.  Luckily the trailer was quite a ways back or we would have been fishing out boys regularly.

 When we weren't out and about they were driving cars and trains in the dirt, of course.

 Saturday we went to Rocky Mountain National Park.  We saw this elk right on the way in.  We also saw a yellow-bellied marmot, and several mule deer (not a big deal since they hang out in our front yard).  Cormac really wanted to find a moose but no such luck this trip.

 That is Long's Peak.  I believe it is one of the tallest peak's in the national park at a little over 14,200 feet.

 We did a short hike this trip because a longer one would have been too much waddling for me.

An after-hike snack break.  It was a good trip and the boys had a wonderful time as they always do on our camping adventures.  I am glad we were able to get in one more trip for them.

A new place to dig

The spot of dirt in the backyard where the boys play was growing bigger and bigger so we thought it was time to come up with an alternative to try and let the grass grow back.  This week I took the boys to pick out a sand box.  They love it! They have been out in every day since we brought it home.  Now the only problem is we are going to have to refill it every other week.

Take me out to the ball game

Gus started t-ball recently.  Practice started the last week of May.  It is a non-competitive, no score league, which is perfect for Gus because he doesn't know much about the mechanics of baseball.  Gus is having a great time because it is something new to learn and he loves learning anything new.  His team is the Cubs.  They had their first game this week.  Unfortunately I forgot my camera so I only had pictures from my phone which aren't that great. But it gives an idea of how it went.  Gus said he loved playing out in the field.  He had a turn at third base, pitcher's mound and first base.  He loved chasing after the ball (and on his team a lot of the other kids did as well--there was a mob that would run from one side of the field to the other--it was so funny to watch).

Gus playing third base.

His ready stance.

Ready to bat.

Hitting the ball.

Running to first.  He was great at figuring out to run once he hit the ball and he really took off too.

Watching Gus briefly. These two are all over the place during games. Luckily, practice is held at a park near our house that we frequently visit so they get to play there. No such luck at the games.

Random things I have heard recently

Gus:  "Can we get a banana tree at Home Depot?"

Gus to Cormac while playing chef:  "What kind of soup do you want?"

Cormac:  "I don't wear suits."

Gus singing:  "For he's a chocolate good fellow."

Cormac:  "If you wanna eat turkey you gotta make it dead first."

Gus: "When I spit in the sky it bounces off the sky and lands in my face."

A conversation between Pat and Cormac about a summer playdate for Cormac's preschool:
   Pat:  "Did you meet any of the kids that are going to be in your class?"
   Cormac:  "Yeah, there were two boys who were wearing little round hats."  (A set of twin brothers
                    wearing big swim/sun hats)
   Pat:  "Little round hats?  Did they look like this?" (making a gesture for a yarmulke on top of his head)
   Cormac:  "Yeah."
   Pat:  "Were they called yarmulkes?"
   Cormac:  "No, twins."

Worn out

After lunch yesterday all three boys went to play together in Gus and Cormac's room.  After I cleaned up in the kitchen I went to check on them.  Cadel couldn't be found anywhere.  I looked all over the house.  I noticed that the door to his closet was ajar so I turned on the light to check in there.  This is how I found him--asleep on the floor with tracks stolen from Gus and Cormac's room.  I think he took the tracks that Gus and Cormac wanted and ran away to hide in his closet.  When no one came to look for him he just went ahead and started his nap.  Too funny!