Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Today Allison decided to get "all dolled up" in her words. Don't know why except she is just such a girlie girl and loves to dress up and put on makeup. She's wearing some of my black suede heels.

Maybe she will grow up to be a model or an actress.

Our big activity for today was going to a cave which is on our neighbor's land. Grampa decided he needed a break so he stayed home. He had been there once and said that was enough for him.

Wally is getting prepared with head lamp and extra flashlights.

He's also got his trusty Swiss Army Knife for emergencies.

Along the way we stopped for a drink break and Wally turned over a rock to look for insects. Instead, he found this young mole. He was thrilled.

Alli changed out of her dressy clothes and into outdoor wear, plus headlamp.

Just inside the cave entrance Wally found some snails on the wall. He brought them home.

Getting into the cave is not easy, nor is getting out. We actually were not sure we were in the right place so we only went in a short way and shined our flashlights around then left. We need to go back with the owner of the cave who can be our guide.

I was very proud of Alli for going in because there were granddaddy long leg spiders everywhere on the walls of the entrance. We had to move them before she would get in but at least she did it. Competition with her brother spurs her on to be brave.

It looks like I am coming out of a well, but it's not that big of a drop to the ground. I wish we could have found the right way into the cave because it opens up into a large room and I think the kids would have found it interesting.

Here the kids are leaving the cave area. Kind of looks like little lost Hansel and Gretel doesn't it.

They did accuse me of trying to get them lost several times but we made it out of the woods ok.

Monday, June 28, 2010

No pictures were taken today. Gramma slipped up.

We let the kids sleep in because they had such a long day on Sunday and boy did they. Neither of them stirred until 11:00. I can't remember if I ever slept like that.

We did a longer horseback ride, with me on Luke, leading first Alli on Joe, then Wally on Joe. We went about a mile down a private road and into our neighbor's pasture. The kids fished there for a little bit with Grampa, but none were biting.

Then we all came back and had a great time playing in the pool. Best money we ever spent!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Sunday morning we got up early so Grampa and Gramma could go to the park for their run/walk exercise. Amy was going to run with us but she thought the kids needed her attention more than we did so she played with them the whole time. She and Alli got had closeup look at an armadillo. I was surprised and pleased that we were actually able to get the whole crew up at 5:00am and out the door by 5:30. We have to go very early to beat the heat.

When we got home Amy decided she better get on the road to Colorado, so she packed and hit the road with only her dog Xena for company. We kept the kids busy all day with swimming in the pool, eating, teaching them a new card game (Kings in the Corner), and going down the hill a short way to the creek to wade.

The swimming pool was rather warm today, so this spring fed creek was cold and felt good to us all, but especially to our long haired black dogs.



Here are the two kids, checking out the water to see what's in it. Wally is hoping for things to be in the water. Alli is wishing nothing would be in it other than plants. They forgot their water shoes so Wally is wearing my rubber boots and Alli is wearing my water shoes.

Wally, the future biologist, collecting snails and tadpoles, as always.

Allison's job is to look as glamorous as possible at all times, even at a creek where there is no public, just the camera. She's a natural beauty.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Today was a day to relax and catch up on sleep, laundry, computer games, and of course more swimming. We got some much needed rain today which slowed down our swimming activities for a while.

Tonight we cooked hamburgers on the grill and Amy made her great "little square potatoes". Our friend and neighbor, Deidra, joined us and we enjoyed seeing her.

Now Amy and the kids are finishing out the day with a movie on the air mattress bed. Tomorrow we are all scheduled to get up early and go for a run in the park. Wonder if we will all really go? Grampa and I sure need the exericise. We are not used to eating so much that is not on our diet. Sure is fun though!

.

Friday, June 25, 2010

We started out our busy Friday with a short horseback ride to get the kids used to the horses again. The horses were more interested in eating the grass than doing what the kids wanted. Wally is on Little Joe, the paint, and Alli is on Luke, the palomino.

Plus we got started too late and it was really too hot to enjoy the riding. Wally was the smart one and quit early to go get in the pool. Alli sure looks older than an 8 year old doesn't she.

After a cooling swim, we went into town to the library where they were having their summer program for kids. Today was a visit from two tigers that are part of the population of a big cat refuge in Arkansas. The tigers are two years old, 300 pounds each. Two years ago when they visited the library they were bottle fed babies. I wish we had seen them then.

More swimming in the afternoon, then a bonfire in our kettle for cooking hot dogs and roasting marshmallows. I really couldn't believe we were going to have a fire in this heat, but once the sun went down it actually wasn't bad sitting out by the fire. Cold beer and soda kept us cool.

Wally (surely a future biologist) is always delighted to find an animal of any kind. Luckily tonight it was only a toad, not a snake.

Beautiful mama, beautiful daughter.

Thursday, June 24, 2010, (continued)

Before getting in the pool today, the kids had some kind of frozen treat. Alli was so tickled that the color of hers exactly matched her swim suit. Grampa just thinks Alli is so beautiful.

Alli and LG are getting ready to take a ride with me in the Ranger. Notice her voluptuous Barbie-like figure. She achieved this with balloons that she put in the "pouches" of her swimsuit top.

Wally declined the ride in the Ranger and stayed home to target practice with the air rifle. He's very good about the safety procedures Grampa has taught him.

Amy and her dog Xena went for a walk to our mailbox (about a mile from the house). She wanted to get a cardio workout and I know she did in the heat and on our hills. When she got back she was extremely happy to get in the pool to cool off. She's not used to sweating like we do here.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Amy and kids arrived last night about 7:30. She was tired from driving all day and crashed early. We stayed in the pool with the kids until dark. They love it. Now I know it's totally worth the money. I didn't get any pictures the first night but started taking some today. It's hard to slow them down long enough to get a non-blurry picture.

Here they are loving that new pool.

The day the kids arrived we had 12 tons of pea gravel delivered. We couldn't have the big truck drive close to the pool for fear of damaging our water and gas lines so the load was dumped out in the yard. Amy and Grampa are shoveling it into the Ranger, driving it closer to the pool and then spreading it around the base of the pool.


Hot work for a girl used to cool Colorado, but she is young and strong and can handle it. We really appreciate the help too.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

We told Amy we had a surprise for the kids and this was it -- a brand new above ground pool, 24 feet across and 4 feet high. We barely got it installed and filled before they got here. We took the first dip on Tuesday and they got here on Wednesday evening. As Wally says, it's AWESOME!