Hike, Book Club, Park and playing outside

I woke the kids up at 7:30 today so we could be out the door by 8:15 to get to our hike.  We were meeting up with our online school group for a hike at Red Rocks.  It was a pleasantly cool morning so I thought we would have somewhat of a cooler hike.

Not so, we were hiking by 9:15 and it was already super hot.  It was a 2 mile hike through beautiful rock formations.  We saw lots of birds and 2 deer.  We were warned about rattlesnakes and mountain lions.

After our hike, we had a picnic lunch at the amphitheater with the people on our hike.  Part of the reason I was there was to recruit new Girl Scouts.  I got a new Cadette and a new Daisy.  Skylar is very excited about her new Daisy.

After the hike, we went home for quiet time and to cool down.  We had to get Cairn to her Book Club so I had to wake Andrew during his nap.  He was zonked.  After dropping off Cairn, we went to the water park to play in the water.

 First, they played in the fountains.  There were a couple mean kids who were taking over the fountains and not letting the water spray out so we headed over to the river.

Andrew wasn't too happy because there were kids with water guns and buckets just drenching people.  Those people who didn't want to get drenched would go to the opposite side where they were but they would eventually come to where all the kids were.  It was kind of maddening and no parents around to stop them.  It wouldn't have been too bad if the kids wanted to get drenched but it wasn't a fair fight and not everyone wants water poured on them.

After Book Club we headed home for dinner.  Tonight I made brown rice and quinoa and topped it with lentils, crushed fire roasted tomatoes and green chilies.  Everyone loved it.

After we ate we headed out to play with the kids.  I haven't been taking them to the park lately because of all the fighting on the street.  We tried to work on some stuff tonight.  We will see what tomorrow. brings the group.

Hike today

or maybe not.

For whatever reason, today was not a good day.  We were slow to get on school, I just felt like I was hounding everyone to get to work.  Finally, Cairn got on task and worked pretty hard.  Skylar and Andrew wouldn't stay on task for anything.

I was trying to pack the backpacks for the hike and keep the kids on task.  Maybe that was the problem.  Finally, at 10:45 I had had enough.  I called my friend and asked if she could take Cairn on the hike while I stayed at home with Skylar and Andrew.  She was fine with that but the littles were not.  I got everyone into the car crying and screaming.  I felt like joining in.

We dropped off Cairn and before we could get turned around, Andrew was asleep - it was only 11:40 AM.  I got everyone home and put Andrew into bed and Skylar got to work on putting energy back into me by doing chores.  She washed all the kitchen cabinets, cleaned the microwave, dusted the TV, wiped down the counters in the red bathroom, washed the bathroom cabinets in the red bathroom and the master bath, and wiped down the frig.  Then she got hungry so I let her eat.

Andrew woke up at 1:20, ate and got to work on his chores and Skylar finished up hers.  They folded towels, picked up leaves and trash, and Skylar wiped down the floor while I vacuumed.  Cairn returned at 3:30, immediately took a bath while the littles went outside to play in the sunshine.  I started dinner.

Cairn had a great time on her hike.  My friend sent a couple pictures.

Aunt Trish came over for dinner since we were all going to check out her possible new house.  We ate a nice dinner of spaghetti mac and carrots and then went outside to ride bikes until Dad got home.  All of a sudden Andrew lost it while we were getting everyone in the car.  So I took out of the car and we went inside while everyone else left.   It took him about 45 minutes to calm down, he ate and then he did some more chores - emptied trash, and made Skylar's bed with a new blanket.

Dad came home with the girls so we all went outside to ride bikes in the cul-de-sac with the neighbors.  Everyone wanted me to take them to the park but it was already 7:45 when they got home.

Andrew was riding his bike backwards down the driveway when he crashed, which caused him to cut open his head and create a large goose egg on the back of his head.  I was a little worried when I picked him up and there was blood on the street.  It stopped very quickly and it was just a little road rash.  Another head banger though.  The reason he didn't have his helmet on was because he was only riding his little bike and I have never had him wear it on that one.  I do now!!

I have figured out through trial and error and observation that Andrew does a much better job of eating when he eats all alone.  He gets right down to business and shovels it in.  He seems to get too distracted with everyone around to stay on task to eat.  I will have to figure out how to help him learn to eat with distractions.  Luckily, I have many years to work with him (since he is only 3).