Today we had a gorgeous day up here in the high country. The weather was perfect. Another day when we have to remind ourselves that we are not on permanent vacation.  It really does feel like that some days.  We met some friends (from Colorado Springs) at the peninsula for lunch and ended up hanging out all afternoon.
After our friends headed out, Scott and the girls headed up to the bike park.  They started out on the flow track and then made their way to the jump track.  I had a ton of fun watching them and snapping pictures.  Paige, who would not usually be so daring, was feeling very adventurous today and took about 10 runs down the jump track.  She seemed to get braver with each run and by the end was catching some big air.  I think my heart may have stopped a couple times, watching her take some of those jumps.   Alice also had a super fun time out on the tracks with Scott.  It is really fun to watch them gaining confidence on their bikes and taking risks.

Well, in preparation for the new school year and a bit of mourning for the passing of another summer break, we are laying low and enjoying our last week of freedom here at Casa Wescott.  Sam and Alice have been at science camp all week and my two littlest and I have been playing outside, reading a lot, painting, watching old woody woodpecker reruns and just hanging out.  We might even be enjoying some nap time (me, just me).
This is never my favorite week.  I h-word the start of a new school year.  It goes by too fast people.  Way too fast.  Sam is going into FIFTH GRADE.  How did that happen?!?!?  It seems like I just dragged walked him into Kindergarten.  And now…..Mason is going to school.  All four of my babies will be in school full time.  Sooo,  we are hanging out, pretending that we have not a care in the world.  We aren’t even thinking about alarm clocks and combed hair, clean underwear and signing planners, homework and after school activities.  Nope.  Just hanging out…..until Tuesday.  Another year, another adventure…..

Jennifer

This past weekend we got our camping groove on.  For real this time.  Saturday morning we worked the aid station for the Frisco Duathlon and then in the afternoon we packed up the Cruiser and headed up to Montezuma (about a 25 minute drive from home) for some real camping fun.  We set up camp about 1/4 mile off the main road across the snake river in wilderness area.  The Young family joined us later in the afternoon.  Remember when they camped in our backyard?  Well, they wanted a real camping experience so we tried our best to give it to them.  The kids got good and dirty and we all had a great time. We all enjoyed playing in the river, jumping from rock to rock and getting a bit wet.

Today, it is raining.  Like cats and dogs.  Sam and Alice are at science camp. Hope they are doing something fun inside 🙂

I hope you had a fantastic weekend.

Happy Monday.
Jennifer

In the past few days my kids have been having a lot of fun.  We are making the most of the last few days of summer break. Two weeks from today all four of my babies will be in school full time.  Where o’ where has the time gone?!?!?
 Last Friday, Sam and Alice had their championship swim meet, Monday we spent the day with some new friends over in Copper at the fun park, Saturday the kids and I took a super duper long hike and yesterday we headed down the Springs for a much needed pool day and playtime with friends.  Wow!!!!  Flying pics (and some other cute ones) below:)

So many thanks to my friends who came out to the pool yesterday and just sat around chit chatting like old times.  It was exactly what I needed; a do nothing, beach chair, eat pizza out of the box, sunburned kinda day.

jennifer

A couple months ago I got a bug up my behind to do another triathlon and right about that time I got a message in my inbox from the Tri for the Cure.  It piqued my interest so I went to the website and learned that this particular tri is woman only.  I loved that and immediately went and signed up.  Then I had serious buyer’s remorse or whatever you want to call it.  I freaked out, okay. I really am not a good swimmer. So, I kept telling myself that I would get in the pool.  But…..big but coming up.  I had every good intention of getting in the pool and swimming BUT I didn’t.  That was the problem.  I never got in the pool.  About two weeks ago, I realized that I was not going to accomplish this tri by myself because I was going to drown before I made it to my bike.  I sent a desperate email to my friend Jenn and she was kind enough to fill in for my swim.  To make a long story short, I changed my solo mission into a two person relay.  We met up in Denver very early on Sunday morning.  She swam, I biked and ran.  Perfect 🙂  Thanks to Jenn for saving me at the last minute.  We ended up doing really well in our division!
Here are the pics from the day.  It was super fun and I think that a triathlon relay is definitely the way to go for this girlie.

Happy Monday!
Jennifer

Saturday afternoon we got an awesome surprise when friends (who are really like family) came up for a spontaneous camping trip in our backyard.  We really thought they were joking because in the past camping hasn’t been their thing. Then we realized that they were serious and we got busy planning for a camping trip….in the backyard.  Actually we didn’t really have to do anything except pull the tent off the shelf for them.  They did all the work.  We did have smores around the campfire along with a not so quiet game of charades and then finished with a very silly story before their kids settled into the tent and our kids settled into their beds 🙂  The good news is that I think they will camp again.  Because we do own a camping store and we love to camp, we helped them pick out some necessary items (like sleep pads) that would make their trips to the mountains that much more enjoyable.
On Sunday morning we all headed out for a bike ride.  It was a gorgeous morning for a ride.   Aside from Paige going out of control and riding off the side of the trail down into the trees and Sam and Alice colliding (which resulted in Sam cutting up his hand) we had a very nice morning 🙂  We had a yummy pizza lunch and then finished the day up with frozen yogurt, beer for the mommas and live music.  It could not have been a nicer day.

Thanks Youngs for such a great visit!!!

Jennifer and fam

Sunny

Sometimes painful

Hilarious

Fun


Day.

Today, the kids and I enjoyed this beautiful day with a round of golf.  Yep.  9 holes.  I took 4 kids golfing.  All by myself.

Really?


Really.

Okay.  Not THAT kind of golfing. Actually, a way more fun (is way more fun proper English?) kind of golfing.  Disc golfing.
There is an awesome course on the Frisco Peninsula that goes right along Lake Dillon.  I have to admit that I didn’t expect much. After all, I have played frisbee with these kids and their aim and distance is still progressing but hey all did great. Sam totally outplayed me.  The other three managed to stay along with us and had a blast. 
There were a few moments of distress when one or the other would throw their disc and hit a sibling.  Sam thought he might have broken a rib when Paige beaned him point blank with her frisbee disc.  Alice received a really nice goose egg on her arm when Mason threw from behind and didn’t call a fore and Paige’s ankle may have bled a bit when Sam accidentally sent his disc flying backwards.
Anyhoo, no major injuries.  It was a good time and we can’t wait to go back with Daddy.

This sort of golfing has a spectacular view and the shoes are way better.
Have a great weekend,
Jennifer

In the Wescott family, every kid knows that when you turn five you get your own scooter.  Mason has been waiting sooo long to finally be able to ride his own scooter with his brother and sisters.  Now he rides around and around the cul-de-sac.

He is one happy boy.  

Let me start out by saying that my husband has been on a work trip (read: ride bikes, learn about bikes, repeat) since Sunday and I am starting to go a little bit cuckoo for cocoa puffs.  If you know what I mean (or watched Saturday morning television in the 80’s).