Trip update

We are in Washington for our annual Fourth of July trip. We spent the first few days relaxing and shopping and Friday I went on a 15 mile bike ride with some hard core bikers... they went on another 17 miles loop further than I did. I was a beautiful ride through the Wenatchee forest around sunrise. Then yesterday a group of us were going to go river running and Alice convinced Paul he needed to go. The pictures came out great and he has a huge smile in all of them. The boys had fun but Nathan was a bit cold the whole time. The first waved we hit knocked me into the boat, better that than out of the boat. There were quite a few "fun" spots rated a class 3. Today were off to Leavenworth for the Fourth Festival which the kids love.

Durango

So as an out of school first outing / field trip I took the kids to the four corners area and then over to Durango to take the train to Silverton. We went to the Dinosaur museum in Blanding and the Edge of the Cedars State Park as well, then onto the four Corners Monument and then over to Durango. Durango was by far my favorite, it might be my next favorite town after Moab. Here is a pic of Nathan and I in Silverton. We took the train both ways, which is 3 1/2 hours each way. This was just after we arrived for lunch and Andrew started complaining his eye hurt (it really did).

Nathan got food poisoning from the lunch we had here and upon arriving back in town after Andrew wouldn't open his eye for almost four hours I took him to urgent care and he had scratched his cornea (good thing eyes heal fast - he's better already).

The day we came home we took the San Juan Sky way. There are over a hundred mines dotting the mountain side.

This is Ouray - or the Switzerland of America. It was beautiful, need to come back and spend more time here.

misc stuff

I'll get some pictures up from our trip to Durango, but first....

The little guy with his cast - it hasn't slowed him down one bit. Still tried the monkey bars with one arm. Rode his bike this weekend. Not slowed down, not one bit.

His self portrait with the cast.
Okay, one picture from the trip - driving through Moab, there is something magical about that place, it's just plain good for the soul.

And this one really is from the trip, but it's so you can see my new do - good thing Nathan is a decent photographer.

Spring run off

This is what Hidden Falls looked like last Aug when I took the boys hiking there,This is what it looked like last weekend with all the spring run off! We couldn't even get up closer where we stood last year.

Funny thing it is a really popular climbing spot, we sat down for lunch and Paul looked up and my bro was handing from the rock. I've seen him climb in the gyms, it was nice to see him outside. Much more impressive.

surgery day

Getting ready for surgery. He was such a good sport, he just couldn't understand why he couldn't eat. That's hard considering it's one of his favorite things to do!

coming out of recovery....

Sponge bob as the nurses call it holds his arm upright to reduce swelling and help keep it immobile. He is still in a sugar splint but it is wrapped with one layer of blue fiberglass to give it some strength so it kinda looks like a real cast. Hopefully we will get the really one this next week.... he'll have to be in in for six more weeks :(

Every nurse that came by had to tell me how they were all in love with this little guy who had them wrapped around his finger. He did well, the hardest part for him is the anesthesia made his tummy sick and he can't move.... did I mention how much he wants to wiggle.

Dang Monkey Bars!

So we went to the urgent care clinic today. No bets as to which little man needed to go. Diagnosis, no more monkey bars for awhile, or riding his bike, or playing d.s. games, or scooters :( He was so brave, and wouldn't even let me treat him to an ice cream or a slurpee afterward.

Moab

This year we borrowed a kid as Paul put it. Andrews friend Scott from school was in Moab with his family as well so we took him on Kane Creek with us. Boy did they ever have fun! Not that you could tell by those smiles.
Waiting to get out on the trail.
Hurrah Pass - looking over the Colorado River far in the distance.