cousins

One of the best parts of summer is getting to see Caryn, Gord and the cousins Angus and Axel. I tell myself that they come up most every summer because of me- but in reality it is because the summer temp in Tuscon is about 105 on average. In any case it is great to hang with them and watch the kids all play.

The first order of business is always to get out the weapons and fire up the imaginations.

Had a great neighborhood trek to the train tunnel. Sounds a bit dull but halfway through it ices over and gets a bit spooky.

Honey, I think I hear a train!

Saw this guy on the other side of the tunnel

Good times on the trampoline

The main addition to the pirate ship tree house was the new water balloon cannon. Still needs a bit of tweaking. 

Mom, stand right on that spot there.

misfire

We also had an amazing cherry seed spitting contest. Lisa got the furthest but I might have won the best face award.

The windup

The delivery

Lisa eyes the record...

and lets fly.

I admit my style is a bit unorthodox- but the results are... 

she is going to kill me

Happy trails

Journey to Denver- World Cup finals and the thriftshop.

We used to strongly dislike going to Denver- but now realize that there a number of fun things to see and do there. Wilder had gone to Water World with a friend and then stayed with the Olsons- so of course our day had to start there to pick her up. This meant driving lessons for Luca on Buddy the scooter and a trip to the thrift shop- I might just have my halloween costume set.

We then set forth for Castle Rock to see Steve and Ana and the World Cup Final. Once we donned the obligatory international jerseys we were ready for the game.

Steve red carded us for not matching! A travesty.

We stayed the night and got to see Vickie as well then had breakfast. Any place that advertises home made pies is good enough for me- but this place also had real bullet holes in the roof from a robbery escape gone bad 100 years ago. Good bacon too.

From there it was on to the Morrison Dinosaur museum- real cool little spot- with real paleontologists working on real finds. They even let Luca and Wilder help (and me) help drill the sand off of a few fossils.

The next part of our day was meant to be spent at Lakeside- the coolest little retro amusement park in the west. We read the ad wrong and it wasn't to open till 6- I stood by the gate and tried to hold back the tears. It worked out for the better as plan B was a ride with Jim on Sugar Magnolia.

We were boating at Sloan's lake and this guy was just hanging nearby! My friend Michael Anderson was right, once you see one- you see them everywhere!

Then back to Jim's house for some classy bike riding and we were off to the airport to drop Wilder off for her flight to Arizona and the cousins. Lisa and I were way more nervous than her.

You know how good things happen to good people? Well this probably isn't an example of that but on our way back from the airport I called my good friend Jason Dewar just to say hi- and you won't believe where he was- LAKESIDE! So of course we had to stop and ride the coaster- Lisa and Luca even got in a bumper car run. 

thanks denver