Whitelaw Vacation - Silverthorne

Sunday afternoon, June 21st, Papa, Mima, four of the Keetons, and the four of us loaded up and headed to Silverthorne, Colorado. To prepare for the trip, we bought the kids new, better, goggles. So, of course, they had to try them out while watching a movie.

Silly pose, too - of course!

The condo we stayed in gave us access to three different pools. So, the kids spent the week swimming twice a day. At 10 am when the pools opened until lunch time and then again after dinner until bedtime! EVERY DAY! It was so much fun to see how their swimming lessons paid off! (see videos 2041 & 2042 in "Silverthorne '15" folder)

Monday afternoon, we rode the Georgetown Loop Train.

My girl and me - ready to ride

An effort to get Kellen in the picture with us too - but he was being a stinker.

Conductors signaling to each other

Post snack - now he's ready for a picture!

We took the Everett Mine and Gold Panning tour. It was fun to wear these hard hats!

This was the best gold panning experience we've had. The tour guides were great and really instructed us well. And, everyone found some real flecks of gold! The kids loved it! And, they were able to find some copper as well.

Our train crossing the bridge headed back to the station. It was cool to see the front of the train as it rounded the bend.

Tuesday, we went to Rainbow Park and the kids played on the really cool playground.

Wednesday morning, the kids rode their bikes around the condo parking lot. The three bigger cousins had a few races.

Wednesday afternoon, we went to Lake Dillon.

They were excited to be at the "beach!"

Thursday morning, Kevin, Heather, and I went on a great hike. (Kevin was taking a while to take this picture and captured us right at the moment where we're both wondering if he's actually going to take it!)

We did the Meadow Creek Trail, the Lily Pad Lake Trail, and the Salt Lick Trail.

One of the great views along the way.

Life Straw water break!

Lily Pad Lake - so pretty!

Right in the middle of the forest was this boulder field. It reminded us of where the trolls live in the movie Frozen.

Friday morning, Papa was teasing the kids about what we were going to do that day. Kellen got up out of Kevin's lap, crossed the room to Papa and said, "Papa, your tricks are junk!" Then, he went right back to Kevin's lap. It was so funny! So, Friday afternoon, instead of Papa's junk plan, we visited the Summit County Historical Society Museum. The main part was in an 1883 Schoolhouse and there were also two cabins that were moved over from the old town of Dillon. They had a very interesting movie about how they moved the town of Dillon and then flooded the area where the old town was when they built the dam.

Saturday morning, Papa and I took four of the cousins on a little hike. The strenuous week of later nights and two-a-day swims had caught up with Kellen and he was being a pill - so he didn't get to go.

The hike included this cool natural bridge and waterfall.

Saturday afternoon, Mima, Heather, and I went shopping at the Silverthorne outlets. Columbia was having a great sale and I found this great fleece jacket for Kellen. He was so excited!! And, we're very happy that our very particular boy is finally happy with a replacement jacket for his favorite stripey bear jacket that he's outgrown!

Sunday, we packed up and headed home after a great week. When we got home, our kids voluntarily played in their own rooms quietly for hours! Nothing like a vacation to make home seem sweeter.

Last Day of Swimming Lessons

Today was the last day of swimming lessons. They both made a lot of progress! (see videos 2032 and 2033 in "Swimming lessons '15" folder)

And, they passed! Kellen - Level 1 and Jenna Level 3

Kellen's First Swimming Lesson

Monday, June 8th - Kellen's first swimming lesson. They started with blowing bubbles and he got a little mixed up and sucked in instead of out the first time. But, he eventually got it. (see video 1337 in "Swimming lessons '15" folder)

Jenna had swimming lessons this week, too. They both love swimming and it's exciting to see how much Jenna has advanced in just four lessons. Four more next week!

Wicked!

Sunday, June 7th - after much anticipation - finally our day to see Wicked! We parked in the Denver Center of Performing Arts parking garage and walked right out into this beautiful atrium and then crossed over to the Buell Theater.

Inside the theater was amazing, too. The set looked so cool. And, we loved how the box seats looked. Our seats were exactly where we're standing in this picture - balcony, third row, center. We could see everything.

the ladies 

the sillies - if you look close, you can see Jenna is wearing her ruby red slippers necklace

We just can't say enough how amazing it was!!! I used some of my birthday money for my ticket and part of Kevin's and Jenna's ticket was her birthday present from us. We are thrilled that we were able to have this experience! It was Jenna's first time to see a professional production. And, we wish we could go again! It was really that great! Look closely at this picture - the poster was behind glass, so you can see Heather taking it. Her body is perfectly lined up with the head so it looks like Elphaba's head is Heather's!

Grandpa/Grandma Visit and Jenna's Family Party

Grandpa and Grandma came to visit for Jenna's birthday. On Tuesday, June 2nd, we started the day with a yummy breakfast at The Pantry (and a hot chocolate mustache).

Jenna's next choice was the Dinosaur Resource Center. They were nice and let us use a buy one get one free for up to 4 people that had expired two days before!

Kevin took this clever picture - fun!

Next stop of this big day: The Cliff Dwellings. Yay for another allowance of a buy one get one that had expired two days before!

This area was really fun. There was a ladder up to the second story, then you could go inside the window and inside there was another ladder to get back down.

Since we had a big breakfast, we skipped lunch. And, since the kids wanted ice cream, we had a light sandwich dinner before the ice cream. Jenna had a coupon for a new place so we tried The Rock House in Palmer Lake. Jenna tried her first chocolate malt. Yum!

Wednesday, June 3rd, was Kellen's half-birthday. Grandpa and Grandma came with us to Kellen's music class. Then they treated Kellen to his choice for lunch - Firehouse Subs. For dinner, it was Jenna's pick - Texas Roadhouse. She told our waitress that we were celebrating her birthday and Kellen's half birthday. So, they brought them a dessert to share, announced their birthdays, and let them sit on the saddle.

Thursday, June 4th, we had Jenna's family birthday party. She picked the meal: all things green (her favorite color is green) and blue (so she could have her favorite - blueberries). We had peas, zucchini, green beans, cucumber, avocado, broccoli, and blueberries all at her request. And, we added chicken for some protein.

Her dessert pick - blueberry muffins and vanilla ice cream. (see video 1975 in "Jenna's 8th bday" folder)

This girl has been thoroughly celebrated! So many nice gifts! 

Friday morning, Jenna and Kellen put together a puppet show of the Billy Goats Gruff. Really cute! (see video 1989 & 1990 in Jenna's 8th bday" folder)

And, then she wanted to make a little blooper clip. Happy 8th birthday, Jenna!

Kellen 4.5

Kellen is 4.5 today! He weighs 33.8 lbs and is 39.5 inches tall. That's 3.2 lbs and 1.5 inches of growth since turning 4. He's growing up so fast! The other day, he was counting to five and said, "I'm going to be five next time!" I said, "Five! How can you be five?" He said, "Well, I have to grow up if I'm going to be a grown-up!!" He's a lovable, thoughtful kid. He's always the first to want to pray at meal times. We often hear, "Can we cuddle?" And he's FUNNY! He makes us laugh every day! Since we've been talking about Jenna's birthday party, he's offered some ideas for his next party. A few weeks ago, it was a "baby kittens dressed as Power Rangers" party. And now, it's a red and green Christmas party that he wants.

He definitely still has his own ideas about what to wear. From shorts and "puddle boots" . . .

to Peter Pan tights, nerf guns, and a cape.

This is his celebration face for beating Jenna at the Pretty Pretty Princess game.

He has generally given up taking naps. But, sometimes, a super hero just needs to curl up on the couch and fall asleep.

He is always eager to help. He is a big help on laundry day especially. He folds socks and towels, and puts his laundry away.

Whenever he sees some dandelions, he picks them for me. Jenna asked him one time why he keeps doing that. He said, "because Mama likes flowers!"

I love this picture - the day he word his ninja mask to pick up Jenna from school.

He loves to wear his Peter Pan tights! The general rule is that he only wears them at home . . .

except a few times like this, where we leave the house quickly and forget to have him change. Peter Pan tights at Bass Pro Shops - good times!

He wanted me to take this picture for some reason - so funny!

We've been taking a music class together and today was the last day until fall. He wanted a picture with his teacher, Miss Erika.

He's content to play by himself, but is really happy when Jenna is home to play with him. There was much celebration when he found out that Jenna was finished with school for the summer!

He's learning to ride his bike without training wheels this summer. He started with a balance bike, then when he out-grew that, we just took the pedals off of his bike. Now, he's started practicing with the pedals! (see video 1954 in "Kellen 4 yrs old" folder)

We went to Chick-fil-A one day and he came out of the play room with his shorts rolled up high. Oh, my! He's so funny! Happy half-birthday, Kellen!