When we decided to go to the Colorado Renaissance Festival I was expecting white canopy tents and a few hundred people but we showed up to one of the biggest Renaissance Festivals around with so much to see and do we only got around to about half of it! We saw Dragonfore, Cydeshow Cy, Craic (our favorite) and Celtic Legacy. We saw jousting and a little of the Living Fountain and The Reelin’ Rogues. We ate meat on sticks for lunch and snacked on delicious kettle corn and the girls even got ice cream sandwiches. Note: Kate and Danny were both invited but Kate opted to go to P’s house and my mom and dad took care of Danny so he could go to baseball tryouts (more on that later). I think Danny would have loved it and we’ve got him convinced he needs to come with us next year. I could just see him throwing knives and practicing his archery skills and looking at all the neat shops along with watching the shows like we did. Pretty sure we won’t be able to get him to dress up but lots of people were in costume. I heard elephant rides will be illegal by then but we could try out things like ax throwing, interesting food, and other shows we didn’t get around to before closing. It was such a unique experience and totally worth the drive. I am grateful for advice friends gave about taking the back roads, remembering where you park, bringing small bills to tip the performers, and planning out the day around the shows we wanted to watch. I felt like it went by so fast and was fun but chill. Would 10/10 recommend, especially if you get the coupons from Subway like we did.
Now, about Danny’s baseball tryouts! I received a text from one of Danny’s previous baseball coaches (when he was playing rec) that his team had room for one more player and asking me if Danny would like to try out. We decided that it would be a good experience whether he made the team or not. I was a little nervous when we showed up and there were plenty of other boys there and knowing he was on a 12U team trying out for a 13U team. But he made the team! And the coach is willing to teach Danny how to pitch, which he has been very interested in doing. So, even though it is breaking our hearts to leave a team where we love the families tremendously, Danny is going to take this opportunity to play up with boys at the same grade level in school. This will help him achieve his goal of someday being on the high school baseball team — which is only two years away! I am proud of him for putting extra effort into baseball this month at Redline and I think it has paid off. We are sad to say goodbye to the Cougars but so excited for this opportunity!
Michelle is taking the opportunity to join Scouting BSA. So far she has done litter pick up, an evening at the park, and has the goal to become an Eagle Scout! She is most excited about camping and spending more time doing things outdoors in general. I am proud of her for setting high goals for herself. She even let me sign her up for a middle school “boot camp” intended to help students transition to 6th grade. (I convinced Danny to take a “study skills” camp at same time and place because he is planning on getting great grades too.) We have enjoyed trying new places on our way home from these sessions like Jersey Mike’s Subs and trying new flavors at Jamba Juice. They were lucky enough to have both Mom and Dad take them to Menchie's on the first and last day as well! A big thank you to my mom for babysitting Natalie while Kate spends the last bit of summer hanging out with friends and going places like Top Golf with them. (I know they took pictures there but I haven’t been lucky enough to see them.)
The Activity Days for boys had the great idea for a joint pizza party. After all these years being involved with Activity Days for girls and this was still a first! It so happened our activity was set for the 143rd birthday of the Primary organization so I bought balloons and a cake that was so big the Young Men (led by my son) had to help us eat it after they played kickball. I divided the 20 children into three groups -- one group for each leader there. I read them the Apples to Oregon book we have liked at our house every pioneer day and Brother P. led stick pull with them (like you can see in the Joseph Smith movie) and Brother L. did the potato sack races, which I think was their favorite station. I am so glad brother P. was game to have a joint activity like that!
Stand up paddle boards are even easier when the electric pump you order from Amazon comes in the mail! This time we got to bring our neighbor along to play chicken with Michelle while Natalie and I watched in wonder. I sure am going to miss my children when they begin school!
Our last weekend before school began was spent in Peaceful Valley. This campground is aptly named and we’ve been meaning to return for years. Last time we had little tiny children and our camping trailer. Now these kids are big enough to pump the well water on their own, sleep in a tent without crying, AND be super helpful. I also happened to reserve the best campsite there is (in my humble opinion). Go for 005 if you have one tent but no shade canopy and 006 if you need two tent pads.
A friend gave us her Trail A Bike and we now have Natalie convinced riding a bike is fun! It was so fun to go up and down the gentle hills with the little speed bumps providing a bit of excitement. Hiking, biking, playing games and cooking over a fire! I’m so grateful we got to spend time in nature before we have full calendars.
Michelle was able to finish up her embroidery project the day we got home from camping. I love the way it turned out! Excitement and nervousness are in the house as we look forward to the first day of school. We don't care that masks are required - we just want to be there!
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