Family Canoe Excursion

 For Labor Day weekend Brian has three days off in a row.  Normal for most people, not for him.  Perfect occasion to head up to the Red Feather Lakes for our first all family canoe experience. 

My best attempt at a whole family in canoe photo.  Sorry for Brian's lack of head.

 We got out to scramble up some rocks and discovered that our children are part mountain goat.

 Thanks to a timer and a nook in the rock we have a family photo overlooking the lake.

 Scientific discoveries included lots of bleached out crawfish parts and a fish's jaw bone.

 Viola was very excited that our borrowed canoe is her favorite color. Red.

 Critter sighting.

 We stopped for our picnic on a very small island where someone/something has been eating a lot of crawfish.  Including this very blue one.  The young scientist had to spend some time figuring out how the claw worked.  She loves nature.

 Although picturesque this island was also pretty much just a giant red ant hill, so we pulled the canoe up on shore to dine in.  Brian stayed in it for the duration of our stay due to his deadly ant allergy.  The kiddos decided to get wet and do some paddling practice.

 Viola took the front seat to try her small hands at paddling.  She did well but declared it hard work.

 Good times.

the Tent

Viola requested a real tent in the backyard today.  Up went Brian's boyscout tent (all by myself).

 Then the afternoon shower came, so the tent and all the fun moved into the sunroom.

Who Started Kindergarten today?

 Viola did!

We wanted to get a photo of Brian and Viola in their backpacks since they are both students but Charlie wanted to put his on too.  He didn't care that it was completely empty.

 Charlie and I started our day together with a playground and nature walk (Complete with an airplane sighting.)

"Let's see who can hold their breath the longest"

 Viola suggested this contest and she bested me repeatedly until...

 I got wise.

Berry Picking

 What do you do if you have a little girl who insists that she can only eat strawberries that she picks herself?  Take her to pick strawberries of course. 

 My amazing friend Anna offered to keep these two while I went to the gym this morning and joined in on the berry picking.  One must always keep a good friend who does not have children yet.  And she is the best!

 Anna helped Charlie figure out which strawberries were ready to pick.  No easy task.

 Look who else likes fresh berries.  This guy.

 Hail the Victorious Berry Pickers.

 After being weighed and paid for, it was time for the eating.

 Juicy and Delicious!

All Family River Trail Cycling Expedition

 Viola got back in the saddle of her bike yesterday (after deciding she couldn't do it anymore). So today we loaded up the bikes and trailer and headed to the Poudre River trail for some car-less cycling practice.

 We had a lengthy pit stop at the river for some wading and rock throwing.

 Team Viola.

 And since you cant really see this guy in the family photo:

"I think I'll be a break dancer when I grow up" said Viola

Please click here for the sound track to this post.

Mississippi Nature Immersion Day

 We decided to get out and enjoy the great outdoors for our last full Mississippi Day.  So we headed for a swamp.  It turns out that the middle of summer is not the perfect time to go venturing into a swamp unless one dresses in mosquito netting.  We did the twenty minute path in five.  But it was beautiful.

 An attempt at a group shot which Brian said was the worst possible idea because it meant standing still and when in a mosquito infested swamp one should never stop moving. So what we have is a blurry photo with swatting.  Good times.

 For the remainder of our nature experience we decided to take it inside of the lovely, air conditioned, Nature and Science Museum.  Very Natural as you can see.  Those white tails look like their coming right at you.

 Viola's favorite, Bones!

 And the absolute best part is the terrarium at the end full of turtles and fish.

 Watch out for this guy.

 Charlie practiced frog jumping.

 And we got to touch a bear.  Now that's Nature!