Playtime at the Playground...

This summer we had the opportunity to explore new playgrounds...thanks to my neighbor setting up a weekly playground tour playdate. Ethan & Daphne enjoyed the new scenery with their "friends".

B.F.R.

Jimmy's annual family reunion was another highlight of our summer. Trisha did a great job with the Harley style shirt design! I think it was a tie for the winner of the horseshoe championship...depending on who you talk to... I am happy to say that Jon & I got the bronze medal place...I am just happy to have medaled for a change! The weather was perfect for being outside, which is not something you can usually say for a day in August in PA! We managed to nosh through out the day on good eats between playing horseshoes. There were special guests this year...Aunt June & Dottie. And the best news is that we are going to be Uncles & Aunts again!! Congratulations Lisa & Mark!

Pioner Crossing...

"Ever wonder where your trash goes once it leaves the curb?" Well, we decided to find out... Ethan, Daphne, Aunt Lisa, Harrison, Aunt Trisha, Gramzie & I had quite the learning experience going on a tour of a near by landfill. We started off with an educational component of how landfills are constructed...actually feeling the different layers that are used and learning about all the engineering that goes into such a structure. Then off onto the tour bus we trekked...yes in the heat of the summer on an open windowed short-bus, up the same path the trash trucks go. In fact, we watched several trucks actually dump their waste; hear the bird banger fire & had our bus volume weighted on the truck scale/radiation detector. (We had to skip over the "tire wash" station since the windows were open.) The landfill was not as stinky as I would have thought...they have a deodorizer truck continuously spraying and all in all the place is pretty organized...NOT at all what I expected. Interestingly enough we even saw the medical waste heap; which I had found interesting--it gets heated to 500 degrees and then chopped into tiny pieces so that their are no needle stick incidences---I always wondered what happened to that stuff I placed in the red trash cans at work! Another factoid to top it off Pioneer Crossing takes all the medical waste from NYC. It is quite a business. (I am pretty sure I was more excited about the whole experience than Ethan! Ethan was more interested in the learning centers sand table that had to scale equipment found at the landfill---things we had never seen before!) It makes you think twice about all the garbage you create. After all that they even treated us to a pizza party and parting gifts for the kids...

Hands on Muesem...

Aunt Lisa & Harrison caravaned with us to Lancaster...which really is NOT all that close to our house!! The boys seemed to like the learning exhibits...I am not sure they really got the gist of it all but had fun playing. Daphne was just happy to be out of her stroller...yes, I even let her crawl on the floor of a public building...I am really letting my hair down in my old age (with my germ-a-phobeness getting the best of me at times in the past.) We even managed to have a sit down lunch after it was all done with no major meltdowns!

A Mile above Sea Level...

In the beginning of June we headed out west to celebrate at Eric & Sunshine's Wedding... (Chelsea did a wonderful job recounting this experience...you are better off just looking at her blog posting!) It was our first time leaving the kids and getting on an airplane...a few tears were shed...ok...I was a mess! (Ethan & Daphne were in great hands with Grandmom & Grandpop...spoiled rotten too!)

Colorado is just as beautiful as I remembered...bringing back many good memories. Jimmy has a special bond with his 4 X 4 track guys from CSM. Eric was the last to "bite the dust" (a.k.a. GET MARRIED) I believe that was HIS exact words he used in OUR wedding toast! This is the first time in many years that the spouses were able to join their fellas...It was great to catch up with everyone!! And nice to finally meet Sunshine! We now have an official club...The Real Track Wives of Golden, Colorado. We packed alot of activities into a very short time. The girls headed to the bridal shower in Boulder to a tea house with a unique atmosphere and tasty cuisine! Can't wait to head back there! Of course the boys were up to no good at the bachelor party...not all the details are known nor want to be known in regards to this... The rehearsal dinner was at a local brewery. It was so nice to have multiple chances to meet up with everyone.

We snuck in a quick trip to CSM before the wedding. Wow has Golden changed! CSM has a nifty new outdoor track and student recreation center. But one thing remains the same...Coors... except they are now more strict with the liquor. The weather could not have been better for the wedding! What a beautiful outdoor ceremony & reception. Broomfield was awesome!

In our time away, I managed to make it out for a run...even with the thin air...I also had TIME TO MYSELF when Jimmy was committed to GOLF...I spent it sitting by the pool, shopping & sleeping...at first I really didn't know what to do with myself...I NEVER have FREE TIME...my kids keep me extremely busy, of course extremely happy too!

Jimmy & I had a nice couples retreat! We look forward to the next time we meet up with everyone again... hoping the next one isn't soo many years apart!