The Fleeting Summer of 2010

Time flies when you're having fun! And, maybe, that is why I am sitting here at the end of July wondering how the summer went so fast, not to mention the last five years. With Keara and Easton starting school in August, I feel like we have to squeeze everything in and make everyday fun like I'm sending them off to a boarding school and won't see them for six months! So with trips to the zoo, the Childern's Museum, playtime at the park, bicycling trails, swim lessons that have them actually swimming, several evenings of tee-ball games, two trips to Colorado and lots of lazy afternoons at the MO Valley pool, I hope they remember all of our fun!

Boulder/ Eldorado Canyon State Park

In July, Allen headed to Colorado University in Boulder to begin year one of a three-year program in the Graduate School of Banking. He was there for two weeks, so Keara, Easton and I packed up and drove out to visit for a few days.

This is in Eldorado Canyon State Park near Boulder. We took a morning to explore a few trails.

This is in downtown Boulder, an entertainer who sets himself on fire and juggles knives at the same time! Easton was amazed and we had to keep reminding him that this was this man's special talent and probably (hopefully) not his!

Pool time, and our dare-devil children...

Miss Sophisticate!

Getting ready to watch a movie by the pool!

The hotel we stayed at was between Boulder and Denver and it was wonderful. They had movies and popcorn by the pool, cookies and milk before bed every night, a morning with the chef creating an ice sculpture, and little backpacks filled with trinkets when you check-in. We will be there in July the next two years!!

Summer 2010

4th of JULY, 2010

We went back to Platte Center for the weekend and enjoyed the parade, kiddie games, tractor pull and the afternoon at the lake.

Keara and Easton patiently waiting for the parade to start (well, actually, for the candy to be thrown!)

They figured out that waving gets more candy!

Easton in the tractor pull!

Keara in the tractor pull! She was very determined!

Keara won third place in the 5-year-old group, out of the four girls and five boys that participated!

...And, Easton could have cared less, he got enough junk at the kiddie games to dress up like a patriotic pirate!

We went to some family friends' lake for the afternoon to swim and eat.

And, went for a boat ride.

Keara got the relaxation part down real quick!

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MISCELLANEOUS SUMMER PHOTOS

Keara got around six inches cut off of her hair in June.

Ready for Vacation Bible School!

Our backyard pool.

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TEE BALL

Allen pitching to Easton.

Easton looking like he is serious!! :)

The spectators!

Keara and her friend, Molly, playing during the games.

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CHAFFEE FUN

At the beginning of the summer, Keara and Easton spent a week down in Clay Center "helping" Grandma & Grandpa. They also got some good times in with their cousins!

Many hours were spent in the pool, jumping through the pool, going down the slide into the pool, jumping off the slide into the pool!!!

Easton claims he is "allergic" to babies!! But, between him and Keara, he is always the first one to go up and try to tickle their feet of give them a smile. This is Easton with our youngest cousin, Jett.

Dance & Baseball

Keara's first year of dance came to an end with the year-end recital. Her class performed to 'I'm a Little Teapot.' After months of practicing, the group of four- and five-year-olds did a great job!

Ready to dance!

The performance videoed at dress rehersal. (for some reason my blog isn't centering the video, so it looks like I am taping the little girl next to Keara, but that's not the case!!)

to see more go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo4OHUGC7Sc

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Easton has been busy playing tee-ball this summer!! He is a great little hitter and almost always enjoys it. Allen is assistant coach, so Easton gets a little extra heat if he is fooling around.

Up to bat!

In the outfield.

Graduation & Boston

In mid-May, Allen and I went to Cape Cod and Boston. It was a neat area to see and visit. We started in Cape Cod for a couple of days and drove up to Providencetown at the tip of the Cape. Then to Boston. We walked part of the Freedom Trail, sat in Boston Common's Public Garden and watched the swan boat rides and remembered the story, "Make Way for Ducklings", a storyline set in the Public Garden, that I've read to Keara and Easton over and over. We also visited the harbor, went to a Redsox game, learned the subway system and ate dinner in Boston's North End, Little Italy area- yum!

Allen & I on the shore in Cape Cod.

The Candy Manor in Chatham, yum- yum!

The Redsox Game.

Copley Plaza. Above, an old church. Below, our hotel.

Keara and Easton graduated from Preschool at the end of May. They attended Good Tidings Preschool for two years and loved it. Now, on to Kindergarten!

Patiently waiting their certificates. I love this picture and Easton's expression.

Their great teachers and teacher-assistants.

Allie & Dutchess

This May we got two new kittens, Allie and Dutchess.

Keara picked out Allie. She actually picked her when she was just a few weeks old. Allie may be male, but I guess when she/he's spayed/neutered, it really won't matter!

Easton picked out Dutchess and when we asked him what he was going to name her, he came up with Dutchess!! Which actually, the name fits the kitty pretty well.

Dutchess

Allie

When we brought them home, Maggie was so excited!! They all cuddle at night.

A stroller full of kittens.