06-30-13

Not sure why, but Bruce and Xander built a hovercraft powered by a leaf blower today.  Took a few trips to the hardware store.  They also filled the trailer with water; the red neck pool is back in action.

Crazy Uncle Bif is ready for the Carasa kids to visit, me thinks…

06-29-13

Normal Fischer style. We started shopping for a third car today, and we ended up buying one today.

All three of us (Anastasia is off paddling and water skiing today) went to one lot, then I wimped out and the guys went to another.  Xander enjoys car shopping as much as I hate it, but was surprised that it took 4 hours.

Besides price, our criteria was: nothing SUV-ish, something bigger than the xA, leg room for the kids, prefer used to new, and not white (forgotten until after the paperwork was complete on a white one).  

Meet our red 2012 Toyota Corolla, to be Bruce's new wheels.

06-28-13

My last official day of vacation.

Bruce went back to work.  I worked on a digital scrapbook of the trip.  Anastasia took off with friends, taking my paddle board with her.  And Xander is holed up in his room, sick.

Life rolls on.

And my garden grows on.  Two weeks of sun and rain caused it to grow like crazy; fresh greens with dinner!

06-27-13

Woke up in Denver, ending the day back in my own bed.  Long travel day and big weather change in between.

Here's the whole gang in front of our rented farmhouse.  Cheers!

06-26-13

We had a busy day today, dodging the high temps and seeing the last of what we could see in Denver.

In about 13 hours we saw:
The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve
Hammonds Candy tour and buying spree
Denver Art Museum
Split up: two each explored downtown, toured Molly Browns house, and stayed at the art museum
Hunted down a Chick-Fil-A for dinner (Bruce wanted to check out and support this Christian chain)
Walked through an eclectic neighborhood near our rented house

And now it's time to kick back with a fruit bar and start resting up!

06-25-13

Today we explored RMNP.  And just about froze to death!  More elevation, more wind, snow, and some wildlife.  It's a very majestic place.  Lots of fun photos, like us at the Continental Divide, but I like this one.  Before we bundled up in shorts and heavy coats.

06-24-13

We went to Water World today, and landed at the house we've rented for the rest of our stay.  Water World is a great water park, and renting a cabana to come and go from and enjoy a picnic lunch at was genius.  Here's a good chunk of the family in the Captain Jack wave pool right near our cabana.

06-23-13

Today was a history/exploring day.  We saw some things highlighted in our 1000 Places to See in the US & Canada Before You Die book in the cute little historic towns of Georgetown, Idaho Springs, and Golden.  We saw more river water, Victorian homes, lots of old downtown buildings (which make great photo backdrops), and Buffalo Bill's grave site.  We toured (and sampled) the biggest brewery (Coors), I still hate beer.  We also learned that cheese bread and pizza crust taste terrific with honey added, thanks to the very popular Beau Jo's restaurant.

06-22-13

Our last day on the river.

Today we had a safety boat ahead of us with special scoops to get swimmers out of the rapids and a van following along the banks of the river, because it was a wild section of rapids.  It's called Numbers - 8 rapids so close together that they didn't have time to name them.  But we all stayed in the boat today, and had a blast.

Jerry opted out of rafting today, electing to ride with the van and photograph us from bridges and shore.  We also had a professional photographer on the banks, who threw our photos at us in a waterproof container after we were through the rapid.

Fun day to end our rafting adventure!

06-21-13

Today was day 3 on the water, and my favorite so far.

Mom and Jerry and our guide were in the big raft (mamma duck) and we were following in single and double kayaks (duckies) down a tamer set of rapids.  And at lunch time some of us went down some rapids with no boat at all.

My first time river kayaking, my first time on a single kayak, and it was all a blast.  We had some mishaps - Bruce and I got stuck on a rock early on and had to do everything short of bailing to get off, and all of us but Anastasia fell out of our boats at one point.  Loving the wetsuit!

06-20-13

We did 19 miles on the river today.  Got a lot more sun (I'm burnt to a crisp), a little time in the water (by choice), and Anastasia got to be the guide for the last leg of our trip.  Noticed that I'm all bundled up (including a layer of fleece) and Mom is in a T-shirt.  We're still sorting out how to be most comfortable on the water.  Tomorrow many of us will be wearing wetsuits, because many of us will be in the water more. 

06-19-13

Today we had a half day of river rafting and a half day of horseback riding or mountain biking.

I enjoyed the white water more than the white knuckle downhill trip on loose gravel, but it was a good day.  No injuries, no massive sunburns, mostly comfortable (Xander turned a little blue, taking the brunt of the rapids), and a really fun guide.

We did 9 miles of the Arkansas river, with a great assortment of rapids.

06-18-13

Another packed day.

Bruce and I had an early morning walk down the motel row of Manitou Springs before we all took a cog railroad train to the top of Pikes Peak, played some old games at the penny arcade, we drove farther south to where we will start our rafting trip tomorrow, and we explored a riverside park with a kayaker playing in the hole.

Our two meals were fun.  Lunch at a café with lots of vegetarian options and local fare (Mom and I had a grilled watermelon salad), and dinner at an outdoor cantina on the river.  While we were eating we saw a group of stand up paddleboarders float by.

06-17-13

We saw a lot today!  The highlights for me were touring the chapel at the air force academy (Anastasia shown here in the Catholic section, gorgeous mosaic) and driving through the Garden of the Gods.  We also toured a castle and enjoyed an extravagent meal at the Broodmoor.

The wildfires are not impacting us very much, hallelujah!

06-16-13

First leg of the trip complete, we're arrived, met up with Mom & Jerry, and enjoyed cannoli's for fathers day.  Woo-hoo!  Hopefully our rental car experience will be the most taxing of the trip.

06-15-13

“Can we go?”  “Is it time to go?”  “How come when Dad is free you are talking, and when you are free Dad is talking?”

Xander isn't into mingling at the Bean. 

Our last official night of site shepherding, will be interesting to see if we get out faster in the future.  Not that it’s a priority for anyone other than Xander!

06-14-13

Bruce thought we should get a new suitcase for the trip.  Evidently, a really big new suitcase!

06-13-13

Bruce and I walked the adopted block twice this evening - once to drop off food bank surveys, and again to pick up the completed surveys.  And, I wasn't wearing my Fitbit!  All those steps, never to be captured!

It's almost Friday, it wasn't raining, we had another coffee date... life is good!

06-12-13

Schools out!  Bring on the Pizza Hut buffet, poker, and music.  Now for us to remember not to yell from the bottom of the stairs before we leave for work to make sure the kids are awake in the morning…

And happy birthday Molly!

06-11-13

Bruce has been encouraging me to photograph his newest Lord of the Rings goblets.  Pass.  This metal music man is much more fun.  I spent more time than normal downtown today, and there were several mini robots in the museum window.

06-10-13

Took the camera on our evening walk, thinking we were heading to the lake.  It was windy, though, so we cut through the neighborhood.  Here’s some creative cropping at a creative location.

06-09-13

We took an outing today.  Outlet shopping for footwear and clothing needs for our upcoming trip.  And I’ve been wanting to see the latest Star Trek movie in a big way – with the 3D IMAX experience.  Xander opted out, hope he feels better soon!

Here’s a version where Bruce isn’t blocking the movie poster!

06-08-13

Today I volunteered at a Habitat for Humanity build site for the first time.  And maybe last, I’m not sure.  Don’t feel like I can contribute much, but it was fun to try to help out, and to see a house partway through construction.  Bruce and I (mostly Bruce!) spent the morning blocking, adding short 2x6 pieces so that the kitchen cabinets would be easier to hang.

06-07-13

Today was an Anastasia kind of day.

She was motivated to “earn” her new sunglasses, which involved reviewing her trip wardrobe with me so we could identify what we need to shop for this weekend.

She also had a swim meet this evening.

06-06-13

Darn it, shopping for bathtubs isn't very much fun.  Home Depot loses points for having them up in the sky so I can’t see the sides or feel them.  Lowe’s loses points for having  a not very knowledgeable sales guy consistently point us back to what we didn’t want.  Shame on both of them for having websites where I can’t search on the features I really want.  Which is:

Must haves:

Tub no taller than 16 inches.

Soaking depth at least 11 inches

Sides not flimsy at touch

White

Nice to have

Arm rests and tilt headrest

Retain water warmer longer feature

Side design absent or swooshy (not angular)

We need a tub before we can get our tile ordered, so here we are.  I can’t even seem to choose a faucet set I really like.

06-05-13

It was kinda hot today!

When I got home form work we went for a walk.  It seemed breezy near the lake, but we cut over to watch Xander at tennis practice, and I felt scorched in my non-breathable cotton.

Enjoying this summer weather in early June!

06-04-13

I had a Mickey kind of day.

On CCN this morning they had a teaser for a story about how expensive it is to take a family to Disney now.  I was disappointed that they only talk about admission fees, when plenty of other costs are involved in spending a long day there.  But we got to see plenty of Mickey & Minnie on the screen.

Then this evening when I went to my Relay for Life team captain meeting, there was Mickey again!

06-03-13

The sun is shining, so all is right with the world.

I like how the sun lights up our bedroom at dusk.  Warm thoughts…

06-02-13

Time to pack up and go home.  But first, a service at the chapel and group photos. 

Thankful for friendships, spiritual nourishment, and a great family to come home to.

06-01-13

Walked and walked and walked today.  Sometimes alone, sometimes with old friends, sometimes with new friends.

I also worked on a few crafts, ate a lot of food, and heard thought provoking sessions.  

Our theme was At His Feet.  This photo is from a group exercise where we were to decorate feet.  Our group was disqualified for using decorative materials not provided, but we had fun.

05-31-13

Had a hard time getting away from work, but headed toward PeEll for a women’s retreat.  I carpooled in the party van proclaiming no kids, no husbands, no dishes.  Here’s Mendy, Mary Jo, Sandi, and Sadie, four of my seven van-mates.  Ironically, three of these ladies found other cars to go back home in…