Chalk Festival

One of my favorite parts about being close to a big city is having lots to do! This past weekend we went downtown to the chalk festival. On the train we always meet the most interesting people, and this weekend was no different. Denver was hosting a Comicon event at the convention center so we saw lots of people dressed up as super heroes, action figures, and super women. It's so fun being surrounded by so much variety! I just wish I would have taken pictures of some of the people we saw...but I didn't. So here are pictures from the chalk festival.

We talked to the artist of this piece and she said that she had already spent 14 hours(!!!!) on this, and still planned on a few more hours the next day to finish it. She was happy that our huge stroller provided a buffer to keep people at a distance so she could take picture of her progress. Ha, Glad we could help.

It was so interesting to see what people came up with. Some pieces were serious, some where goofy, but all in all, I just can't believe what they were able to create...on a road...with CHALK!

Father and Sons Campout

 Father and Sons Camp out, May 31-June 1, 2013

Lookout Mountain, Colorado

Friday evening after I got home from work Eli and I headed up into the mountains for the annual stake father and sons camp out.  I love this LDS tradition, and I loved being able to spend some quality time with Eli in the outdoors.  This is our second time going, and next year Owen will be able to join in the family tradition. Follow the link to read about last year's adventure: http://theonlyfishintheseaforme.blogspot.com/2012/05/fathers-and-sons.html

This year Eli knew a little bit more what to expect and was so excited to go camping and to sleep in a tent.  The camp out was held at a private campground, owned by the church, near the top of Lookout Mountain above Golden, Colorado.  After setting up camp, attending a brief fireside, and visiting the restroom a couple of times we settled down to "sleep" around 9:30.  Eli loved being in the tent.  He exclaimed happily at least twenty times, "We're sleeping in a tent!", and "I love it here in my sleepin' bag!".  We read a couple of books, and then Eli talked my ear of for the next hour.  He was so excited that he had trouble falling asleep.  It was some good quality pillow talk.  We both finally fell asleep around 11.  I awoke at 3:30 to Eli rustling around in his sleeping bag.  I looked over and saw that he had slid down to the bottom of the bag.  I pulled him to the top of the bag, and he woke up slightly and started rambling about how much he loved sleeping in a tent. Ha ha.  That lasted for about thirty seconds and he fell asleep again.  I think he had a good nights rest.  I can't really say the same about me.

Eli woke up just before six (totally normal for him) and we left our tent for a hike.  I didn't want to stick around all the other campers, because I was afraid Eli would wake them up.  We came out of our tent and saw these six deer running through camp.  That was awesome.

I am glad Eli was up for going on a hike so early.  I love having a hiking buddy. 

 We hiked along the Lookout Mountain trail from the Nature Center to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave site.  The views of the sunrise and the city were fantastic.  This picture doesn't do it justice. 

 We got back to camp, ate breakfast and then participated in some of the activities.  We played kickball.  Eli kicked the ball halfway to the pitcher's mound and made it safely to first base, which was a flat rock.  He shouted, "I touched the rock Daddy!"  It was cute. His next time up to kick eli kicked it to the pitcher, and the pitcher, probably 5 or 6 years old, grabbed the ball and I guess he forgot to go easy on the 2 year old and pegged Eli with the ball.  Eli fell and his face and didn't want to play kickball anymore.  :)  We then moved on to shoot some water bottle rockets.  This was probaly Eli's favorite activity.

Eli patiently waiting for his turn.

I love this little guy and I am grateful for the quality time we could spend together.

Where you go, I will follow...

 Eli now runs to the bathroom himself when he needs to go(SO NICE!) and Owen follows him EVERYWHERE, so it made me smile the other day to walk in and see both boys hanging out in the bathroom.

Hiking

Meyer Ranch Park

Saturday, May 25, 2013

 We spent Saturday morning at Meyer Ranch Park near Conifer, Colorado.  It was wonderful to get up into the beautiful mountains and enjoy nature.  The park was only a 20 minute drive from our home.  It is nice to be so close to such a park. 

 Eli loves to be in the outdoors.  He enjoys hiking, well the downhill parts, throwing rocks, collecting rocks and sticks, and getting a turn in the backpack on the uphill parts. 

 We love our boys!

 When we reached the top of the trail we enjoyed a picnic.  Here is Owen enjoying a cracker.

Eli was pretty excited to find a tree his size.

When Eli took a turn in the backpack we put Owen in the baby carrier. I am not sure Owen really liked it, though.

There's a happy boy, and my beautiful wife.

Hiking can be hard work.

Mount Falcon
Monday, May 27, 2013

 On Monday we went out on a another hike to Mount Falcon with the Baumgarten family.  It was fun to hike with Dan, Stacy, David, and Erin, and we are grateful that they didn't mind hiking at Eli's pace. 

Dan is training to be a grandpa this fall (congratulations to Brain and Elsa!).  It has been fun to watch Dan and Stacy with our kids.  They're going to make awesome grandparents.

 We hiked to a couple of different 'castle' ruins. The first one is the foundation of a historic mansion that burned to the ground and the second was a foundation that was supposed to be for a presidential summer house for the US Presidents.  The summer home was never built, just part of the foundation was laid.  It was supposed to be modeled after a European castle.  It would be cool if it could have been completed.  The view from the presidents summer house was spectacular.  In one direction you could see mountains all the way to Mount Evans, and in the other direction you could see the city and the plains stretching out to the horizon.  The pictures don't really do it justice. We enjoyed the view, had a snack and headed home.

Life Recently

April-May 2013

We unfortunately had some camera trouble and lost a month or so worth of pictures.  Uncle Mark kindly loaned us his camera, so not too much time has elapsed without some pictures to show.  Thanks Mark!

A little update on our little, actually big baby Owen!  Owen has changed a lot in recent weeks and he is getting so big.  He is now sitting up, crawling (well mostly army crawling), going from crawling to sitting, and very curious about the world around him.  Owen always wants to be playing with something, especially with whatever Eli is playing with.  Eli is learning to share, but it isn't his favorite thing to do.  Owen doesn't like to sit still, and as you can see he has picked up reading!

Isn't he cute? We sure think the world of him and we are happy he is here. 

March 2013

In the last three months, lots has happened! I (Craig) finished my second semester of grad school and am now halfway finished with my master's degree.  Yahoo!  We went to Utah for a family vacation during my spring break and were able to participate in two baby blessings.  Owen got bigger, as did Eli, and Kimberly has been loving life and the nice weather with her three boys. Now for a little peek of what we've been up to...
 March 2013

 Eli sliding down the stairs. Who needs to go outside in the snow when you've got a cardboard box(thanks to a brand-spankin' new road bike) and stairs?

Kimi, Eli, and Owen March 12, 2013.  Kimi has been such a wonderful, hard working mama staying home with our boys during the last two semesters as I have been at school full-time, and working part-time with the city of Littleton.  She amazes me with her patience and caring way of teaching our boys day in and day out while I am away. Eli and Owen are lucky to have her! Owen is nearly six months old here and he is really staring to become mobile as he is rolling around exploring the world around him.  Eli just turned 2 and half.  It is really cute to hear him say, "I'm two and a half!" 

Utah Vacation, Spring Break 2013

 Coloring eggs with Keaton and Codan and Grandma and Grandpa Fisher's house

 Eli hitting the jackpot with a monster egg!

 Reagan's blessing, attempting to get a picture of all five Fisher grandchildren.

 Carrie, Kimi, Grandma Fisher, Paige, and Owen roasting mallows for family home evening.

 Checking out the FrontRunner commuter rail from Provo to Salt Lake City.  We were impressed with the large, clean, comfortable trains.  Of course the boys had a blast too!  Eli loves trains.

 Eli jamming with Uncle Spencer and Aunt Ashley in Orem.  We had a wonderful time vising the Fisher family.  Reagan's blessing was beautiful. Reagan is a a handsome little man, and Keaton is a great big brother.  We spent the first half of our week with my parents and my family, then on Thursday we went up to Sandy to stay with Kreg and Anna to spend the rest of the week with Kimi's family.

 On the ferris wheel at Scheel's. Eli really thought it was the greatest thing, and still talks about it when he's watching his alphabet show where there is a ferris wheel: "Remember when I went on the chair with Ceci-wee(Cecily), and Aw-ber(Oliver) and dad?!").

 Kimi meeting sweet baby Cora for the first time.She was so cute and so tiny!

 Owen getting in some quality cousin time with Cora. They are only a few months apart in age, but our big boy looks HUGE compared to petite Cora!

 All five Wagner grandchildren!

Easter round 2 for Eli, this time with Cecily and Oli.