Subaru Kids Obstacle Race

After getting home from our vacation, I wasn't really ready to settle back down into everyday mode, or do Saturday morning chores.  So when I saw an advertisement for a kids obstacle course down in Arvada, I didn't even think twice.  We loaded up the kids and drove down for an adventure.  Surprisingly, Natalie Tolley didn't want to be home alone on a Saturday either so she brought up the girls and joined us.  It was weird seeing everyone in normal clothing and not extra padded from ski clothes.  We checked in about an hour early which gave us plenty of time to walk around the expo and collect passport stamps. 

 Even though this cardboard cutout looked cheesy, it really almost looks like my boys are driving.  That's a scene I don't want to see for another ten years!  

At the start line all the kids put on their war paint while Daxton and I waited on the sidelines to cheer them on.  

There was only one course no matter how old you were.  It was about a 1.6 mile course and I had no idea if Kelton would be able to do it all on his own.  I knew that Cambrie wanted to take off and win the wave.  I knew that McKenzie would stick with Sophie.  Kelton was on his own.  I had planned to walk next to the course to offer encouraging words.  That dude didn't need them.  As soon as the buzzer sounded my kids took off. 

 I can't run with the backpack on so I just scooted after them expecting to catch up when they started walking.  They never started walking!  Cambrie was long gone and Kelton was just steps behind her.  He was flying over the obstacles and didn't need me there at all.  I followed for a bit then realized that the only way I was going to see these guys was if I turned around and walked the course backwards, which is what I did.  I saw them climb fence, swing on ropes and then carry a heavy ball.  

The kids look so tough!  

I lost track of Cambrie for a bit and when I saw her again her face and hands were covered with blood!  I was too far away to hear what she said, but she waved it off and kept going.  She finished then checked herself into medical for a crazy bloody nose.  I was so disappointed that I didn't get a picture of that.  She said she smacked it on the crossbar of the slide.

I saw Kelton slide down the mudslide and started laughing.  The mud looked fabulous, but he didn't like being muddy at all!  He ran the rest of the way with his arms pulled out away from his body and kind of waddled through the course.  

Cambrie came back for him and took him through the cargo net mud crawl.  He's so short he could just crouch and didn't have to crawl through the mud at all.  

I turned around to watch McKenzie coming through with Natalie and Sophie.  When it was their turn for the mud, she slid down really slowly.  Then, disappointed by how clean she still was, lowered herself belly first into the slop.  It looked like high quality stuff!  

Cambrie joined her for the mud crawl and the two of them thought it was the best part.

  

Cambrie won the wave, by a lot.  

Kelton ended up in the top 15, and McKenzie was just happy to finish.  They were filthy once they were done. The race organizers weren't kidding when they said to bring an extra pair of clothes. 

 

 There was a hose off station where we did our best to spray them clean before changing near the car.

  

I just love, love, love that my kids wanted to do this.  I love that they are competitive and adventurous enough that stuff like this makes them smile.

One Wacky Birthday Party

Even though Cambrie's friend birthday party was a couple weeks after her true birthday, I think the wait was worth it.  We purposely didn't tell her friends what we were doing until it was too late for them to run away.  We loaded up all of the girls into the car then drove to ARC.  At ARC they were each given the name of another girl at the party, and $10 to dress them in the wackiest outfit they could find.  It took the girls a couple minutes to warm up and to get their imagination juices flowing, but once they did we couldn't get them to stop!  Girls were walking through all of the aisles laughing and showing their finds to the other girls.  

I had no idea what to expect when the girls finished making their purchases.  We utilized the dressing rooms there at the store and when the girls came out I was beyond impressed!  Those girls did a fabulous job. 

 After they were all dressed we took them to the Orchard where they had to do a photo scavenger hunt.  Some of the things included finding a jewelry store and proposing to a team member, reading a board book to a team member, and asking someone to sing Happy Birthday to the group.  Jeremy and I chaperoned and shadowed them around the mall.  We never went too close to interfere, but stayed close enough that we could see them blush, laugh, get excited, and ask strangers to do strange things.  It turned into a fabulous date night for the two of us actually.  

Once the girls were done with their scavenger hunt, we met up at Menchies for some frozen yogurt.  Cambrie was mortified when I pulled out the candles and sang Happy Birthday to her, but that's my job!  

Most of the girls were relieved when they could come back home and change into their normal clothes again.  Some, however, were really excited about their outfits and couldn't wait to wear them again later.  We hung out at home playing crazy game until the parents came to pick up the girls.  It was wild, crazy, and the perfect way to spend her last birthday before becoming a teenager!

Cambrie's birthday part 1

Cambrie gets to have her birthday in two rounds this year.  We celebrated on her actual birthday with cake, ice-cream, presents, and a couple of soccer games.  Her birthday party isn't schedule until after we get back from the Dominican Republic, so the girl has a chance to enjoy her family gifts.  

Like a real ostrich egg carved into a lamp that my mom brought back from South Africa!

  

A drawing figurine from McKenzie.  

And her favorite is a stand-up paddle board.  She used it the next night at a youth activity and loved it.  It looks like she's headed out on a month long backpacking trip!  

She requested an apple coffee cake for dessert and I managed to capture this goofy smile while we sang "Happy Birthday."  

I'm so grateful for this girl and who she is growing up to be.

Kelton's spontaneous birthday

Kelton's birthday celebrations kind of came as a surprise this year.  We knew his birthday was on Friday, but we hadn't decided when we were going to have his family party.  Looking at our schedule we realized Monday morning that we needed to have his birthday celebrations that night!  It was a frantic rush to pick up last minute gifts, wrapping paper, and a cake.  Kelton loved his gifts this year.  

All sorts of different ways to play!

The girls each had friends over playing and they were lucky enough to eat cake and ice-cream with us.  

After dinner we drove down to Lakeside Amusement Park because that's what Kelton wanted to do with his family.  We spent just a very short time in the kid zone warming up before moving onto the older rides.  

Daxton hated the thrill rides like always, even though he loved the more controlled stuff.

As we made our way from kiddie land to the adult rides we tried to find rides that everyone could do.  The Whiplash was pretty fun, and you can't beat that rainbow that appeared!

Flying ace.

Bumper boats.

But the boys couldn't do them all.  While the girls were riding upside down...

The boys did the glass maze.  I can't stop laughing watching them do this maze because they run into so many walls!  Kelton hit one hard enough that he had a goose egg the next day.

The boys and I also jumped on a train I hadn't seen before.  It took us all of the way around the lake.  The prettiest view was over the lake back towards the park.  It looks like a postcard.

Icees anyone?

Kelton is tall enough now that he can do a lot of the more exciting rides.  His absolute favorite was the white roller coaster.  He couldn't believe he was finally tall enough to go on a real roller coaster.  Look at that smile!  

I sat next to him and listened to him cheer and scream the entire ride.  He absolutely loved it.  He would've stayed there all night if Daxton hadn't been so bored waiting for his taller siblings.   

While the girls finished up on a few last minute thrill rides...

...the boys and I went back to kiddie land to wait.  After the big stuff, Kelton was unimpressed with the smaller rides.  I thought it was hysterical.

I thought his idea of a family roller coaster night was perfect.  It means that there are spontaneous moments of sibling love like this!  Huggy time!  (They may have been having a competition to see who can squeeze and hug the hardest, but I choose to believe they just love each other.)