Color me....

Last September I jetted off to Morgantown, West Virginia to participate in my first Color Me Rad race. For those of you unfamiliar with these you basically participate in a 5K and as you hit about every kilometer or so you run through a color station where you get colored corn starch thrown at you.  I know it sounds odd but it is honestly one of the funniest 5Ks I have ever done. 

This year I decided to stay a little closer to home, though I love WV and the people who work on the Morgantown race, it was nicer to stay where I didn't have to add two travel days to my schedule. 

This year the plan was to take the girls with me, leaving the boys at home. Laine had a change of plans though and went to Virginia to see her mom, so it was just Eve and I. 

Eve was super excited to participate in this 5K and she was even more excited that it was just her. 

The Color me Rad 5K is a party, and before we got our party on we started for some photo ops in our nice clean white shirts. 

Before we even left the starting gate Eve (and I) were already covered in the color.

 The 5K was about the same path we did a month or so we were ready. We had fun passing through each station, laughing at the other participants and just having a good time. We even stopped now and then to take a selfie or two...

This picture is as we are heading towards the end, We knew were getting to a color station when we would see a cloud of yellow, or pink, or blue that stretched on for a half a block. Eve learned the trick of standing on the outside so she could get the most color. 

After the race we were covered, Eve more than me, but all smiles. 

The boys were very sad that they didn't get to participate in the run, they kept asking if they were going and weren't happy that mom and sister stole away in the morning without taking them. We did bring them home some of our color packets to let them have fun too. 

After a quick but fun colored corn starch fight the boys were also covered and super happy. 

 So here's to a fun race, well see you next year!

The Epic Denver Trip- part 2

Have I mentioned that Denver is magic? About two days before we left on vacation Matty decided that he wanted to start potty training. That boy was a potty training champ on this trip. I think we only had accidents when he was napping or down for the night. Magic Denver, we think you are awesome and I thank you. Could you send some of your magic to Salt Lake because we have regressed a little.

Okay on to our great trip adventure. One morning we went to check out the Denver Aquarium, even a week later Eve cannot stop talking about how cool it was. It was a fun Aquarium and everyone's favorite part was walking in the fish tunnel and seeing all the fish. 

I think that the kids loved having dad with us the most. It isn't often dad goes to the zoo, museum, and aquarium with us. Those kids just loved being around him, and I understand why-he is a fantastic father. 

The top of my list to visit in Denver was The Garden of the God's. I had read about it on my cousin's blog and knew I had to go. It was awesome and we had a great day there doing some hiking and just playing together. 

Matty enjoyed showing us where we needed to go on our map. 

It isn't often that Christian and get a photo together, and it is even less often that I like any of the pictures (I am not a fan of most pictures I am in) but we had Laine take one while we were on vacation and I loved it. 

 The kids loved hiking and were pretty good at it. the one thing that they did not like was the horse poop that we had to deal with on the first half of the hike. I was impressed with the other family near us that were wheeling a stroller over the rocks and steep trail.  We had a ton of fun though and I think that James is quite awesome at hiking, he is a natural.

On our last day in Denver we went to explore downtown. We found the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve and that was just great. The kids had a ball designing their own money and learning about how the financial world works. 

We then took the free bus to the capital where we walked around and explored. We also found two of the three mile high markers. 

Downtown was fun. The kids enjoyed showing off their talents playing the pianos that were around.

All in all the vacation was a success. We had a fun time with family, ate fantastic food (there might have been an elk and buffalo hot dogs consumed), and saw some fun things. The ride home was even pretty good. No blizzards or storms, just a bunch of Fablehaven and stump dad questions. So thanks Denver, we had a great time! 

The Epic Denver trip---part one

In February my sister-in-law sent us an email showing very low airfare to Denver, the city where she and my brother live. Though we couldn't make the dates work for flying out there this spring we decided that we would come and visit during the summer. So the day after school let out we packed up the car and headed out. 

This was Matty's go to position while we were driving, nothing like being a kid on a road trip...I miss all those naps. 

On our way to Denver we stopped in Vernal so we could take the boys (and the girls) to Dinosaur Land!!! 

The kids had a ton of fun hiking and throwing rocks into the river.

We also took a small hike. Matty made it part way and then he and I turned around while the other kids and Christian hiked into a box canyon. 

 After we visited the monument we went to the dinosaur museum in Vernal. The kids loved the diorama in the back and we took poses with each dinosaur.

 They were super afraid of the T-Rex.

 We then took a quick visit to the Vernal temple and dodged some sprinklers to snap a picture or two.

We drove to Denver on Sunday braving a blizzard through Vail and a thirty mile traffic jam...have I mentioned that I hate I-70?

On Monday we meet my cousin and her five children at the Denver Children's Museum. I loved this museum. they had dress ups and so many hands on activities. Matty loved being a fire fighter and driving the fire truck.  I loved sitting and visiting with my cousin Liz. It had been many years since I had seen her. 

The girls loved doing some painting, they created some great things. 

The boys had the best time at the building area. it was like prying teeth to get them to move away from there. 

That night we took a visit to the Denver Temple. It was a fun time with Adam and Amy's family. 

 The kids loved being with their cousins. It was a party every minute and I had never heard so much sustained giggling before and it last the six nights we were there.

The one thing the kids loved the most in Denver were all the rabbits around. They kept count and found those rabbits more exciting then gorillas at the zoo or just about anything else. 

The next day we visited the Denver Zoo. So much fun and the displays were awesome. The kids had a great time.

My favorite thing there was the reptile house. Those of you who know me well, or have ever visited the Hogle Zoo with me, know that the smell there gets me every time. I hate it. Most times I can't even go into the reptile house. The Denver zoo solved the stinky problem though. I had no problem spending time in the reptile house or walking around...oh and have I mentioned my kids are hilarious?

We loved the huge elephant display. So many places to visit or see the animals. We got some great shots. and the kids got to watch the elephant play with a block of ice. 

So this was the first half of our fun and exciting trip to the Mile High City...more to come. So hold on tight there was more to see.

Epic summer water party

We might be gluttons for punishment, I am not sure but since our water party last year was such a success the kids decided that it was time to have fun again.  So we pulled out the slip n slide, the wading pool, the squirters, and the fun sprinkler. We bought water balloons and water guns. And we sent out the invitations so we were ready. Popsicles, Capri- Suns, and water bottles were packed in a cooler and the fun began. 

Last year we tried a few organized activities, this year we decided that it was just going to be an all out water fight. Balloons went left and right, water squirted to all corners of the yard, it even entered the "dry zone". I was just happy that all the popsicles got eaten, it was a happy moment when I realized we have no more Otter Pops in our house. 

We had a ton of fun and we went through several hundred water balloons, some of which are still scattered across my lawn.  We also had a couple of very cold kids, but they were having so much fun they didn't want to leave the water. 

So all in all a fun event, something that I think is now cemented in Bradley family tradition so we will see you all next year.  Same time same place...though minus the slip n slide, that poor thing took a beating for four years and served us well.