Geocaching at Blair -- August 23

We set out on a geocaching adventure, with a picnic.  We have been talking about doing this for a while, and finally managed to get it together.  If you're not familiar with geocaching, it's a sort of treasure hunt using a GPS.  People can hide a geocache, and they take down the latitude and longitude and share them on geocaching.com, and then you can go find it!  According to the GPS, we walked about 2,000 feet to find this one today.  Andrew and I had done this same geocache in September, 2008.  That was awhile ago!

Emma is looking regal these days.

The geocache is hiding behind the little rock to the right of the girls (they aren't looking in the right spot yet!)

We left a necklace in the box and Vivian took a Foosball and Hazel took a little doll.  Next time I need to bring extra treasures to put in the cache, so that we don't take more than we leave.

The cache was off the trail a bit, but we found our way just fine.  Hazel and I took turns with the GPS, and we played that we were hobbits trying to destroy the ring.

We stopped for a snack in a tepee, and then made it home again in time for a nap and some quiet time. 

Laundry Baby -- August 17

Vivian and I were making bread dough, and we could hear Jane giggling.  Hazel was pushing her around in laundry basket, and they were having a grand time. Vivian joined in the fun, and there were many giggles.

A Fine Lake -- August 14

This is Meeboer Lake, a reservoir southwest of Laramie, not too far.  Andrew's grandparents sent him home with a canoe this summer, and we took it out for a short paddle.

Jane rode in front.  Her life jacket made it hard for her to sit up, so she lounged a bit. 

Jane also peered into the 6-9 foot deep water.

A good evening activity for the Telanders!

Thank you Grandpa John and Grandma Lou!

Lyle, Lyle -- August 14

Hazel likes to "read" to Vivian on the couch now.  Some stories she has pretty much memorized, but Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a bit long even for her.  She is getting better at reading, but we're not quite there yet!  I was pretty pleased today though, when Hazel read Vivian a nap time story while I put Jane down for her nap. 

All Dressed Up -- August 14

Jane found a purse and a baby and went for a walk with her daddy.

Dinosaur Hunting -- August 12

We went on an adventure with a local kids hiking group to look at University of Pittsburgh land (they have 7,000 + acres) where there are dinosaur fossils.  A woman who works as a paleontologist consultant for the University of Pittsburgh took us out north of town, and showed us around a bit. There were 40ish little kids running around, having a great time looking for dinosaur bones.  We did get to see some, which was great.  It was reasonably cool that day, although it probably looks hot in the pictures!  Very sunny, though 

Hazel is holding a fossilized squid, of all things.

See how many of us!

That big rock is a fossilized piece of some kind of dinosaur.

All those kids, and a landscape that is about as hospitable as the moon, and Hazel and Vivian take off on their own!  You can see the line of vehicles in the background above, that's what they were headed for!

A very neat field trip.  I even ran into someone I went to high school with, who also has three little ones now!  A very nice group of people.

Wading Pool in the Back Yard (With Jane) -- August 11

Hazel and Vivi wanted to run in the sprinkler, so we set up the sprinkler and the little pool in the backyard on a hot summer afternoon.  A good time.

Can you see her teeth!  She has six now, and four more are on the way.

Long after Hazel had wrapped up in a towel, Vivian was still daring herself to run through the sprinkler!

Cheyenne Frontier Days -- July 30

We went to Cheyenne to see Frontier Days this year, a new adventure for us.  The day started with a school bus ride, which probably would have been exciting enough for Hazel and Vivian.  We were really in the trip for a ride on the Ferris wheel, however.  Hazel asked while we were in New York if we could ride on a Ferris wheel sometime, and this seemed like a good opportunity!

Andrew held Jane, and I took the big girls up in the Ferris wheel first thing when we got there.  They were eager, and we wanted them to enjoy the other things too.  So we started with the Ferris wheel (above).  They were so brave!

We moved on to other rides, above see the "Jumping Jumbos." 

The girls took a pony ride.  Vivian has been wanting to ride a horse, so this was perfect for her.

And then there were more rides.  Above, Hazel was having a great time "chasing" Vivian.

At first, Hazel and Vivian each rode on their own, but then they switched to sitting together.  They had a great day, and we were all exhausted by the end of it.

There and Back Again (Washington Park) -- July 28

Hazel and Vivian rode their bicycles all the way to Washington Park, and had a nice time doing it.  Jane rode in the stroller.  

Jane got all dressed up!  Hazel and Vivian helped.

Hazel and Vivian were using their ice powers to keep the bad guys away at the park.