Basketball anyone??

There was a time we thought Owen just might make a great basketball player.
Just take a look at this post.
And now?
Oh, I think he could have mad skills, but how much organized sports can one 5 year-old take?

He shot when they told him to, he played the games they organized, and he ran when they said to run. But there were always distractions...


Like his biggest fan and cheerleader: Sister!

or the new shoes he just got...
or the bugs...
or Mom taking pictures!
:-)

oh, he'll be alright...
He made it all the way around the world!

I can understand distractions, though.
Gabby was working quite hard at her distractions a few times.
:-)

So what if the ball is too big to do a figure-8?

He still has many good years ahead of him...right?
I smile...

More summer fun...

Sometimes, just to distract the kids, Roger offers to build the "biggest tower ever!"
He always impresses!
I'm not too worried about the summer coming to an end...
knowing my schedule will be shorter, Owen gets to go to school, Roger growing his business...
Summer is my "refresh button" and the fall is always welcoming...
especially this year.

We got to celebrate much of summer!

Bouncing and driving...
Hanging out with those we love...

and learning lots from our many friends
(crazy-girl Cami being one of them!)

Looking at the calendar, I see only three days of no work stuff until workshop...
is that enough though?
Trying to make the most of it...

Flagstaff...

It was a relief to spend a night somewhere and have bit cooler weather. After two days of hot, difficult driving, 7,000 ft elevation was welcome!

This was one of the only campsites that did not have a pool,
but we were fine...so were the kids:
There was a tree fort...literally! The tree grew up right through it!

Swings, slide and a merry-go-round...

and...as Owen said, "it's better than a pool Mom!"...
a splash-pad!

We took a few walks/bike ride

mailed a few postcards...

and had fun with the locals...

Owen is always looking for the next adventure!

and that didn't stop when we got home...
if he sees a small patch of wooded area, he wants to go hiking.
If we played on the playground too long and did not have time to explore in the trails,
he gets overly dramatic and says I don't let him do anything!
When he gets mad at me lately,
(meaning, I say NO, or I can't give him what he wants now),
he says, "I'm never going to draw you another picture again!"
So...he knows how to hurt me.
I don't really buy it cuz he gave me a picture today.
He drew a picture of me when he was in church class today.
So he didn't follow directions, but at least he had fun!
And maybe he learned something?

Another thing I don't buy is when he says he doesn't want to do something that I know he loves to do. I had to not give in a few times to learn that it is good to not let him talk me out of things.
For example, he cried a few times about going to swimming lessons this summer.
But he enjoyed his time, was so proud when he was so brave, and improved so much that he is jumping, splashing, and showing off how he gets his face wet now.
He passed level 1!!!!! I am so proud!

I can't push him; I know.
As a mom, it has been frustrating seeing him not want to do something that I know he'll love to do and is so able to do...if he'd only try or work harder.
Like reading and riding a bike.
I know he could be reading and riding a bike.
But I can't push him.
He's 5.
I give him opportunities, yes.
But I won't push.
You see, the expression on his face when he finally chooses to do something
and he knows he did it all by himself, is priceless!
He's smart and he wants to please, but I can't push.
I won't let him talk me out of swimming, reading, or riding a bike, no.
But I won't push...soon enough, right?
When will he stop wearing pajamas?
That's a whole other post!
:-) I smile...

Grand Canyon...and route to get there!

So after we left Cousin Jimmy (the "real, live cowboy!"), we headed towards our next "destination." We wanted to see The Grand Canyon!

And, if Gramma Mimi was going to see any of The Grand Canyon, she had to see the Colorado River that cuts right through it.
We knew that our next campsite after Wickenberg was going to be at elevation 7,000 ft, so I don't know why it didn't occur to us that we would be doing mountain driving, or something like it.
Switch-backs and narrow roads curving up and up and up.
This is looking back the way we came:

We stopped at the visitor center and got our pass to enter the park
("yeah!" for Senior Passes again!).
We got to read some stories and see what the whole thing looks like:

This is an old "raft" that was used to float, glide, bump along the Colorado River...
If I ever do a trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon,
I think I will ask for a newer raft than this! :-)

Let me tell you...it is really tough "jumping lanes" with a 34 ft 5th wheel on your big diesel truck!

I am continuing to see that my little boy is an observer.
He watches to see what other kids are going to do before he starts in.
He sits and stares at circus performers with very little excitement before he wiggles with enthusiasm at the idea of what is going on around him.
He watches, stares, takes it all in...then asks a million questions and retells the stories of all his amazing experiences for days, months, and now years later (the ones he recalls). That is why pictures are so important: Owen loves to talk about what has already happened!

So as we were on the lip of the south edge of The Grand Canyon,
he sits...watches...takes it all in.
(as Gabby is climbing and doing "tricks")

I often wonder what he's thinking!

Shortly after the above photos...Owen fell asleep.
Perhaps that was the real reason for his "deep thought."

:-) perhaps one day he'll tell me...

So we drove a bit further and found another look-out with a tower.
We still had not seen the Colorado River, so we had to make this stop.
Is that it?...

Somebody was eager to get a closer look!...

There it is!

Gabby was tearing around the look-out, but I was able to get a shot of her taking it all in too!

Because Owen was asleep in the truck, Grampa and Dad took turns taking in the sights.

It's one of those sights that you can't be too old or too young to appreciate.
Some take a look and say, "Yep, I saw it. Neat."
Others say, "I've got to come back someday and do the hike!"
I think I'll go back!

Who will come with me????

**Our next stop: Flagstaff, AZ...a break from the heat was nice!