Fun with FIRE!!!

OK not as exciting as the title sounds but still fun non-the-less.  Sarah and I had been discussing our fire pit for a while and contemplating building one with pavers so we decided it was time to pull the trigger.  Monday when I got home from work we all piled into the van and drove to Lowe's to purchase 30 pavers for our fire pit.  Weighing in at about 10 lbs each I am pretty sure we were making the van slightly unhappy loading about 300 lbs of bricks into the back...Oh well we got home so I guess that is what really matters.  Of course, the fact that the sun was setting and light was limited did not stop us NOOOOOOO!  I grabbed the wheel barrow and started moving bricks while Sarah began construction on our fire pit.  Fortunately, the kids entertained themselves on the trampoline while we built the fire pit.

No the photos above were not taken on Monday when we built the fire pit.  The top one was taken Tuesday night while Sarah was having a pot luck with her photography friends.  I built the fire got it blazing real good; then went in and let all of the gals know they could go outside and chat it up next to the fire pit.  I guess sitting in the warm stuffy house was more appealing because that is where everyone stayed.  Since no one was outside I went out and sat by the fire with music on my cell phone and played some Tetris (Oh yeah good old Tetris).  After a few minutes of enjoying the silence I got the kids and we toasted up some smore's while the hens clucked away in the stuffy hen house.

The lower picture was taken on Sunday evening after the Broncos lost to the Seahawks.  Yes we voluntarily watch football from time to time in our house.  Mom and Dad actually called during the game and in the conversations with each of them they asked "what are you guys doing?" and when I answered watching the football game they each asked "Do you have company?"  Obviously sports do not occur often in our house.  Anyway, after the game we decided to do smores again and enjoy our new fire pit.  The weather was perfect for it.

Another task we took on this week was some painting we had been promising to Weston ever since we painted Tanner's bedroom.  When we painted Tanner's room we drew a huge Bronco (yes like the football team, and no we don't have company) on his wall and Weston wanted something similar.  So we finally got out the projector and drew up this little number.

As you can see we are not finished yet, but it is coming along.  I will post some pics when it is finished; which will hopefully be next week.

Well that is all I have this week.  To be honest it is more than I thought I would have since I hardly pulled out my phone and could hardly remember what we did.  Oh did I mention the boys had soccer practice?  Well they had soccer practice and matches and that pretty much kills most of our time.  They both played really well;  Weston typically plays defense or goalie(yes I know the goalie technically is defense, and no we do not have company) but this week he spend a quarter playing mid.  He was really trying to hustle and even took a shot at the goal; while his shot was a little wide and he missed I was still happy to see him try.  He did, however, do great as a goalie blocking 3 or 4 goals...Good job Weston! (Yes Weston's team did win, and no we don't have company).

Let it snow!

Strange title for it not even being fall yet right...WRONG!  It has not happened yet but there are slight chances of snow in the forecast for this weekend and I am so excited about it.  Next week the weather is supposed to be back in the eighties which is one of the reasons I love Colorado so much.

Monday we had a pretty standard night nothing too crazy just bath night to get the layer of grime off of the boys.  I am not sure it worked but supposedly they are clean.

Tuesday was school night at Chik-Fil-A' so we all piled in after work and went to get some chicken... The boys always like it there since they have the play ground which Sarah and I like as well as it gives us a chance to let all three go without too much supervision though we always have an eye on them.  We were supposed to have soccer practice on Tuesday also, however, due to the city spaying for mosquitoes they cancelled practice for the evening so instead of running straight to practice we went to Costco to get a few things before heading home.  Costco is like our home away from home....Sad yes, but non-the-less true.

Since soccer was cancelled on Tuesday they moved it over to Wednesday so that was our night.  It was really nice weather and as usual Tanner and Ridge had a good time playing at the play ground during Weston's practice.  The hard part with soccer is it kills the entire evening so we get home and it is pretty much books and bed....bummer.

Thursday we got a little rain and we were supposed to take Weston to his regularly scheduled soccer.  So being the great dad I am I made the rain more than it really was and decided to keep the boys home and watch a movie instead.  In my defense it was sort of cold and dreary and the playground would have be soaked.  A wet playground with a five year old is no big deal but a wet playground with an almost 18 month old = no fun.  Weston did not seem to mind either as he always loves watching movies.  We watched Maleficent, which I did not pay as much attention to as I should have so I can not tell you if it was good or bad.

This weekend I was off to our churches Men's Retreat for the weekend.  While I was very excited to go to the retreat with my good friend Leigh I was slightly bummed because my brother was not able to make it.  One of the down sides to living in Colorado is being so far from family; I am sure Sarah feels that way too, but they are many good things to counter the bad.  Such as, the ability to walk outside without bursting into flames then melting to the ground like you do in Arizona.  The retreat took place just outside of Fraser, Colorado, and wow was it pretty.  With all of the Aspen trees changing color for the fall there was this bright orange explosion of color in every direction.  The weekend as a whole was really good; we went through lots of good discussions, and had a lot of good fun as well.

The Zip Line

In my absence Sarah took the boys to their soccer matches which apparently went very well.  Both boys won their games and Tanner even scored a couple of goals for his team; not too shabby for his first game of the season.  Weston played a lot of defense as usual and really made an effort to attack the ball.  I am really proud of them both.

Sunday was pretty relaxed; Sarah had a photo shoot and there was a Broncos game on so I turned on the game and sent the boys outside to play.  As I watched the game and did various other things I would check on the boys frequently.  When I first put them out they were happy a clams goofing around... 2 minutes later.

They were not only happy as clams, but just as wet too.  They really were having a good time with those water guns.  I guess I need to be more careful about checking to see if there are weapons of mass destruction in the back yard prior to setting the kids loose.  Unfortunately, I eventually had to end the fun and send them all to get baths.

Soccer, soccer, soccer....Bleh!

Not a whole heck of a lot to report this week.  On Monday evening Sarah and I made the executive decision that Weston had outgrown his bike...again.  So we scoured Craigslist and found a couple of options that might suit Weston and low and behold he choose a Trek 220 mountain bike.  After finding the bike was still available we decided we could go and look at it on Tuesday after soccer practice.  Which by the way now that the games have started it seems like soccer occupies every other day...Oh wait IT DOES!  and Tanner has not even started yet.

Enjoy it while you got it kid.

So big going down the slide alone.

So after Soccer on Tuesday we ventured out to Louisville to check out the Mountain bike and Weston loved it.  Since Sarah had a shoot that ran over I had all three boys in the Prius so we had no room for the bike so Weston got to ride his bike around the sellers house while we waited for Sarah.  After a couple of minutes she showed up and we could hardly get Weston off of the bike to go home.  Eventually we did and the whole way home Weston just stared off into space rather than play his DS or tablet like he would normally do.  Obviously he had bike on the brain.

The rest of the week was fairly mild I don't really even remember what the heck we did on Wednesday and Thursday other than soccer practice.  Which yes I have more soccer practice pics.  on Friday we all got in the car after I got home from work and drove to the jewelry store where I bought Sarah's new ring from.  The one I bought did not quit sit right stacked with her engagement ring and band so she wanted to see if there was something better.  The whole point of the ring (aside from me expressing my undying love) was so she could remove her engagement ring while doing newborn shoots but still have a ring on.  Otherwise, no one would know she is married when she hits the bars and clubs every night.  She did select a different ring which honestly does look much better with her existing jewelry than the one I chose.

Saturday MORE SOCCER!  Weston played his first game, and while I joke about it I really do get into watching him play the games.  His team did really well and won the match.  It is neat to see how they have progressed from the last soccer season.  Now they actually pass the ball to each other and sometimes work as a team.  Who would have thought we can pass the ball!

Weston not in action

Weston in action

and more action.

After our Soccer match we were off to the AOD plant company picnic in Loveland. We got there shortly after it started, it was pretty quiet so we took the boys over to the play area where lots of bumps and bruising ensued.  Eventually the boys got some water guns and hula hoops and had a great time playing around.  Thank you to AOD for putting on fun events like this.

Post injury

Back to fun

Water guns

Hula Hoopage

Solitude

      This week was horrible! Sarah went off gallivanting in Nebraska having all kinds of fun while I was left all alone in complete desolation with all three of my monstrous children...OK maybe I am slightly exaggerating.  Yes Sarah really did travel to Nebraska for some training and yes she did leave me alone with the boys but they were great.  We actually had a pretty darn good time.  Monday night after Sarah drove off the boys spent the evening playing with the neighbors and also played some soccer with Hugo our neighbor.  They really had a blast with him.  Tuesday Weston had his first soccer practice of the season and really seemed to enjoy that as well.  Tanner, Ridge and I hung out at the play structure during this time Ridge discovered a wealth of rocks to hand select then hand to dad....for an hour.

     On Wednesday Ridge and I decided to ride our bikes to pick-up Tanner from school.  It went great except I got a flat tire on the trailer about half way on the way to school.  With a bike strapped to the back of that little trailer and a flat tire it sure is hard to pull.  We made it OK though Tanner rode through it like a rock star.  In fact he only stopped one time for a drink of water and that is because I asked him if he wanted to.  Sarah got home from Nebraska that evening Saving me from the children and them from me.  LOVE YOU MOM!
     Thursday was our typical Thursday go go go with Sarah having shoots and Weston having soccer practice.  Tanner and Ridge both seems to enjoy soccer practice there is a park right by the fields and lots of friends to play with.

Just hangin' out

    Saturday we Sarah had more shoots but we still made the most of the day with a trip to the pool as well as church Saturday night.  Unfortunately I forgot my phone so no fun pool pics.   Sunday was pretty down day with a movie to complete the day.  Sarah had mentioned it so we decided to treat the boys to the 1990's hit film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles....It was worse than I remember but we still had a good time.  Ridge entertained us bit too with his knee jerk reaction to flashes.  Every time my phone would light up his would give me a big smile.

What a ham

Monday Sarah and I thought it would be nice to go out to breakfast with the boys since we had no other pending plans that day.  We had actually decided this on Sunday and I had prepared by calling our favorite little Cafe in downtown Erie to make sure they were open, the conversation went like this "hello are you open tomorrow, Labor day?" response "yes we are open Monday from 7-3PM"  to which I responded "Great! so you are open on Labor day."  "yes sir we are".  Now I could be wrong but I thought that highly intelligent well planned conversation covered one fact fairly well....THE CAFE IS OPEN LABOR DAY!  Back to Monday we all get up, load up, and ride our bikes to the Cafe downtown.  Guess what, they are not open on Labor day, which brought us to plan B ride home and go to another diner that was open.  We still really enjoyed the bike ride and I must say the kids did really good.  They were getting a little crabby at the end, but it was about a 4 mile bike ride with only one or two very short stops.  I call it a success!

Tanner crusin'

Weston crusin'

Sarah and Tanner

Ridge

Selfie while driving

Final break before reaching the house

I am sorry for the image quality but when taking family photos while riding a bicycle, it is difficult to hold the camera steady.  Monday panned out nicely with another trip to the pool which will be our last for the season as the pool will be closed as of September 2nd.  As well as some play time with the neighbors then S'mores in the backyard for desert.

Victorious Failure

I know it is only Monday but I think this is where I am going to attempt to land the blog.  Sundays is a good ending to one week and the start of the next so I will do my best to post Sunday or Monday nights.  If you read my previous post you know that I JUST posted so not a whole lot has happened since my last post...just the weekend.
       We started our Saturday morning out bright and early by packing the whole troop into the van for a small hike on the Annie White trail.  We choose the trail because it looked like a very nice trail and kids apparently like it.  As we neared our destination Sarah said "I hope the trail is not closed due to the flooding last year" to which I responded "it has been a whole year it will be fine".  Not so much, the trail was closed, so we turned the van around and started a quick brain storm on where we could go with the boys.  After mulling it over we opted to go to the Eben G. Fine Park in Boulder, not that either of us knew that was what it was called. Once we got there we stuck Ridge in the hiking pack and went for a short hike/walk up the creek to throw some rocks in the water.  The boys had a lot of fun just hanging out throwing rocks and probably could have stayed there all day.  We even got the pleasure of watching 4 people float their way down the creek in inner tubes which the boys really want to try.  Maybe you will read about it in a future post.  After that we hung out at the creek for a bit we let the boys play at the park and then went home for lunch.  Nothing too crazy but a fun little trip to the creek.

Throwin some rocks

         Later that day Sarah and I did a quick work out which I followed up by going for a run.  The plan was to do my run then swing by Napa Auto right behind our house and pick up an oil filter for the Prius.  When I left the house it was nice and sunny with a storm rolling in.  I figured I would catch a few drops by the end but nothing more than a good soaking.  Boy was I wrong!  I got through about 3/4 the run when the sprinkles started.  By the time I reached Napa Auto I was running for my life to decrease the amount of stinging rain/hail pounding me on the right side of my face and body.  Good times!
        That storm rolled through relatively quickly and later that evening we went for a short family walk, then let the boys play in the front yard with the neighbors.  I wish I had taken pictures but I did not.  One kid was on his scooter while the other two would run with a rope tied to the neck of the scooter towing the rider as fast as the runner could run.  They would switch places so each kid had a chance at riding and running.  It was good to see all of the kids playing so well and using their imaginations to come up with unsafe yet fun things to do.  Amazingly no one was hurt and they were all pooped by bed time. Unfortunately I do not have a ton of photos to share this round but I will try to do better next time.  Thanks for reading!

Pre fall in the water

Post fall in the water Ridge did not care either way.

Sarah took this can ya tell (sun flare)

Failed selfies

A little Sunday morning football?

Resurrecting the blog

Well, since Sarah has been so busy with her photography and what not the torch of maintaining the family blog has been passed onto me.  Sooooo what has been going on with the Colorado Heinle 5 since....,HOLY POOP ON A STICK, October of 2012?!?! Let's see, some kid showed up on March 12th and I am still waiting for him to leave.  Sarah says I have another 17 years to wait, oh well.  We named him Ridge James and so far he has actually been lots of fun.  He is now 17 months and getting funnier everyday with all of goofy things he does.  My favorite is Yoga with Sarah I think he has perfected Downward Dog.  

Weston has had two birthdays so he is now eight.  He enjoys playing soccer, swimming, riding his bike, and skateboarding.  The skate boarding is a work in progress.  He has just entered the third grade and, ironically enough, was very excited about it.  I suppose, like all good things, that will eventually come to an end.  As always he continually is a great big brother to Tanner and Ridge.  Thus far he really likes his new teacher and is beginning to learn how to play Chess, perhaps he will teach me when he has mastered it.

Tanner...yes Tanner is now a big 5 year old Kindergartner.  He is attending Red Hawk Elementary with Weston and goes half day five days a week.  He is soooooo excited to ride the bus everyday.  When Sarah asked him what his favorite part of school was his response was "riding the bus".  Sadly school is already wearing him down, on Friday he asked Sarah if he had to go to school EVERY day.  Tanner loves though and is a very quick learner. Tanner also had a big triumph in learning to ride his bike with no training wheels on.  I will admit the first time I took him out to practice I got so frustrated I thought he was a lost cause.  The second time we went out to practice he literally rode by himself with no help from me at all.  I was very proud of him.

    As a whole we have been having a great year.  We spent Thanksgiving of 2013 with our wonderful friends the Henderson's in Memphis Tennessee which was a great trip.  We road tripped it as always and the kids all did really well. Then we spend Christmas of 2013 in Durango, Colorado and enjoyed some family time and riding the Polar Express. In March I was fortunate enough to take the express ride off of a ladder at work and fell about 20 feet or so (I still have not measured the actual distance).  I was going to attach a picture of my knee after the fall but then figured some may not appreciate it.
    Sadly Sarah's uncle Kelly began his fight against cancer in 2013 and fought long and hard and,unfortunately, lost the fight in July of 2014.  Kelly is and will always be remembered as a great man.  He was Captain for the Santa Clara County fire department and was a man filled with passion and love for his family and friends.  He is a man I look up to and aspire to be more like and will miss greatly.  My biggest regret is that my three boys will not be able to spend time with him at the ranch in California.
    Sarah continues to run her own photography business and is doing very well with it.  Somehow she is able to manage her business, clients, kids, and me all while keeping sane.  She has recently began her own quest to lose some of the weight from her pregnancy, and once again I find myself so proud of her.  She has reached the goals she set for herself and has become very dedicated to keeping us all healthy.
    Sarah and I recently celebrated our 11 year anniversary in Keystone Colorado with our three boys and our very good friends Corrie and Leigh.  I took the opportunity to try and right my botched proposal over 11 years ago.  Whether or not round two went any better than round one only Sarah can say but at least this time there were some tears and laughs.  Sarah did yes so that is a plus.

With all of that I am going to wrap up this post and I will hopefully continue the blog on a regular basis.  While you will most likely not get the high quality photos Sarah provided you will at least get the opportunity to laugh at my bad grammar and spelling errors.  From the Colorado Heinle Five (yes we stole the name from Mike and Danielle and added the Colorado) PEACE!