Rock Band in my Sunroom

July 14, 2009 - Becca, Tristan, and their youngest aunts, Hannah and Sally decided to put on a concert for us one summer afternoon. As you can see, Sally was the lead on vocals, Becca rocked on the pink electric "Barbie " guitar and Hannah played the drums. Tristan saved the day when Hannah had to run to the bathroom in the middle of the show - and filled in as a back-up drummer.

Yes, that is my cake pan Tristan is using as a cymbal - How nice am I?

Becca, looking sassy in her gymnastics leotard and a gold-flowered belt!

Say Cheese Hannah!

The Chicago Children's Museum

Our last day of vacation, we hit the Navy Pier in Chicago and met up with my crazy brother, Ryan, and his sweet wife (for putting up with him), Cheron. The main attraction we visited there was the Children's Museum. The kids (and the grown-ups too) had a lot of fun there - it was a really nice museum. Reese driving an ambulance with Ryan and Cameron.

Ryan the Fire-fighter and me as his trusty pet, spot.

Cameron and Tristan in the building area

Becca serving us some gourmet cuisine!

Reese and Cameron selling hot dogs

Having fun in the water area - I love the little rain jackets!
You can't tell very well in this picture but Tristan (Sr.) is being very mischevious! He is pumping water as high as he can and spraying everyone in the room! Trister is laughing and running away!
Becca making a water structure - and from the look on her face - waiting to get squirted!
Reese just minded her own business and played with boats the whole time!!
Here we all are on the pier with the city in the background.

Tuned in!

I just thought this picture was really funny! Look at all of these little couch potatoes!

Cameron, Griffin, Tristan, Harris, Reese, and Catcher

Say Cheese!

Here is an amazingly good picture of all 16 Gearhart/Fleming/Keith cousins! All of Thom and Teresa's beautiful grandchildren in one spot. We were all really glad that Tamzen and her kids missed her flight the day before, because we got to play with them for one more day, and take this great picture!

Say Cheese!

Wisconsin Dells, here we come!

Thom had some really great connections, and somehow got us 2-day passes and an overnight stay for an awesome water park/ hotel in Wisconsin called the Kalahari. The town was amazing! Everywhere you turned there was another themed water-park/hotel. It was like a family friendly Vegas! Anyway, we had a lot of fun - the weather was perfect the first day, so we slathered up with sunscreen and played all day. It's fun to be able to do the "big kid slides" again. Becca is a brave little thing and likes to try out all the waterslides with us. Tristan and I have to take turns with who gets to play with Becca! It's also really fun to just sit and watch the little ones braving the mini-waterslides and splashing around together. The second day was kind of overcast, but lucky for us, all these theme park are year-round places with indoor slides too! So we got to try out everything indoors before we left. It was a lot of fun!

Becca after a thrilling ride on a tube slide with me!

Reese was determined to keep a hold of her towel, so she could wipe her eyes with it whenever she got splashed! I kept trying to convince her that it was just as soaked as she was, but she is one determined little girl!

Cameron, our almost albino child, seeking some shade!

Tris in front of the kiddie area - he had a blast running around and doing all the kid slides.

Cameron loved the little slides, he would go down one, and immediately climb the stairs for another go. He cried for a good 20 minutes when it was time to leave the theme park for good. He said he wanted to go back to the fun hotel!

(Below- Reese eating dippin' dots ice cream for the first time)

Before. . .

. . . After

Catching fireflies

Here's an example of how you can have a lot of fun without going anywhere or spending any money - just step outside at dusk and catch some fireflies! Unless of course you live in Colorado, like we do, and do not have these cool insects anywhere around. We first discovered the exciting presence of fireflies last year on the way to Dekalb. As it was getting dark, we kept seeing strange flashes shoot past the car window. At first I was a little puzzled, but pretty soon we discovered further in the distance (and up close, smashed into the windshield) the little flashes of light were fireflies. The kids are mesmerized by them - they are very slow fliers too, so they are easy to catch. Even Cameron, who is terrified to hold a ladybug, was eager to hold them and watch them glow in his hand.


Here is Cameron and his cousin, Gavin, who he repeatedly called his best friend on our trip.









Reesey got bored and decided to pick flowers instead.







Becca with her cousins, Ainsley, and Claire. The baggie is full of fireflies. These 3 caught an amazing 62!












Cameron on the hunt!

Fun in the Sun!

July 7, 2009

Here we are having our first true relaxing day of our vacation. We had nothing scheduled or planned - we just took it easy and hung out in the pool. Sometimes those are the best times!

Tristan showing off on the diving board.

Reesey in her brother's life vest.

Cameron and his cousin AinsleyTris and Cam taking a break