We have had a tradition of going to Fright Nights at Elitch Gardens. On Saturday after the busy day we all met back at the house at about 3:30 pm and decided to head up. We weren't sure how the weather was going to be but it was perfect!
This year Haley is finally tall enough to go on the roller coasters. Even though we have uneven numbers it all worked out. We took turns with one riding alone. 
The boys wanted to go on the boomerang and the girls did not. I figured that it was worth a shot and since I was always a chicken and wouldn't go on this ride growing up it was time. Look at my face in the picture. I'd rather give birth then ride this one again. 
The boys went after we did and loved it! Although I love roller coasters the suspense of this one just didn't agree with me. Seriously....hanging for 20 seconds before they do anything?
We all got to go on the flying coaster here is Krystal with David. It was Haley's first time on a "grown up" roller coaster and she screamed the whole time. Then wanted to do it again.
Chaos was an easy ride. But since it was freight night there were scary people all around. One guy was carrying a chain saw. The girls were so scared. They both ran out of this ride and jumped into my arms. We all acted as if we weren't afraid and he left us a lone. Think the boys were watching for him in this picture too.
The night lights of Denver and the park were beautiful.
Over all even though we didn't use our passes as much as we would like, we had a great time this season. Saturday night was a blast and we had so much fun. We aren't sure if we'll buy the passes for next year but if every trip could be this memorable would do it for the rest of our lives!
Mike was working on a friends car and we were losing track of time. David who loves his new found freedom of driving offered to get the kids to the school so they can be early for the performance. Great! Everything is actually working out right? 
Even with what seemed to be extra stressful the kids seemed very happy. Dad took them to the traditional ice cream treat after a school performance. So even with a few glitches all was well.
Until the next morning when I was bringing some things back home for the scout trip that night. Alan met me at the car and showed me the difference between his wrist. The left one was double the size of the right one. So off to the doctor who said he didn't think it was anything more then a sprain because he had played at the band concert the night before without complaining. Well as a precaution we took him to get an x-ray (at Grandma Tams job). She pulled some strings and they read the x-ray for us while we were there. YES, a break right in the growth plate. He was splinted on Friday and got this groovy blue cast on Monday. No complaining from Alan though he got a milk shake on Friday with mom and a Keva Juice on Monday with Dad. Alone time and ice cream! What could be better?
This is our before of the kitchen taken in July too. Notice the lovely mint green tiles on the back splash and the matching counter tops. Well not only is it hard to decorate but the counters were so beat up. In April on one of our many trips to Lowes I was drooling in the kitchen section. We noticed that the granite was on sale. It was almost half off and I couldn't stop thinking about it. Mike even thought it was a great price and I was surprised when he agreed that we did need to change our counter tops. Our problem, the color we both agreed on wasn't in. They didn't know when they would have it again. 
So after taking the house off the market and finally coming to peace with the fact that we would have a mint green kitchen for at least a couple more years,the call came in. The "majestic white" granite is in (almost 6 months later). It was the one color we both agreed on way back in April. I was almost afraid to tell Mike the call came in because we had just talked about ways to save money. But when I told him guess who called today? He was as excited as I was. So it was on, yes we were still interested. Woo hoo! 
I am absolutely in love with the kitchen now. It was a long process that started with having the green tile and bottom row of tile removed. Waiting for the counter tops to be measured cut and scheduled for install took almost the whole month of September. The night before the install Mike and David removed the old counter tops and sink. Even though we had dealt with the kitchen being a little torn up most of September the hardest part of that was 2 days without a kitchen sink. The best part of it is no cooking for a couple of days. 
This weekend Mike finished all the trim work and the last couple pieces of tile. It looks so great and exactly what I wanted. The color is a gray, white, black speckle. It looks exactly like the color of the Oakland Temple to me. But the best part of all is it is so easy to clean and if the kids drum on this one they won't break a piece off. If they drum on this one breaking a piece off won't be an issue but they'll have me to deal with! 
We watched the sunset and watched an incredible tribute to the US and to the making of Mt. Rushmore. At the end of the show they asked all current and former military to come down on the stage. Mike didn't want to go but with a few of us encouraging him he went down with the other service men and women. Right out of HS he joined the Marines and served for over six years.
We were able to go to Bear Country USA. They warn you to keep your windows up and do not get out of your car. It was so much fun and there were a lot more then just bears. The older kids didn't think this was going to be fun. But they had just as much fun as the rest of us. 
Crazy Horse was also on the list of things to do. This is definitely bigger then Mt. Rushmore and has been years in the making. I didn't see a lot of progress since last time we were there back in 2004 but after looking at the museum and pictures realized I just didn't have an eye for the changing mountain. 
On September 11 five of us were lucky enough to enjoy the Air Force vs. 
There were some great tributes to victims of 9-11 and a HUGE American flag was brought out by the military. It was beautiful and so touching. We have to thank our neighbor for giving us the tickets so we could enjoy this game.
Some may wait for weekends so they can rest. In our house that doesn't seem to be the plan. There is always something and last weekend was no different. Dentist appointments, birthday parties, football, homecoming, weddings and a concert were on the calendar for us.
Not the best pictures because we were in a church but Parker and Jeni got married. Mike has been friends with Parker for a long time. They graduated HS together and have a lot of stories to tell about each other. We are very happy for Parker and glad he is so happy.
We are so glad September has come to rest. It was a wonderful and busy month. But the best part about it is our little Daniel that came to our family. Here's to hoping October gives us a little more rest!
