Are They Sleeping?

It's now 10: 28 p.m. and this is what I just left outside...

First time sleeping in a tent

Joie and Sydney:  Not much sleeping going on...the empty pillow is Megan''s spot.

Nate, whose face shall remain hidden

Jeran and Jordan...I'm pretty sure Jeran is faking it.

But only a few minutes later:

Maybe it was the 2 hour hike today?

Or helping a friend load rocks?

Or the bike ride to the park?

Most definitely there has been no shortage of fun around here the past few days.  

Update:  It's 10:38 p.m. and I just stuck my head in the tent.  It was totally silent.  Wow.  Piece of cake.

All I had to say was anyone who talks gets to sleep in their bed.  But honestly I can't take credit.  I think it was actually the nosy neighbor who motivated the silence.  When her back light came on they were quiet.  She's ruthless...known to call police over snowball fights and noise ordinance infractions (which kicks in at 10:00 p.m.)

The past two days we've had cousins (Jordan and Sydney) here while their parents are on an anniversary trip.  They weren't here even an hour and they were out the door to find fun:

(Pictures compliments of Nate during a bike ride to the very deserted school playground...fun!)

There was also longboarding yesterday (Megan saved her birthday money and babysitting money and bought a used one from online classifieds.)  

And night games last night.

And another bike ride this morning.

And a hike this afternoon...  Some friends also came along for the hike so it was me, eight kids, and three mountain bikes.  (And only one rattle snake.)  Thank you Mr. Kind Hiker who helped us avoid Mr. Snake.  We know it's inherent to venturing into the mountains this time of year, but we like to think they want to avoid us as much as we want to avoid them...  We hope.  

Joie and Gabby have decided they'll leave biking to the paved trails and hiking to the mountains.  Nate took a spill but survived.

Days like this make me love living this close to the mountains.  I didn't have a camera with me today, but this picture was taken from our front porch a few days ago...we hiked there today.

Check out those heavy storm clouds covering the mountain...but it was gorgeous today!

Plans for the summer:  A lot more of the same.  

(And now I think my fluffy, warm bed is calling me...so, so glad I'm not sleeping outside.  Bets on who will come in first?)