Our last day in Colorado Springs we went to the
Focus on the Family Welcome Center. We had so much fun! They had a 4-story slide that the boys enjoyed. And I ran into a homeschooled kid who was working at the soda shop by choice. Her homeschooled sister and brother had all kinds of college degrees, but she was finding herself and hanging out at a J.O.B. for a while, which is admirable. We don't all want to go to college, people! Nor do we need to. So all you haters out there who wonder how Aron and I can afford to pay for college for our growing brood, you can bite me. Each of our kids has a savings account, thank you very much, and they will continue to add to it not only from current chores, but also in the future when they are babysitting and mowing lawns. Then they can use it for college or to start a business or whatever.
We had a fun time there and then dropped some serious cash at the bookstore. Really, when do I EVER shop? Let me have my fun buying Adventures in Odyssey CDs and books like Dobson's new Bringing Up Girls.
P.S. Happy birthday to my god-daughter, who I know doesn't read this blog (she's smart!), but I want her to know I'm always thinking of her on her birthday and that I love her very much. She is one cool kid.
Photos never do things justice, but I had to include this one from the zoo. See the giraffe down there? That may be the one from a previous post that Michael was feeding. Beyond that you can see Colorado Springs. Like Santa's Workshop, this zoo is also on a mountain. This means you get gorgeous views ... and a total leg workout!!!!! Anyway, this place is awesome and I highly recommend the naked mole rats and the resident fox that runs around the place.
Oh, yeah, baby. They don't call this the Highest Ferris Wheel in the World for nuthin'. The North Pole/Santa's Workshop in perched on the side of a mountain. The ferris wheel is up on that thar mountain. The last time I was on a ferris wheel was when I was about 19 ... 20 years ago, people. And it freaked me out then. But I sucked it up and went on it for the sake of my precious wee ones ... my adventurous kidlets. And I screamed my head off with my eyes closed the first time around. Then I dug it! The kids didn't mind it a bit and had a great time! Then Aron actually got on the darn thing ... he was more scared than I was at first and then got used to it also. At the top it was windy and you could see all over the place. I highly recommend it.
Holy crap-a-rooni, when did I become a BEFORE weight loss picture???? Sitting on my ample butt eating ice cream, no less!!! But look at those 5 beautiful faces! If I had to gain 5 pounds per kid, then it's all worth it. Plus I get the excitement of anticipating what my boobs are going to look like after I'm all done nursing Sam! Sooo, this pic was taken at the North Pole/Santa's Workshop in Colorado Springs. Three of my 5 kids are eating coffee ice cream. Why do people go into full-on freak-out mode when you give your kid anything labeled COFFEE?? Newsflash, World and Judgemental Parents: not EVERY SINGLE KID in the world experiences a sugar or caffeine buzz and then crashes. My kids are naturally spastic like myself. We can drink coffee then fall asleep. We can eat a candy bar and then sit quietly in front of the TV and watch an entire movie (not recommended, though ... how about going on a walk instead?!).
