BAM BAM Bingo Night

Four times a year, the BAM BAM (Be a Man, Be a Mentor) of the Roxborough Parent Teacher Involvement Committee holds a bingo night to raise money for books and other needed items in the school. This was our event in early October. With help from Kohl's generous donation, we raised over $1,500.00 that night!

The crowd

Grant daubered

Grant's buddy Brian

Hangin out

Pizza Night!!!

The kids and I had a pizza night last night - as they begged me for stories about my pizza-making days at Happy Joes in Peru, IL. They each got to make their own - Grant tried his hand at a Lou Malnatti style - with most of the cheese on the bottom in a deep dish pan. Elly did too - but chose to make her's perfectly shaped on a cookie sheet. All were delicious!!!

Grant's pie

Elly's creation hot out of the oven

Trying my best...

YUM

Roxborough Community Church Closes It's Doors

After almost 8 years, Roxborough Community Church, the church we started going to in 2006 in our neighborhood, closed it's doors. The last service was a time of sadness - but great hope and promise for scattering the seeds that have been planted. Scot got several old members of the worship team together (including myself) for the service. It was joyous day altogether - and good to reconnect with friends.

Tryin' to get that feelin'

Blessed Be the Name...

The band - past and present

6 Random Things About Me

Hr Thoughts blogtagged me to tell you six random things about myself and then pass it on. Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on the blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

With that, here are six random things about me:

1. I was in a plane crash (Cessna 172) and walked away.
2. I used to work in radio - and covered the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome - once in 1988 and again in 1989.
3. I've never ever been to a Hooters Restaurant.
4. I was arrested for the first time (of two times) at age 16 - at a Styx concert in Chicago - actually outside of the venue - and we still got to see the show.
5. I have hated Styx ever since...
6. I love lima beans, brussel sprouts and spinach.

Give it a whirl!

Camping Near Estes Park

The kids and I drove up to Covenant Heights Retreat Center last weekend for two nights of camping. It was awesome! Had a little bit of rain both nights - but not too bad. We fished in the lake at the camp - and the kids had a blast in the canoes, kayaks and paddleboats. The lake is normally catch and release, but the last day we were there we were told by the camp director to keep whatever we caught because they are going to be draining the lake in a few weeks for some bulldozing work at one end. Sweet!!! Fresh trout dinner when we got back to Littleton.

We also took a drive into Estes Park on Saturday. Crazy traffic!!!

Breakfast!!!

Elly and Little Girl on the beach

On the deck of the dining hall

Kayaks!!

Little Girl: navigator

Dinnertime

Just a little black bear wandering through camp...

Grant's first trout in Colorado

Yum

Rockies Dodgers Game with the Cousins

My brother-in-law Kevin drove out from Chicago with Haley and Ethan to spend a week in Colorado - and to help his mom move the rest of her stuff into her new condo. We all got together to go see the Rockies play the Dodgers - with Kevin's two sisters Kari and Kathi and their families - - - 17 all together! Can't beat those $4 Rockpile seats! Rocks won!!!

Kevin and the kids watching the game

Grant and Ethan

Elly and the kids

Coors Field from the Rockpile

Goofin

Go Rockies!

Hot Town Summer in the City

Elly and Grant and I took the light rail to downtown Denver today - temps were in the high 90s - so not a bad day to be near the water. We walked down 16th Street Mall to do some people watching - grabbed some lunch - and then headed down Cherry Creek to Confluence Park and some much deserved swimming and wading in the Platte River near REI. Grant and I spent about 45 minutes looking at canoes and kayaks (his latest craze) and at some camping gear. If you haven't been to this REI - their flagship in Denver - this is destination shopping at it's best...

Getting on the light rail in Littleton - Mineral was closed today for track repairs (bummer dude)

On the Platte below the rapids

Elly taking a dip - center of the picture

The massive climbing wall at REI

Inside the store - used to be the Denver Trolley Power Company - built in 1901

Elly in the Platte

Grant fighting the current

Elly and Grant Meet Bob Stromberg

Last week while we were attending my brother Anders' ordination in Wisconsin, the kids got to meet Bob Stromberg. His son Lars was ordained along with Anders that night. They have been fans of his shadow puppets on YouTube for about a year and they were thrilled beyond belief to actually meet him - it was really cute.

I first met Bob in 1985 at Covenant Point Bible Camp in Upper Michigan - I was on staff that summer and he came up and led worship at a Conference Sunday at the camp.

He showed the kids a few pointers on doing shadow puppets.

Bob and Grant

The Rabbit...and the Hoooooouuuuuund!

Woof!

Elly and Bob

Smiles

The Johnson Sibs

Father's Day at Red Rocks

The kids and I went up to Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison on Sunday for Father's Day. They have an excellent buffet on Sundays - and yesterday was no exception. Grant was disappointed that he couldn't order his customary rattlesnake empenadas - but he got over it when he saw they had blueberry muffins...

After brunch - we went for a short hike on the ridge above the amphitheater. Promised both kids we would hit a show there this summer... "veggie burrito!!!"

Driving up to the upper lot

Outside the visitor's center

At the Ship Rock Grille

On the ridge looking toward the visitor's center, Ship Rock Grille
and Denver in the background

Heading back to the car