Looks like someone got the tall gene...

Before we leave for school in the morning, Natalie loves to stand next to our new family ruler and see how tall she is. 

Turns out, she's over 3 feet tall (with her new super fast sparkly tennis shoes on)!

Destination: Colorado

 Three of Scott's favorite things in this photo...

Monument Valley at sunset.  Perfect.  Heading north on Highway 163 out of Kayenta, Arizona ...

Little speck in top right is a full (or nearly full) moon.

Awesome little motel in Blanding, Utah.
"Mommy, where's our izard??"

Detour through Arches National Park on a windy afternoon...

Pit stop in Fruita, Colorado to use potty, grab snack and check out two breweries. 
Natalie made a friend on the street as soon as we got there "Mommy, I love this dinosaur!"

At the Copper Club Brewery.
Don't worry --- these beers were not for them.  But they did share a Root Beer.

At the Suds Brothers Brewery

Nat took her first nap in two days after hiking around at Arches and stopping at two breweries.

Belated summertime

A little belated, but here's a look at May and June, as captured by my cell phone camera:

Happy Hour with mom and dad!!

I realize that this next photo seems out of place since it's not of one of the girls.  But it is the result of MANY MANY MANY MANY hours of labor, layers of sunburn and countless blisters.  Therefore, it is important.  For almost 8 years now we have been battling bad drainage in our back and 5 foot wide side yard on one side of our house.  We finally got serious and smart and designed/installed our own drywell and sump pump.  And this is a picture of the pump in action!!!

I am happy to report that the little bush right next to it has since grown back and the outlet is completely hidden from the street.

A day just for Katie and Whitney means a trip to the Science Museum and seeing the "To The Arctic" IMAX film.

Katie laying on a bed of nails at the Science Museum.

Post museum Chic-Fil-A lunch complete with a behind-the-scenes tour of the
kitchen and free ice cream cone.

Happy Flag Day 2013

Nothing says summer like baked beans, hot dogs, corn on the cob and cucumbers!

Schwisow family summer vacation, Colorado-style

A photographic summary, mostly in chronological order...

Day 1 -- ready to go exploring!

Day 1 -- building a fort at the house

Day 1:  Last minute appearance at the Dillon Dam Brew Fest

Day 2:  Exploring the ski area with Grandpa and Grandma and Auntie Adrienne while daddy rides his bike

Day 3:  Waffles for breakfast with Grandpa

Day 3: Auntie Adrienne, daddy, mommy and Katie go for a hike at Spruce Creek 

 

View from our mid-day lunch spot

Our beautiful lunch spot

Reading McDuff after naptime

Katie worked hard for two days to be able to ride from our house into town
and all the way back up (without stopping on the way back up)!!

Sitting in the trunk waiting to see Auntie Adrienne ride by on her bike ride for MS

"Keep pedaling Auntie!"

Waiting anxiously but patiently at the finish line!
She started clapping each time a biker rode by us.

"Mommy it's Auntie Adrienne's blue bike!!!!!!  She did it.  Finish."