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Fun times with G & G Bates

G & G Bates came out to visit us two weekends ago, I know I'm a procrastinator when it comes to posting. We all had a blast! The girls loved all the attention! Of course they were a little shy when they first came but by the time they left Ayva did not want them to leave.

The weekend was full of fun. Friday we drove up Pikes Peak, a 14,000 ft. mountain, for the view and the world famous doughnuts. You can't make these doughnuts anywhere else because of the altitude and they were good. Yes we drove, we did not hike (A hiking story will be coming soon). We had the doughnuts but not much of a view due to the clouds being so low and we were all a little short of breath, OK so I was.

We're almost to the top, we thought we'd stop to take a look. Colorado Springs is the city down below. And see those clouds, we'll be up in them soon.

Grandma and Cheyenne

Me and the girls at the top, it was a little chilly!

Ayva and Cheyenne getting necklaces from grandma.

G&G and the girls

Oh, pretty grass. On our way down Pike's Peak we pulled off and went hiking up a trail. With the girls there, it wasn't much of a hike but it was pretty.

Cheyenne and daddy. She was a little upset because she didn't want to walk, she wanted to be held. She's a lot like her mommy.

Me and the girls.

She's doing it on her own, what a brave girl.

The girls found their own mountain. Can you see what's coming, do you see that little girl in pratically all white?

They're climbin'!

Ayva made it to the top!

And so did Cheyenne, with a little help from grandpa.

Those pants aren't so white on the bottom anymore.

Ahh, we made it to the top! Just look at that view!

Cheyenne giving Ayva hugs on the way home, how cute!

Saturday we took another drive to Cripple Creek. Beautiful little town now filled with casino's everywhere. We had pizza and then went to a fudge shop...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! The whole reason we went there was to take a ride on a little train.

Of course, the girls loved this frog outside a shop.

Here's the train we went on and those two figures you see in the green car was us, well grandma and Josh. Ayva was so excited to go on this one. She called him Thomas. She always talks about going on trains, whenever she sees one she says, "Mama, I should go on that."

That's the little town of Cripple Creek. Notice all the cars there for the casinos.

This is one stop we made on the train, it's called echo canyon. The train conductor blew the whistle really loud and it echoed back. The kids on the train thought it was pretty cool.

The girls didn't care for the view.

I can't believe I saw this from Ayva on a train. She's been dying to go on a train.

We had a great time! Thanks G& G for playing with us!

Missouri River 340 Race...

This post is dedicated to the founders of this race, Russ Payzant (my dad) and Scott Mansker (his best bud).

These two have been at it for years, building boats. This was the 4th annual race and it has just exploded. The first year they had 15 boats and this year there were over 200. People from all over participate in this race and I met some people that have done it the 4 years. This year there was a 12 year old girl and a 14 year old girl and they finished. They've have done other races but this is by far the longest non-stop river race. The two guys who won this year did it in 38 hours 59 mins.

When the girls and I arrived at about 8am there were people everywhere, it was crazy. The race was suppose to begin at 8am but was delayed until 9:30 because of a storm. There was a DJ playing music, news crews all over, a firing squad, someone to sing the national anthem, and down the river at the riverwalk they had all sorts of things going on. There were people there at the riverwalk to watch the paddlers go by.

These masked guys are big time paddlers, they have stickers on their boat of all the races they've been in.

All these boaters had support groups.

That black boat belongs to the masked guys.

A couple guys waiting to get their boat in the water.

It was funny to see how some of these people rigged up there boats.

Just waiting for the race to start, kicking back and relaxin'.

People waiting on the other side of the Kansas River (Kaw River).

The little trailers for the kayaks cracked me up.

Kayaks all lined up.

Uncle Kevin and dad.

How funny is that.

People just waiting to go.

There's dad on the muddy bank getting into his boat.

Not only were there guys but women too.

I just thought that looked funny.

Hello BatMobile Kayak.

One of the masked guys talking to the news camera.

He was the main guy for the firing squad.

Cheyenne and mom.

So many people everywhere. You can't really tell from the pictures but it was just crazy, you couldn't move and the boaters were trying to get their boats in around all the people standing around watching.

Camera crews everywhere.

Boaters going down the ramp.

Check out the bananas on the back of their boat.

Aunt Caryn and Ayva.

Cheyenne and mommy.

More trailers.

The masked guys are in.

All the safety boats on the river bank.

There's dad and uncle Kevin on one of the many boats he's built.

This is one of the many obsticles the boaters had to deal with. See that big barge going by. One year a couple got sucked under one of those at night. They made it out ok, but that was a scary year for the guys.

For some odd reason Cheyenne wanted to get into all the cars. She would take grandma to each car and point at the handle wanting to get in. Crazy girl!

There's Scott getting everything ready to go.

Here's the firing squad.

This is a view from the bottom of the ramp looking down the Kaw River.

The starting line.

FIRE!!!

And they're off!!!

Here they are entering the Missouri River.

Aunt Caryn and Ayva watching them get smaller and smaller.

News reporter.

They are the tiny ants in the river.

You can barely see them in the river with a view of Kansas City, Mo.

More information on the race go here.

I just wanted to add that my dad is an amazing person. He has done a lot in his life and amazes me just thinking about it. He has built 8 dune buggies...similar to this...

I remember going to the dunes every year and it was the best time ever. I loved it and will always be a cherished childhood memory.

And now he has built 8 boats. He doesn't just do a few cosmetic jobs, he guts them and rebuilds it. Go here, this is the story from start to finish of the Lexington boat.

Dad, you are the coolest and you amaze me with everything you know and know how to do it! Thank you for being such a wonderful example.