Albuquerque, New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE TRIP SEPT. 24-26, 2008

POLAR Heart Rate Monitor/Tri-Fit Workshop.
Lawton Public Schools has received a grant for $100,000.00 for 10 Elementary Schools to have this High-tech equipment. It is a lot of work it get it going but we will get their. The program provides Heart Rate monitors which will be an asset for the children to view their heart rate levels during workout and to learn how to achieve a heart rate that will develop an healthy heart.
The Tri-Fit program is an assessment program. Many assessments can be taken with the equipment provided. It has a Blood Pressure cup, and Flexibility test using the sit and reach assessment, an impedance scale to weigh and measure body composition a strength assessment and you can put in a whole lot of information in to assess with the assessment.

While in Albuquerque I was able to see a lot of great architecture and some neat sites around the city. The first pictures are the OLD TOWN area. It is a big square and then streets around the square with buildingsl like these. It is has all kinds of shops to buy spanish style stuff. All the homes and buildings in Albequerque is in this stuco style. It is the code for the town. It is really cool. This area was built in the 1800's.

The picture of the balloon was when I was looking out of my hotel room. The next week end was going to be the 10 day balloonfest. They were planning on 600 balloons or so. They said they went up in the morning when the wind was down and the weather was cool. That day I saw about 8 balloons going up. I could of gotten a balloon ride and breakfast for $200.00. Maybe some day.

I got to go up the Sky Tram one afternoon. It is the longest one in the World. It took us about 20 minutes to get to the top. It was real overcast and rainy at times and so my pictures going up were not as good as I was hoping for. But I got some good pictures of the tram. The rocky mts. reminded me a lot of Mt. Scott. The difference is the rugged rocks and not the bolders like at Wichita Mts. You can hike up the Mt. Our trainer did it a few weeks earlier and he said it took 3 hours to get up and he rode the tram down. I hiked around up on top of the Mt. It was a neat place to visit. On the back side of the Mt. is a Ski slope. On the top of the Mt. is a place to eat. I had a fun time exploring a new place.

I thought the picture on the left looked like a scorpion. It is the shadow of the the tram.

LAKE PICTURES 2008

Lake Lawtonka pictures of the Sunset. July 2008 - Kristin and Mark's campsite.

LAKE TENKILLER 2008

Kelsey learns to slalom

Wicket enjoys the boat but does not like the water. He just isn't a water dog.

Robbin and Kelsey enjoying the ride.

The island is always beautiful 1st thing in the morning. We got up and went skiing at 8:00 every morning to enjoy the calm water. By 11;30 the lake was like an ocean. So many people during the Labor Day Holiday.

The island was just right. The water level was at normal level. It was beautiful. We spent the afternoons on the islands with about 24 other boats.

We got one more year out of our camper. It is pretty warn out. Hopefully it will make it another year.

MOM"S NEW OFFICE

Wanted you to see my new office. It is not very big but it is a perfect place for me to do my work. I actually like where it is. It is in the back of the Shoemaker Building. I am able to leave easily to travel to visit schools. Plus it is close to the stairs to the downstairs area. I like going up and down the stairs as much as possible to get a little extra exercise.
I am working on wall decorations. I am making a bullitan board for pictures. I will take a picture of the finished room when I get it finished.

Colorado Trip July 2008

On June 28, 2008, Jay, Marki and Austin traveled to Colorado for a 8 day vacation. We had so much fun. Here is our story.

We first traveled to Colorado Springs to visit Marki's cousin, Layne and her husband Tony. They have lived in CS for several years now. They have a beautiful home that has a mountain park in their back yard. It is so cool that Layne and her sweet puppies can take hikes in the mountains whenever they want to. After dinner we headed into the mountains for a hike. Austin took off up several climbs and had a great time beating us to the top.

It was so cool. What an ideal place to live for an exercise enthusiast. You can actually mountain bike, climb and hike right out your back door.

The next day, Monday, Layne took us to the Garden of the God's to go hiking and exploring the rock formations.

Marki had the opportunity to travel here when she was about 12 years old. This is such an inspiring place to be. The rock formations remind you of Christian shapes and people and things..

We were excited to go around the next formation and find such beauty.

Your imagination could flow with suggestions of what different rocks looked like to you.
Austin kept saying they looked like rocks!

The picture on the left reminds us of Mary leaning over the manger and Joesph below on his knees praying and thanking God for giving him the chance to be Jesus earthly father

These praying hands are perfect place to sit and pray yourself.
Although if you look at the top it kind of looks like many people dressed in clothing from Jesus' time looking out over the garden.

Austin had fun climbing as far back into the rocks as he could go.

Twin Peaks was a fun place to walk and climb around. The rocks have been on postcards before.

When you look through the rocks as below you will have Pike's Peak

Castle Rock was balancing on jus a small amount of the
The rock above is a picture of the formation called Ship Wreck. It does look like a giant ship going down.

fBelow....U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs

I loved the art. They had a picture for each event.

Austin and Dad had fun getting their picture made with the roal keeper.

Colorado Springs Air Force Academy. They were having a walk by test. That was cool.
The falcon was seen heading toward the Cathedral.

Inside and outside the Cathedral at the Air Force Academy. .

After the Air Force Academy we headed for Winter Park. Anthony was staying there. The next day we headed for the National Forest which was about an hour from Anthony's hotel accommodations. We saw some beautiful scenery..but these flowers were gorgeous.

This meadow was surrounded by Mountains on the N and S. The snow capped mountains in the back ground was everywhere we went.

When we found the snow we had a great time. We went to the top and slid down. WOOPS!!! Kelsey cam down the way it shows in the pictures. She was on her buttock all the way down. It was so much fun playing in the snow.

The snow escapade was right on the continental Divide. It was chilly due to all the snow.Kelsey and Anthony got plenty of pictures of themselves. Have they changed?After we left the continental divide we headed even higher. We ended up at 12000 feet point. We had to hike up a mess of steps to the 12000 point.
The above shot is the 12,000 spot. We had lunch up there. It was really unique having lunch at 12,000 feet. That is a first!!

Kelsey found the bike she wanted. Of course it was PINK!

MORE TO COME. This is time consuming. Can you believe we still have more pictures? We haven't shown the soccer game and baseball game pictures yet.

We went to this OLD resort area that is now a tourist place in the Rocky Mountain National forest. Austin becomes the MOUNTAIN MAN!!!!!

Marki really did come on this trip. She was usually taking the pictures. We were hiking to the old resort area. The houses were log cabins.

We came upon a hiking are and it led us to a water fall area. It was not so talk but really moving.

It It was very exciting to listen to and see the waterfall. The picture on the left is water rushing down the mountain. The picture of Anthony and Austin is at the top where the water is forming.

The Moose were so much fun to see. Anthony loves seeing them. We were on our way out of the forest when we happened upon a traffic jam in the middle of the forest. The people were all stopped on the side of the road to see the Mother with two little ones. Everyone had their cameras clicking!

Austin got to ride the lift at Winter Park. Below you can see the alpine slide. The kids all did it and had fun. But it just wasnt' long enough.

I think I will make anothe blog with the rest of the pictures from Denver.