Summer Lovin'... having a Blast!

Let the fun begin and begin it did. We love to camp and share our time with family and friends. This summer adventure was filled with both. End of May means "It's time to camp!". We headed up the mountain to Mueller State Park, just outside of Woodland Park. So far all our trips here have been in the fall to see the Aspens changing color. I decided to kick our season off here to enjoy some "warmer" weather. Bahahah! Our summer is a wee bit late this year and the Aspens barely had leaves, if they had leaves. But... this place is still spectacular no matter what the weather.

 

 

This just made me laugh. Welcome to the 21st century of camping. It was COLD Friday night and we only had enough wood for Saturday night. So what did we do? We kicked up the heater and enjoyed the technology of today, thank you very much. Seinfeld for me and Mr. Jones, Red Box for Becca, and games for Lina and Joanna.

 

Moving on.....

 

 A big part of Saturday was a hike that just about did me in last year, The Crags. Oh if you could have heard me carry on last year, all the while my sweet husband just smiled. This year, I was DEtermined to make it to the top, all 10,700 feet,  for the view I only saw a photo of last year.

 



There was still snow in places and the stream just starting to move. So peaceful.

This is one of my THREE pictures I was allowed for the day with my man. I do so wish he loved my camera as much as I do. :)

And this one, this one can just keep trucking. She has a spirit of determination and has strength to go right along with it. You go girl!

These two sweet friends, Mason and Laura,  joined us for the day. We chatted, laughed, climbed, chatted some more and then when the going got tough, we shut up just to catch our breath.

I think this is one of my favorite pictures of the day. The sky so blue, the snow not yet melted, the rock leaning just so.

And this one being  a close second. Look at the view and the contrast of death and life. Enough said.

The three amigos!

 

I made it! I am woman hear me roar.  So, so, so, sooooo excited to see this from 10,700 feet! All of Colorado's beauty in a 360 degree circle.

Becca brings her great sense of humor even to the heights of the sky. I love this girl.

 I told you the Aspens had barely budded. June 1st, 50 something degrees and no leaves. How odd is that?

This just about sums it up. Hard work comes with great rewards. My sweet baby had herself one yummilicious s'more! Camping is a great thing; fresh air, delicious food, and sweet fellowship. Gotta love summer!

Movin' on Up!

Time for Hollywood's 8th grade graduation! Oh my, that came upon me mighty quick. Lina is a part of a great community here in town and the graduation was sweet and simple, yet classy.  This was a night of laughter and cheering! Now if our quiet town of Monument would join in, well, our family wouldn't be the only voices heard on the auditorium. 

 

Waiting...

And here she is! On to another adventure; more stories, more memories.

 Someone, who shall remain nameless, wasn't co-operating. You figure out which one. Uh huh.

 These three have been friends since 3rd grade. They have gone from playing in the mud together to band concerts to now high school. We love E and J! Not only good friends but wonderful neighbors!

 

 This picture cracks me up. Mason is getting on his GQ look and Lina is so fake smiling. These two!

 

And now for the real smile. Thank you Hollywood. :)

Congratulations Angelina Rose! What's next? Only more amazing adventures and God's story continuing to unfold for my baby.

The Open Road... Just Me and Mr. Jones

And so it begins.... our adventures together on the open road. This weekend was well overdue; T and I haven't escaped for a getaway in months. So looking at the weather, knowing it was going to be glor-i-ous, we made a plan to escape, just us two. Not only was it a getaway, it was our first overnight trip on the bike. We packed light and hit the road.  Ohhhh it was sooo fun!!!! We had such a great time alone; a movie, couples massage, dinner, and the open road. 

 

After a couple hour ride heading home through the mountains, we were ready for a good cup of coffee, a good stretch for our legs and bootie,  and of course a bear claw from the quaint Donut Mill. It was a bit colder coming home climbing over the Front Range with that crazy like wind!.

I was a brave one! I learned to take pictures going 60 MPH! And yes, even self-portraits.  :)

Coming home we weren't so sure we were gonna make it without hitting rain. But alas, we did and celebrated our first adventure on the open road!

Where to now my dear? 

He is Risen!

Happy Easter! He is Risen, He is Risen indeed!

 

Easter is a time of celebrating the goodness of Our Lord and His Resurrection. We enjoyed the goodness in our lives with our sweet friends;  the warm sun, delicious food and laughter on this Easter Sunday.

It was a day to enjoy the sun.... sit on 1/3 of the deck... in a line.  Can you tell we're hungry for the warmth of the sun? Today marked the beginning of green sprouts bursting from the ground, a beginner's tan, lots of ice-cold water, and the feeling that spring is here!  Just so ya know, this time last week, T and I were sho-vel-ing more snow than I was ready for. Oh Colorado, how quickly you change!

The kids flew or draggggged, depending on how you look at it, some very cool kites. Sometimes the breeze would pick up and then it would just STOP but, the shorts were on and the feet bare, so if the kites flew or sank, who cares! They were happy campers.

And yes, dessert is always on order to share with friends. It may not be pretty but Lina put in hours of work making this deliciousness from scratch; a few runs to the store, homemade icing using an improvised double boiler, and green food coloring. I think seconds might be calling my name.

 

Let them eat cake!

 

Happy Easter, 2013!

French Fries, Good Friday and a Fabulous Dessert

This evening was themed "All things French".  I had just purchased Le Miserable from our favorite local hang-out, I mean grocery store, Wal-Mart. Anyhow, my spontaneous, creative side said, "Hey, let make it a French kind of night." I searched recipes and Lina searched desserts. Creativity flows when I'm on break, don't ya know? She started on her dessert early on knowing we were going to church at 7. I worked on our French Dip sandwiches and French Fries. Easy enough.

 Off to church we went for a very thoughtful reflection of the sacrifice God made on our behalf. Afterwards, we came home and were supposed to watch Le Mis BUT we were all done, spent, tired. Lina had to finish up our amazing dessert, then of course, we had to eat it!  Yes, that is Boo photo bombing in the back ground. Let me just say, my littlest baker is soooo patient and sooo creative. Her daddy declared she needed and R &D budget for these kind of things. Hmmm.. wonder how Buddy would feel about that?

Bonne Nuit!