why does july go twice as fast as june?

We made it home- June was a nice month for saying goodbye to the so many friends we made- but it sure did go slow! I'm blaming the heat and blowing sand. Needless to say we were very excited to get to the blue skies and green trees of Colorado. Here are a few things we have been up to our first 2weeks back.

A walk in the woods- and check out the face on that tree! 

One must always bring a weapon when walking in the forest.

Ahh Marjorie- just being with you makes a day great! So lucky to have you in our lives.

Got a call from Wendy Rimel who put together an evening at the Continental Divide Cabins- got to see Matt, Todd, Justin, Wendy, Ulana, and kids and parents too of course! What a great time- and yes it was that cold- I would have been wearing my down jacket if I could find it.

The only reason you can't see grey hair on Justin is because he has a hat on. 40- it's the new 30.

4th of July and cousins- what a mix. I love the 4th of July- The parade is fun- but the great part is seeing all of our friends as we walk along before and after. In fact I don't think we were ever this popular when we lived here!

C'mon floats- bring us our candy. You have to love the tradition of large vehicles scattering candy about to whip kids into a frenzy- amazingly no one was run over.

Luca and Axel in the creek.

Angus, Wilder, Luca, and the mighty Gore Range.

The Tennessee Pass baseball game. Once a year Taylor City comes alive and just like field of dreams- If Jim builds it we will come. Players and hotdogs emerge from the forest, take me out to the ballgame is sung, and a high quality game of baseball is played. I love it so much.

Luca keeping the eyes on the ball.

Now that is one motley crew of ball players. I can only hope that when they are in college and beyond they return with friends to play like Jim's boys do.

Wilder keeping Ben on first-notice the levelness of the base.

 This was one of those things that sounded like a great idea when Caryn proposed it back in May- "let's run the hillclimb." I didn't suffer too much and it ended up being a fantastic hour and a half of time with just Caryn to talk to- that was when I could talk and not just wheeze responses.

Grimace or smile? you be the judge.

 Camping with Grampa Del. We had a great time up on the grand mesa- missed seeing Carrie and the boys- but got to see Anna and Tali. Its fun seeing the kids with Del- fishing or just listening to stories. And its always good to smell like campfire smoke.

watching the bobber

got it

much tippier than it looks

Oh I do love America- let the baby guard the beer cooler.

something was wrong with the canoe as my side was much lower in the water than Lisa's.

Cast iron skillet, stick of butter, fresh fish... mmm good times.

Learning life skills

that would be chocolate and cherry stains on the mouth.

Wilder hooking a rainbow.

Hike up to slide lake. Just like last year in Italy the kids showed what amazing hikers they can be. We loaded up with food and water and set off- it is one of the best feelings in the world to get to treeline and above- we even found snow.

At the lake- eating lunch

Elmo- what a great dog.

There were Colombines everywhere!

Some people make it rain- I make it snow.

Skiing!

So good to be back in our mountains- I just wish July would slow down- we have more things to do!