away they go...

 This all started in 2009 with my first post of a video when Hamp learned to ride a bike and was getting ready to start kindergarten and here we are 16 years and 700 posts later with so many adventures in our memory banks and Hamp & Sam both at their respective Universities for their first day of school!

Sam's first day of classes - a Freshman at Boston University

Hamp's first day of classes - a Junior at the University of Colorado 

With the boys off at college, I think it's time to let them broadcast their adventures however they see fit.

 As for me and Penny, we'll start having adventures of our own... a story for another blog perhaps?!

Go Terriers!

 A quick weekend trip in August is all we had to get Sam moved in to his new home at Boston University's Fenway Campus. But once he was settled in his dorm room we managed to pack in shopping, touring, dining, exploring, and plenty of talking about all the new adventures he will have this year! 

bucket list

I first became aware of the possibility of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2004.

Jason and I were at the Denver Museum with baby Hamp, who needed a nap, so we ducked into the IMAX theater and while Hamp snoozed solidly in my arms I learned all about an expedition to the summit of the highest point in Africa... and I was hooked. The thought that a single mountain climb could include a rainforest, deciduous forest, moorland, alpine tundra, and a glacier was fascinating - as was the fact that it was a 'simple' climb meaning no special skills were required for the trek.

Just walking.

Granted, it's a LOT of walking, and it's mostly uphill, until it's downhill, and then that is excruciating! 

But I digress.... the point is that I had dreamt of this adventure for 20 years and finally decided it was time to make it a reality and booked a trip with Hamp & Sam to Mt. Kilimanjaro for my 50th birthday!

I can't begin to explain how incredible the whole trip was... an adventure of a lifetime. 

We were fortunate to have 9 other Americans on our trek whom we absolutely loved, and the camaraderie between the group made all the difference.

And I can't say enough good things about Embark Exploration Co. - they were amazing from start to finish. An American company, their Tanzanian staff were outstanding and not to be dramatic, but they saved my life!

(seriously, I nearly walked off a cliff at one point and Emmanuel gently guided me back on trail!)

We took the Lemosho Route up the mountain, which took 8 days. We slept in tents at campsites along the way and took in views for days. We ate like royalty and never had to carry much as the porters were absolute superheros packing everything up the mountain. I was in awe of the people, the views, and of course the perseverance of everyone of us that made it to the top!

Here are some of my favorite photos of the trip:

How it started

How it ended!

super summer adventures III

Like Hamp in 2021 and Sam in 2023, Sam was excited again this summer to enroll in Ecology Project International's student trip for ecological, biological, and cultural studies. This trip included 20 students, 4 chaperones, and 8 days in Cost Rica to study turtle population and habitat.

There are hundreds of photos between everyone that went, and tons of stories... but the trip is best summed up in the words of my friend Ann, Meeker's EPI co-ordinator and lead chaperone (and one of my favorite people!):

Meeker kids always get huge compliments while we are on our ecology trips. They are respectful, kind, inquisitive and inclusive. We had the chance to interact with local high school students and tour their high school. It was one of the highlights of the trip, for sure. We walked over 30 miles and helped with 4 hour turtle censuses for three nights. We were able to witness a leatherback sea turtle covering her eggs and measured her neck circumference and the length and width of her shell. After she camouflaged her nest and returned to the sea, we dug up her eggs (they lay an average of 80-100 eggs) and carried them to the hatchery. We weighed and measured 3 different hatches of baby sea turtles and released them into the ocean. We saw the elusive Agami herons on their nests…a rare sighting, for sure. Even though the students were exhausted, they all had positive attitudes and kept immersing themselves in all the activities and were able to see many unique plant and animal species. We went zip lining through the rainforest and rafted on the Sarapiqui River. The students returned home with life-changing memories and an appreciation for other cultures as well as our own. My chaperones are always the best and the students really enjoyed them. All in all it was another amazing trip and I am already looking forward to the next one!

graduation

As if the last couple of months of Sam's senior year weren't enough for my proud mom heart...

 his graduation weekend made it nearly explode!

He worked quite hard throughout the last 4+ years at his academic pursuits and ended up honored as the class Valedictorian, wearing the school mantle (aka Super Hero Cape!) engraved with the names of decades of top students and giving a beautiful speech to his class about gratitude and the perspective of choosing happiness.

I felt incredibly lucky again to not only have all FOUR grandparents present...

... but to be surprised when Uncle Alec, Aunt Jei and the California cousins showed up for the ceremony!

So we ended up celebrating Sam's graduation all weekend with lots of great family from Florida, Mississippi, Denver, and California! It was incredible to have everyone together and my heart was so full seeing everyone have a chance to catch up and interact.

We shared in celebrating with a great group of friends... these five classmates hosted their families, friends, and community for a beautiful and fun post-graduation party at the brewery.

What a wonderful way for Sam to enjoy the culmination of all his hard work!

peaking at just the right time

Sam's last Track & Field season was pretty spectacular!

And the fact that he had such great people on his team made it even better...

He worked hard at Triple Jump, though never improved over last year's mark.

His High Jump however was pretty great, and he set a personal best at 5' 10" which qualified him to compete at the State Meet!

He dedicated most of his efforts this year to Pole Vault - wanting to not only qualify for State, and place like he did last year, but also setting his sights for the Meeker High School record of 13' 4".

His years of gymnastics paid off as I watched him every weekend launch himself into the air, feet over head, and contort just right to get over that bar!

What a joy to watch his hard work and dedication pay off at the State Meet in Denver... and how great to have friends and family there to cheer him on!

He vaulted amazing - so focused and calm. 

He knew what he came to do and knew that he was ready.

He came in at 12' 3" and cleared it great.

He cleared 12' 9" first try.

At 13' 3" he cleared it first try, which was amazing because he had never gone that high before! A personal best at the State Meet would have been something to be proud of...

... but it wasn't enough for the school record, and Sam knew it.

So he got ready for the next height of 13' 9" and he missed the first vault by just a little, but you could tell that he knew he had it!

And he did... 3rd Place finish at State, with a personal best and new school record to boot!

He couldn't have gotten so much better, week after week if it hadn't been for his amazing coach and her enthusiasm for her athletes. She should be proud of her 3 placers this year and how well they all competed!