Colorado National Monument

This extraordinary natural landmark is only 100 miles from home...

yet in 12 years we had never visited!

It's a beautiful national park - in the style of a desert canyon - with a scenic drive to get you from one end to the other. But when you get out and hike, that's when you really get to see the beauty of the nature all around you.

And what better way to get the most of a short hike than a ranger-led digital photography scavenger hunt?!?! ☺

So when Mojo & Dado were in town last week, we took a day in the park to check out a few scenic overlooks and stop for a picnic lunch! Then on our afternoon hike (with a little guidance from Ranger Briana!) I handed over my 2 old digi cameras to Hamp & Sam.

So after sorting through dozens of random, blurry shots of rocks and sand and shrubbery, I found a few real beautiful photographs worth sharing. I really am so pleasantly surprised to see what they captured... ENJOY!

Spring break!

What a wonderful week of vacation adventure we have had!!!

It is the first time in several years that our family has not travelled for spring break... and I was skeptical and delighted all at once! Turns out, we can manage plenty of excitement right here close to home.

As for what kind of adventure awaits you in Colorado during springtime... it all depends on the weather!

and when you start the week like this:

you question whether the ski season is really over?!

Turns out, the weather warmed up and everyone quickly grew accustom to lounging around! The boys did a little reading...

... and I even squeezed in a quick trip to Gand Junction to see friends!

But the real fun and adventure started mid-week when we took a chance to start our mountain bike season! The Fruita desert has some great trails for all riders, so we took advantage of our time off and spent a day with good friends riding the single track! Hamp & Sam both made me so incredibly proud with their perseverance, positive attitudes and sheer ability to get up, over and around some of the natural landscape that makes it fun to ride!

Sam - taking off down the trail!

Hamp & Carter on the trail - somewhere along the 11 mile ride they took!!!

On Thursday we met up with Mojo & Dado for a day at the Colorado National Monument!

We had a great day of hiking, exploring, panicking that one of us might fall off a cliff (!) and taking pictures.

Back at home in Meeker with Mojo & Dado, the weather was delightfully warm and the sunshine kept us outside either hiking the trails, riding bikes or playing at the park!

Some of best times were spent on the basketball court:

teaching Mojo & Dado how to play four square:

and much to the boys' happiness, putting up the trampoline!

We couldn't have asked for a more relaxing, fun-filled week at home. 

Well... we certainly could ask for another week.... but we'll take what we can get!

Thanks to Mojo & Dado of coming to visit and making our spring break (and our Easter weekend!) so memorable!

Happy Easter!

Hope everyone is enjoying a lovely holiday!

Last ski day!

How grateful we were that our family came over the mountains last weekend to stay with us and enjoy our favorite little ski mountain for a day! The snow conditions were not ideal, but everyone managed to get a good run in at some point and just being together made for a great final day on the slopes!

Aunt LaDonna & Uncle Jim at the top of the mountain!

family portrait ☺

Is it weird to say that I'm already looking forward to next season?!?!!

Connection

cousins!

I took a quick trip (36 hours!) last week to honor the life of my great uncle, who did not die suddenly - he had been ill for more than a decade - but nonetheless left behind a sad family and a reputation of telling great jokes, playing great golf, loving life more than most and loving family above all else. I felt compelled to go, mostly to see cousins I love dearly and had not seen in 12 years. In fact I got to meet my cousin's youngest daughter for the first time - she's 10! Even as I struggled with the idea of buying airfare and being gone from home even for a couple of days, I just knew that I would feel better having gone and hugged my aunt, my cousins, their daughters and talking to friends about how great my uncle was!

my girls!

The silver lining of it all for me (besides getting to spend some QT with my own parents!!!) was the five or so hours before my departing flight when I spontaneously called a couple of my nearest & dearest girlfriends to meet for a long lunch! What a breath of life to visit with them and connect - we have known each other for almost 30 years but our friendships seem to transcend time whenever we are together.

So I just felt moved by my latest adventure to remember to appreciate my family and friends while I can. It's important to stay connected to those who knew you when, and to those who love you now - the first group grounds you and the second group lifts you up. What's great is when you find all the same people in both groups!

March madness!

Hamp wrapped up his basketball season last weekend with a double header - and although he, and all the boys on the team, played their personal bests it wasn't enough to pull out a win at either game! Not the way we had hoped to finish, but a look at the season overall shows great growth and learning by the whole team. They were so fun to watch! And I will say it again, I know nothing about the sport... but even I could see how much the boys improved with their dribbling skills, their defensive skills, their passing skills. Their shooting skills were another story, but I guess we'll just have to work on that for next season! Best of all though, I think Hamp just loved the camaraderie of the team and playing the game!

OH - the agony of defeat! A couple of the boys were clearly not over the loss when this picture was taken! But these 6 were all there was at the last 2 games and they played their hearts out!!!!!
Thanks, Coach! ♥

Traffic in Meeker

Came out the front door the other morning to see that 3rd street was all backed up. 

Geesh... the traffic in this town. I gotta get these kids to school on time, ya know?!?!!

Fortunately, it cleared up pretty quickly.

Channel 9 news traffic report didn't even mention it...