Braxton's 1st Backpacking Trip

{June 26, 2020}

Brian took Braxton on his first backpacking trip.  They met up with our friend Jonas and headed up to Lake Ann.  They hiked in a little over a mile and set up camp.  We didn't get Braxton a big packpack yet, until we knew he liked it, so Brian carried most of the gear for the both of them.

Braxton's favorite part was the dehydrated food- said it was better than Mama's cooking, ha.   They spent the next day hiking around the Three Apostles and then headed back home late.  Braxton loved it, but I think he was a little bored just by himself with no other kids.  Hoping to get Everett into it this next summer and make it an annual boys trip!

Oklahoma Family in Colorado

{July 12th - 17th}

Brian's whole family came out to visit and we rented a house up in Silverthorne for several days.  

Brian, his brother in law, and dad spent 4 days 4-wheeling over several of the passes starting in Durango and ending in Aspen, and met up with us in the mountains. 

We had a great 1st day hanging out in Breckenridge, but after Jackie's boyfriend had a medical emergency, we ended up having to cancel the rest of the bigger plans we had and pivot. 

We did a little hike up Breckenridge mountain, a little fishing, and lots of hanging out with cousins.

We hiked to see Isaac the Troll

An adventure hike up Breckenridge mountain- I believe this around Peak 9

Hot tubbing at our rental house

We had amazing views from our house of Eagle Mountain!

A little fishing at Dillon Reservoir

Cutie Cousins

July 4th!

{July 4th}

We had another great 4th of July!

This is probably my favorite day of the year and we've established such a fun tradition of staying home and celebrating with our neighbors over the last several years.

We spent the afternoon at the Blackstone pool with friends and then had everyone over at our house again for a potluck and fireworks.

Of course it POURED rain for several hours all afternoon long (because it only rains in Denver on Memorial Day and 4th of July....) and besides cooling the temp down a little too much, it ended up working out in our favor.

We had gone in with the neighbors for a big fireworks show again and because of all the rain and the fact that the ground was soaked for miles in each direction, we weren't nervous to set them off. 

In fact, the entire city of Aurora and all surrounding neighborhoods felt the same way because big fireworks were going off like crazy everywhere we looked!!  

(which is normally unusual for Denver).

Its like people were tired from COVID and being pent up and went nuts with the fireworks :)

The sweetest little friends!

Papa made sure to pass around the Fireball

Water balloons