Isabella's birthday

Beaver Creek Xterra Mountain Bike Triathlon

Brett decided to attempt his first off-road Xterra triathlon. I am up for more of these type races because of the locations. This one was in Beaver Creek, Colorado around the ski resort. It was BEAUTIFUL. We drove up Friday night to Avon. We had a two room condo that worked out great.

Brett enjoyed this race and did well. It was fun to listen to him talk about the bike course and how different it is than a "normal' triathlon. The kids and I also had a great day.

A field of daisies

Bears! Oh my!

Brett and I have lived in Colorado for 15 years/14 years (respectively) and we had never seen a bear in the wild ... until last weekend. We were camping in Rocky Mountian National Park over the July 4th weekend. Friday evening Brett was cooking spaghetti for dinner. I was getting the tent & sleeping bags set-up. Orion and Isabella were climbing around on some rocks about 100 feet away. They came running back to the campsite telling Daddy that they saw a bear. Brett kind of dismissed them thinking they saw something else. But then ... he looked up and saw these two bears in climbing up the picnic table of the neighboring campsite which was only about 50 feet away. Brett yelled to the folks next to us to come help him scare the bears away. We chased after them making a lot of noise and the bears retreated into the hills. We definitely put away all of our food that night!

Hunter's Birthday Bash!

blowing out his candles
With his birthday crown and medal
Hunter with his friends

We celebrated Hunter's fourth birthday at Chuck E Cheese. He picked Chuck E Cheese with a little push from me, but not much. I think Hunter LOVED his birthday party - except for the visit from Chuck E Cheese. Hunter clung to me with a death grip while Chuck E was in the room. He invited four friends (and the siblings). We had the party on a Monday night, his actual birthday. Having the party on Monday night was fabulous. Hunter's was the only party in the whole place. Hunter danced around, played games (his favorite is shooting hoops), ate pizza and cake and opened presents. I think he had a great birthday party!

Fabulous Playdate!!

Daddy's Future Cyclists

We had a fabulous playdate today with some very cool friends. We met at the Arcade in Manitou Springs. The arcade is full of little rides for the kids. The kids were completely content with the rides without quarters until they saw one of them move. Then they wanted quarters. Really that isn't bad - a couple of bucks for an hour's worth of entertainment. We ate lunch, then went to Soda Springs park. Soda Springs park is where we always hang out after the Pikes Peak Marathon. I was so pleasantly surprised. The city has put in new playground equipment and spruced the park up. It was really fun!!

Playing in the water at the Great Sands Dunes

We spent last weekend camping at the Great Sand Dunes National Park. I love camping there - the beautiful mountains, the sandy beach like creak, the fresh air and just being away from our house. It is a wonderful place.
Orion wandered around the creak exploring how the water flowed and how he could change the water flow.
Isabella's approach was a little more carefree. She seemed to enjoy feeling the water and sand rushing over her feet and her whole body eventually.

Sabrina was much braver than I thought she would be for a two year old. The weather was nice, but it was still windy, the water was a little chilly and the temperature was probably about 75 degrees, but she got out there to play in the water and sand with the best of them.

Hunter, well ... he was his typical self also. I have often described Hunter as my most demanding kid. He proved this true at the Sand Dunes. I'm glad I took this picture of him playing in the water as soon as we got there because he only spent about three minutes in the water. It was too cold for him. He spent the rest of the morning huddled against me or completely covered by a towel while sitting in a lawn chair. Maybe Hunter will enjoy the Sand Dunes more next year.