Rick's Roast

We celebrated Rick's Roast on Saturday, September 15th this year. It is a great family gathering and a wonderful celebration of Rick's life.

Brett, Hunter, Sam (cousin) & Kelsey (cousin) digging into the massive amounts of food
Orion and Ashley (cousin)
Winston (cousin), Missy (aunt), Steven (friend) and Drew (cousin) hanging out around the fire.
Sam (cousin), Dixie (Grandma) and Steve (cousin). Steven is learning to play the guitar, so he played a handful of songs around the fire.
Ashley, Steven, Orion & Lizzie (cousin) enjoy Steven's guitar playing and roasting marshmellows.

Isabella's First Day of Preschool

Isabella, Brett and I went to Isabella's preschool Open House on September 4th and the first day of school was September 6th. The week before preschool started Isabella told us every day that she was so excited she couldn't sleep. She is carrying her school supplies in her decorated bucket. The students bring home their art work, papers and letters in these buckets.
Isabella is making her snack mat. She used flowers, stickers and a few pictures of our family.
We had to drop Orion off at kindergarten before preschool started, so I took a picture of Orion and Isabella in the parking lot of Orion's school.
Isabella went right into the classrom without even looking back at me. It is the same classroom Orion was in for preschool, so she didn't have any reservations. As well, Isabella has always been a pretty out-going kid. So far she LOVES preschool and can't wait to go.

Orion's First 14'er Hike

I should get Brett to write this entry, but then we all might wait a long time. On Saturday, Septmeber 1st Brett took Orion to climb his first 14'er. This is a BIG event in our family. Brett and I both enjoy hiking and climbing very much. Brett likes more challenge than I do, but I still get out there and hike - at least we did before we had kids.

Brett woke Orion up around 5:30 am so that they could enjoy a meteor shower before leaving on their hike. Then they drove to the base of Mt Deomocrat (http://www.14ers.com/photos/peakmain.php?peak=Mt.%20Democrat). There isn't any political connection to picking that mountain to be Orion's first 14'er; it just happens to be a fairly easy one and relatively close to Colorado Springs. I can't give a direct account of the hike, but I hear that Orion had a really good time and hiked well. Barley got to go also which made her a VERY happy and VERY tired beagle.

Orion crossing a creek at the start of the climb.

The "official" picture before the climb.

Orion on the trail up.

Brett and Orion on the summit.
Orion and Barley on the summit.
Orion enjoyed the shelter of this old shack on the way down. He hung out in here talking with another young boy who had made the climb.
Orion looking out over the mountain. The green area below is where the car was parked.