St. Elmo

Over the weekend we went on a nice camping trip with Deron and Tina. We met at the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs and then took off looking for a camp site. We found a great camping spot above the ghost town of St. Elmo. The weather didn't cooperate much of the evening and it was very cold but we still had a nice time.

We ended up on a gnarly 4-wheel drive road while looking for a camp spot. This is the road that leads to the top of Mt. Antero. We had to turn around when the truck in front of us got stuck. We were a little nervous taking the family truckster up here.

Eventually found a great camping spot that was at 11,0024 ft! It got pretty chilly at night.

Cooking dinner over the campfire. Minutes later it started to rain. It rained off and on for the rest of the night. We got pretty wet but managed to keep the fire going!

Dylan and Winnie taking a rest while we cleaned up the next morning.

Feeding the chipmunks in St. Elmo. I can remember coming here 20 years ago and feeding the chipmunks with my parents.

The chipmunks are so tame and some are very FAT!

Two tired kids on the drive home.

First Day... Success!

Holli had a great first day of school. She said she made 3 new friends but doesn't know any of their names. Her only complaint was that she didn't get chocolate milk with her lunch. I made her a lunch and the kids that bought a hot lunch got chocolate milk with their lunch. Hmmm, I'm not thrilled that they're offered chocolate milk.

Celebratory ice cream with her friend, Lulu.

Off she goes

Today was Holli's first day of school. The morning started a bit off. We woke up to no electricity (the entire neighborhood was out) and it was super cold (48 degrees). I had planned a nice breakfast to get Holli started but without a stove we had to resort to cereal. Once we got out the door everything was good. Holli was very excited for this day to come. Today is just a day to get to know the students and do assessments. Tonight at the open house we'll find out who Holli's teacher will be. Tomorrow will be her first real day with her teacher. She knows several kids in kindergarten so hopefully a couple of them will be in the same class.

Drew will be taking Holli to school in the mornings but starting tomorrow she will be riding the bus home.

Park Elementary School (her school in KS was Oak Park... weird)

First ones there! Typical Abby style! He He!

One of the teachers talking with the kids. Holli is in the bottom left corner, sitting next to her friend, Lulu. Note the boy to the right of Holli wearing a neck tie!

Williams Creek

We finally managed to get a camping trip in before school starts. We went to Williams Creek, just outside of Pagosa Springs. We had a beautiful campsite right on the creek.

Holli and Dylan fishing at Williams Reservoir. We never caught anything but had fun trying.

Staying warm by the campfire.

Dylan and I bravely crossing the creek by our campsite. We made it across safely the first time but on the way back we slipped and fell into the water. We fell downstream and the water was up to my waist. Everyone thought it was funny except for Dylan. He was pretty upset about it.

Sunday morning we hiked up to Piedra Falls. They're pretty water falls that flow over lava rock.

Final Happy Hour

Last night we had our final Happy Hour of the Summer. We had a big blow out to mark the end of summer. There was lots of great food and a corn hole tournament. The evening ended with us watching Beverly Hills Chihuahua on the lawn. Everyone had a great time and now we're excited for school to start.

Corn Hole Tournament

Score!!!!

Bikes and Dump trucks everywhere!

Is Grandpa a Monkey?

Holli and I had a conversation recently about why people have hair on their arms and legs. I tried to explain that over a period of millions of years monkeys have evolved into people. Today, apes are still covered in hair but people don't have as much. It's hard explaining evolution to a 6 year but I tried. She thought about this for a few minutes and then asked... "were your parents monkeys?" I told her Grandma was not a monkey but I wasn't sure about Grandpa. A few days later we were waiting in line for the diving board at the pool and out of the blue she asked "was your Grandpa a monkey?"

Living Locurto

A friend recently turned me on to this website and I LOVE it! She has so many cute printables, recipes and crafts. I can't wait to make the edible crayons!

Doin the Derby

We are beat after a very fun weekend. Our best friends, Matt and Joanie, were visiting this weekend. Joanie and I met 17 years ago when we became roommates at Fort Lewis College and we have been best friends ever since! The four of us have so much fun when we get together. This weekend was extra fun because it was Joanie's birthday and it was the weekend of the La Plata County Fair! We got to look at the 4H animals, go to the carnival and go to our favorite event of the year... the Demolition Derby. This was Dylan's first time at the derby and he loved it! He is now crashing his trucks into each other and saying he's "doing the derby".

Joanie and I in front of our dorm room window. Our room was on the 2nd floor of Camp / Snyder.

Watching the Derby while the kids eat their giant pixie sticks.

Winner of the of the derby. It is a bright pink station wagon with breast cancer awareness ribbons all over it This is the car we were cheering for the entire time.

Pancake breakfast for Joanie's birthday. Mimi sent Dylan some Star Wars pancake molds so we had Yoda, Darth Vader and Storm Trooper shaped pancakes. Thanks, Mimi!

Matt and Joanie if front of the mailboxes where they met almost 17 years ago! They both worked for the college and were putting fliers in the student mailboxes when they met. Ahhh....

Having lunch at Steamworks before Matt and Joanie hit the road.

Fort

We are very lucky to have such a talented man in the house. Drew is building this fort for the kids. We are very excited to camp up here!

Silly Swimmers

Here are a few photos of the kids swimming. Dylan has become a great swimmer this summer. I think he's taking after Holli.

Weekend with the Johnson's

We had a great weekend with Jay, Lindsey, Nola and Lila Johnson. These are some good friends who used to live in Durango and now live in Oklahoma. Jay is starting Medical School next week so they took a nice vacation before he has to hit the books. Seems like we spent most of the weekend eating but we also managed to get a few others things done. We played in the river, swam at the rec center, searched for cows and played Yahtzee. Good times!


Nola was Holli's first friend. They were both born in Durango, two months apart. Here they are playing in the river in Bayfield.

Summer's Ending

It's hard to believe that summer is almost over. Today we went shopping for Holli's school supplies. School registration is Monday, Aug 9th and the first day of school is Aug 23rd. We've decided to save the money and keep Dylan home one more year. One year of preschool is enough and I'm in no hurry to be alone during the day.

One of our favorite activities this summer has been the Durango West 2 Happy Hour. During the summer our neighborhood has a Happy Hour on Wed evenings. It's hosted by a couple of families that live on a cul-de-sac and is so much fun. It's a potluck, the kids ride bikes, the parents play corn hole and get to socialize. We have met so many nice families and the kids have met some great friends. Holli has met 3 other kids that will be starting Kindergarten with her in a couple of weeks. One of the friends she made is Lulu. It's funny because my best friend in Elementary School was Lulu. Wouldn't it be something if Holli has a best friend by the same name!

Our good friends, the Johnson's, from Oklahoma, are coming in town this evening. We're excited to spend the weekend with them.