Best Friends

As if we haven’t been having a ton of epic adventures, we had another one this last weekend.  

Our friends (not to mention my best friends) came to visit.  It was awesome.  

We started the night out by going to the CSU Gardens with Stucki and Josh and then hit up the New West Fest (gigantic music festival in Fort Collins).

Brenna and Sven got in late.

We drove to RMNP and hiked Mt. Chiquita and Mt. Ypsilon.  It was really fun.  The pictures can do all the talking.

We are ready to hike

Cute boys = upset wives...

Me and my best friends

A wee baby arch near the top of Mt. Chiquita

Me and my best gals (Stucki and Brenna)

Dancing in the mountain tops

Checking out the horizon

The boys (Josh, Derek, and Sven)

Derek, me, Sven, Brenna, Stucki, and Josh

Marmot on patrol

View from the top

Not the best picture because Brenna isn't looking at the camera

Derek and I on top of Ypsilon

Pyramid time

Upon returning home, we had a wicked game of volleyball in our pool and decided to skip the New West Fest that night and watch Star Wars (a much better idea).

Oh yeah, and we chopped Brenna's hair.  I think Stucki and I did a pretty good job.

After church on Sunday, we had a nice long day at City Park.  Frisbee, picnic, koob, and slacklining and then, we went to the New West Fest.  

It was an epic weekend. 

Paxton Adventure Time

We had a good adventure this weekend.

It all started with our drive to Breckenridge to meet my dad and Lisa.  The drive took about 1 hour longer than it should have because they believe in doing road construction EVERYWHERE in Colorado.  

Anyway, we won’t rant about the road and horrible drivers here.  I will save that for another day.

So, we get to Breckenridge and meet my dad and sister for dinner.  Little does Derek know what was about to hit him.  Shortly after sitting down,  a man in a sombrero pulled down over his face walks up to the table.  Derek assumes him to be the waiter...Oh no.  The man looks up and it is none other than James Marshall, Derek’s best friend since age 12.  Derek was so excited.  That was definitely a hard one to keep a secret from Derek.

Why did we all convene is Breckenridge?  I shall tell you.  Because we hiked 3 14ers yesterday.  Yup 3.  (Almost 4.  My dad is claiming 4)

We got up bright and early and hit the trail for Mts. Lincoln, Cameron, and Democrat.  We did the hike backwards because the way down from Lincoln is beastly and we decided we would rather go up than down it.  That trail took us to 100ish feet below the summit of Mt. Bross (a 14er).  However, Mt. Bross’ summit is closed.  (Owned by a mining co, and closed to summiting.  Lame).  But, since we were at over 14,000 feet on the bypass trail, my dad is counting it....

So we first summited Mt. Lincoln (14,268 ft.)  And boy oh boy was it windy.  It was probably about 25 degrees when the wind chill was factored in...I am pretty sure the right side of my nose got frost bitten.  But only the right half because that was the side exposed to the wind.  But it was awesome.  Since we did the hike backwards, there were only 4 or so people on the summit with us.

 Lisa, Dad, and I on top of Mt. Lincoln

Derek's face was frozen....on top of Mt. Lincoln

We ventured back down Lincoln and to Mt. Cameron (14,238 ft.) (not a rated 14er because you don’t descend at least 300 ft and then come back up to the summit between Cameron and Lincoln.  Bogus if you ask me).  And we were alone for that one.  It didn’t really feel like a summit.  But we are counting it.

 James, Derek, and I on top of Mt. Cameron

Lisa, Dad, and I on top of Mt. Cameron.  Yes, my eyes are closed...

Next, was Mt. Democrat (14,148 ft.)  Since we opted to do the hike backwards, we now had to face the huge crowd trying to come down the rocky “trail”.  That was interesting.  But the top was much warmer than Lincoln.  Much less windy.  

Family picture on top of Mt. Democrat.

Derek and I on top of Mt. Democrat.  Ps: this is my new dew.

Very awesome.  3 14ers in 5 hours (including summit time).  Then we drove home via Rocky Mountain National Park (came in through the west entrance.  So we got to see a new side of the park).  Dinner at Beaujos.  Yum.

Check out the rack on that one....

I love him

Can I just say that I love this man?  

Yes, that is a GIANT pickle in his mouth.   And the fact that he was really excited about this GIANT pickle is one of the many reasons I love him.  

He is the best.  Better than all the rest.  And I am incredibly lucky to have him in my life.  GIANT pickle and all.

Family, Elephants, Tumbles, and Chopped

Last weekend Derek's Mom, Dad, and sister, Tegan, came to visit us.  It was a great time.  They got here Thursday night.  Derek and I both still had to work on Friday, but we were able to get off early.

After work, we headed up to Rocky Mountain National Park.  Man, Estes Park was packed.  No lie.  I have NEVER seen so many people in that tiny town.  Don't know what was going on, but they all did.

Anyway, we decided to steer clear of the Bear Lake area in RMNP because of the construction delays etc.  So we went into an area we had never been in.  We saw some cool waterfalls, nothing long.  Dave (Derek's dad) is recovering from some intense surgery.  He tore his quadriceps tendon and had to get it stitched back together.  But he is doing really well.

Waterfall in RMNP

Saturday was the whole reason they came out to Colorado.  Tegan is a costume artist and super into costuming and stuff like that.  There is a huge and I mean HUGE Renaissance Festival in Larkspur, CO.  Larkspur you may ask?  Where is that?  It is between Denver and Colorado Springs.  Population = Renaissance Festival staff.  There is nothing there except for this.  And it was awesome.  She brought costumes....

Highlights of the Festival
1.  Derek won $20 for getting to the top of a climbing wall (in full costume)
2.  We rode an elephant.  (Yup you read that correctly.  For $4/person, you could ride an elephant.  Life goal that I didn't know was a life goal until that moment = checked off)

3.  Our awesome costumes

4.  People watching

Tegan, Dave, and Derek with turkey legs and me with my leg....

Sunday we went to the farewell of one our sons from trek this summer.  He will be a great missionary.  I am such a proud mother.  Can't believe we already have a missionary....ha ha.

This week is our rest week between visitors.

Highlights from this weekend
1.  The duck chilling in the Miramont Pool all day (the kids weren't happy because they closed the slide)

2.  Annihilating the 5 and 6 year old campers at laser tag.  Oh yeah.  It was hilarious.  (They did my war paint)

3.  Seeing The Hollar! for free in Old Town.  Awesome local band.  Check them out.
4.  Running Horsetooth Mountain Saturday morning.  (After 7 months here, Derek finally summitted that baby.  (It was my 5th or 6th time...)
5.  My epic tumble on the way down from Horsetooth (ripped of a good chunk form my palm)
6.  I went on a 20 mile bike ride while Derek studied
7.  I chopped off 16 inches of my hair and am donating it

8.  We had a torrential storm with a few tornados out by Windsor.  Yeah, I guess we get tornados here.  Freaky.
9.  End of Summer Work Party.  Derek finally got to meet everyone I work with
10.  Seeing this sign on our Sunday walk around the neighborhoods in Old Town