August Already?

How did it get to be August already?  Time flies for sure!  

Random pictures from recent weeks!

We spent a few days with Teresa and Charlie.  Jenny came down too.  The kids were all supposed to come down but Jackson ended up sick so it was just Sara and Evan.  We all had a good time floating in the lake and pool, taking the pontoon out to dinner, and just hanging out catching up.  There was also an evening spent playing the game 'Smart Ass'.  As usual T&C were the best hosts and we enjoyed comfortable beds and wonderful meals and snacks!

This little stuffed dog was left behind by Lucas on his last visit, Charlie had been sending him occasional pictures of the dog in different spots around the house.  So I sent this picture to Charlie at work on Saturday and told him the party wasn't the same without him and to hurry home!

We love picking this little guy up early from daycare to spend the afternoon playing!

Aunt Sara had stopped by on this day!

No pictures, but the following week when we picked him up, Sara made lasagna and brought it over so we could have a family dinner together!  After dinner Evan opened a bottle of champagne and poured a glass for everyone, well actually they were red Solo cups not glass!  Sara and Evan asked Susan to be their matron of honor and Josh to be the officiant at their wedding and we toasted the engaged couple and the fun year ahead!  

Was walking at the Wetlands one morning and noticed on one stretch of the trail there were hundreds of these filigreed leaves.  Not sure if it's bugs or natural decay that makes them filigreed but I thought they looked kind of cool and stopped to get a picture! 

Flowers along the same trail.

A boy and his Tigger!  Josh sent this picture one evening!

Bobby and I spent one Friday shopping in antique stores in Baldwin and Ottawa and a quilt store in Overbrook.  Picked up a couple of items and put together this rusty fireplace mantel vignette!  The candle holder is a claw foot from an old bathtub and I couldn't resist the old rusty stove top. 

Sitting in a rocker on the front porch is my very favorite spot to spend time in the mornings.  on this particular morning there was a storm rolling in and it wasn't long before it was raining, love the sound of the rain as it hits the leaves in the trees and the fresh smell after a gentle rain.

Another new school year is here and Sara had to present at the orientation for new teachers so Merle needed a mid-day walk.  Continuing the tradition from last school year I sent her this picture of her A+ dog!

Speaking of back-to-school, I finally did my first volunteer gig of retirement and helped fill backpacks for kids in need.  Next week I will go back to help with distribution.

This picture was taken at daycare by his teachers and shared via their app.  

Stop growing so fast little man!

And last but not least; doesn't everyone vacuum their dog????

Latest Pictures of the Grands: Cute Kid and Cute Dog!

Look who figured out where the cookies are stored!

Fathers Day!  Love this picture!

One year checkup with Mom at doctor's office!

 Playing in his toy room!  He loves to sit in that big bear's lap!

With Dad after a blood test, lollipops help!

A boy and his toy!  A birthday gift from his Great Grandma!

A trip to Target with Mom!

Wrestling with Grandpa!

More puffs Dad!  Now!

 Bath time!

Sara had to spend a week in Orlando for training and Evan works long hours from early morning until late evening so Merle spent the week with us and these are some of the pictures that I sent to her that week!

 These two played hard and then crashed hard!

Surveying their kingdom!

Back at home with Mom!

An Engaging Story

On July 1st, Sara and Evan celebrated ten years of dating!  Back in May of 2006 they went to senior prom together as friends, at some point between prom and her birthday in July their feelings evolved into more than friendship and they began dating, they selected July 1st as their anniversary!

Fast forward ten years, they celebrated lunch downtown with Josh & Susan.

After lunch Evan drove Sara to our old house on Pebble Lane and told her that he regretted not walking her to the door ten years ago on prom night and wanted to walk her to the door now.  At the front door he asked her if she forgave him for not walking her to the door back then, she said 'of course', he then said he had one more question and then got down on one knee and asked her to marry him!  

She said yes!

We are over the moon pleased for the two of them!

Oh, and he had talked to the new homeowners a few evenings before the proposal letting them know his plans to borrow their yard and sidewalk!

Friends Around the Campfire

In June we took the trailer for it's third trip.  Colorado was the destination and we joined Jerry and Mavis for this trip.  The destination that Jerry had in mind was Dumont campground southeast of Steamboat Springs near Rabbit Ears Pass but it was still closed so we looked at other campgrounds nearby.  The other campgrounds were all still snowy and very muddy!  It was starting to get dark and began to rain so we found a pull off on the main road and set up camp for the night. 

This picture was taken the next morning as we prepared to pull out!  

Travel life is pretty good when you can just pull over and cook a pizza for dinner, enjoy a fully functioning restroom, and sleep in your own bed!  

The next day we headed to another nearby part of Colorado that Jerry was familiar with; the Flat Tops and Routt National Forest areas.  After passing through Yampa we turned up a forest road that looked familiar to Jerry.  I was pretty nervous because there was a sign that said 'Road Ends No Turnaround', yikes!  This is a picture I took as we wound our way up the road into the mountains!  I was pretty convinced the day was not going to end well!  

Oh, ye of little faith, after slowly making our way up we found a nice campsite at the end of the road near Crosho Lake!

We were camped just a short walk away from Crosho Lake. 

There was a small pond next to Crosho Lake, here you can see the path between the two bodies of water, Crosho to the right and the other smaller pond to the left.  

One evening we saw a person come out of those aspen trees and stand at the edge for a few minutes before turning and heading back into the forest, they never came closer and we joked that it was a Yeti!  A few days later while Jerry and Mavis were hiking up in that area they came across a group of four cabins and met our Yeti!  They said she was a really nice lady!

Another view of Crosho Lake on a sunnier day.

Crosho Lake.

The small pond next to the Lake.

Resting after chopping wood.

This was the sawbuck that Bobby designed to help chop wood!

Griff liked to pick out pieces of firewood to chew!

Some scenes from an evening hike we took.  We drove to the trailhead which was a couple miles from our camp.  Two mule deer were having their dinner as we parked the truck and started our hike.

Griff scouting out the trail!

Beaver dam and pond down the hill.

 We could see where the beavers were getting their building materials!

The trail crossed over this small creek.

Although there were more dandelions than I ever remember seeing in Colorado we did see some wildflowers too!

The view walking back to camp from Crosho Lake.

We spent a total of six nights in Colorado and had a great time!  The days went by fast and each evening we gathered around the campfire to hang out and visit.  Good times!