Early November

For some reason we had never gone to this park before – Flying J Ranch.  It was a nice easy hike through tall pines with a smattering of boulders to play on.

Elizabeth is beginning to take after Daddy’s love of scrambling on rocks.  Whenever he climbs a big boulder she always attempts to follow.

The flat trails were great for mountain biking or trail running.  It was a relatively short loop trail so several bikers were doing laps.

Hiking with a small child changes the definition of hiking.  There are lots of stops – picking up rocks and sticks or close-up examinations of flowers and ants.  This time, however, Elizabeth wanted, to Andy’s frustration, incorporate a hide-and-seek game.  Which was pretty hysterical considering the diameter of the pine trees in this forest.

Even she could be found easily!

Elizabeth is acquiring my taste for chocolate-covered pretzels, so when MomMom sent us a box of treats she wanted them all for herself!

Children do imitate.  No doubt about it.  Every once in awhile, she’ll ask for the paper to read while we all eat our breakfast.  Usually she’ll ask for the comics so she can look at the pictures, but on this day she just looked at the page that was left at this seat!

She’s such a helper!  She wanted to help Daddy build the new bed for the guest bedroom.  He helped her hold the drill and everything.

Of course, it took a little longer to get the project done, but she loved it!

She is always eager to help anyone with blowing out their candles and opening their presents, no matter whose birthday it is.  Thankfully Stephanie didn’t mind having help blowing out all of those candles Andy loaded on her cake.

Elizabeth wanted to write a personal note to her new (second) cousin Aidan when we mailed him a card.  She spoke out loud as she wrote to him how much she loved and was looking forward to seeing him at Thanksgiving.  It was such a touching moment.

Leaves!  Leaves! and more Leaves!  But they weren’t enough.  Elizabeth wanted us to gather leaves from the neighbors to make her pile bigger.  She rode her bike through the big pile and then threw herself into it as well.

It’s so much fun playing in leaf piles, and just as much watching a child do it.

Lots more pictures on November’s WebAlbum.

Myers Ranch

We knew our time was running out for a hike in the yellow Aspens, so we all took a short hike at Myers Ranch on the last Sunday in October together.

Here’s my Super Girl running back to Mommy – she looks out for me when I fall too far behind or if anything happens, she’ll come to my rescue.  What a sweetie.

We were so lucky to get the colors we wanted!

My favorite colors of fall…yellow, blue, and white.

Elizabeth still loves to wear Daddy’s hiking hat…but now she pulls it down and looks thru the mesh panel.

A leaf-encrusted trail.  Aaaahhh.

I called her “Little Miss Blue Tongue” on this hike due to the staining she got from her Dum Dum.  She likes to hold my small mirror (when she’s not holding a map) so she can look behind her when in the backpack and warn us of other hikers and bikers.  Such a helper.

It was only about a week later, when we drove by this area and all the leaves were gone.  So we were indeed very lucky to squeeze in this hike just in time.

Mountain Biking! WooHoo!

It has been forever since I’ve been on my mountain bike with the intention of riding a trail!  No child trailer attached, no concrete, my hubby and biking partner by my side…it was wonderful!

We just rode Marshall Mesa Trail east of Hwy 93, with views of the Flat Irons in Boulder.  It was a stormy sky which added such beauty.

In the distance we could make out the V-shaped opening marking El Dorado Canyon State Park.

And there was a creek near the trail that kept the cattle watered, too.

But what did I like the most?  Going fast of course!  To be able to zip along the trail and bounce over rocks and feel my muscles working to stay upright with tears in my eyes from the wind.  What a flashback for me to those pre-Elizabeth days when we did this traveling.  What a hoot and a joy!  I can’t wait to teach Elizabeth how to ride the trails, because something tells me she will love it as much as I do.  Many thanks to Steph for watching Elizabeth for a short two-hours so we could ride together.  Love you.

Hiking Centennial Cone

One afternoon we needed to get out.  We hadn’t been to Centennial Cone in awhile and I had never been on the western trail in this park.  They close this trail seasonally when the elk are calving.

It was relatively flat and wide, great for mountain biking or trail running.

Wildflowers were in bloom adding color to our walk.

Elizabeth may be developing the Thomas Gap, but no, this is chocolate in her teeth from the granola bar she ate!

Our little walk puckered her out and her big sis-cousin helped carry her home.  She prefers to be held in our arms sometimes versus riding in the backpack carrier.

A short time later she had to transfer to the backpack, though, cuz some big black clouds rolled over the horizon making us double-time to the car.  Rain drops are COLD here in Colorado!  No matter what the temperature is that day.  But the lightening is what makes us move fast!

Maxwell Falls and Lake Evergreen

Evergreen is a town just west on I-70.  Not a far drive to get into some nice hiking.  We chose a new hike to take Steph around the area.  Maxwell Falls.  It was nice but a little crowded, and we didn’t get too close to the viewpoint of the Falls for Elizabeth’s sake, because it was a boulder strewn area with a drop off.

I’ve noticed that Elizabeth has begun “posing” for her pictures.

Elizabeth loves to “hike”, but it still sometimes means being carried in our arms…or in the backpack carrier. 

Thankfully Steph was willing to help carry her today.  Elizabeth is weighing about 32 lbs now, so with the weight of the pack we’re over 40lbs for sure.  It maxes out at 50lbs.  But it is so much easier carrying her on my back on a trail where I need to see my footing than trying to carry her in my arms.  I’m not looking forward to the day we retire this pack because that’ll limit our distance more.

On the drive back into town we came across an elk herd in someone’s front yard.  How awesome is this?  We even got to see spotted calves.

Evergreen has a beautiful lake as one of it’s highlights.  People stand up paddle board here in addition to paddle boats.

It was Elizabeth’s first time out in the water on a boat.  She liked it.

She liked it even more when Daddy let her steer the boat.

What did I say about posing?  Here she climbed this statue then asked for me to take her picture.

I love my goofy little girl.

What a great daytrip to Evergreen.  Thanks Stephanie for giving us another reason to make these days happen so we can show you the area!

More pictures in July WebAlbum.

White Ranch Hike

Back in early June we were able to go on a short hike, just the two of us.  We chose a short close-in hike at White Ranch. 

The wildflowers were blooming and it was so pretty.

I’ve always loved the combo “stairs and bike ramp” that were built in this park.  One of the reasons we fell in love with Colorado were these wonderful open spaces and trail systems so close to home.

The view from this park on the eastern edge of the foothills is still pretty nice. 

A dandelion seed is ready to take off!

More pics from our hike : June Webalbum

July – The Month of Guests

July was a busy month with four different groups of visitors…and somehow Andy managed to squeeze in a few days to fly back to Florida to empty our storage and remove some personal things from our condo before the closing.  Whew!

My Mom had flown in at the end of June, but sadly spent most of her trip in the hospital with pneumonia.  We added a few recovery days to her visit before she boarded a plane and went to my sister’s in Arizona.  None of us felt that the elevation was helping her.

But at least Eliz and Nana had some play time together – which to me was the most important thing…

Building blocks…

Playing Tickle Monster…

Going to the playground…

And taking time for hugs and kisses…

(For more pictures of Mom’s visit, go to June Webalbums)

The day after Mom flew out, our nephew Nick and his wife, Amy, came.

On our way to hike Alderfer/Three Sisters trail, we stopped in Genessee to see if the buffalo herd was out.

We were happy to see that they were, and they were right by the fence.  We spent quite a bit of time visiting with them.  “Buffalo” soon become a frequently spoken word for Elizabeth.

Then we continued on to our hike.

We did a big lazy loop through pine trees and past large boulders.

Elizabeth fell asleep long before we got to Brother’s Lookout.

It’s a beautiful spot to hike, and so close being just in Evergreen.

Back at home, Eliz enjoyed the pool…her private pool on our balcony.

Nick and Amy were here over the Fourth of July.  We had hoped to really impress our family veteran with the Arvada fireworks when they were shot into the air just yards away from our balcony, but the fireworks were canceled this year to the drought and fire dangers.  It was such a disappointment.  Especially since we were counting on it being the last Fourth for us in this condo.  We had been making plans to move to a single family home.  Feels like we are going full circle with our lives.

But we got Elizabeth dressed up in her new Stars and Stripes dress (thank you Noemi!) and walked to the local festival in the soccer field complex.

She loved the bouncy house, although she never braved the slide portion.  Fine by me!  She was one of the tiniest ones being bounced in the house.

Nick and Amy had flown to Denver for a wedding.  We were so thankful that they were able to come and spend a few days with us!

We spent an afternoon at the Zoo.  Elizabeth loves seeing the animals.  I wonder where she gets that from?

I was trying to teach her about the Prayer Wheels…

She just wanted to drive the buggy.

Then Bobby (Andy’s brother) and Nancy came to visit.  We only had a few days with them and since it was the first visit, we of course wanted to show them everything!

We took them up to Boulder and hiked Pioneer Park.

Beautiful red rocks, a relatively short hike, great views…it makes for a great intro hike when time is limited.

Then we took them to Pearl Street in Boulder.  Elizabeth just wanted the outdoor playgrounds and water fountains…which was fine with us.  We listened to the outdoor music buskers while we watched.

Here are two cute videos of her in the fountains:

The second one was really funny.  We all couldn’t stop laughing long enough to console the poor girl!  I felt awful afterward!

Another day we took them to Red Rocks Amphitheater and Park.

Nancy and Bobby had tickets to a Phillies-Rockies Game and took us along.

Wait, if I remember right…THIS was the reason THEY came to Denver!!  Hey!  That’s ok…we don’t care what excuse you have that brings you to Denver, just as long as you spend some days with us!  Love ya and hope you come back soon.

I’ll finish the second half of July in a separate post…this one is getting too darn long!  For more pictures…visit July Webalbums.