Colorado

Luke, Bishop and I drove to Colorado. We left on July 15th and got home on Sunday July 24th. We had a wonderful trip to Estes Park, CO! We drove out and Bishop did well. He didn't nap that much, due to the inactivity, but overall he did well! We got to Boulder, CO on Saturday July 16th and I started not feeling well. I went into Urgent Care on Sunday in Boulder and found out I had strep throat!! Sunday and Monday were really tough days as it completley knocked me out! Luke and Bishop had some nice bonding time (at the grocery store, the ranger station, swimming, etc). I was afraid I would miss the entire vacation, but I started feeling better on Tuesday and felt well enough to hike (and take it REAL easy). The rest of the vacation was absolutely PERFECT! Bishop loved EVERYTHING we did. He loved the hikes and would ask to go in the backpack every morning! I laughed (and cried from laughing so much) a lot and enjoyed being with my boys!! I love the mountains so much!!

We stopped for a picnic in Adrian, MN

Playing on the McDonald's Playground somewhere in NE. I think this may be where I picked up strep throat!!

Hiking around Boulder

This is a picture taken from our condo. We were RIGHT on the river--on the 2nd floor--it was a perfect set-up for Bishop and he LOVED the "wa-wa" (water). Notice the deer

Hiking with Dada

Bishop and I at the start of the Colorado River
Luke hiked up to a point (I was too sick and Bishop was sleeping) and saw this guy...UP CLOSE!
Hiking up to Gem Lake



Cub Lake


Bishop LOVES his icecream!! Luke and I were laughing so hard at how he was eating it, which made HIM laugh....I don't think I've ever been that happy in my life!! It makes me smile just thinking about it!


He'll share with you, but only if he gets to hold the cone! If you take the cone away he'll yell "MINE, MINE, MINE"!!
We hiked up to Ouzel Falls, which was part way up to Bluebird Lake (where Luke and I got engaged 4 years ago). There was an avalanche at Bluebird lake this winter, so it was nearly impassable....but we were nowhere close to getting there (it was a 13 mile hike, STRAIGHT up)!




Ouzel Falls
Hanging out with Cousin Emily!!! Emily and her boyfriend came to visit us in Estes Park....we LOVE seeing Emily!

Bierstadt Lake


Bierstadt Lake

Bishop LOVED the swimming pool! He would climb up the ladder, walk a few steps, turn around, run back to the pool and JUMP in the water (and go under)! The first time he did it, he jumped to me and I couldn't touch so Luke had to jump in to grab him!


Our last dinner in Estes Park was at Mary's Lodge. Luke and I celebrated at Mary's after we got engaged 4 years ago, so it was fun to go back! Bishop loved his meal, especially the icecream!

Waving buh-bye to the Mountains
We drove 16 hours on Saturday to get to Owatonna. We arrived at 1am and we were all exhausted! Our thought was at least we'd be able to sleep in and my parents could get up with Bishop....joke was on us--Bishop was the last one sleeping (8:30)!!

Coffee, Tri, Shingles

Bishop loves to help Dada make coffee in the mornings!

My cousin, Jeff competed in the Lifetime Triathlon this year and my mom and I were able to cheer him on! I love going to events like these, especially when I have someone to cheer for! Jeff did AWESOME in the race--I am continually impressed with him! Here's a picture of him right after the race. He is one FAST biker!!

Bishop and Luke went up to Cold Spring over the weekend to help Rich tear off the shingles on the shed. It was HOT and humid and they worked VERY hard! I went up Saturday to pick up Bishop. He had a great time at Grandpa and Grandma's!

4th of July

We had a wonderful 4th of July Weekend!!

Rich and Eileen came down on Friday and helped out a TON in our yard. They stained our fence (you can see the unfinished product behind them in the first picture), Rich cut down some branches and they cleaned up a ton of branches/stuff in the backyard! It looks great and we are so thankful for their help!!! Bishop had fun playing with them and helping out too! They stayed Friday and Saturday night so Luke and I could have a date night Saturday night. We went to dinner (Pizza Lola, our new neighborhood favorite) and a movie (Midnight in Paris--not my favorite, but it was good).

Bishop enjoyed his time with Grandpa! He was very interested in whatever he was doing

Helping sweep up

Climbing the ladder

Sunday we stopped at the Kingsfield Farmers Market in the morning and there was a puppet show! Bishop did really well and sat and watched for most of the show. It was pretty cute and it involved some cows, which are one of Bishop's favorites these days, so that was cute. It was a long puppet show (at least I thought it was)--we stayed for over 1/2 hour and it was still going on when we left! After that we went to Lake Nokomis and went swimming and played on the beach. Siena, Maia, Tim and Liana joined us and the kids had a great time!! That night we walked down to the Lake Harriet Bandshell with the Kahlert's to listen to the orchestra play--we finished our great day by having dinner at the Kahlert's! Bishop was up late, but had fun and slept well!

Monday, the 4th, we biked to Lake Calhoun to swim and play at the beach. Bishop took his first bike ride and he loved it so much he fell asleep and didn't wake up when we got there!

Swimming at Lake Calhoun

Maia on the swings--you couldn't get this girl off the swing, she loved it!!

Relaxing with Dada's shades on!

We stopped for icecream with the Hennums on our way home. We learned that Bishop definitely understands what the word "MINE" means...as I handed him my cone to try and he repeatedly said "mine" and wouldn't give it back.

That night we grilled out at the Hennum's. It was a great ending to a WONDERFUL weekend!!

Bishop and Maia

Siena, Bishop and Maia