Electrifying

We spotted this huge nest as we drove up to Sweetwater so of course, we pulled over & rolled down the windows for a photo opp. These enormous osprey chicks (thanks, Steve!) were making the sweetest little peeping sounds...sort of misleading considering they would probably be able peck our eyes out if given the chance.

Locks of Love

Julia finally grew the required 10 inches of extra-long-golden-locks for a Locks of Love donation. So over the weekend, we headed up to our favorite kids' salon in Boulder for a cut and ear piercing.
She was super happy to donate--it was sometimes a challenge growing it but she stuck to her goal of helping sick kids. Way to go, Julia!

She was waaaaay ready to be done with swimming tangles and loose strands getting in her eyes at softball games and she loves her new look--a short sassy bob which suits her personality perfectly!
Before:

During:


After:

Cannonball!

Man was it hot today! Our thermometer read 101. 101!
I don't know about you, but to us that means slipping into our swimming suits, heading over to the local public pool, letting off some steam (literally), and goofing around in the nice cool water! Whew. Whoever invented the swimming pool is a genius!

C'mon Scholarships

Emma has been doing research on colleges she'd like to attend. She based her decision on the English, History and Creative Writing departments at each school.
Here are her top choices so far:
CU
Washington College
Sarah Lawrence
Oberlin
Middlebury
Kenyon
Amherst
Brown
Yale

No one ask to borrow money from me. Not now. Not ever. I have none.
I'm saving my pennies to fund big dreams.

Booyas!

Julia's softball team played their final game of the season today. She loves softball and all that practice has really paid off! She can't wait until next year!
(that's her up to bat--Go #6!)

yum

While I was at work and Emma was at orchestra camp today, Bob, Sophie and Julia went to the strawberry patch/farm near our house. Unfortunately, the strawberries weren't in season...but the mosquitos were. So instead, they quickly picked some in-season black raspberries (3 pints of them) and escaped before nearly being eaten alive. Way to go, team.

Then I made this...black raspberry banana bread with mini-chocolate chips on top (isn't everything better with chocolate chips on top?!?)

wheeeeeee!

Here is what we did today

No, that's not Lombardi Street in San Fran, that's our very own alpine slide in Winter Park. Unlike Lombardi Street, you speed down this bad boy on a well-used sled and hope that you don't
a) fall off the sled onto the track or
b) go flying off the sled into the grass or
c) get behind someone who is afraid of flying off their sled...as seen here:

Sophie was having fun but taking her sweet time after seeing several people doing a. and b. as she rode up the chairlift to take her turn. It was just unfortunate for the folks behind her who were experiencing c.
Emma managed to go down first and missed the big bunch-up (and thought she was smiling--a family curse passed down from her mother--having that face when you think you're smiling)

We finished off the trip with a little picnic lunch

a quick hike


and some miscellaneous shenanigans


before making a required pit stop here on the way home

17

So...my 17th wedding anniversary is coming up next week. What? Hardly seems possible--I can remember it like it was yesterday--or maybe the day before.

Anyway, as I was uploading some of Emma's camping photos, I ran across this shot she took...which I love.

Please don't pay attention to my crazy Red Hat Society hat or my enormous derriere or my 95-year-old-lady white socks pulled up to my knees.

Please do note the smile on my husband's face.
I did.

I don't remember being especially witty or charming during my attempts at fishing. My outfit obviously didn't have that "come hither" vibe.
I do remember that day as being utterly enjoyable and the most relaxing day I've had in ages...spending a little quiet time with my groom by my side.
It's nice to see he felt the same way.

Maybe I'm reading too much into the picture. Maybe he was smiling at the girls splashing around in the water next to us or maybe my not-too-stellar casting tickled his funny bone.
But whatever--I'll take it.
He gets a pass on diamonds and jewels for our anniversary this year.

This was enough for me.