God's Country...Part 1

At 6am Wednesday morning, the Fourth of July, we took a five hour long road trip to "God's Country" aka Pagosa Springs!

Matt and I had never been out this way, so we didn't really know what to expect...

The drive went very well - we were a little anxious about all the passes along the way - I think there were a total of five - since we had never pulled the trailer up any pass and not sure how it would do, but Matt did great and the drive actually went by really fast.

It definitely helped that it was absolutely gorgeous the whole way their - truly God's Country!

The kids did great - Eli had a melt down for about 15 minutes, but then got over it and watched Curious George about 15 times to pass the time!

We pulled into Pagosa around noon and got some pizza for lunch and let the kids run around at a park!

After that we headed to set up camp! 

 Kodi's grandparents own an RV park in Pagosa and we were lucky enough to reserve a spot for FREE!  Their grounds were absolutely beautiful, and of course we had the best spot in the park!

We had a rough start settling in - those problems we were having with the water heater and propane smell followed us to Pagosa, so Matt and Josh spent the rest of the day fixing them!  Thankfully they did and we were home free the rest the week!

We spent fourth of July hanging around the camp ground and meeting our new neighbors - everyone there were old, retired couples and regulars to the park.  So we stuck out like a sore thumb having a travel trailer and being 30 with kids trailing behind!  But they welcomed us with open arms and gave us some insight into the RVing world!  We called it an early night after going out for dinner, and slept great our first night in Pagosa Springs...

Mornings are absolutely my most favorite thing about camping.  They are so peaceful and it is so nice to drink a cup of coffee outside in nature - loved it!

Again, we sat around enjoying the beautiful morning while the kids played with their new fishing poles...

 Ashtyn and Brooklyn actually got really good at being able to cast...

After lunch we headed into town to visit the Town Carnival and hit the Hot Springs!

Pagosa has the cutest little town ever - fell in love with it!

My most favorite was the river that run through it and everyone plays, swims, tubes and fishes in the river!  On the way to the Carnival we stopped to put our toes in, and Emily actually fell in the river, and Eli made himself at home playing in the "wa wa"

 So while Ashtyn and Matt headed to the Carnival, Emily, Eli and I hung out at the river playing in the water and watching people!  I had the best time watching people float down the river in their tubes.  I get great humor watching people fall or hurt themselves - so watching people tumble over the waterfall and fall out of their tubes was hilarious for me to watch!

Especially the cowboy holding his beer - who looked so cool, until bam!  He hit the waterfall...

Ashtyn of course enjoyed every minute of the Carnival.  When you ask her what her favorite part of our trip was she will say "The Carnival!"

She looked so happy coming back from the Carnival and wearing her tiara she won...

 Unfortunately, the rain clouds moved in after the carnival and dumped rain along with some major lighting, so our trip to the Hot Springs did not happen.  Now usually I get bummed when the rain comes and ruins my plans - and it ALWAYS happens, especially on vacation!  But after seeing my beautiful state on fire this past month I welcomed the much needed rain!

We headed back to camp, and did what you do when it rains - drink some beers!

 (Yes, that's right I am drinking a silver bullet!  I love blue mounatins!)

 and we also danced in the rain...

 and played yard games in the rain...

It turned out to be a great evening - drinking beers, laughing, playing cards and spending some long over due fun time with family!

Our first day in Pagosa was SO great...

Fourth of July

Seriously... the Fourth of July has already come and gone?

Well, my family clearly enjoyed the holiday this year - it was an impeccable Fourth of July!

Originally, we were supposed to leave for Pagosa on Tuesday, but decided to leave early morning Wednesday on the fourth, so I could work all day Tuesday.  I was a little bummed to leave later then planned, but it actually tuned out better.  With the state wide fire ban, the fireworks were for sure cancelled in Pagosa Springs, but not in Vista Ridge!  So we didn't miss out on what makes Fourth of July so great - Fireworks!  We headed over to the The Ohlheiser's to have some dessert and then watch the amazing display of Fireworks!  I can't even describe how great they were, and with the up front seats we had, we could feel and see every boom!

Since Vista Ridge was one of the only remaining places to host a Fireworks Show it was CRAZY busy with people, so when Jason got out his lounge chairs to take to watch the show, Matt and I gave him all kind of crap - like he was really going to find a spot big enough for his chairs...

Well of course, since he lives there and knew a great spot to go to - he had plenty of room to set up his lounge chairs.  So next year I will bring mine along as well - maybe make him carry them though!

It was such a great evening watching fireworks, and I am so happy we didn't miss out.  It definitely wouldn't have felt like we celebrated the Fourth of July without fireworks!

We hurried home after the show to get in as much sleep as possible before the 6am alarm clock went off to start our road trip to Pagosa Springs!

Redneck Water World

What do you do when its 103 degrees outside?

You gather up all your garage sale backyard finds...

 ...hook up the water hose

 ...and have a good time playing in the freezing cold hose water!

 ...for FREE!  In the comfort of your own backyard!

 That's what you do when its 103 degrees outside!

And we like to call it our Redneck Water World!

10K Trail Run

After partying like a Rock Star on both Friday and Saturday night I had to get up at 6am Sunday morning to run a 10K Trail Race in Louisville!  What was I thinking?

Well, I had originally thought the race was on Saturday, but NO it was not, so I rolled my tired butt out of bed, strapped on my running shoes and headed out the door to run in 100 degrees!

Sounds fun - right?

 I am not going to say this was my favorite race - EVER! 

 Besides for being a little on the tired side and the weather being just way TOO hot for running, the 10K race I was supposed to run actually turned into 9 miles - 9 miles instead of 6 miles!  It seems they forgot to properly identify where you were supposed to turn around on the course and head back to the finish line, so all of us 10K runners kept on running the Half Marathon course!

The course was on the Coal Creek Trail - which is one of my favorite places to run - and we were originally supposed to turn around before South Public Road in Lafayette - well we ended up running all the way to 120th!  Let's just say some people were really pissed and just stopped right there about to pass out!  I amazingly just kept running - after mile 4 my legs were numb anyways, so I knew if I stopped I probably would be done, so I just kept running - kinda like Forest! 

Run Forest Run!

I did complete the 9 mile run including two hills - which I was very proud of, but was so, so tired and exhausted by the heat.  It pretty much wiped me out the rest of the day. 

 I did learn running is mainly a mental game!  I think physically I could have kept running for another couple miles, but mentally I was just not prepared to be running that distance or in that heat!  So I think I will take the challenge of now signing up for a 10 mile run or maybe even a half marathon, since I know for sure I can handle 9 miles and mentally I should be able to prepare for that! 

But it will, for sure, be for a race hosted in the fall or even in the dead of winter - 100 degrees is just TOO hot!

We did end up getting a bunch of free stuff for running the extra mileage and also the opportunity to run in any other race they host for free!

There is always some type of reward for overachieving!

Luke Bryan

I think I am totally in LOVE with Luke Bryan! 

I mean seriously how can you not love him...and I finally got to meet him on Saturday night!  Well not really personally meet him, but I was in the same venue as him - does that count?

It was a great concert hosted at the Greeley Stampede which I have never attended before.  It reminded me alot of what Cheyenne Frontier Days are like but on a much smaller level.

We had a bit of some truck issues on the way down, so we missed out tailgate party, but got there just in time to get a good seat so I could watch that sexy man sing and dance!

 Emily and her friend Olivia came with us.  We bought Emily these concert tickets for her birthday present, since she too is in love with Luke Bryan and has never been to a concert!

The girls had a ton of FUN!  And Emily now wants to marry a cowboy...

He played all his best songs and I of course enjoyed every minute of it! 

There was a moment during the concert when Luke Bryan sang little clips of other popular songs like from Sting, Sir Mix Alot and Beyonce with a country twang on it!  It was very entertaining, but when he started singing Justin Bieber and One Direction, Emily and Olivia got all excited and started singing all the words, which in turn made Matt and I feel VERY old!  That was totally over our heads and you should have heard all those little girls screaming - CRAZY!

Besides for being an extremely hot evening - it was a great night spent at the Greeley Stampede listening to one of my favorites - Luke Bryan!

Friday Fun!

We had one of those FUN Friday Summer days again - the exact reason why summer is just so GREAT! We met Julie, Chloe and Allie at the YMCA pool for a day of swimming.  What else can you do when its literally 100 degrees outside?  My kids LOVED this pool - they played for hours so contently with no whining and I acutally got to relax a bit and gossip with Julie!  I think I could spend every day of the summer hanging out at the pool...I just love it so much!

 Eli loves when we have "snack" time at the pool - I remember loving the same thing.  Why does food taste so much better at the swimming pool then at home?

 After swimming we went home and hung around the neighboorhood with all the kids there.  I didn't want the kids to nap because I needed them to be totally exhausted so they would go to bed exaclty at 8pm so Matt and I could go out with our friends for some drinks!  My plan worked out perectly and by 8pm we here headed out the door to pick up Julie and Steve for a little night out - with.no.kids.

We headed to Buffalo Wild Wings - and hung out there drinking beers, eating and of course hearing Julie and Steve's crazy stories about life in Chico!

We laughed ALOT!

We had such a great night hanging out with friends and just having FUN!  It's always such a treat to have a night out and its even better when you have such great people to spend it with!

I wish every Friday were this fun...