Just Like the Old Days.......

We finally got a chance to spend a day in the mountains climbing. We snuck some time away from our busy schedules and went to one of our favorite spots with good friends.  It is great that we have the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and enjoy the outdoors.  

Sadly times have changed - a place that we remember being so quiet and away from everything is not the same.  What was once a dirt road up a mountain pass is now paved and heavy with traffic.  We would spot random campers and now see tents filling the sides of the roads like a parking lot.  Along with this has come the sounds of gunshots while campers practice target shooting (way to close for my comfort).  Although our peace and solitude seem to have been interrupted once back in our out of the way climbing spot we can almost pretend it is still the way it was.

It will always be a favorite place we enjoy with good friends.

wolverine

yeah - the barefoot wonder who has never climbed before - just goes to show you that climbing trees does the body good (he is currently an arborist)

Ro was thrilled to practice some new skills he is working on

Merc - our super strong dear friend visiting from the west coast

Ro getting a good spot from friend and climbing mentor to the boys Lucas

Dillon was so close on this bouldering problem - he will get it - next visit

rest time

Misty Morning

Early morning at the farm

crisp

cool

fog

still 

silence

damp

mist

water drops

The Project

It was not planned, just sorta evolved and came to be - there were legos to be organized and displayed but not a place.  We thought about buying some shelves but they were over priced and not quality.  We thought we could just buy some boards and brackets and maybe that would work.  Dillon said he would love to sand (he learned some good sanding skills in art school this summer) and we could stain them.  A trip to the hardware/lumber store and well we had a project on our hands.

the boys worked really hard and did an excellent job!!!!!

Home

It is hard to believe that we are actually here, in Colorado, home for the next year.  We are slowly but surely settling in and adjusting.  We are unpacking (just what we need at the moment), organizing the bedrooms, filling out paperwork for the boys to return to school, making sure the boys have everything they need for school, and re-connecting with our friends and family.

We left England May 1st and have spent the last 3 months with family in Canada and Mexico.  Michael has finished third year and all his medical school exams, he is now settled in Detroit for some 4th year rotations and living with family (we are so very much thankful for this).We left Ontario and spent time with some McGlue family in Detroit before finally arriving at home.  Home for the year is with Grammy and Boompa and we could not be more thankful.

the boys were exhausted from all the good times with family, the road trip to Detroit was perfect for an afternoon nap

leaving Ontario

as we saw this sign we realized it had been almost a year since the boys and I had been in the U.S.

the Ambassador Bridge

Detroit

not long after our return Uncle Kevin and family experienced one of Colorado's extreme summer storms with large hail and tornado activity - we are very thankful they were all safe

Ella was so happy to serve Ronan tea - we have kept in touch over Skype and she always asks where we are - finally we could spend time together in person

we were so lucky to meet Madeline just after her arrival

Ella was happy to wear the dress I knit for her

such a sweet, sweet baby girl

Although Michael is not with us here (we will get to visit here and there until he finishes in Detroit) we are very thankful for the home that Grammy and Boompa are providing during this next year.  We are thankful to spend time with family and meet the new ones.

We are thankful for the wonderful schools the boys will be attending - it allows my mind to be at ease a bit as they transition into attending school once again.

We are thankful for the chance to get into some sort of normalcy as we adjust back into life in the U.S.

It is comforting to know that all our family is on the same continent (U.S. and Canada).

Thank you to everyone (friends and family) for everything, we would not be where we are today without your love and support.