Hiking Horsetooth

Bailee had wanted to do a family hike to celebrate her birthday. We have lived in this area five years now, and we finally were able to check hiking Horsetooth off our bucket list. 

We got up very early(6 am) on a Saturday to ensure we would make it on the trail. This iconic hike is super popular and once the parking lot is full, you are out of luck. We were surprised how busy it already was. It's super annoying to me when the trail is so crowded you have to wait to pass people. Something we don't enjoy about the outdoors in the area. 

To get to the top of the rock and back is about a 6 mile hike. On this warm June day, things were heating up even early in the morning. 

A little more than halfway to the top, Horsetooth Reservoir comes into view. 

 It wasn't an easy hike, but the 360 degree views at the top were amazing!

 It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood with my favorites.

[celebrating 2 decades]

For two decades now I have tried to figure out this mothering thing and for two decades I have made mistakes and fumbled my way through. Luckily, I have this amazing little bug who has been forgiving and patient and has taught me the meaning of loving another more than yourself.

It doesn't seem like that long ago that it was just the two of us ...partners in crime .... spending every minute together.

Now she is developing a life that is separate from me. It's how it should be, but it hurts sometimes. 

Although the themed birthdays have gone by the wayside, we tried to eek in a little celebration with the couple of hours we had with our girl (she worked a 10 hour day). I had a quick breakfast ready for her before she left for the pool. .. a muffin and green smoothie.

Emm doesn't miss an opportunity to decorate. She did a splendid job on Bay's door.

Bailee's request for [a late] dinner was Taquitos and homemade pico.

She is such a simple girl with very few "wants". She asked for a new visor to keep the sun off her at the pool.

She also really wanted a fanny pack. This isn't the one she ended up keeping. I had ordered two for her to choose from and the other one came after her birthday. 

Kars got her Exploding Kittens ... a game they played with cousins and LOVED!

Emmrey got her some more essential oils for her Diffuser.

She also got a few toiletries and some cash$$, so she can get something when she actually wants/needs it. She didn't want a cake or a treat for that matter. I felt like we had to have something so we settled on Banana Splits:)

It is a recurring sentiment that I ache for the days she was little, but at the same time, watching her develop into this beautiful adult with her own thoughts and ideas, is a true gift. Having conversations and listening to her express her opinions and views on the world makes me proud. She is dedicated, has strong convictions and is filled with genuine kindness in all she does. 

I have plenty of regrets as a momma and often wish I could start over raising her because I think I could do much better with the wisdom I've gained. Then again, I have to believe that she is the person she is partly because of the experiences [and mistakes] we have made on this journey together ... and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Girls Trip to Utah

 This past year has got me feeling like I just need to go home more often. So I decided kinda last minute {maybe the week before}, to make a trip to Utah. Bailee couldn't swing time off and Mark was at his 2 week NCLI/Fish Staff retreat, so it was just the three of us.

It wasn't a long trip. We only had three days there, but I will squeeze in whatever I can. I learned upon arriving, that my momma had not been doing very well. She had spent a night in the hospital for some seizure/stroke like symptoms. It got me feeling very worried and protective of her. I convinced her to let me drive to her hair appointment the first morning we were there. It was pretty fun to listen to the conversation between her and Kimberly.

We stopped on the way home at Crumbl Cookies. It happens to be very close to their house ... which could potentially be a problem for me;) These cookies were so yummy. You can get the chocolate chip ones warmed.

That afternoon, the Weaver boys stopped by to do the mowing and trimming. They loved that I followed them around taking pictures.

The girls and I helped with some window washing, weeding and getting the deck ready for summer. We also planted some flowers in their pots.

You have to really twist arms [parents] to let us help. They can be pretty stubborn about that.

A crazy afternoon thunder shower rolled in .... Kars running to roll up windows.

The next day we took whoever wanted to go to spend the day at Cherry Hill. It ended up just being us and the Weavers. Bode came up with some friends, but they only stayed a couple hours and we didn't really see them for more than a minute.

It was a good time as usual!

They added a new slide since last time. It is for the little ones, but these tweens enjoyed it with Hazen too.

There were lots of trains. I love that Kars can still have a fabulous time with her younger sister and cousins.

It was surprisingly not super crowded. We had our pick of chairs along the Cardiac River.

It was perfect. We could ride the slide [or watch the kids ride] and Jami and I could sit and talk.

We went earlier to the Pie Pantry after last times experience [we waited too late and they were out of nearly everything ... but especially the Banana Cream]. They tried to tell us that they were out of cream pies... again! I was not happy. While everyone else enjoyed their slices of Apple and Cherry pie, tears rolled down my cheeks (jk), which prompted Kole, Hazen and Emmrey to go back in and ask the kids at the counter if the baker could make a Banana Cream pie. And guess what? They did. Why didn't I think of that! Kole was pretty proud of himself [he was the spokesperson]. You better believe that this was the best Banana Cream pie I ever had and that Kole enjoyed a slice or two:)

The kids played a round of mini golf.

Emm, Kole and Hazen [for a minute] did the climbing wall. They were pretty good at it! We dragged it out as long as possible and left at closing time.

The next morning, the girls and I went over to Grandpa and Grandma Smith's to help with projects for Fathers Day.

Shirley loves when I take random pictures of her.

Unlike my parents, they usually have a list of things they'd like done.

We stayed busy for several hours and I think we got almost everything checked off their list.

It has become a bit of a tradition to work on a puzzle when we stay with my parents. My dad really likes it, although he doesn't do them unless we are there;). Emmrey had found this one at a yard sale and it was a fun one to put together.

Of course we have to hit In-N-Out at some point during our visit.

Saturday afternoon, Jill had all the family over for a pool party to celebrate June birthdays and Father's Day.

Kris couldn't be there, but she had all these items from Grandpa Mark and Grandma Alice's house that she had put in a shadow box for us to give to my dad.

It was so beautiful... a keepsake for sure. A Father's Day photo with the half of us that were able to make it. So lucky to have this dad of ours.

A closer look .....

We got up the following morning and started the trek back to Colorado .... darn those obligations at home;)