Rock Band in the Front Yard

Hays and Sean thought the neighborhood needed to hear a little of their original music. Hays gets the prize for best expressions and Sean for most noise! They are a riot! They take themselves very seriously. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Jones for the drums... the favorite present of all time (or at least of all three years).

The Conquering of Mt. Bierstadt

Jason, Brandt and Brian set out for the summit of Mt. Bierstadt from our campsite near Guenella Pass last weekend. It proved more challenging and more rewarding than Jason expected. It seems to be a bit of an addictive thing, these 14ers. We're planning another for August 9 with hopes of securing childcare so that all who desire might climb.

The First of Many Smores

Our first attempt at camping as a family went great... until we laid down to sleep and realized I had forgotten pillows and then woke up to a very chilly morning without warm clothes. So we've improved our packing since then and had more successful trips.

More Hiking

Beth and Shelby were visiting a couple of weeks ago and to further encourage their move to Denver, we went hiking in the mountains. I think the hike was supposed to be about 3 miles... but we added at least another mile by parking at the bottom of a hill rather than the base of the trail. The dads paid the price when the boys were ready to be carried a few hundred yards into the trip down. At least they made it up, which was quite an accomplishment. We climbed over 1000 feet in the 2 miles up... the view was worth it. 

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A View Well Worth the Hike

About two and half miles in we were wandering if this Panorama Point would be worth the tough hike. (The challenging part we knew lie ahead when Sean would want to be carried... the last half mile was a steep incline) The hike was mostly through the forest, down one mountain and up the next. I probably told Sean a dozen times, just a little bit farther, we're almost to the top where you can have your snack. Well the top finally came, and it was well worth the work! An exceptionally wide and clear view of the Continental Divide from two well placed nice wooden decks (that Sean proceeded to run around until we began the descent... at which point of course he was ready to be carried!) We had the zoom lens on the camera so even though a picture can't do it justice, this one doesn't even come close because you can only see three peaks. We did end up carrying Sean the last half mile... up hill... but it was worth it, and I'm sure we'll do it again!

An Almost Hike

We set off for a trail outside of Boulder yesterday. It turns out that we parked in overflow parking of sorts  (a mile or so from the trail head). The kids were ready to turn back when we reached the actual trail, which I'm sure does require overflow parking at times as it was a beautiful site! The trail it self is actually over 7.5 miles long... I guess we'll have to come back and do that one without the kids (or with overambitious attitudes ready to carry them 1/3 of the way or more). It was fun anyway and Sean got a chance to wear his new Camelpack and share it with his friends.