"I think the cube makes it more classy"

I think she's right.

Staples

It's pretty much a given (and is fairly obvious given our previously documented trips here and here).

Wedding Weekend

We had a fantastic time with Mike's co-workers and their wives at Steve & Erin's wedding.  Such a good time, in fact, that these were the only photos we took...

That's my quilt piece for a blanket one of their family members will be making.  We all thought it was pretty epic.

We ended up spending 30 minutes after the wedding just enjoying the moon on Boulder creek.  Beautiful evening with the love of my life.

Mass Transit

We decided to (finally) try picking up the bus literally right behind our house and taking it (with one stop) to Boulder.  It was an incredibly fun venture!  We enjoyed every non-driving, fairly hassle-free minute of it!  It's a shame 128 doesn't run on the weekends...

One lady stopped us and asked "Are you going swing dancing???  You look so cute!"  Goorin FTW.

Plant

I sometimes amuse myself way too much.

What.

Post-Work

It's still a project work in progress, but this is what we did to our yard!

I'll take more/better pictures soon.  Maybe when I've decorated for Fiesta de Hudson (who are abandoning us for AZ)...there will be tears.  But part of the decor will be bandanas.  Multi-faceted.

Costco

Nar: Thinking of you.  And Walking Dead.

Falling Up

We woke up early Sunday morning.  Well, some of us did.

The trail down took half as long and we clammored twice as fast down the rocky slopes.  Keebler and Kona are in their element with their packs on and a trail to blaze.  It's fascinating to watch.

We felt incredible when we hit the trailhead.  To reward our hard work we stopped by the original Beau Jo's and ate a huge pizza in traffic on I70.  Finished the day with Band of Brothers and Trader Joe's Syrah.  We win.

Missouri Lakes Trail

Some pre-trail java.  The camp coffee press and the camp pillow were my two luxuries I brought for which I am eternally grateful.

 What is that theory about dogs and their owners?

 At least packing up was unexpectedly easy...

Probably the hardest thing I've ever done physically.  I am the weakest link.  Literally the only trail shot I got as I was so intent on 1) not falling over the myriad cliffs into the river, 2) not letting Keebler fall over said cliffs, 3) not letting Keebs eat random animal poop, 4) trying not to be mad at how difficult climbing what are basically rock stairs up a mountain are, a nd 5) in general trying not to pass out.

But when we got to the lake and found our campsite, it was somehow all worth it.

 The lake (click to get the full effect):

 Out:

When we arrived I was so exhausted I could barely walk down to the lake.  I plunged my face into the crystal clear water and almost froze it off.  Then I looked around me, at what I could see having made the trek.  It was difficult to tell what was lake water and what was tears.

Backpacking...ish

We left later than planned and the drive down dirt roads sans signage took longer than expected, so we camped at the base of Missouri Lakes the first night.  It was still an incredible spot that smelled like pine and clean water; there was river running next to it.

 

Pups ended up sleeping at our feet.  Thank the Lord we purchase the 2+ tent.  Seriously.

Work Horse

Someone wanted to be with me while I worked.

Leavers Remorse

Seriously regret not getting this.

Kona Misses Karley

Pretty much the only thing that got me through today.

Unexpected Delights

We decided to venture out to Target (again), and to grab some brunch at a new eatery down the street: Early Bird Restaurant.  Once again, soooo glad we did!  What a tasty treat!

We spent the rest of the warm afternoon at the house enjoy fruits of our food labor (Nar makes the best Pimento cheese dip ever), some incredible wines from Palisade, and wishing her trip never had to end...

Tomorrow. Will. Suck.

Beanie Babies!

Nar had been looking for Beanie Babies on eBay and Craigslist to use as "pets" or babies for her upcoming first grade class.  The things she thought of to associate and teach the kids through their very own stuffed Beanie Baby was just astounding to me!

I suggested looking on Craigslist in my area...who knew there were so many collectors!  She e-mailed one lovely lady selling over 150.  When Karley told her what she wanted to buy them for and how much she could spend, she responded that she would pick out 30 of them (the count Nar needed), and would donate them to such a worth cause.

We. Were. Floored.

We met her at a Starbucks in Louisville on our way to the third of what would eventually be four Target shopping excursions (we love us some Target).  It was so fun to be a part of it!

Later Saturday night we hit up Lucky Pie for Bobby's birthday party and had some incredible (as usual) pizza and laughs.

No one noticed that we matched. ;-)

Life's Little Treasures

We spent the afternoon shopping at The Orchard!  First stop: an adventure in cheap treasures at Dollar Tree.  Nar then found us both a new perfume that ended up smelling amazing at Ross for $12.99!  On a bargain high, we stopped at Ulta to ensure we hadn't missed any perfume necessities since you can't open the boxes at Ross (we hadn't), nabbed some new makeup, and finished at Old Navy where myriad deals were to be made.

The best part of the afternoon (and evening since we shut the place down), was Wine & Cheese!  It was a beautiful cloudy evening and The Orchard was having their Friday night concert series, so we sat out on the patio right next to the flowers and enjoyed the live band and even livelier discussion!

 Nar was able to experience her very first E.C.P.

But when we finally left when they closed at 10pm, we both agreed it was one of the best nights we'd ever had!

Free

Poor Narnenz got some pretty bad altitude sickness (you're apparently not supposed to do any rigorious exercise, excessive eating, nor drinking within the first 24 hours to avoid it - we put her on a bike and stuffed her full of sushi and mead on her first night here...oops).  But when she was finally feeling better, there was nothing like Georgia Boys to enjoy as her first post-puke meal! ;-)

Konaman looooooved him some Karley.

We spent the evening watching fireworks in the back yard, and Nar & I managed to BOTH fit on the hammock...it was a great Independance Day!

NAR'S FINALLY HERE!!!!!

Biked up to Kira Sushi for our first (of many) celebratory meals!