We celebrated Brynne's birthday in part on
her real birthday and the other half of the celebration was
Saturday night with a couple of friends.
Lacey came racing home from work
to work her decorating magic on Brynne's cake.
From there we went to Joe T. Garcia's
Mexican Restaurant in Fort Worth.
That is a real local institution known for
it's yummy, albeit sparse, menu and gorgeous
grounds that seat 1000 patrons.
We opted to take a quick seating and eat inside,
but in hindsight wish we would have stuck out the
wait and dined al fresco.
Next time!!

First day of school -
Middle School for Jacob (6th)
and Back to the High School for the girls -
Lacey 11th and Brynne 12th

I am not sure what odd vapors were floating around the
house that morning, but it was a delightful wake-up, get ready, eat
breakfast, encourage a sibling and get out the door!

This time last weekend Elizabeth was in San Antonio and
Debbie's husband, Brian, was here! I think Brian and I
had about 60 minutes of chat time! I traveled with a
friend to a Living Proof Life (Beth Moore) conference.
Brian came here as Gregg's partner in a
Sports Fest. I think all of us enjoyed our very
busy Friday/Saturday.

Beth and her daughters did a light Q and A for
a small group of ladies who follow their blog
or blog alongside them.

Gregg and Brian were good sports to slip into
their official 2008 Sports Fest t-shirt for a photo op!

A few years back we met our friend, Joe.
He spends the summer at the
Last Dollar Mine.
It was a mine his grandfather purchased in 1931.
He is working hard to one day collect the metals that remain.
In the meantime he lives in the original cabin and makes us
feel welcome every summer.
This year he gave the kids a good lesson on mining and
took them waaaaay back.
It was a living history lesson.

Brynne insisted on a mom photo on our first hike.
Had she asked on the way up as opposed to
when she did I might not have been quite so congenial.
At any rate, this vacation was full of reflection for me as
I considered the implications of a rising senior and
a college student next summer.
It stands to look different on the calendar, the time there,
or even who is able to go. Only time will tell...
In the meantime, I suspect I will find myself
flipping through virtual photo albums and
hope you have enjoyed
Snapshot Breck Summer 08!

If there is an official trip mascot it is a tough call
between the chipmunk that is pretty much
everywhere or the Moose that adorns
the fireplace at Moose Meadows.

Brynne really stepped up to the role of
Activity Director this trip!
She had us playing Catch Phrase &
Apple to Apples and painting!
Although some may have been a bit so-so on the
idea everyone participated and seemingly
enjoyed the creative expression.

Copper Mountain is one of our favorite day trips while in Breck.
Bungee Jumping, Rock Wall Climbing,
Diggler Riding and Bumper Boats.

Local enemy #1 - Mountain Pine Beetle!
Each summer we have noticed more and more
devastation due to the beetles.
The landscape is dramatically brown and it is
sad to witness the toll it is taking on the natural beauty.

Gregg and the boys did a bonus hike in between
the two the family did.
They boys did outstanding and never
whimpered the entire trek up.
Additionally, they went to the upper lake
so it made it a nice and tidy,
not to mention exhausting, 4 miles up and down.
Yea guys!!

I wish I could tell you I was an extraordinary hiker.
But I am not. I managed to accompany my family on two.
However, on both hikes I would see stone piles similar to this,
but generally smaller. They were deliberately placed and
I found them to be intriguing.

I realize this is a long shot, but every time I saw a pile
it made me think of the "standing stones" of the
Old Testament. They were set up as reminders of their
encounters with God - along with other explanations.

I really found myself identifying with them and
although I never did
I thought about adding
my own stone to the pile. I have never
been to the mountains when I did not
feel an overwhelming sense
of God's power and majesty and presence.

This is a columbine flower.
I thought it was the prettiest flower I saw the entire trip.
Joe had some growing on the side of his cabin and
gave me one to go.

Gregg has fond memories of Estes Park as a kid.
As a matter of fact he would ride this
same slide, which went up in 1969.
When the kids were really little we spent a couple of vacations
exclusively in Estes Park.
The past few years we make occasional day trips there.

We have a saying, "Everything tastes better in Colorado."
For me part of that enjoyment is wrapped up in the fact
that I do not ever have to clean up a dinner.
(Gregg had the kids in pairs and he took the third night.)
Part of it is we are extra hungry in the mountain air,
despite what we read - that you don't eat as much at 10,000+ feet.
Part of it could be fun treats in town, dinner without kids,
hot drinks or cold ice cream, maybe pizza pie in the mountains
or our favorite mountain pie.
Whatever the reason everything does taste better in Colorado

A trip to Colorado wouldn't be the same without seeing family!
This year we visited with Gregg's sister and family at their home.
Even furry family is important to Jacob!

This family just returned from our annual vacation to Colorado.
Our own personal 14 day library of memories
stuffed between two 800 mile bookends.
We were five plus one as we invited a friend of Jacob's.

The drive up was full of chatter and excitement!

Brynne - "I brought my Spanish music.
It'll be a fiesta on the drive."

Lacey - "Brynne is reading the Spanish dictionary.
What a freak!"

And with that we were underway...