Thursday - Hoback Campground

In the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Two Hungarian boys, ages 4 and 6, at the neighboring site. We played
for two hours.

Thursday Drive

Vermillion Falls in the distance.

7 PM Wed vs. 7 AM Thur - Gates of Lodore Trail

Wednesday Night - Gates of Lodore Campground

Some campsites are better than others.

Junior Ranger!

Obtained my Junior Range badge while at RMNP, and now in Dinosaur
National Monument. I even got to ride in the Ranger Jeep with Ranger
Scott!

Cacti

"Why don't they just say cactuses?"

Dinosaur National Monument

Entered from the North, just off 318.

Gates of Lodore Trail

Maybell, CO

Left RMNP Wednesday morning. Drove West through the rest of the park,

and over the Continental Divide.

With more mountainous terrain behind us, the high plains in view, and after having watched the
Lego Movie on my iPad, I looked up astounded, "Is this the West?"

We stopped in Maybell, CO at the General Store and Post Office.

24 Hours of Rain

I didn't complain once. Mom and Eric set up a tarp that doubled our
living area, and I still woke up to hot chocolate, oatmeal and bacon!!

Bear Lake and Beyond

At Bear Lake before 8 AM Tuesday morning.

Chose the tougher and unpopulated trail to Fern Lake.

SNOW!  At the first sighting of hail from yesterday's storm, "Huh, someone littered ice."

Traversing back down the mountain.  Didn't quite make it to the Fern Lake.  5.8 miles in total and back in the car just before the storm!

We're in Estes Park now.  Mom & Eric are busy working/recruiting.  I get root beer, and ice cream!

Tuesday Morning Sunrise

Sprague Lake

We survived a rain/hail storm when first entered RMNP Monday afternoon.

We hiked from camp (Glacier Basin) to Sprague Lake and back....maybe 3.5 miles in total.

Sprague Lake

"Prettiest Part of the Drive"

Headed up the hill to Estes Park....Big Thompson River on the right.

"This is so beautiful.  Eric is WAY cooler than Mommy.  He plans cool trips like this."

"I love, love, love to camp."

Hall of Fame

Eric got inducted in to the Iowa Tennis Hall of Fame today.  I ran up and jumped into Michelle's arms when she arrived for the event. 

Work & Waterpark!

Spent a few days with Dad.  He put me to work.

I fell asleep on the job.

Time with cousins!  And new Monster High pajamas; thanks to Grannie Jannie! 

Waterpark with my cousins!

Wednesday Adventure Camp

A note from Emmie's most recent teacher at Hiawatha Day School:

So - highlight of the day...we saw Emmie today at Tucker Park.  Oh my gosh I got the BIGGEST wet hug (she had been in the Splash Pad) and I just loved it!  You should have seen how excited all of her friends were.  Every single one of them ran over to me in pure happiness saying 'Mrs. Bass!  Emmie is here Emmie is here!!'  Haha.  It was adorable.  They were able to play for a little while together before we had to leave.

Just wanted to let you know that it was great seeing her beautiful face!

Have a good day!

VK

Albeit momentarily, we got to see VK on Wednesday morning.  He joined us for breakfast at HyVee during his short stay in CR (he flew back from Switzerland Tuesday evening, is in Chicago now and will be headed back to Switzerland soon).  He most definitely needed a haircut!

Art!

PDC

Friday evening at the pool!

Saturday on the Mississippi.  Linda is the best boat driver ever; and grand daddy waves are awesome!

Doug & Lisa hosted us at their house in Guttenberg.

Ate at the Croc-a-Burger!

Civil War Cannon

Sunday morning with Grandpa!

Sasha caught a fish; it literally jumped out of our bucket.

Cycling

Spent the morning with Berkley & Baylor (since Kylie went into labor!).  

First go at tandem cycling after.....my cycling shorts arrived just in time!

"Mom, you're heavy to pull."

"Let's get this baby going as fast as we can."

"Why am I doing all the work here?"

Tomatoes, Tortoises & Trampolines!

A petting zoo came to Adventure Camp this past Monday.  We got to pet some lizards, and it was so cool to see one of the coolest tortoises.  And to see how many books it would take to break an egg; it took 12.  There was also a rooster there.

First day of harvest yielded tomatoes, and a few small strawberries.  I couldn't stop eating the Black Cherry Tomatoes; I love that brand.

Tuesday afternoon at AirFX Trampoline Park!

Jumping expended all of my energy such that we HAD to get ice cream at Parlor City on the way home.