The List - Gold Hill

Our bird launching list is growing faster than our ability to tick things off the list. However, we did (kind of) tick one off last weekend. 

We ventured out on Saturday afternoon for a hike and trip to Gold Hill, a "ghost town" up above Boulder. We had planned to listen to music in the beer garden of the hotel and grab lunch, but we discovered that the beer garden doesn't open until 5:00. 

So, after our lovely hike, we grabbed a beer and sandwiches as the General Store instead. It was a pretty drive and fun outing. We are so fortunate to have such amazing vistas and experiences right in our backyard. We'll get back to Gold Hill again and tick the beer garden off the list in the future. 

almost had the entire hike to ourselves

what a view! 

so fun! 

Marshall with a Ranier as the owner of the general store was from Washington 

First Day of 15th Grade

So sweet that Tanner took a picture from his new digs on his first day of Sophomore year at University of Iowa. He's got a sweet set up (includes a basement with a poker table, foosball, darts and a bar) in a great location with four other young men. He's also the recruitment chair for the Ultimate team and will be carrying a heavy course load - the life of an Engineer. Here's to a great year! 

Back to Bird Launching

I warned Marshall that the week the boys left, I was going to need to keep busy. The day the boys left and a couple folks checked in on me and I made the joke that work has finally proved useful - a distraction. ha! 

Over the last couple of weeks, I would say we have done a pretty good job! Mahjong, pool nights with friends, trivia, happy hour with neighbors and trying a couple new recipes. We've also been to Denver each of the last two weeks - last week for Spamalot at the Buell Theatre and last night for dinner in Larimer Square and the Broncos pre-season football game with one of the Engagement Couples we met 25 years ago. They just entered their "bird launching" phase and it was great to catch up with them. 

Here's to more adventures and embracing our bird launching phase of life again. (not many pics - too busy bird launching!) 

16th street mall

inside joke - pool table cleaned up for our friend Shannon! 

go Broncos! 

my birthday mahjong set! 

Off to the Midwest They Go

It is much easier to write this post with the boys now gone over a week..... (and I've obviously kept busy as I haven't had to time to blog about this yet). 

Both boys were to be around the weekend before they left, but Drake had travel challenges and didn't arrive until late Saturday night (unfortunate as we had plans to go to Henry's with him and some friends). Sunday was a day spent at home with packing, hanging out, playing cards and sharing a yummy meal together - meatballs, homemade sauce and bread, salad and corn on the cob. The boys took off on Monday morning around 9:15 in the Honda Odyssey (aka the chariot) packed to the gills with a quick swing back to pick up Tanner's tennis shoes. 

I was pretty emotional Sunday morning (when I was the only one awake) and also shed tears when the boys took off. Even though we weren't all home together much in Colorado this summer, it was still a summer when all of us were "home." And this year hits a little bit harder, as this is yet another stage in life's journey with Drake starting a real job and his life in Chicago soon. Life is funny in that the goal of raising children is so that you can give them a strong foundation and lots of love and support  so that they can soar. And while this is what is supposed to happen, it is still bittersweet. 

So, here's to the next phase in the journey. May it be even more wonderful than the last. 

A message that came with a gift for Drake

the staging area

I will miss the whir of the 3D printer (and Tanner being in the dining room while I work) 

a mug I got from the boys a couple of years ago (and flowers from Marshall) 💗

euchre 

limeade pie

midwestern food sendoff

our young men (can't call them boys really) 

thought the corn hat was appropriate for the day 

and they are off (and I'm with the phone and the tears as they leave) 

Summer Sendoff

During this summer, we all stayed in this house 14 nights. Between Tanner in Italy and Drake galavanting around the US, we didn't have much time here in Colorado as a family. But, I'm extremely thank for our time here, in Albania and at the cabin. 

Here are a few pics of our last summer nights. 

Korean BBQ and Hot Pot 

fun outing

Tanner played slow pitch softball with me 

We went to Old Spaghetti Factory 

Drake not around for this outing 

20 Years

I'm pretty sure we have 20 annual pictures in the boat at the cabin. Nineteen of them were in the front of the boat as it was parked at the dock. We really have to squeeze in now, but the boys are good sports and do it every year for me. And of course, we wait until the last day right before we leave. We're entering another phase of life with Drake headed into the work world so I'm happy we have had 20 summers at the cabin together - and I hope for more. 

Lake Life

 Besides the smoky air, the cabin week was a success. Like most years, we have our standard activities and we throw in some new things here and there. This year, the squirrels were out in force and liked to cause a raucous and make a mess. The boys biked from the cabin to Harrison and then canoed from Harrison to the boat-in campground.  We all enjoyed some food and drink at One Shot Charlie's in Harrison (a first time for me). Drake and I took the boat up the lake and checked out Powderhorn Bay which was a nice little spot. Drake and Marshall learned a lot about boat mechanics thanks to AI. And we checked out the water ski course on Anderson Lake. 

We played a lot of cribbage and various other games, enjoyed the hot tub in the early part of the week when it was chillier and had time on the dock and enjoyed just being at the lake. Claudia did a wonderful job of having the cabin all ready for us as usual. We are grateful she share's it with us every year. 

Just a loose wire thankfully! 

A new bike adventure (HOT and HILLY) 

Towing the canoe to Harrison 

One Shot Charlie's! 

Happy hour

Off in the canoe

off they go

back home the next morning 

on the way to pick up the camping gear 

camping spot for the boys 

Anderson Lake 

Ice cream in Harrison

Frisbee in the park 

Powderhorn Bay exploring 

cleaning off the roof for Gramma

smoky - sad.