Colorado July 2011

In July we went to Colorado for Kristi's college roommate's wedding. It was really fun to be part of her special day and to see most of our friends from college, whom we do not get to see very often. We packed a lot into our week in Colorado--a barbeque, swimming in a few different pools, hiking in the foothills, the wedding, a day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, and just hanging out together. And of course, celebrating Charlotte's birthday at every opportunity (you just can't pass it up when you're at a restaurant and they might give her a free treat or sing happy birthday to her!).

St. Olaf friends and a barbeque. What more could you ask for?

Messy faced Tobiah and his daddy Karl.

Here is most of the St. Olaf crew, though we're missing a few people yet. It was hard to get everyone in one place. Hard to believe that many of us are parents now (even a few people with TWO children!). How time flies!

Karl looks like he should share.

Miss Charlotte in her new swimming suit from Uncle Charlie and Aunt Olivia for her birthday!

Definitely got a lot of use out of the swimming suit on this trip, but she was very clingy in the water and wouldn't let go of mama or daddy.

Rock climbing with daddy.

Matt the mountain goat.

The summit!

Some of our crazy friends Eric, Christy, and Alyssa.

Beautiful girl at the wedding reception.

Our family.

Friends Casey and Alyssa.

Friends Luke and Shannon.

Time for wedding toasts. But wait, who is standing next to the bride, sharing the spotlight?

Oh, it's Charlotte, the girl who is usually shy, but now in front of 200 people can't help but be as close as possible to the beautiful bride.

She sat up there the whole time. And I only had to motion to her once to put her dress down and not show off her underwear...

Charlotte and her new best friend Liz share a gourmet hot dog. She and Liz got along so well!

Dancing with daddy.

Dancing all night followed by 4th of July fireworks at the reception made for one tired girl.

But while she was sleeping, we snuck down the hall with some of our friends to watch our old college video, "Project Awesome," the most amazing home video montage ever made (great job Eric!)

We went on a fun hike in the foothills with several of our friends.

I'm holding Charlotte's hands because there was poison ivy on some of the trail and I was trying to keep her from brushing up against it. It didn't sound like fun to have a 4 year old with poison ivy.

The scenery was great!

We almost couldn't find Charlotte!

For Charlotte's official birthday we gave her one small gift (which we had purchased at Target just the day before for a very reasonable price after we realized how much she loved the pool).

Here she is with her new birthday water wings, beach ball, and kickboard!

From that moment on, she was a fish who couldn't stay out of the water. Even when we found a mouse swimming in the outdoor swimming pool at the hotel...

More pictures to come of the Colorado trip....