US Pro Challenge

While we were in the mountains last weekend, we met up with my dad and sister and Sarah who were catching a glimpse of the bike race going through Estes Park.

I'll admit we don't follow cycling, but it was such a rush to be a part of this major event that's come to our state. My dad has following cycling for as long as I can remember. I was excited to jump on his coattails and join in on the fun.

We found ourselves in bleachers that were marked as "reserved," complete with their own cowbells. I'm not sure how we got there, but something tells me that my dad was part of it. He may have used his outgoing New Yorker nature...or flashed his press pass (he really has one :)

It was a good day :)

Aunt Paytie Comes to Visit!!!

Aunt Paytie and her roommate Sarah were here from Portland last week!

It was a serious treat. 

(Mimi definitely thought that it was her very own special birthday gift ;)

***

To have the privilege of seeing my sister be born (I was 11, so I remember the moment that I first saw her) to being a very precocious, violin-playing, pea-coat and dress-wearing, sassy six year old, to a high school student getting her drivers license, going to prom and getting her braces off while applying for colleges, to being a college student, in full-bloom, at home in her own skin with a head full of big ideas, a heart full of grace and understanding and thoughtfulness and a future that's full of possibility...it's truly been a gift.

I loved getting to know her now and getting to tell her in person how proud I am of her. She's had to do more than most (almost) 21 year olds her age, and she's come out on the other side with charm and wit and compassion.

***

Mimi and Sarah and Payton played pretty much nonstop the whole time that they were here...

We shared meals and outings and even a movie night.

We were sad to see them go :(

Hopefully the next trip will be up to see them in their neck of the woods.

We love you Paytes!

neighborhood run...

 

Paytes' bro Grant even got to come over on their last night for dinner. 

It was a family affair!

Bode warmed up to Grant super fast...

nothing like a little more testosterone to balance out our house. 

They were quick friends.

And once Mimi saw that Grant was fun to wrestle with and taunt, she was in too...

(In this picture, Bode took off Grant's hat and put it on his own head.. ;)

XOXOO

And this is how we felt when we had to say goodbye :(