Summit County Slumber Party

Next summer, there needs to be a lot more of this:

We have no idea how much fun we're about to have.

Whheeeee!

Blue Lake

Bro, Ben, and I hike up to Blue Lake in Brainard Lake Recreation Area.

How's the water?

Luckily, the walking staff was not needed to fend off mountain lions.

Happiness!

My 1st 14er! (Ain't No Mountain High Enough)

Natalie and I climbed Mt. Democrat (14,148') on the 4th of July. Very apropos. Great weather, great company, great work out, and super-fun descent. I'm officially a Coloradoan!

At the trailhead.

Strong ladies summit.

Oh good. We climbed the right mountain.

From whence we came...

San Francisco

It had been a long time, but I finally made my return to SF. I got to see/do/eat lots of beautiful/fun/tasty things. Photo highlights:

The Davids take in the fresh sea air at Sutro Heights Park.

The Superior Palace Chinese restaurant in the Outer Richmond advertises the Land of Enchantment.

Napa in winter. Note to self: next time go easy on the wine the night before a wine tasting trip.

David and Casey admiring a piece at the MOMA.

Posing at the Lands End Trail head. Awesome views all around.

"The Gonzalesi" prepare empanadas. Success!

Conference at the University of Hawaii

Meghan and I celebrate 17 years of being dorks together. She was the best conference stowaway ever.

Balloon lands on runway in ABQ.

Trees in Hawaii are good for hiding (near Waikiki).

Pearl Harbor Memorial.

This is NOT Waikiki (Ala Moana).

Some good old fashioned hole-diggin' on Kailua Beach, our favorite.

Santa Fe with the Boys

Our annual La Cueva High School Drumline Santa Fe trip to remember our old friend, Dean.

Aminal and Kevin

Brian and Joe

Craigen, me, and Brian

More facial hair, less head hair, but still friends after all these years.

New Mexico Wine Festival, Bernalillo 2009

Our goal for next year: have a booth at the Wine Fest to sell Blessings. This year was lovely, and I truly love our tradition of taking the train to Bernalillo, dancing and drinking at the wine fest, and enjoying dinner at flying star. Wine Fest 2009= great success!

David, Aaron, and the lovely Sandias.

Clinky clinky!

David continues to peer pressure us into drinker faster by signaling discreetly that he has already finished his glass and is ready for more.

The more wine we had, the less things made sense.

David strikes a pose in front of our D.D.: the Rail Runner.

Full of wine and cake-in-hand, Aaron and I are ready to call it a day.

So-Cal Summer

Our quick father-daughter road trip to LA (my second trip there this summer). Just an attempt to cram in one more summer activity before school started. It was short but sweet. Drove by the apartment where my parents first shacked up and texted a photo of it to my mom, ate a French dip at Philippe's, strolled around Old Town Pasadena, and got to hang with the fam. And of course, a stop at the In-n-out in Kingman.

I'd actually never been to the Griffith Observatory before. It's always fun to geek out for a bit.

Oh good. No earthquakes.

I weigh 25 lbs. on Mercury.

The LA skyline. Can't you see it?

Summer school...

Four weeks, six credits, lots of reading, four trips to the creamery, a few good hikes, two arts fests, and zero Joe Paterno sightings.

#1 thing about State College, PA: Fresh Ice cream from the Penn State cows. From the udder to the cone in an average of 4 days!

Katie poses on our lovely walk to school.

Day trip to Pittsburgh.

High-5ing the Pitt Panther.

In the University of Pittsburgh's "Nationality Rooms" imagining how weird it would be to teach in an India-themed classroom.

Football stadium before fireworks show.

State College 4th Fest: one of the top 5 fireworks shows in the nation. And the land lady gave us tickets to the box seating! Yeah free food!

Destination: Claremont...and some other places

Friends, music, food, booze, roller coasters, chicken, Olvera Street, Little Tokyo, mall bar, Doug Benson, beach picnic, Long Beach, DANGER walk, lots of movies, driving, walking... Man, what an awesome trip.

Photo highlights:

One night while I was sleeping, Meagan and Aaron composed and recorded this.

Knott's Berry Farm: Aaron's very first upside-down roller coaster! Boomerang!

Weeee!

I remember loving this bridge when I was like 5 years old.

Wine and snacks + Laguna Beach = Perfect. And happy seagulls.

Signal Hill

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Susan's birthday field trip. How did I not know this was only 45 minutes from Albuquerque?

Sandias in the distance.

Tent Rocks

Slot Canyon

Susan and Fin. He's a surprisingly athletic dog.