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!

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...

Christmas Tree Hunt!

Thanks to the Schuch family for inviting us to their annual Christmas tree hunt in Las Vegas, NM! Aaron, David, Michele, and I had a lovely, mix cd filled drive, a hearty breakfast at Spic-n-Span, and a brisk afternoon at the camp site. And I got me a Christmas tree!

We came in varying degrees of preparedness.

Could you be the one?

We don't know who David is waving at, but Aaron is tough, and that's one damn fine tree!

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.

Some kind of weekend

Between the balloon fiesta and Michele's party, I probably slept 6 hours that whole weekend. But it was SO worth it.

Zach rolls up in the Vanana.

Joe, Michele, David, Daniela, me, and Zach do the Balloon Fiesta.

The Copper Family Band celebrates Michele's 27th at Zinc.

My friends are super fun.

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.

La Luz Trail Hike

Can't believe this is the first time I've done this hike. Also I can't believe those crazies that race up it every year. This time we took the tram down...maybe some time I'll make the round-trip.

Start

What a view

So that's what this rock looks like from over here...

Finish. Nuthin' too impressive, but I'm proud :)

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.

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

Run for the Zoo 2009!

Haven't done this race since Girls Scouts. And I think then I ran the 1-mile Fun Run. Now I've graduated to the 5k Fun Run. My fastest 5k since high school! And decidedly the farthest Meghan has ever run. Go us!

We'd run every day if we knew there was a free massage waiting at the finish line.

And then, of course, we got to see the rhinos :)

2nd Annual Holiday Sweater Party

Success! Although we missed Beth and her margarita pie, this year's turnout was great. We saw a lot of really great sweaters, some nice vests, and one really festive holiday sweatshirt. No better way to celebrate the end of the semester and the beginning of the Holiday season!

So much Holiday cheer.

Susan, Fin and ice sculpture.

A certain course reader is used as kindling for the fire.

Taylor and his quilted vest/Santa suit t-shirt ensemble win by a landslide. Congrats, Taylor!

No party is not complete without a craft. David agrees.

Leah and Sandra bring their A-game with homemade sweaters.

Jennifer enjoys a margarita by the fire.

Joy, Jeromy and Meghan play dreidel.