Our move out here coincided with my parents' vacation. My dad owns an auto repair shop and he only closes it two weeks out of the year. And then he usually spends those two weeks working. It's no wonder I have a hard time doing nothing.
They came out for a few days, driving the usual 14 hour drive in 12 hours (it's also no wonder I have a bit of a lead foot.) They showed up on a Sunday night and we took them to Old Town Fort Collins for dinner. Afterwards, to our new favorite ice cream shop, Walrus.
It was a huge hit.
It took me like, ten tries to get a decent picture of these two yahoos:
Clearly Sam has no problem posing:
I know our move has been hard on my mom, and my kids definitely miss Grammy time... but now we just watch for the mailbox and I have flashbacks to college when I used to anticipate her amazing care packages. (You hear that, Mom? We love care packages!)
(Shh. She hasn't actually sent any yet. I'm trying to be subtle. Do you think it's working?)
Sam pretty much charms the socks off of everyone when we're out in public. He says hi to EVERYONE and I catch people watching him because, I have to say, he's pretty darn funny. I try to pretend he gets it from me, but we all know who I'm married to. I don't stand a chance in a humor contest.
This night, it had just rained (poured) for all of twenty minutes while we were eating. Came out of nowhere and left just as quickly. I've learned this happens fairly regularly in Colorado. The difference is, after the rain is over, it's gorgeous out. It really does cool things off. It doesn't get muggy and humid. Can't complain about that.
In a weird way, I think this move has been good for Sophia. I think she's learning (as I am) that she's stronger than she thought she was. I kinda love that...
While my parents were here, we did a lot of different things...too many for one post, so I'll only share a few highlights and save the best stuff for the next post.
My dad bought Ethan a golf club and some balls and they spent two afternoons at the park learning to golf. Ethan is hooked. Adam and my dad took him out on the course and he could NOT stop talking about it. He's still asking when they can go back.
Look at that form:
Watch out Tiger.
Ethan is left-handed, like my dad, but he swings right-handed, like my dad. I'll never understand it.
We also drove up to Horsetooth Reservoir, which is just one street over (and quite a ways UP) from our house... it's absolutely stunning when you see it in real life. At least, I think it is...
It kind of goes on forever and people swim and boat and ski here. There's what seems to be a little vacation community right across from it and lots of campers. It's posted: Population 42 1/2. The sign always makes me laugh.
We hopped out and admired for awhile. And posed for pictures. Sophia took this one of me and my mom. We both saw it in the viewfinder and promptly explained the importance of the headshot as opposed to the frightening full body shot.
Then she took one of Adam and I...(she's a quick study...)
But not sufficient. So, I asked my (insert sarcasm here) beloved husband to pose for a couple I'd take myself. From above. Which typically is a more flattering angle.
Not so much with these though...flattering, these are not.
I started shooting...
...imaging the shots I would be able to frame to make our rental house feel more like home...
Posing, blissfully unaware of what my husband was up to...
Do you see what I'm dealing with here?
He has absolutely no problems making a fool of himself.
A whole series of me clueless and him ridiculous...
It was at this point, I heard his incessant giggling (like a little girl) and I stopped and glanced at him. I have no idea how I got this shot:
Which is ANYTHING but flattering, but totally cracks me up anyway.
I am married to such a dork. And I mean that in the best possible way. I rarely suffer for laughter.
I noticed he has a hard time being serious in photos. Which is kinda great for me because it isn't often that I can make him uncomfortable...
Finally got one...sorta...
Anyway, we had a blast exploring up there and taking pictures and laughing at Adam. There was a lot to see...
Oh, and just because I love it, check out Sophia's outfit:
Sparkly pink tennis shoes are the perfect complement to any outfit, I say. She was posing (like her father) up on this rock and she really cracked herself up. I love that I caught it because this is her REALLY laughing.
This was all before Sam got sick, so it was a great time!
I do have more pictures from Horsetooth, but I'm still working on them. Maybe tomorrow. Or the next day.
:) For now, I hope you're having a great week...
