Colorado, Colorado

My dad was in town this week for a conference so 

we decided to have a little mountain adventure. 

We weren't prepared for how cold it was, 

or for the amount of snow already on the ground, 

but we had so much fun!

Colorado summer

Since we've been back in Colorado

after our Cali & Chicago trips, 

we've had plenty of summertime

going on.

Like racing,

Fireworks with friends at the lake,

mountain biking,

hiking,

and enjoying some time with family!

On top of it all

When hiking around the other day

I spotted a couple of guys

on the very top of a rock formation. 

Without any harnesses, I feel like I would

be a little anxious way up there, 

but the idea still seems so

freeing and attractive, too.

Where's your "top of the world" spot?

Mitchell Lake Trail

Yesterday I answered my mountain craving.

Even though we live right at the base of the mountains, 

we don't make the drive up into the hills nearly often enough.

We were treated 

to the very beginnings

of the golden Aspens' seasonal change

as we made our way up to 

Brainard Lake Recreation Area

& the Indian Peak Wilderness.

It was sunny when we started the hike

up to Mitchell Lake, 

but as we ascended, 

the fog met us.

The fog became so dense that we

nearly walked right past the lake

without even noticing it.

It was so beautifully eerie

to be completely enveloped

so that even the horizon is erased,

and to feel like we were the only ones for miles.

The promise of rain 

& the cold seeping into our bones

pushed us back down the path, 

and back down the mountain, 

out of the rain, 

and into our cozy home

to wrap our hands around steaming mugs.

Summer days

I haven't been posting very much

because when I'm not at work

I'm usually outside

running, hiking, walking...

anything to get out on these 

gorgeous summer days.

Here are a few shots from this weekend!

14er on the 4th

Z's mother came out to visit us for

the 4th of July.

Among packing in tons of other

fun stuff during her time in Boulder, 

we had a very full 4th.

We started off watching Z 

run a 5k.

Then we drove up to 

Mount Evans,

one of Colorado's 50+ peaks

over 14,000 ft.

We had a great time seeing an elk herd, 

climbing the short trail to the summit, 

(where it started snowing), 

 and taking tons of photos, 

before heading back to a holiday picnic!

Boulder Summer

Wow, I have really let this blog slide lately.

To those of you still checking in here, 

thank you, and I apologize.

With everything going on this summer, 

the blog hasn't been a priority, 

but I've still been taking lots of photos, 

so I can catch you up on things!

Food Truck party

A little hiking

Creek sittin'

Tea parties

For more photos from this album, see here.

Hoh Rainforest

One day Z & I drove over to the

gorgeous

Hoh Rainforest.

While Z took a long run

through this temperate rainforest, 

I hiked the trails and took

photo after photo.

I've never been so content to

walk in the rain...

these photos can't begin to

do justice to the scenery...

and the elk herd we saw!