damping/glamping and airplanes, too!

A well-timed Summer party for Ryan's work at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Spcae museum meant he and Ben had the perfect activity while I hosted the shower.  Ben raved about the planes they saw and even recited what he did in each one based on what color it was.  There was also a bouncy house at the event and Ryan commented that they had a wonderful time from start to finish.  Those "perfect" outings are rare with a 3 year old so I was thrilled they'd had a great bonding day.

I had most of the shower cleaned up by the time the boys got home and we packed and prepped for our annual dinner camping at Chatfield.  I had really hoped to spend the night this year but did a good job realizing I had enough going on without digging out and dusting off the camping supplies.  I've dubbed dinner-camping, damping, and we took it up a notch to glamping* this year with our infused water. :)

We stayed until the fire was lit and had a s'more and bid the campers adieu.  Ben was obsessed with a fellow campers pop-up camper and his MeeMee has been shopping for one.  If it comes to fruition, we'll have lots of fun to come and the glamping will come easier. ;)

sweet Peyton

a pick-up kickball game:)

now who parked there and ruined my shot?

a gorgeous sunset

Waking up at home and enjoying coffee on the deck quickly erased my regret of not camping.

*glamping

Shorthand for glamorous camping; luxury camping.

I ain't sleepin' in no tent! For real, I'm goin' glamping!

host of honor (Laura and Dave are gonna have a baby)

Yesterday I had the honor of hosting a baby shower for a very dear friend.  I've know Towbin (Laura) since my sophomore year of college and we even moved to Charlotte together after we both graduated.  We now live just minutes from each other and thinking of how we've managed to stay close, both figuratively and literally, is crazy.  Laura's mom flew in from Nashville for the event and several of her friends helped with hosting.  More than maybe ever before, it really was MY honor to host this event for my very sweet and deserving friend. 
We hosted a mid-morning brunch and mother nature gifted us with PERFECT weather.  I watched the shade patterns in my yard for weeks prior to the event to insure I would place the tables and chairs in constant shade.  I had an indoor back-up plan for rain or sweltering heat but thankfully got to execute the morning just as I'd hoped. 

I painted this mirror for her nursery and saw the chance to hang this dress I was gifting her in it for decor before putting the mirror back in.

Towbin had actually gifted me this mirror for my birthday when we lived in Charlotte.  I had pointed it out in an antique shop.  I painted it navy then and I can tell it was at least 4 colors before that.  It hasn't fit in with my decor in the last couple houses and when Towbin "pinned" rooms with similar mirrors I offered to paint it for her.

Yep, it's a girl!

Towbin had also pinned this mobile but the Etsy maker was out of business.  The maker turned out to be somewhat local and I twisted her arm to make just one more. :)

Coral is a highlight color in the light blue and neutral nursery so these roses were a lucky find.

This Rifle Paper Co garland easily made 3 banners (one of which I apparently failed to photograph) and can be used over and over.

her gift opening spot:)

mingling and mimosas

Towbin's mom brought these dresses from when Towbin was a baby, along with pictures of her wearing them.

a happy mama-to-be

co-host Rayann made this diaper cake

my chair collecting of late came in handy to accommodate 3 eating tables and a gift-opening and game gathering. ;)

Grandma-to-be sharing advice.

 

"did I register for these? I can't remember."

 

Towbin's sister couldn't fly in for the shower but sent a box FILLED with fan gear for the new baby.  Towbin is NOT a sports fan and said, "I think this is a football team, right?"

the honored hosts and and the glowing mama. :)

Laura and Dave will welcome their baby girl at the end of August.  I can hardly wait for her arrival and to see Laura (Towbin) in action as a mama.  The parents claim there isn't a name yet but I'm confident the baby and her name will be beautiful.

mountain house

I spent only a day at home, after the beach, to do a little laundry and start some party prep for the weekend before Ben and I headed for the hills.  We drove to Fraser Tuesday morning to check out the Lineberry and Voigt's new mountain house.  Tuesday afternoon involved some nature adventures with Grace and Sara and a visit to a couple play grounds in Winter Park.  Amy and I took the kids into town for a delicious pizza dinner and then it was home to bed.
On Wednesday I took Ben, Grace, and Sara to the Grand County rec center for a day of swimming while Amy worked.  Sarah Voigt and her kids Hailey and Sacha arrived shortly after we got home from swimming and we all had a fun evening.  
Ben and I headed home Thursday morning to make his swimming lesson and to continue the party prep (post forthcoming.)

The new condo is beautiful and has gorgeous views and offers proximity to the Winter Park ski shuttle, golfing, great fly-fishing, Grand Lake and the big rec center. There are 3 master bedrooms with en-suites, a huge kids bunk room and an additional bath.  If anyone reading this needs a wonderful place for a mountain family vacation, let me know and I'll connect you.

Thanks to the new owners for their hospitality.  I'm already looking forward to our next (longer) visit.

 

We didn't need to go further than two steps out the front door for a great picnic.

the deck here is such a peaceful place

the beach part deux (and Ryan's 37th)

Mid-week after Father's Day I got to depart to Crystal Beach, TX for the second year in a row.  This year I made my trip an additional day longer and Angela and I were joined late Thursday by friend Tisha for the girls weekend.  Tisha introduced Angela to me via bookclub while we all lived in Wichita.  Tisha is on her second stop since Wichita and now lives in Iowa and Angela is still at home in the ICT.
Angela commented this year that my whole posture changed within an hour of her picking me up.  I think that change didn't come until the last day of the trip last year but this year I knew absolutely how relaxed I'd be. :)  Angela had started a Pinterest board to plan our menu and purchased almost all the food before I arrived.  We stopped in Galveston for lunch at a "locals" restaurant I'd read about on the plane and Shrimp and Stuff did not disappoint.  The OVERLY sweet unsweetened tea was a quick reminder I wasn't in Kansas (or CO) anymore.
After a quick stop for a few groceries, beer and sangria supplies, we settled in at the beach house for 3.5 days of sun, sand, sleeping, reading and chatting.  HIstoricallly high seaweed levels required a little bit of creative "beaching" but constant highs in the mid-80's made for perfect not-too-hot weather.  Late nights with the girls meant I didn't get up to run before the heat and humidity were a bit too much but some brisk walks on the beach and through the neighborhood meant hauling my running shoes was not a waste.            
I have come to absolutely desire every moment of this beach trip.  It recharges my mama (and wife) batteries in a way nothing else can.  When the only agenda is relaxation and you have a plan-full and gracious host like Angela,  all your real-world worries and concerns melt away like margarita popsicles on a screen porch.             
I wish I could put into words what this trip means to me to appropriately express my thanks to the house's owners, Angela's in-laws.  Big thanks to them, Angela, Tisha, my mom for watching Ben, and Ryan for making this trip a priority for our family and holding down the Heimer Haus while I'm gone.              

I flew on Southwest Airline's 43rd b-day and enjoyed a free cocktail in their honor.

The mud rivers of the mid-west and southern US still baffle me.

Shrimp and Stuff

DELICIOUS margarita popsicles

Angela's feet and LOTS of seaweed

Settling in the sand and sun with sangria

My fave pic of the trip!

As day drinking is my favorite kind and something I almost never get to do as a parent, I tried HARD to get my co-horts on board.

A little BIG STORE love

Yep. this one says it all.

 more BIG STORE fun

 

departure morning meditation

Angela and I were blessed with easy-going husbands as the only weekend that worked for Tisha to join us at the beach fell on Ryan's birthday and Angela's anniversary.  MeeMee kept Ben an extra night so Cole and Amy could take Ryan out on the town to celebrate.  Amy also helped deliver Ryan's gift of a new car and track for his Anki set so the boys raced cars while Amy snoozed on the sofa.

On Saturday while I was gone, Ryan took Ben to friend Hailey's birthday pool party and Ryan and Ben enjoyed some b-day time with Nana and Papa before picking me up Sunday.

Moscow Mules are Ryan's Summer drink of choice

 

A happy kid and well-wrapped gift showed Daddy had everything under control ;)

swimming at Nana and Papa's

Only with Daddy