Wrapping up Summer 2019

Luke's AAA hockey team won two second place trophies in their August tournaments.  Both were heartbreaking losses, but second place was still a very impressive finish.

Liam's team finished 3rd place in one of their two tournaments in August

An Elk that was just a few feet away from us as we drove through Rocky Mountain National Park

We made it to the top!  Our hike 2.5 miles up to see a waterfall and then 2.5 miles back down to get home.

Luke on the ropes course in Vail at Epic Discovery

Liam on the ropes course

Amazing views and heights on the ropes course!

Hiking to and from the waterfall 

Taking a break on the hike

Grandpa Morse and Aiden

More hiking...

Elevation 12,005 feet above sea level at the highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park.  It was windy and chilly!

All three of the older boys loved the ropes course

White water rafting in Glenwood Springs, CO.   Jane and Grandpa followed along on the bike path and took a couple pictures.  This is after we went through some of the biggest rapids.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Gondala going to the top of the mountain in Vail

The water behind the condo where we stayed

Finn's first recess at kindergarten!  I wasn't actually there, but his teacher is also our neighbor so she sent me a few cute pics on the first day of school.

Coloring on the first day of school

So Sad to see the summer end!

Luke and Liam began middle school!

Fourth grade and kindergarten for Aiden and Finn

Luke beat John on the Mac 9 golf range over the summer and was so excited!

We sanded and refinished our deck in August.  The boys still talk about the "family bonding" they would have been happy to miss out on!

Summer got the best of me in terms of blogging.  We had a great month of August that was busy with AAA hockey tournaments (six total), staining and finishing our deck, golfing, swimming, and a quick trip to Colorado with Grandpa Morse and Jane.  The boys all began school on September 3, 2019 so it's been a new normal for me without anyone at home.  I have not run out of projects and things to catch up on after a busy summer, but it has been very quiet until around 3:00 pm.

Our trip to Colorado was amazing again this year.  We stayed with my dad in Avon at a condo he rented for the month of August.  Jane and Grandpa took very good care of us and enjoyed playing games every night with the boys while giving John and I a little break.  We enjoyed some fun lunches and dinners out in Vail and Glenwood Springs and had a blast with all of the activities.  John and I were able to ride together on most of the mornings we were there.  The rides were definitely not easy as we don't get to do much climbing in Minnesota.  The hills and altitude made it challenging, but the views were rewarding.

We went white water rafting again this year in Glenwood Springs and the boys loved that.  We also took our first hike as a family.  It was 2.5 miles up to a waterfall and then 2.5 miles back down the mountain.  Overall, the boys did fantastic as the climb was steep and rocky.  They all enjoyed it when we were finished, but I am not sure it was their favorite thing of the week!

Grandpa Morse took us to the top of a mountain in Vail again this year and we did the Epic Discovery park.  This was by far the favorite thing we did for the boys.  They had 11 different things to do from rope courses, to ziplines, tubing, rock climbing, bungee trampolines, and a mountain roller coaster.  It was super fun and we stayed the entire day.

I will try to get back on track with updates periodically.  Back to school also means back to hockey for us so after school activities and sports will pick up soon.  Enjoy!