Over the summer, Ava and Dylan spent their days at Willows swimming twice a day, going on some fantastic day trips, making cool projects and having tons of fun with their summer friends. They just love their time at Willows and this year was even more special because Cathie worked at Willows as a substitute and was able to see Dylan and Ava during the day too.
The kids went to Willows about 3-4 days a week and they really seemed to enjoy every minute of it. August 5th came quickly and it was time for Ava's big night of her swim program. The older kids work hard all summer long preparing for their end-of-the-summer program. Ava especially worked hard this summer getting up at 7 AM on most of her summer mornings to make it to Willows before 8 AM for her practice time (she normally doesn't even wake up until 8AM on school days and with late night basketball practice it was hard for her to get up but, she did well). Ava made the advanced swim team so she had to practice early and she was very responsible about getting up and being ready early so she could make practice on time. This years swim program was just as great as usual and the video of all their day trips and their camping trip was even better. Dylan also did a fantastic job this year with all his swimming and projects and day trips and next summer he will be in the older kids group where he'll get to go on his first overnight camping trip and swim in the end-of-the-summer swim program.
August 5th also brought exciting news from one of my best childhood friends, Jennifer.
Scott finally asked Jen to marry him on August 5th, and we're so happy for the both of them.
A beautiful race day on August 8th at Hudson Gardens for the Pancake Stampede 5K. Simon was timing the race so he should have been in this photo too but, coach Simon seems to be the one always taking the pictures. After a great race day for team Runcolo, we all headed out for a delicious brunch and then later that night...
...we all came back to our place to celebrate Rich's birthday. It was the perfect night of the crew to come over of a late night of laughing with friends because Dylan and Ava were up in the mountains for their annual weekend alone at Grampy and Sharona's house.
Even though Dylan had just been up in the mountains a few weekends prior, we also suddenly realized this was the only weekend that the kids would have a chance to spend a weekend together with their grandparents. While they were with my parents, they also got a chance to head up to Jen and Scott's ranch. Here's a picture of Jen and Scott working so hard to take Ava, Dylan, my dad and the ranch owners kids, kayaking.
Ava was able to take a kayak out on her own while...
...Dylan road in a kayak with Grampy with Jen close by.
Thanks to my mom for all the beautiful river pictures she took while watching the crew kayak.
Jen put the kids to work too by having them feed the horses...
...the baby chic and their...
...adorable new baby cow.
Don't forget about gathering all the eggs and...
...riding ATVs and...
Before heading back home, Sharona took Ava and Dylan up the chairlift on Sunday the 9th, for a great hike in the mountains.
The kids loved the gorgeous views and...
...check out the cool new mountain slides they were able to ride down.
Thanks Grampy and Sharona for having the kids for another great weekend in the mountains and what a perfect way to end the summer before school started back up.
Friday, August 14th, Ava started her first day of 5th grade without her brother Dylan. It was already time to go back to school. That was a busy, fast summer and so before Dylan started back to school, Simon had the opportunity to take Dylan on one last trip to California. With Ava (and myself) having gone on so many trips this summer it was only fare that Dylan and Simon take a boys road trip, just the two of them.
The boys left on Tuesday, August 12th through Sunday the 16th, driving from Colorado through Utah...
...Arizona...
...Nevada (where they stayed over night in Mesquite) and finally...
...making arriving in California on Wednesday the 13th. They drove because Simon was renting out some of his timing equipment for a triathlon in Huntington Beach but, once they dropped off the equipment there was no work for these boys. It was all fun while playing at...
...the beach...
...riding the waves,...
...soaking up the sunshine and...
...eating fresh, warm, delicious churros.
Simon and Dylan enjoyed getting to eat out at a lot of great places and stayed at wonderful hotel with just a minute walk to Huntington Beach where they not only played in the ocean but, go to go on some nice long...
...walks along the beach. Then on Saturday the 15th they headed to L.A. for a...
...Dodger's baseball game.
It was a hot day for a game but, they enjoyed their father-son time and since they were in L.A., they also got to visit my very good high school friend...
...Kenna and her fiancé, Carson, where they also stayed with them the night after the game. I was so jealous but, also very happy they met up with them too. Dylan immediately bonded with Kenna's amazing personality and energy and he also adored their two dogs.
Dylan also thought Carson was pretty cool because he had a drone. Sweet.
Thanks Kenna and Carson for being such great hosts to Simon and Dylan.
Monday, August the 17th came early for Dylan after a long drive home from California but, it was time for Dylan to head to his first day of 1st grade and Ava's 2nd day of 5th grade.
We love all our great neighbors but, I especially love Ava and Kate's friendship. They're such good friends and great study buds too and with the weather being perfect on August 19th, it was a great day for homework on the lawn while the younger brothers ran the streets and enjoyed being 1st graders with much less homework than their sisters.
This summer was overwhelmingly busy and full of lots of family trips, celebrations and travels both out of state and tons of travels within the state for basketball so it was very hard for me to make it up to my parents house. So I was so excited we had a free weekend at the end of August to go spend some time at their place. The kids headed right for the favorites... swing time and riding the four wheeler and...
...they especially loved working in Grampy's gorgeous green house garden too. Dylan was too busy to stop for a picture.
Simon and I wanted to enjoy the mountains and get out for a 12 -13 mile trail run from Vail to Avon.
It was a tough run with a lot of elevation climb but...
...the trail was beautiful with...
...gorgeous views.
The goal was to land in Avon where we had parked our car that morning with my dad's help who then dropped us off in Vail, but we took a wrong turn and ended up on private land where we had to manage a flock of sheep and their aggressive watch dogs. We still had a great time together finishing up with a 10 mile, tough trail run but, we had to call the family to come pick us up from where we finally came out of the trail we landed on.
After a shower, breakfast and a latte we then gathered some energy to head out for a family hike near Minturn.
It was a little early for a lot of Fall colors but, we did spot some leaves starting to change already.
We were tired from a great trail run but, we loved spending the day with these two energetic hikers.
It was long over due trip but, I was so glad to make it up to the mountains with my family to spend some time with my parents and it was such a gorgeous day to be away.
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