Super Angie...the family that hikes together...

We took a family hike on Buffalo Mountain in Silverthorne. It was a great little hike through log pine trees. We saw lots of other hikers--many with dogs. Of course Tan and the boys LOVED seeing so many dogs.

The kids all found walking sticks, which naturally weren't used quite the way walking sticks are supposed to be used. LOL Everyone had a snack which they enjoyed --chocolate bars! Yum.

Everyone but me took turns walking on fallen trees. I just watched as they took turns and sometimes got pretty crazy on these trees. Tan was a bit upset that she couldn't keep up with the big kids, but she did pretty good--she just walks on them like a balance beam. :)

We didn't make it up to the cabins (there are old pioneer cabins at the end of the trail) but the kids, especially Tanith, were getting tired, so we turned around and headed down. Rick and I took turns carrying Tan most of the way.

We did have one accident, when Tan was walking on a log and Dallin offered to catch her when she jumped off. The catch didn't go as planned and he got her elbow in his eye. OUCH!

The weather was perfect--about 60 degrees (maybe in the 50s?) and it just felt so nice to be out and about with the whole family.

--Super Angie

Super Angie...hugs and kisses

This little girl sure loves her daddy! And he feels the exact same
way!

--Super Angie

Super Angie...Hot Wheels Mama!

In the parking lot of the "dead animal store" (see post below), Rick spotted this old Jaguar and wanted me to pose by it. NICE CAR!!!

--Super Angie

Super Angie..."dead animal store" in Denver

On Saturday, Rick flew to Denver, so we picked him up at the airport and went to Bass Proshops--The Dead Animal Store. We loved looking around this place and seeing all the "Dead animals".
OUCH! Tan has her hand in the fish mouth.

Loving the turkey
Now Brennan's hand is in the mouth of the fish.
How cool is this HUGE moose?

Watch out for that bear!
Up close and personal with this bear.
Brennan wanted his picture taken in front of this fireplace.
Cozy with Dad.
GRRRRR!!! Glad I have never run into this grizzly. Yikes!
--Super Angie

Super Angie...condo activities

Our condo is a place we go to escape. So we sometimes do unusual things there. This trip we made a gingerbread house, because, like my friend Rachel said "Nothing says Labor Day like a gingerbread house!" LOL Actually, I bought this house kit at Easter time, but we just never did it back then. So it was the perfect thing for us to do. The kids decorated it so fast that I didn't have a chance to really take pictures of it. I'm sure they ate most of the frosting and candies. They enjoyed taking Carebear Fruit Snacks and adding those to the house. Of course, some of the carebears were de-decapitated, because, well, these are boys we are talking about! lol

Another activity happened by accident. I needed quarters for the laundry downstairs, so I raided their condo piggie bank. BAD ME! And then once I had gotten all the quarters, I had Tan put all the other coins back in. She enjoyed this for a few minutes, but then gave up. Brennan finished the job for her. :)

Other things we enjoy...watching movies together, roasting marshmellows in the fire place, sitting on the deck--especially when it rains, and of course, swimming in the pool and hot tub.

--Super Angie

Super Angie...of parks and picnics

We took advantage of the gorgeous weather and had a picnic at the park in Dillon, over looking Lake Dillon. The weather was perfect--70 and breezy! :) After a drive through stop at KFC, we headed to the park. Its pretty funny--because we hardly ever get fast food, my kids don't really know what things are. The boys loved eating the drumsticks. Tanith wasn't very impressed. Of course the rootbeer was a hit with everyone!

It always makes me smile when at a playground, two moms who don't know each other at all just start gabbing. I love it. Its like this natural maternal connection. So I had fun chit-chatting with other moms.

I had fun pushing Tan in the swing. In Utah, I'm usually so hot and worn out from the sun and heat that I don't have "fun" at park, so this was a nice change. Brennan, Dallin and I all swung round and round on this giant donut thing. Hard to explain but TONS of fun. Lots of laughing.

And the boys took good care of their sister--even helping her to cross the monkey bars!

Ah, the lazy picnic park days of Summer.

--Super Angie

Super Angie.. Frisco History Museum

While in Keystone last week, we went to Frisco and visited the local history museum. We love this place, with the old school desks, animal furs, arrowheads and of course the old pioneer buildings.



This is hard to see, but Brennan LOVED sitting in the outhouse. He just LAUGHED AND LAUGHED AND LAUGHED about having his picture taken in the outhouse. Silly kid.






I just love taking my kids to historical places like this. :)

--Super Angie

Super Angie...my grandpa

My grandpa, Everett Paulson, had a stroke this past weekend and is not doing too well.

Super Angie...reflections

I've been thinking a lot about my climb on Rainier. Right now we are in Colorado enjoying Keystone, and as I drive around this mountain town, I look at the 14,000 foot peaks and know I can climb them. I have already climbed Torreys and now I need to do Grays--the sister peak. I want to climb Quandry...possibly in the winter!

I grew so much on Rainier. I didn't want to climb it. I didn't beleive in myself, although so many others did. I remember talking to Nate at the rock gym. I said, "So, I'm gonna try to climb Rainier" and he was like "YEAH BABY!!!! You are gonna rock it!". Whoa! He thought I could do it?!

The day before we climbed, I was freaked out. I was not so nice to Rick, was I baby? I was numb with fear and shock and more fear. I did not want to do it.

"I hate hiking"

Worst of all, I was begining to hate Mt. Rainier. How is that possible? I'm a Redmond girl? I grew up seeing the Mountain. "The Mountain's Out!" was a phrase we always said. I also loved flying into Seattle so I could see the Mountain. It was THE Mountain. But I was so freaked out and scared to climb it. I didn't want to hate my mountain. I was very sad and very numb.

I wasn't scared to walk. I wasn't scared of the snow or ice or being cold. I was scared of the crevasses, but more then that, I was scared of carrying a pack.

When I was around 18, my daddy took me on a hike to Lake Dorthy. I remember getting my pack and boots and walking around the neighborhood to "break it in" and "train" a bit.

I also remember not far up the trail when I couldn't carry my pack anymore and my dad, took it and his and continued up the trail, singing songs in German with me and talking about all my favorite things. We had a beautiful few days at Lake Dorthy, but its been hidden away in my heart and mind...I had failed. I had messed up. I was whimpy and couldn't even carry my own pack. I couldn't hike. I was no good. (Of course my dad didn't imply ANY of those negative thoughts. It was all in my mind)

Rick knew these things. His pack was close to 70 lbs. Mine was close to 30. Mid way up, when it became apparent that his boot/pack combination wasn't working out, I took the rope. The pink rope. MY rope. I loaded it on my pack and kept walking. I was walking slow, but I was walking.

I saw a crevasse and freaked out. I cried to go home to hold Tanith. Rick talked me into walking to Muir which was only an hour away, compared to several more hours back down to the car. I'm so glad we went to Muir. The crevasses on the snowfield, navigating through them was SO MUCH FUN. Sleeping at Muir, seeing everything there. Cooking in the vestabul...it was so exciting and fun. I loved it.

Coming down, I took the weight off Rick and his poor blistered feet. We decided not to try to summit because the weather was HORRIBLE and the route conditions were not safe for a two man team. I was fine with that. The Mountain will be there next year...and I will be there too! Anyway, I took lots and lots of weight. I did it daddy! I carried a heavy pack and didn't complain! I took two sleeping bags, a sleeping pad, the stove and fuel, my extra coats, all the ice screws and tools, the tent poles and the rope.

I did it.

I climbed to Muir. I actually danced part of the way (love my IPOD shuffle!).

I did it!

--super angie