Mountain High, Colorado!

In life, I truly believe that you cross paths with people that are meant to be your guardian angels.

While in New York, just after we moved there, and as I was nervous about moving my little family away from everything we knew, including myself, we were lucky to have been invited over for dinner by this family, the Schneiders. 

 Little did I know that they would become our little family over there, and family for life.

 So, somehow, I had convinced Jared that since we were so far north as Idaho, we should just jet over Fort Collins, CO and visit our dear friends for a quick few days.  And just like that, being the amazing husband he is, he made it happen.  So, post family reunion, we packed up once more and headed East toward Colorado.  A short 8 hours later, we pulled up to the Schneider home to be welcomed by open arms and lots of excitement and love from a year of not seeing each other!

But not, to worry, Tera, in true form, had everything planned and ready for us to rock the town of Fort Collins!  The night we got there, as the kids were reunited and playing so nicely, JP had procured us some tickets to the Brad Paisley concert in WY.  Only a quick hour drive, which Tera and I enjoyed a night of uninterrupted conversation, we headed over to Cheyenne and spent a night at the rodeo grounds enjoying a little Brad Paisely.  Tera isn't much of a country fan, but it didn't matter, the corn dogs were great, the entertainment was better, and the company was perfect!

Fort Collins is a beautiful little town and so much to do - if the weather cooperates!  One morning Tera had arranged to rent some long boards and go paddling on a local lake.  We got to the lake, it was a little chillly to us Arizonians, and a little overcast, but nothing serious.

 Lizzie was a little nervous at first, but after a little crying and convincing, she sat at the front of my board and at the end was even paddling me back to shore!

Max was a super trooper and just goes with the flow.

 Jacob and Cole were hamming it up and ended up tipping each other in the water several times.  Boys!  But all in all it was an amazing morning....until the clouds rolled in.  Tera was worried about the weather so we started headed back to shore.  Just as we were about to hit the shorline, with only half of the kids with their boards ashore, a huge hail storm hit and we were running and being pelted as we went.  Daddys grabbed the babies, headed for the cars as Tera and I helped the kids out and grabbed all the belongings on shore. We shoved kids in the cars just to get them out of the hail, rain, and wind.  How quickly the winds changed!

 

 Then we headed downtown Fort Collins and grabbed a bite to eat at this A-MA-ZING burger place.  I don't even remember the name, but I'm sure my stomach could lead me there.

And then ended with some local ice cream - where Jared and JP tried the flavor of the day....I believe it was called Backyard BBQ.  Who knew you could put potato salad and baked beans flavor in ice cream.  I threw up in my mouth a little bit.

 The next morning we were off to the races....the AMAZING FAMILY RACE OF FORT COLLINS.

This is an annual race where they have set up obstacles for the families to compete against other families.  It was fun to see the kids get into the race just as much as the adults did!  I was proud of my little family and how well they did - even when it came to eating Kim-chi, aka, rotten cabbage!   I couldn't believe it, but even my pickiest eater, Kate, ate a bite just to finish the challenge.

Not to worry, she did it with true Kate flare!  Love that girl!

Here are just a few of the challenges we had to do....

 Kate using her mouth for a challenge to fill the beaker

 Cole and Lizzie tossed the rings

 Funny family photo shot

 Cole knocking over bottles

 And Lauren even had to hold the cockroach for her family! EW!!!

The babies stayed with a babysitter as littles were not allowed on the course, but it was fun to be able to spend time with the big kids and help them run the race!  They all did amazing!

Jacob and Cole

 Group Shot

 And if that wasn't enough, we managed to squeeze in some park time, some more beach time, model home shopping, and pool time!

Taking the paddle boats out with the kids

 Jared, Lizzie and Ethan

 Kate and Brynna

 Kate and Brynna

 Ethan and Lizzie

 It was so fun to spend a short 5 days with the Schneiders and their fun family and to see that the kids picked up right where we left off a year ago.  It's hard to find friendships like these that last through the years and the distance.

I'm just so grateful that Heavenly Father hears my prayers and answered them through sending the Schneiders to New York at the same time we were there. 

 There was no better way to end our Summer 2014!