Party with the Vance Girls!!

Grandma Vance, Camille, Kim and their kids all came for a visit.  We had a great time with them playing and sight seeing!  We had a blast and the cousins were able to bond!  Thanks for driving all the way out here!

Air Force Academy

Garden of the Gods

The cute Vance girls!

Bowling at Pro Bass Shop

Uncle Russ's Visit

In June Uncle Russ came for a quick visit.  It was a lot of fun as usual.  Russ is so active and so everything we do with him is something fun and active.  We went to the top of Pike's Peak, went hiking and swimming, ate great food that Russ cooked and worked out at the gym.  We had a ton of fun with him!  He came again later in the summer for another visit.  Good times!!

Fathers' Day Feast

This year we did Fathers' Day centered around the food.  We had all of Dad's favorite things, steak, sweet potatoes, corn, etc.  For a gift the kids gave him chocolate covered almonds and cards.  It was a great feast and so appreciated by our fantastic dad!!

Camping Fun

We went camping with just our family for the first time since we left Oregon.  It was absolutely spontaneous.  Mr. M suggested we go one Friday afternoon and in three hours we were on our way up to the mountains.  It was gorgeous and so much fun to be away and just hanging out with our family.  The fishing was not successful (although the people 50 feet away caught their limit of course.)  The campground we found was so perfect and it was only a short walk to the mountain lake.  The beauty around the lake was breathtaking (see photos below.)  It was a great time!!

Costa Rica Trip

In May Dad went to Costa Rica again.  I decided I wouldn't go because I was so busy with the kids and was thinking it wouldn't work out.  A week into his trip, Dad called and asked if I would reconsider.  We used some frequent flier miles and the next day I was on a plane!!  It was a blast to get away with him again.  This time when we were there we just relaxed and enjoyed the luxuries of the hotels, the food and the fun of swimming in the ocean and in the pools.  I LOVED it.  It was just what I needed and Dad loved spoiling me.  It was a great trip!

This is our hotel's restaurant overlooking the rainforest and the ocean.

Pina Colada (without alcohol) and other fruity drinks were a must at every meal

Included in the hotel package was a couples massage.  I think this was the highlight of the trip for me!!

This is the church we attended on Sunday.  It was a tiny little branch and I loved meeting the people.  It reminded me of being on my mission.

This was our only picture of a night stroll along the beach.  It was very romantic!

Pools, pools and more pools.

This is the walkway outside our hotel room.

This is the lobby of our other hotel in San Jose

The hotel in San Jose

The Pacific Coastline