Backwards Summer?

Dave's schedule this summer is very backwards.  He is working mostly weekends and has most weekdays off.  And since school is out and not much is holding me and the kids home during the week we decided to make the most of the summer and play hard.
Last week our ward participated in our stake temple day in Monticello, UT.  Since our temple activities started very early in the morning we got a hotel room in the area and the kids enjoyed some pool time.  They loved spending time at the church next door with the other primary kids, and Amanda enjoyed doing baptisms.  After we finished up there we headed to Moab looking for a short hike that would get us out of the heat.  We found this very short hike (more like a walk) to a waterfall.  Which was perfect to play in for an hour or so.

This last week we spent in Telluride, CO.  And I have to show off my husbands very talented packing abilities...two bike racks and a car top carrier...we are serious about our gear!

This has to be one of my favorite places on earth.  It was beautiful.  The kids love love love the gondola rides (so much so that they are building a mini village with gondola's right now with their lego's).  We even tried for a few sunset rides, which were awesome. 

 Jacob was very excited to get a picture with just him and the gondola station in the background. 

And this year we discovered floating the little river that goes through town.  This was a very fun cold ride.  But great for the middle of the day heat.  

We introduced the kids to mountain biking and dutch oven cooking this go around.  Both were hits.  Amanda and Maren especially loved the variety of food (normally camp food for us a hot dogs and pasta roni).   And Spencer found his own berm to go up and down on with his bike while zooming down the dirt hill near our campsite. 



Unfortunately Amanda took a nasty spill right after I took this picture and hurt her ankle once again,  grrrr!  She also broke her cheek bone on the same fall, so if you wonder why you wont see her smiling in any of the other pictures, ouch!  She was so mad because she was having so much fun.  I seriously am looking into bubble taping this girl! 
The girls each got a turn sleeping out under the stars in the hammock, and the boys loved swinging in it any chance they got.

 The best part of the trip was our location.  We got there early in the week to avoid the crowds and hopefully get a spot in the campground that is right in town.  It was perfect, as it made it quick and easy to bike everywhere, and the surprise best part was this waterfall that was about 100 yards from our campsite and the stream that went right through the campsite that the kids played in constantly. 

And Dave and I were both able to go for few rides while the other stayed with the kids on some very fun trails.  I love riding here!

We were also fortunate to meet up with Andrew and Miranda for a few hours in Mesa Verde NP, after packing up from camping.  It was a fun ending to a fun week, and always great to catch up with cousins!