Jim and Me After Rockies and D'backs Game

Who thinks I go to way too many baseball games for a girl who really dislikes the sport? I am raising my hand in a vote of "YES!"

Down the River We Go

The Krolls came out for a Colorado vacation and on Sunday we went white water rafting. It was so very much fun!

Monday Blues

Our last night night with everyone was a lot of fun. We had dinner at Bull and Bush to celebrate Heather's birthday and our anniversary and watched some of the Opening Ceremony (wasn't it amazing).

The next day we did a bunch of messing around including a crazy water fountain which is always fun.

In the afternoon, I had to set up for Namlo's booth at the Brews and Blues festival and then went back to work at it later in the evening. Basically the idea was that a non-profit shared a booth with a local brewery and the non-profit kept the tips. It was one of the most fun volunteering experiences of my life: I drank free beer and put temporary tattoos on beer and blues loving people. Of course with the occasional "building schools in developing countries" plug for Namlo! My friend Laraine came to join me in the efforts and her, Nicole (Namlo volunteer) and I had a very nice time, if not too carried away with the tattoos! Check us out!





Yesterday morning we got up early and drove up to Fort Collins to go white water rafting with the Krolls. No pictures were taken with our camera, but I will have some later when they get home from the trip. It was so much fun. We did a full day trip and stopped for lunch half way. The ratings for rapids are from 1 to 6. One being a smooth river and six being impossible to ride (i.e. Niagara Falls). Our route took us through many 3 and 4 level rapids. Seriously, it was so much fun. Very tiring though.

Click here to see the photos of us on the Rocky Mountain Adventure website.

And today.... This morning I woke up sad knowing that my mom and brother were coming tonight and then, after they left on Wednesday, it would be back to the same old same old again for awhile. I wasn't sad because they were coming, but because they were staying for so short a time and their leaving signaled the return to normal....

So Far...

Since the Eli's and Steffy's have been here we've gone to Red Rocks, visited the Butterfly Pavilion, been rained out of one Rockies game, done some mild hiking and mingling around in Boulder, gone to another Rockies game and then finally went to Estes park. I had to opt out of Red Rocks and Estes Park because of other commitments but can promise that fun and excitement prevailed at all activities. Tonight we are heading to the Bull and Bush for some family dinner time and then everyone leaves tomorrow afternoon.

Red Rocks







Butterfly Pavilion

There were tons of creepy crawlies there and so many butterflies - pictures don't do them justice.

First Rockies Game
The Tuesday night game was rained out, but we were there for more then 3 hours just to make sure! Check out the video of Anna Rose explaining to Becky and me how the game is played!

Boulder
Some exploring before the second Rockies game





Fun in Estes Park, Elk and all!

The Whole Crew Has Arrived

We’ve been waiting for it, getting ready for it. Now they are here. Their plane got in this morning at 8:00 and after we got everyone all loaded up, we stopped for pineapple upside-down pancakes and such at Snooze. We got everyone settled at our house, went off to the wildlife experience, and then had ribs and that comes with that for dinner. Then, off to the park for some running around and ice cream. It had been so very hot the week before, but today everything cooled down nicely. The makings of a storm actually came in this evening and we were even a little chilly while at the park.

Summer in Denver...

...is hot. Seriously. We are closer to the sun and I can tell. Yes it is a dry heat, and all that, but it has still been pretty rough. We just broke a record for having 20 straight days over 90 degrees. I actually think it was the first time that has ever happened in Denver since weather has been tracked. Yes, I know, the Phoenix valley has had that many days over 110 degrees, but this is Denver where it shouldn't be this hot especially because we don't have A/C. Everyone told us it would be fine and no big deal - "no one has it, not even restaurants and businesses downtown" they all said. Well....

Besides that Derek and I have had a busy week. Derek doing Derek things and Melissa doing Melissa things. I started volunteering at Doctor's Care this week since I felt I was already too committed with other things to commit to an internship there as well. I am tentatively thinking about taking the winter quarter off from school which will allow me more time to do other things while Derek catches up in classes.

Becky and Phil (Derek's parents), Heather and Jason and Eli and Anna Rose (sister in law and family) are heading out here on Tuesday and we are super pumped about it. Seriously pumped! I can't wait to see our niece and nephew again. After they leave the Krolls will be in town, and we are planning on going white water rafting with them next Sunday. And then....yep, and then, my mom, Jimmy, and hopefully Jenna too, will be passing through to stay and play for two nights and a day on their way to MN. My mom is moving there which is very exciting. Our cousin Steven has also just returned from Iraq and so there will be a par-tay for him. Of course I was invited to ride along! How can you even entertain the thought that they would not want me to come along. They do!!!!! I am still toying with the idea, but really feel like the timing is just too bad.

Can you believe our two year anniversary is in two weeks? Two years as Mrs. Eli! Besides that we are just truckin along. Truckin. You heard me! We have thoroughly been enjoying the summer nights and taking advantage of them with bike rides.