4th of July

 

This year we met Mads and her Mom & little brother for the parade.  Her Dad rode in the Fire Cracker 50, which is a crazy 50 mile mountain bike race that is the start of the parade. 

As with all parades that Breck puts on, they start late.  But you have to get their early, especially for the 4th if you want to be able to see, so we have to get creative with the waiting time.  The kids did pretty good.  The parents did better (because we could get bloody marys from The Whale's Tale).  Once the parade started, they were pretty excited.

 

"Whennnnnnn is the parade going to startttttttttt?"

Cheering on the start of the Fire Cracker 50 with Mads.

Hanging with daddy.

Collecting candy (so much candy, it was rediculious!)

Z having fun at the parade (even though it was his nap time).

W getting a hug from one of his classmates, Piper (she was in the parade).

Cool Cat.

Having some lunch at my office (which is right by where we watch the parade).

W watching fireworks from the comfort of our couch.  

Due to fire restrictions, fireworks were cancelled for the entire county, so this worked.  We could see really well and didn't have to set outside in the cold!

hiking iowa hill

I took the boys hiking earlier this summer on a town trail named Iowa Hill.  It is not a very long hike, but there are tons of old mining stuff to look at along the way.  Back in the 1800s this was the location of a mining operation that used hydraulics.

W has gotten so good at peeing outside.

Boarding house at the top of the hill.

View of town.  This hike is located out on Airport Road (north of town).

 W posing.

Zeph did a little napping on our hike.

Eating a granola bar on the way back down.

green thumb

W and I visited the High County Conservation Center's (HC3) community garden in Frisco this summer.  W was really interested in the what was growing in each of the gardens.  HC3 is supposed to start a community garden in Breck next summer, so we may have to try and grow some veggies & herbs next summer.  HC3 also has a green house, so they can grow all year round.  We even got to enjoy some local produce will getting informed on their mission.  They do a great job educating the community on sustainability.

W took all of these photos.  Which will explain the finger in some and the subject of others.

He is quite a budding photographer.

At this elevation, you can only grow things like cilantro, mint, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, carrots, beets and onions.  The growing season is typically only 2-3 mos long.  This last year was a little longer.