Fall in Colorado

Today was a beautiful fall day, and it reminded me (after our 40 degree weekend) why we moved to Colorado! Tatum and I rollerbladed home from LTF's Preview Center and it was just too beautiful to go back inside, so, we played in the leaves... One of life's enjoyments that, as we get older, we tend to forget how simple it is, and truly, how relaxing. Our front yard has an Ash tree that has already lost many leaves, and the good neighbors that we are- have not raked it yet! :)- so Tatum and I headed to the front yard and played. Took me back to my Bilinski grandparents' house, where we would pile up the leaves, and jump into them. Later, Grandpa B would burn them and the smell.... mmm... memories. How easy it was to be a kid! I'm so glad I have the blessed opportunity to relive those days with my daughter! :) Enjoy the pics, I know we had fun taking them! :)

I seem to have lost a leaf... can you help me find it? I don't think this one is it...
Can you find Tatum in this picture? ...

Family visit to CO

Carl and Samantha rode with Tatum and I back to Colorado for the short 17 hour drive. The Great Plains are SO exciting! (THANK YOU BOTH for riding/driving with us... I think I drove for a total of 4 hours- Carl drove the rest) We left Indiana Thursday morning and arrived in Denver around 2:30 a.m... just in time to go to sleep! Friday morning I headed to Denver International Airport and picked up my friend, Kristy, and her daughter, Kay.

Friday, we rented a mini-van and headed to Rocky Mountain National Park, we watched Elk fight and listed to them bugle- it's mating season. That was definitely awesome. The fall colors in Colorado are beautiful right now- not so many oranges and reds, but the yellows are so bright! Later, we stopped and had a picnic. Saturday, Kristy worked, so Carl, Sam, Liz, Kay, Tatum, and I hung out most of the day, then I took Kay and Tatum to the park. When Kristy got back, we headed to downtown Denver and checked out 16th Street Mall where we enjoyed a little chocolate at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory...mmmmm.... Kristy, Sam, and I hung out in the kitchen and made some Grandma's chicken and chili dip... mmm...

Kristy and Kay headed back to Indy Sunday morning, and Carl, Sam, and I headed to Boulder to relax at Boulder Falls, and do a little driving in the mountains. While up in the mountains, a car was pulled over, so we slowed down to see what it was, and we saw a BEAR!!! I was driving, so I didn't get to look too much, but we still got to see it. :) We headed back to the house, grilled out some Brats, and relaxed.

It was a very busy weekend, but it was so nice to see everyone and let them see where we live. I wish they all could have stayed longer, but perhaps another time!

Visit with Cousin Jen

While in Indiana, we visited with my cousin Jen, up in Chesterton/Porter. She has a little boy, Ben, and we took the kiddos to the Indiana Dunes and the Chelburg Farm. Behind Chelburg Farm are woods with a beautiful walkway through a ravine. We walked back there, enjoyed being a snack for the mosquitos, and Jen took many pictures of the kiddos. Each picture was just wonderful, but I am only going to put a few on here. If you would like to see more, please email me and I'll send you a link to see them!

She would NOT get off of my lap to touch the sand! Is she really my daughter???

Here are a couple of pics I took...

Mom's Slacking....

Wow, I can't believe it's been a month already since I wrote on here last... It's been a little crazy! Tatum and I took a trip to Indiana in September and had a chance to visit many friends and family. Of course, it is difficult to visit everyone we want to, but we did what we could. Here are some pictures from our trip.