It started out as being a sweltering hot summer, and it got hot early. We're talking 80's in April kind of hot. So the first week of summer, Travis and the kids and I decided it would be a good idea to to floating down a river. After getting 1/2 way to Fort Collins and realizing we were being chased by some very gloomy rain clouds, we decided to head in the exact opposite direction- Lyons. There were still a few clouds, but we figured we'd be getting wet anyway. After what felt like hours of hyperventilating from blowing up our rat tubes, we walked up the river. No sooner had our toes touched water, it began to rain. Now, for those of you who don't know, May is a little bit early in the year to be going down a river in an inter tube... especially in the mountains. Let's just say, "Ice, ice, baby. Dun diddle dun diddle dun dun." But it was too late now. We had already come this far. After five minutes, our butts and feet were so cold we could no longer feel them. Then Dylan fell out of his inter tube, and proceeded to chase after it for a good 1/2 mile. We decided we would get out earlier than planned, and knew that the park wasn't far. As we got closer we could see a bunch of teenagers. This seemed fine, so we found a rock right off to the side of the park where we thought we could climb up. As we got to the rock, Brieanna didn't realize that the water got about 10 feet deep at the rock. So she proceeded to just jump off to try to walk up. Travis nearly drown trying to save Brieanna from drowning.
Once we had successfully clambered up on the rock, we walked up it, expecting a meandering pathway to the bottom. Wrong. Not only were we stuck on what was basically a 20 foot cliff, we were right above a congregation of people dressed in white getting baptized with all of their friends and family there to watch. Had it been just Travis and I, scaling the 20 feet of rock wall wouldn't have been too difficult. It made it infinitely more difficult having a small 11-year-old girl, and a larger 12-year-old boy who was deathly afraid of heights.
We managed to get Brie 10 feet down on a ledge without disturbing the entire congregation. The attention was immediately drawn to us, however, the second Dylan had to get down to that same ledge. We're talking full on crying panic. He clung to the wall for a good ten minutes, freaking out, and managing to distract everyone from the baptisms. Two nice gentlemen offered to help us from the ground. We managed to get Dylan to the ledge.
Then it was my turn. I wasn't afraid, however, I have essential tremors. Tremors that were made drastically worse by an embarrassing situation. This made it much more difficult to cling to the rocks until I made it to the ledge, and Travis had already jumped the remaining 10 feet. It took me a couple minutes (and a man gesturing for me to just jump into his arms), but I made it to the ledge. We had to have the kids sit on the ledge and reach down to Travis and another gentleman's hands, where they helped them jump down (another 5 min panic attack on Dylan's behalf). I reached for their hands, thinking I was using them to help me jump. I was alarmed when my leap was interrupted by them both grabbing one of my leaping legs, making it look like an awkward ballet dance.
Once the fiasco was over, we practically ran out of the park. Halfway to the car, we all burst out laughing. Then the kids were given another reason to laugh: an older gentleman on his bicycle was blatantly checking out my backside. We got back to the car and noticed a GIANT lawn chair that we took a few pictures on, and we made our way home from the most awkward and terrible (yet hilarious) floating trip EVER!
Now some pictures (since you're bored of reading, and only 1/2 way there). Sorry they aren't more organized.
Our camping trip (about a week before the fires)
The GIANT chair (There's one more of these if you keep scrolling)
I made a baby!
Susanna (Alex's youngest daughter)
Nebraska trip (breakfast)
Lakeside
Our favorite campsite.
Dylan playing with his food during our Nebraska trip.
Dinner-- Keith
Nebraska
Grandma Choitz
A tree hit my car...
No, really. A tree hit my car!
Travis at Lakeside
Mom treated us to Wicked in May (as our Christmas gift). AMAZING!!!
Me on our trip to Nebraska
Dylan in the living room of one of the cabins.
Wicked
Alex's oldest
Lakeside
Told you so!
I took a basic cake decorating class. This is the only one I got to make. I had work during two of the classes. :(
Grandpa Choitz
And that was just our FIRST summer adventure... (and some pictures)
We went to Nebraska for a family reunion with the Chiotz family. It was a short drive to Scottsbluff. We hiked up the bluff, we toured the museum, and we went swimming. We also met two very cute little girls (Travis's cousin, Alix, brought his two kids), ate dinner with Keith, went out for another dinner with Keith, Grandma & Grandpa Choitz, Alex, and his kids, and had a really awesome cabin at the YMCA camp.
Because the trip was so short, we decided to head up to Estes for the rest of our Sunday adventure. On our way there, there was a car accident that stopped traffic. Brieanna got sick to her butt (as opposed to her stomach), so we had to race up the canyon once we passed it. Luckily we made it to a port-o-potty where she was able to relieve herself, and then I was able to relieve myself (because after such a long trip, I had to pee). We got in some good walking-around, and then we headed back home. It made for a nice ending to our trip.
The next day (a monday) I had a doctor's appointment. My neurologist, Dr. Pavot, checked up on me to make sure it was still essential tremors (which he's pretty sure it is), and then prescribed a new medication. I took it that night. The next day I was so dizzy that I couldn't stand up. The stupid part of my brain convinced me to drive to work. I got there, stumbled through the doors, and barely made it to the bench in front of service desk without falling down. Then I had to have Jake, our night crew foreman, walk me to the bathroom to throw up, and then walk me back out to my car. After an hour of trying to feel better, I stumbled back in to work to tell Char that I couldn't work. It took me 20 min. to convince myself that I could make it the extra mile to my parent's house, where I proceeded to crash. I spent most of the day trying to keep my eyes closed. I got tired of being at my parent's house, and finally made it home around 2 (I probably shouldn't have driven then either). The dizziness finally started to wear off at around 7:00 that night. Needless to say, I didn't take those meds again. I'm thinking I might just learn to do without the medication. The side effects are far worse than the problem itself.
This past week (on Weds) we went to Lakeside amusement park. We had a lot of fun riding all of the rides. Okay, well I rode all of the rides at least. Travis and Dylan aren't big spin ride people. It was a lot of fun.
So... that's so far I think. Hopefully you didn't get too sick of reading! I know how long-winded I can be.
We have lots of fun plans for the rest of the summer! Next week is our vacation to Texas (yay beach)!!! The week after that, my Mom, sisters and I are going on a girl's retreat to New York! Ahhhh! So that's 3 new states I'll have been to this year, and the furthest East I've ever gone. I'm so excited to give you more updates on our fun-filled summer. Hopefully I'll be better at keeping you posted!
