BBQing with the Boaz Family

  
The whole Boaz clan convened on Colorado Springs for the big event:  Rachel and Aaron's wedding!  So the cousins got lots of time to play with aunts and uncles - and each other.

Abby and Zachariah had met in Austin a few weeks before this trip, but now they got to play together.  Here they are doing what appears to be a baby bonding technique - as the played, they kept pressing their foreheads together!

Abby got to meet Auntie Lori and Uncle Rick

BFFs Kayla and Naomi enjoyed lots of girl-time and a couple sleepovers.

 Carolanne and Johnathan showed off their skills at this fling-the-ball-at-the-bars game (anyone know what it's called?).  They were pretty good!

 Grilling and playing in Uncle Randy and Auntie Erika's backyard.

Here's a picture of the newest cousins:  Abigail, Zachariah, and Sarah, all born about two months apart.

Colorado Cousin Cuddles

Catching up on playtime, family dinners, and snuggles with family!



Ezra and Max read together.

Abby bonded with Uncle Matt - she insisted that he give her his undivided attention!

Sweet Anna and Auntie Lara

Naomi and Grandpa

We had a little post-birthday celebration for Abby.  She was happy to sample more cake!

Prisca and Naomi did "girl stuff" together.

Grandma and the boys enjoyed some books.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

 

 

Next stop on our summer tour:  Colorado Springs.  Here was a trip to Nancy Lewis Park in Grandma and Grandpa Stata's neighborhood.  Swinging and exploring with cousins Prisca, Max, and Anna! 

Family Hike

 

What a sweet family, brimming with optimism and energy!  The trail to Agnes Vaille Falls sounded perfect:  1/2 mile to a waterfall - just the right length for a family with a baby and a two-year-old, right? 

We started out with great enthusiasm.  Gorgeous views, pine-scented air.  Ezra struck an "I'm King of the World" pose.

 

But a half mile quickly becomes a strenuous hike when you have to gain so much elevation.  Abby bounced happily in the Moby strapped to Daddy.  Ezra climbed on Mommy's back and she called on her old backpacking skills to hoof him up the trail. 

 

But the climb was worth it!  Beautiful falls, swollen with spring runoff.

 

Then it was time to go back down.

 

As rain clouds built overhead, we skittered down the trail.  Ezra finally lost the strength to hold on to Daddy's back, so Kevin slung him over his shoulders like a lamb.

We made it back down!  I think the kids agreed the hike was worth it, once they were rewarded with their ice cream from K's Dairy Delight! 

Drive-by Shooting

 

 

Grandpa and Johnathan were itching to try out Grandpa's BB gun, so on the way back from dinner in Buena Vista, they pulled over on a side road to do a little target practice!

 

Mount Princeton Hot Springs

What a beautiful place to swim!

 

 We even got to swim with Grandma and Grandpa Stata, who came up for an afternoon.

 

Zipping down the waterslide...

Ahhh!

 

When we lived in Colorado, our favorite mountain getaways included hot springs.  So when we decided to add a few nights in the mountains to our summer trip to Colorado, we picked Mount Princeton Hot Springs.  What a blessing these few days were!  The mountain air, warm mineral water, and "unplugged" family time were incredibly relaxing.

 

 

 

We swam, soaked, and snuggled into our cabin in this beautiful spot.